From fantastical tales of mysterious rings that cause mayhem, and highly anticipated sequels like Cameron Battle’s second adventure, all the way to insightful stories chronicling the famine of the Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s, 2023 is shaping up to be a marvellous adventure when it comes to middle grade releases! Check out our most anticipated novels from the first half of 2023 and find tons of new books to put on your (probably already messy) TBR!

Be sure to check out our other 2023 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Young Adult, Queer Books, and Romance lists!

JANUARY

The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine by Katherine Marsh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
From the author of Nowhere Boy comes a brilliant survival story that traces a harrowing family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that devastated Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. 

The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
The Addams Family meets The Westing Game in this exhilarating mystery about a modern magical dynasty trapped in the ruins of their once-grand, now-crumbling ancestral home. 

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
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From award-winning author Erin Bow, Simon Sort of Says is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past. 

Suitehearts: Harmony and Heartbreak by Claire Kann
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The first in a new series about magical matchmakers, Suitehearts #1: Harmony and Heartbreak is a feel-good light romance about two 13-year-old cousins and their first solo attempts at creating enchanted love connections. Perfect for young readers who love Whatever After, The Jumbies, and The Princess Diaries.

Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess
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From the Desk of Zoe Washington meets Lupe Wong Won’t Dance in Sincerely Sicily, Burgess’s debut follows Sicily Jordan as she learns to use her voice and find joy in who she is—a Black Panamanian fashionista who rocks her braids with pride—while confronting prejudice both in the classroom and at home.

FEBRUARY

Cameron Battle and the Escape Trials by Jamar J. Perry
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It’s time for Cameron Battle’s second epic tale! Inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this middle-grade fantasy celebrates the triumphs and challenges of a boy finding his path to greatness.

Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles
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A powerful novel about family, forgiveness, and figuring out who you are when you don’t make the rules, Not an Easy Win is the marvelous story of young Lawrence who, after being involved in too many school fights, ends up spending his days at a rec center helping out a neighbor who runs a chess program and learning to bet on himself.

Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura
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Acclaimed young adult author Misa Sugiura makes her middle-grade debut with Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind, a thrilling and funny series about a girl who sets out to save her Shinto goddess mother—and the world—by facing down demons intent on bringing chaos. Perfect for fans of the Aru Shah and Fablehaven series.

Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros
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This exciting and adventurous start to a middle-grade trilogy follows a queer boy and his family as they try to halt the chaotic effects of a mysterious ring, drawing upon Jewish mythology to navigate magic, mayhem and the search for pride in one’s identity.

The Pearl Hunter by Miya T. Beck
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A stunning, Japanese-inspired debut fantasy in the vein of Grace Lin featuring twin pearl divers, in which one sister goes to the ends of the earth to rescue her twin, who’s been stolen by a ghost whale.

MARCH

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca
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In Rajani LaRocca’s breathtaking follow-up to the Newbery Honor– and Walter Award–winning Red, White, and Whole, identical twin sisters with a complicated relationship do everything together—until one day, they break apart. Perfect for readers who love Amina’s Voice and The Lost Girl.

The Alchemy of Letting Go by Amber Morrell
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Twelve-year-old Juniper Edwards can’t stop chasing the endangered butterfly her sister died trying to catch. In her grief, Juniper finds comfort in her family’s study of insects, because science is based on logic, order, and control. But then Juniper’s search for the butterfly nearly kills her, too, and when she wakes up with newfound abilities, she discovers that the line between science and magic-and life and death-is not as solid as she thought.

The Palace of Dreams by Jodi Lynn Anderson
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This third book in the haunting and magical Thirteen Witches series from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson follows Rosie in her last stand against the Nothing King—perfect for fans of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon. 

Catch Me If I Fall by Barry Jonsberg
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Twins Ashleigh and Aiden have always promised to protect each other, but after an accident on a school trip, Aiden starts behaving strangely. Are they just growing apart, or is something more sinister going on? 

What Stays Buried by Suzanne Young
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Perfect for fans of Bone Hollow and The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, this thrilling yet heartfelt ghost story—following a twelve-year-old medium facing an evil spirit and the loss of her supernatural gift—is New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young’s middle grade debut.

