Releasing on July 30^th, One Year Ago in Spain takes you on a tour of the best parts of Madrid, while also following a beautiful love story about second chances, found family, and being appreciated for exactly who you are.

It’s summer and vacation envy is at its peak! I’m not actually going anywhere, but I’m happy to let books take me away.

I was inspired to set One Year Ago in Spain in Madrid after my trip there a couple years ago. Writing the book immersed me once again in the gorgeous plazas and outdoor cafes, the delight of discovering new tapas and indulging in churros dipped in warm, melted chocolate. And most of all, the people and the beautiful language and culture of Spain.

So here are some of my favorite reads that can take you there, and then continue your bookish tour through more of Europe. Happy reading!

SPAIN

The Vacationers by Emma Straub

While One Year Ago in Spain will whisk you off to Madrid, The Vacationers by Emma Straub takes you to Mallorca on the Spanish islands. This one is not a love story, but a book about family—the tensions that quiver among them and the bonds that keep them together, despite growing apart over the years.

I enjoyed going “on vacation” with this family, especially when Straub highlights people’s very different vacation philosophies—matriarch Franny is anxious to control every aspect of the trip to make sure it’s perfect for everyone, 18-year-old Sylvia just wants to lounge by the pool and not spend the summer taking Spanish lessons, and then there’s everyone else who arrives with their own literal and emotional baggage, which lead to… complications. We’ve all been on a trip with personalities that don’t quite mesh. But don’t worry, this isn’t your family, and you can read about their Spanish vacation mishaps from the comfy distance of your pool lounge chair.

FRANCE

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl

I was in Paris earlier this year, speaking and autographing books at le Festival du Livre de Paris, and I wish I could have spent more than a week there. Never fear, though, because The Paris Novel came out just in time to take me back (but without the Olympics crowds).

I’ve been a huge fan of food writer Ruth Reichl’s work for a long time, dating back to Garlic and Sapphires, her memoir about being a food critic in disguise. So I was thrilled when Reichl recently published The Paris Novel, a mouthwatering novel set in 1980s Paris that’s full of the sort of delicious food details I adore.

If you’re a foodie and book lover like me, The Paris Novel is tailor made for you. Main character Stella rediscovers herself as she first stumbles—then strides—through the City of Lights, from decadent meals to vintage fashion shops to the revered steps of the beloved bookstore, Shakespeare & Co.

ITALY

Still Life by Sarah Winman

This is the kind of book I love to savor and take my time with. Still Life is historical fiction, and while I don’t normally read historical fiction when I’m at the pool, this one is different. Winman paints such a loving image of Italy that it doesn’t matter whether it’s Tuscany in 1944 or now—it reminds me of how much I love that country and its rich history.

The characters in this book are what really make it. There is so much attention and care paid to each of them—the façades they first present, the depths they sometimes try to hide, and the genuine, poignant friendships they build among themselves. Still Life is a book that has a permanent place on my “favorites” shelf; I will be reading this one again and again.

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

When asked whose books mine most resemble, Rebecca Serle is the name that always pops up first. Just like in One Year Ago in Spain, her novel One Italian Summer is grounded solidly in the real, modern world—except for one little surreal detail, where the main character sees a loved one from the past, but here in the present.

This novel set on the Amalfi Coast reunites Katy with her mother, who has recently passed away but who reappears to her in Italy—a younger version of herself, who does not yet know who Katy is, and instead, becomes a friend to vacation with. One Italian Summer is a beautiful story about learning about your parents as more than just your parents. When you’re finished with this one, maybe you’ll also want to raise a glass of limoncello to the younger adult version of your own mother.

GREECE

A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

In her Hades x Persephone series, romantasy queen Scarlett St. Clair has created a lush alternative version of Greece called “New Greece.” The story begins in New Athens where Persephone—who sadly has little talent as a goddess of spring—tries to reinvent herself as an ordinary mortal and journalist. But of course, this is not the fate that Hades has in store for her.

If you’re craving a mythological retelling with a spicy romance twist, this one belongs in your beach bag for sure.

ENGLAND

Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

What if you picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport, and it turned out to belong to the man of your dreams? And what if that suitcase also takes you to a part of England you’ve never visited, far from the hustle and bustle of London and the tourist crowds?