APRIL

The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto by Adrianna Cuevas
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The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto follows a Cuban American boy who’s sent to work on a ranch as punishment for a school prank gone wrong where he is confronted with a troubling supernatural mystery.

A Spoonful of Time by Flora Ahn
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When You Reach Me meets Love Sugar Magic in this unforgettable middle grade novel where time travel, family recipes, and family secrets collide.

The Rhythm of Time by Questlove and S.A. Cosby
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From the Academy Award–winning, Grammy-winning, and bestselling author Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and the New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby comes this thrill-a-minute middle grade novel, the first in a series of rollicking time-travel adventures that touch on themes of friendship, family, and otherworldly events.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas
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Internationally bestselling superstar author Angie Thomas makes her middle grade debut with the launch of an inventive, hilarious, and suspenseful new contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.

Jude Saves the World by Ronnie Riley
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This fantastic debut follows 12-year-old, queer, nonbinary Jude as they navigate the complexities of identity and friendship after befriending the ex-popular girl at school and try to create a safe space club at their local library, all while juggling familial expectations as they’re planning coming out to their old-fashioned grandparents.

MAY

Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson
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From award-winning author Leah Johnson comes a laugh-until-you-cry, cry-until-you-laugh story about friendship, change, and the power we have to love ourselves.

Vivian Lantz’s Second Chances by Kathryn Ormsbee
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Groundhog Day meets Eighth Grade in this time-loop story set on the first day of school, from the critically acclaimed author of Candidly Cline.

Skating on Mars by Caroline Huntoon
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A heartwarming debut about a young figure skater discovering who they are on and off the ice. Skating on Mars is a tender examination of grief and a hopeful middle grade tale of self-discovery.

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson
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The Penderwicks meets The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street in New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson’s middle grade debut about a young girl who gets to know her mom’s side of the family and hunts for hidden treasure over the course of one chaotic summer.

Pack Your Bags, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno
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This humorous and heartfelt middle-grade novel by Nina Moreno with illustrations by Courtney Lovett is perfect for fans of Celia C. Pérez and Terri Libenson.

JUNE

Haarville by Justin Davies
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Welcome to Haarville – if you’ve arrived, you’ve survived! This darkly comic, quirky middle-grade mystery adventure is perfect for fans of Malamander and Lemony Snicket.

North of Supernova by Lindsey Leavitt
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Stella North has waited her whole life for a coveted birthday party invite that will guarantee a friend-filled summer in Washington. But those perfect summer plans implode when her Dad returns with a surprise from his business trip: his new fiancée, Whitney. Shaken up by her father’s announcement, Stella decided to take fate into her own hands and sets out to discover the future (and maybe even change it) through astrology, crystals and Magic 8 Balls.

Camp Sylvania by Julie Murphy
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ and Dear Sweet Pea comes a hilarious and spooky middle grade summer-camp story that takes a bite out of fat camp.

Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne
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From rising star Shakirah Bourne, author of Josephine Against the Sea, comes a mysterious adventure that explores one of the most chilling tales in Caribbean mythology: the faceless douen children.

Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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Theo Tan doesn’t want a spirit companion. He just wants to be a normal American kid, playing video games, going to conventions, and using cirth pendants to cast his spells like everyone else. But, when his older brother dies, Theo ends up inheriting Jamie’s fox spirit, Kai. After inheriting the grieving fox spirit, Theo must learn to embrace his heritage to solve the mystery of his brother’s death.

What middle grade releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post You Need These Highly Anticipated 2023 Middle Grade Fiction Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

• Ashley Herring Blake’s The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James
• Nicole Melleby’s In The Role of Brie Hutchens

“I know I can be a singer, and if Mama’s not going to help me, no matter how hard I try? Well, then it’s time I helped myself. No more waiting around, dreaming of flying away. No more playing by Mama’s rules. This good girl’s gonna go bad.”

If I had to pitch this book in one sentence it would be this: Reminiscent of a Disney Channel Original feel-good movie about an aspiring singer-song writer letting nothing stand in her way who falls in love with her competition partner—but make it gay.

We follow young Cline Alden who wants to be a singer more than anything else. Obsessed with country music like her grandmother, Cline reels at the possibility of taking part in a singer-songwriter workshop with a special guest from one of Country’s greatest female singers. The only problem? Her mother will never pay for that— money’s tight at the Alden house and a workshop just isn’t feasible. Taking matters into her own hands, Cline does everything in her power to make it work and ends up being able to take part in the workshop. But while her wildest dreams are coming true, her reality seems to be falling apart as friendships are challenged, secrets pile up and her grandmother’s health worsens.

Quite like Cline does with her guitar, this book tugged at all the strings of my heart. Ormsbee seamlessly weaves together the many strands of this beautiful story—from the harsh realities of Cline’s grandmother worsening Alzheimer’s diagnosis to the collaborative nature of music echoing the collaborative efforts it takes Cline to take part in the music workshop—all the puzzle pieces just fit together beautifully.

There’s such an emphasis on relationships in this book that I didn’t expect. The Alden women are stronger together than apart and this multi-generational depiction of Cline’s family made me so appreciative of the strong women in my own life. Ormsbee dives deep into the different ways we take care of each other—Cline’s mother spends all her time working to make ends meet but forfeits quality time with her daughter in the process. I loved how the struggles of this family were presented but loved even more how everyone came together for the things that mattered. Cline’s collaboration partner in the workshop, who after a bad first impression turns out to be one of the coolest people Cline has ever met, also made this story unputdownable. Cline and Sylvie work together to make their song unequivocally theirs, with infusions of Rock and Country that feels effortless just as their wonderful friendship.

Speaking of friendship, there are loads of depictions of friendship in this book and I loved how we got to see that sometimes, the friends you make when you’re young might not stick around forever or show their true colours very late in the game. When Cline is basically ousted by her best friend Hollie after telling her that she likes girls, Cline goes through one of the toughest friend break-ups ever. Yet she finds that there are other friends who will support and love her, who know that she is perfect just the way she is. Ormsbee here introduces varied religious views and the people behind the institution of the Church and there’s definitely something to be gained here, whether you are religious or not.

All in all, this was a wonderful, well-rounded novel about friendships and the way they can change over time, financial troubles and helping hands, the importance of being yourself and most of all, a tribute to music in all its magnificent ways.

A wonderfully queer about the healing power of music and paying it forward, Candidly Cline features a bright and inspiring protagonist that will show readers that fighting for your dream will be rewarded big-time!

Candidly Cline is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of November 9th 2021.

Will you be picking up Candidly Cline? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Brimming with heart, warmth, and hope, Kathryn Ormsbee’s queer coming-of-age story about a girl trying to find her voice hits all the right notes for fans of Julie Murphy and Lisa Jenn Bigelow.

Born in Paris, Kentucky, and raised on her Gram’s favorite country music, Cline Alden is a girl with big dreams and a heart full of song.

So when she finds out about a young musicians’ workshop just a few towns over, Cline sweet-talks, saves, and maybe fibs her way to her first real step toward musical stardom. But her big dreams never prepared her for the butterflies she feels surrounded by so many other talented kids—especially Sylvie, who gives Cline the type of butterflies she’s only ever heard about in love songs.

As she learns to make music of her own, Cline begins to realize how much of herself she’s been holding back. But now, there’s a new song taking shape in her heart—if only she can find her voice and sing it.

The post #ReadWithPride: Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout
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Strange things are happening in Cedar Creek View, Arizona: Sinkholes. An unidentified Hum. People behaving… oddly. No one knows the reason, but Jake thinks it might have something to do with him. Weird Kid is a story about a boy trying to find his place in the world – even though he’s an alien from a distant planet.

Josephine Against the Sea by Shakirah Bourne
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Meet Josephine, the most loveable mischief-maker in Barbados, in a magical, heartfelt adventure inspired by Caribbean mythology.

The Other Side of Luck by Ginger Johnson
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A young pauper and a caged princess vie for the reward of a special contest that finds them searching for the elusive Silva Flower. The Other Side of Luck follows two children from opposite circumstances as their fates cross and change both their lives forever.

Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi
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A heartwarming—and heart-tugging—middle grade novel about love, loyalty, and what it means to be part of a family, featuring a motley pack of rescue dogs—from author Carolyn Crimi, with adorable illustrations by Melissa Manwill. Perfect for fans of A Dog’s Life and Because of Winn-Dixie.

Ten Thousand Tries by Amy Makechnie
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A middle school soccer whiz’s determination to keep things from changing is tested when his father’s ALS symptoms worsen in this touching story about growing up and facing loss, perfect for fans of Shouting at the Rain.

Margie Kelly Breaks the Dress Code by Bridget Farr
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The middle grade novel features a girl who leads a protest at her middle school after she is unfairly dress-coded. A timely and thought-provoking story of one girl’s fight against gender inequality and the lessons she learns about her own privilege along the way.

Kingdom of Secrets by Christyne Morrell
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When her father is arrested for a crime she committed, Prismena will do anything to save him, taking her on a high-flying and shadowy adventure in this middle-grade fantasy debut.

The Renegade Reporters by Elissa Brent Weissman
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When Ash gets kicked off her school’s news show, she becomes a renegade reporter – and makes a big discovery about technology and her fellow students’ privacy.

Say It out Loud by Allison Varnes
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Charlotte Andrews is perfectly fine being quiet – in fact, she prefers it. But when she witnesses bullying on the school bus and doesn’t say anything, her silence comes between her and her best friend. An empowering look at finding your voice, facing your fears, and standing up for what’s right.

Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko
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Zee Puckett loves ghost stories. She just never expected to be living one. Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Nightbooks, Ally Malinenko’s middle-grade debut is an empowering and triumphant ghost story—with spooky twists sure to give readers a few good goosebumps!

The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner
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In this spine-chilling, middle-grade fantasy reminiscent of Serafina and the Black Cloak, an orphaned girl chases a thieving boy into a magician’s land of starless, moonless gloom where other children have gone missing before her.

Stowaway by John David Anderson
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The beloved author of Posted returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family—and, possibly, the planet Earth.

The Insiders by Mark Oshiro
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Three kids who don’t belong. A room that shouldn’t exist. A year that will change everything. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Meg Medina, this debut middle grade novel from award-winning author Mark Oshiro is a hopeful and heartfelt coming-of-age story for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in.

Cuba in my Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
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Cuba in my Pocket follows a 12-year-old boy who leaves his family in Cuba to immigrate to the U.S. by himself. Based on the author’s family history, this novel transports readers back to the 1960s when Castro solidifies his power and Cumba tries to make a better life for himself in Florida.

Last Gamer Standing by Katie Zhao
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Ready Player One meets the action of battle royal video games in this middle-grade sci-fi perfect for fans of Fortnite.

Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido
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Hannah’s schemes for throwing her own bat mitzvah unleash family secrets, create rivalries with best friends, and ultimately teach Hannah what being Jewish is all about in Recipe for Disaster.

Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi
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At a time when we are all asking questions about identity, grief, and how to stand up for what is right, this book by the author of A Thousand Questions will hit home with young readers who love Hena Khan and Varian Johnson—or anyone struggling to understand recent U.S. history and how it still affects us today.

What Lives in the Woods by Lindsay Currie
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All Ginny Anderson wants is to relax and enjoy her summer. But when Ginny’s father surprises the family with a month-long trip to Michigan, her plans change for the worse. What Lives in the Woods is a chilling ghost story about Ginny living in a decrepit and creepy mansion who discovers the something in the woods may be after her.

Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman
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The novel spotlights the friendship between Bug, a feisty 10-year-old girl from Venice Beach, who feels abandoned when her older brother decides he’d rather hang out with his friends than with her; and Frankie, an 11-year-old trans boy who arrives from Ohio to spend the summer with his gay uncle—and who wants only to have the chance to be who he is.

Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
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Perfect for fans of Hena Khan and The First Rule of Punk, Barakah Beats is the story of 12-year-old Nimra Sharif who has spent her whole life in Islamic school and suddenly finds herself going to “real” school – and realizes that middle school is a whole new beast to conquer.

Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
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Critically acclaimed author Caela Carter writes a timely and poignant #OwnVoices story that shines a bright light on one girl’s frustration and ultimate hope in dealing with her neurodiversity.

The Circus at the End of the Sea by Lori R. Snyder
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A vibrant and enchanting debut novel about an orphan girl who discovers a magical circus, this story shows readers the magic of following your heart and finding where you belong. Perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Rebecca Stead!

The Lost Language by Claudia Mills
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The quest to save the words of a dying language – and to find the words to save what may be a dying friendship – lies at the heart of this exquisite verse novel.

Boy Everywhere by A.M. Dassu
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Boy, Everywhere chronicles the harrowing journey of Sami who is taken from Syria to the UK. From privilege to poverty, across countries and continents, from a smuggler’s den in Turkey to a prison in Manchester, it is a story of survival, of family, of bravery.

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi
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Magic is messy. Fans of Nevermoor and the School for Good and Evil will love this standalone middle grade fantasy featuring a failed young wizard and her chaotically fun cleanup crew.

Candidly Cline by Kathryn Ormsbee
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Candidly Cline follows an aspiring country singer-songwriter trying to find her voice as she navigates her family’s money troubles, a changing relationship with her grandmother, a difficult friendship breakup, and her first crush on a girl, while dreaming of her big break from her small Kentucky town.

Tidesong by Wendy Xu
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Tidesong follows an ambitious 12-year-old who moves to a seaside town with her aunts for an apprenticeship in magic and realizes that it may be more than she bargained for.

Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas
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Perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Anne Ursu, Gussy is an enchanting, lyrical middle grade novel about a girl who must protect her village from a menacing magical force, even as she discovers that there is more to her village than she knew.

Tangled up in Luck by Merrill Wyatt
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When seventh grade enemies research a missing set of jewels for a class project, they realize that the answers to the unsolved case might be much closer to home than they thought in this fun-filled mystery for fans of The Book Scavenger and Lemons.

The Art of Running Away by Sabrina Kleckner
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When Maisie reconnects with her estranged 22-year-old brother abroad while trying to save her family’s portrait studio, she uncovers a truth about her parents that changes everything.

I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab
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Pretty Little Liars meets One of Us Is Lying in this middle-grade tour de force. An exploration of why we conceal the truth, I Know Your Secret forces four children to come to terms with the secrets they have hidden from everyone.

The Last Weave Andrew Zurcher
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The epic conclusion to Twelve Nights, where Kay and Ell’s magical quest of imagination, adventure, and the power of storytelling comes to a thrilling, twisty close. Perfect for fans of The Golden Compass and A Wrinkle in Time.

Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray
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Perfect for fans of Brightstorm and His Dark Materials, Orphans of the Tide is the story of a mysterious boy washing in with the tide and the city that believes he’s the Enemy – the god who drowned the world – come again to cause untold chaos.

Dark Hearts by Jim Gigliotti
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Sometimes the truth can be much scarier than fiction. And this collection is no exception. Uncover what fascinated and frightened some of our favorite horror writers of all time.

Girl Giant and the Jade War by Van Hoang
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In the sequel to Van Hoang’s outstanding Girl Giant and the Monkey King, Thom and her friends set off on a far-flung adventure to save the Heavens and the Jade Emperor from certain destruction.

Will you be picking up any of these middle grade releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Middle Grade Fiction Is Ending 2021 With A Bang appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Guys, gals, and non-binary pals, we cannot believe that we’re already at the end of the acronym (since P for Pansexual was combined with B for Bisexual because a lot of books don’t explicitly state whether the characters identify with one or the other), but it’s been a fun ride! We hope you guys have found some new books to put onto your probably already too huge TBRs, and that you had the best time celebrating Pride! We know it’s a tough year to celebrate anything, but you know what? We deserve it because love is love. And in uncertain times, treating people with kindness will always be something worth celebrating!

Without further ado, let’s get into our recommendations for asexual fiction – these books cover everything from demisexuality to aromantic and asexual representation! Hopefully there’s a new favourite for you within this article!

Personal Favourite

Rick by Alex Gino
Rick’s never questioned much. He’s gone along with his best friend Jeff even when Jeff’s acted like a bully and a jerk. He’s let his father joke with him about which hot girls he might want to date even though that kind of talk always makes him uncomfortable. And he hasn’t given his own identity much thought, because everyone else around him seemed to have figured it out. But now Rick’s gotten to middle school, and new doors are opening. One of them leads to the school’s Rainbow Spectrum club, where kids of many genders and identities congregate, including Melissa, the girl who sits in front of Rick in class and seems to have her life together. Rick wants his own life to be that … understood. Even if it means breaking some old friendships and making some new ones.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor
A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher’s chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog — donning the moniker Technician — to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner’s tyrannical laws. Nathaniel Fremont, the Commissioner’s son, has never had to fear the law. Determined to earn his father’s respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father’s elusive affection is worth chasing at all. Their game of cat and mouse takes an abrupt turn when Eliza, a skilled assassin and spy, arrives. Her mission is to learn the Commissioner’s secrets at any cost — even if it means betraying her own heart.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?

Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland 
Kamai was warned never to open the black door, but she didn’t listen … Everyone has a soul. Some are beautiful gardens, others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers―like Kamai and her mother―can journey into other people’s souls while they sleep. But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. It follows her into every soul, and her mother has told her to never, ever open it. When Kamai touches the door, it is warm and beating, like it has a pulse. When she puts her ear to it, she hears her own name whispered from the other side. And when tragedy strikes, Kamai does the unthinkable: she opens the door.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world.

Young Adult Contemporary

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Frances has been a study machine with one goal. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret – not even the person she is on the inside. Then Frances meets Aled, and for the first time she’s unafraid to be herself. So when the fragile trust between them is broken, Frances is caught between who she was and who she longs to be. Now Frances knows that she has to confront her past. To confess why Carys disappeared…Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Alice had her whole summer planned. Non-stop all-you-can-eat buffets while marathoning her favorite TV shows (best friends totally included) with the smallest dash of adulting–working at the library to pay her share of the rent. The only thing missing from her perfect plan? Her girlfriend (who ended things when Alice confessed she’s asexual). Alice is done with dating–no thank you, do not pass go, stick a fork in her, done. But then Alice meets Takumi and she can’t stop thinking about him or the rom com-grade romance feels she did not ask for (uncertainty, butterflies, and swoons, oh my!).

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee
After a shout-out from one of the Internet’s superstar vloggers, Natasha “Tash” Zelenka finds herself and her obscure, amateur web series, Unhappy Families, thrust into the limelight: She’s gone viral. And when Unhappy Families is nominated for a Golden Tuba award, Tash’s cyber-flirtation with Thom Causer, a fellow award nominee, suddenly has the potential to become something IRL—if she can figure out how to tell said crush that she’s romantic asexual.

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Rumi Seto spends a lot of time worrying she doesn’t have the answers to everything. What to eat, where to go, whom to love. But there is one thing she is absolutely sure of—she wants to spend the rest of her life writing music with her younger sister, Lea. Then Lea dies in a car accident, and her mother sends her away to live with her aunt in Hawaii while she deals with her own grief. Now thousands of miles from home, Rumi struggles to navigate the loss of her sister, being abandoned by her mother, and the absence of music in her life.

Adult Fiction

How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune
Gustavo Tiberius is not normal. He knows this. Everyone in his small town of Abby, Oregon, knows this. He reads encyclopedias every night before bed. He has a pet ferret called Harry S. Truman. He owns a video rental store that no one goes to. Gus is not normal. And he’s fine with that. All he wants is to be left alone. Until Casey, an asexual stoner hipster and the newest employee at Lottie’s Lattes, enters his life. For some reason, Casey thinks Gus is the greatest thing ever. But Gus isn’t normal and Casey deserves someone who can be. Suddenly wanting to be that someone, Gus steps out of his comfort zone and plans to become the most normal person ever.

Upside Down by N.R. Walker
Jordan O’Neill isn’t a fan of labels, considering he has a few. Gay, geek, a librarian, socially awkward, a nervous rambler, an introvert, an outsider. The last thing he needs is one more. But when he realizes adding the label ‘asexual’ might explain a lot, it turns his world upside down.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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Kathryn Ormsbee’s new YA novel touches on the relationships that the Sullivan sisters once had. After discovering that they’re about to inherit a dead uncle’s house, the sisters must come together to figure out their mysterious uncle’s past. This cosy mystery explores the bond between siblings, self-discovery, and finding your worth.

Told in third person from each sister’s narrative, Ormsbee pull readers into the lives of Eileen, Claire, and Murphy Sullivan. What once was a tradition on December 21st that brought the girls together, tore them apart years later into their teen years. Growing up with a mother who’s always working and a father who passed on before Murphy was born, it often leaves the sisters to themselves.

Ormsbee is a perfect storyteller of the independent lives of the sisters. We discover that they’ve all changed since their tradition. Eileen, an eighteen-year-old alcoholic and her drinking has a way of dealing with the secrets she’s found out. Claire, Miss Perfect (compared to her older sister), has her entire life planned out whilst being gay and she becomes influenced by a YouTuber and forces it on her own lifestyle. Then there’s Murphy. Her sisters see her as a child even though she’s fourteen. The youngest Sullivan is in her own world of magic and trying to bring her sisters back together.

Two years ago, the sisters were inseparable, but arguments broke out and Eileen moved out of the room she shared with Claire. That’s when everything changed. Readers assume it’s Eileen’s fault since she found out stuff and didn’t know how to deal with it. She took her frustration out on her sisters. She felt out of place based on the assumptions she made. She didn’t have anyone to go to with what she found out. She used to love art, but all motivation was thrown out of the window once she came to find out the secrets her mother hid of their family.

Eileen drew her own conclusions from what she knew, and part of me wanted it to go down the way she predicted. It was overall, a lovely book, but the amount of suspense built wasn’t enough. It would’ve been juicier if it was Eileen’s version. However, if you takeaway the mystery, there’s still a glorious sense of relationships built, character development, and the powerful message of always having a family by your side in this book.

Claire had to be the least likeable character to me. She became bossy and always made presumptions. She thought better of herself compared to Eileen and treated Murphy like a child. Yet that’s a typical sister bond. They’re all different. Claire kept her life structured by following an influencer’s guidelines, applied to colleges, started her own business, and confidently came out to Eileen all those years ago. She was, in fact, the most independent character in the book. However, she used it to her advantage sometimes, like stating that she had more money than Eileen or even a phone.

As the girls find out, they could inherit their dead uncle’s mansion. They wonder how on earth that they never knew they had an uncle in the first place. Their mother was on holiday in the Bahamas, so Eileen took the opportunity to drive to the mansion. Claire and Murphy jump on board at their own expense and it’s the first time in a while the sisters were spending time together. A road trip meant talking and trying to figure out who their uncle was.

Once they arrived in town, things only get weirder since they figured out it’s their dad’s brother. Yet their father has lived an unconventional life told by the locals. The Enrights had murders in their mansion. It’s up to the girls to find out who did it and whether they want to get dragged into history’s events taking place again.

Apart from the mystery, the Sullivan girls find their feet again. They’re left alone in the mansion with only the reminiscence of the Enright brothers. Gradually they find peace again. It brings old times up and Murphy couldn’t be happier knowing that they’re bonding again. Yet all it took was one argument for things to escalate.

A family drama mixed with murder is bound to capture the eyes of many readers. It’s a fast-paced novel that will cause readers to be hooked from the first few chapters. With many hidden messages and things to take away from, The Sullivan Sisters was a book I’d recommend to anyone in the future!

The Sullivan Sisters is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of June 23rd 2020.

Will you be picking up The Sullivan Sisters? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Time changes things.

That painful fact of life couldn’t be truer for the Sullivan sisters. Once, they used to be close, sharing secrets inside homemade blanket castles. Now, life in the Sullivan house means closed doors and secrets left untold.

Fourteen-year-old Murphy, an aspiring magician, is shocked by the death of Siegfried, her pet turtle. Seventeen-year-old Claire is bound for better things than her Oregonian hometown—until she receives a crushing rejection from her dream college. And eighteen-year-old Eileen is nursing a growing addiction in the wake of life-altering news.

Then, days before Christmas, a letter arrives, informing the sisters of a dead uncle and an inheritance they knew nothing about. The news forces them to band together in the face of a sinister family mystery…and, possibly, murder.

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