I love Sophie Cousens books because her protagonists are always women I feel I can identify with. They are independent yet still finding their way in the world.

Just Haven’t Met You Yet has the added bonus of taking you to the Channel Islands, which I had never actually heard of before (being from California, I thought at first that the book was set on our Channel Islands in the Pacific Ocean.) I fell in love with the characters and the countryside charm of the British Channel Islands. It’s a perfect read for when you want a book that feels like a warm hug.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

Being a huge fan of Crazy Rich Asians, I’m always thrilled whenever Kevin Kwan has a new book out. We’ve all come to expect over-the-top backdrops, juicy gossip, and characters with more money than Bernard Arnault, and Kwan doesn’t disappoint with Lies and Weddings.

While this story is set in part in England, its jetsetting crowd also takes you around the globe from Hawaii to Marrakech. Sure, I started this reading list with the idea of going to Europe, but if a Kevin Kwan character is paying for my first class ticket, I’m game to travel anywhere they want to go!

The post Evelyn Skye’s Favourite Books To Whisk You Away To A European Vacation appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2024! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Katee Robert, Christina Lauren, Anita Kelly, Olivia Dade, Tessa Bailey, Lynn Painter, Alison Cochrun, Kevin Kwan, Carley Fortune, and so many more, plus those making their exciting debut!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2024 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated list and Anticipated YA list.

JANUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker

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Opposites attract in this enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy of feuding neighbors and dueling hearts from Jayne Denker, the author of The Rom-Com Agenda.

Love, Me by Jessica Saunders

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Reminiscent of novels by Sophie Kinsella and Rebecca Serle, Love, Me is a sweet, honest foray into love, marriage, and the fantasy of a second-chance romance with the one that got away. Readers will find this lively debut romance book easy to devour and hard to put down.

Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan

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A charming opposites-attract romance, Love, Naturally by Sophie Sullivan is for anyone who ever stepped outside their comfort zone and found that all the best things can happen when you take a chance.

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar

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In this utterly charming debut romance, a teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex’s wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

Midnight Ruin by Katee Robert

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Orpheus lost everything when he lost Eurydice’s love…but now he’s ready to brave the Underworld to take her back, even if that means going toe-to-toe (and heart-to-heart) with the right-hand man of Hades himself.

Take Two, Birdie Maxwell by Allison Winn Scotch

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Hollywood’s biggest rom-com star tries to recover from her damaged reputation by staging her own rom-com and following a lead on a lost love in the new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Allison Winn Scotch. (Update: This title now releases on 5 March 2024)

Never Blow a Kiss by Lindsay Lovise

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In this delightfully witty Victorian romance, a governess spy running away from her past falls for an ex-soldier turned railroad magnate—perfect for fans of Manda Collins and Bridgerton!

Recipe for a Charmed Life by Rachel Linden

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After a day of unrivaled disappointments, a promising young chef finds every bite of food suddenly tastes bitter. To save her career, she travels to the Pacific Northwest to reconnect with her estranged mom, and discovers a family legacy she never suspected in this delicious novel from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Principles of (E)motion by Sara Read

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Lessons in Chemistry meets advanced mathematics in Sara Read’s heartwarming, STEMinist novel, PRINCIPLES OF (E)MOTION follows a female genius who solves a famously elusive math problem only to struggle with anxiety and prejudice when challenged to prove that the work is her own.

Not Bad for a Girl by Anastasia Ryan

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From hilariously awkward lunch breaks to cringe-worthy Zoom calls, this workplace comedy of errors is sure to put a smile on your face.

Last Call At The Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

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Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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A rising-star musician has a second chance at love with an old flame she remembers all too well in this swoony romance from the acclaimed authors of The Roughest Draft.

FEBRUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

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A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.

Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle

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A romcom perfect for fans of Christina Lauren’s Something Wilder and Sarah Morgenthaler’s Moose Springs, Alaska, about a city girl lost in the wilderness with only a grouchy mountain man to guide her…and there’s only one sleeping bag.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher

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In April Asher’s new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch takes a stroll on the wild-ish side, sparking an alert that saddles her with her very own Guardian Angel…who happens to be her secret crush―and new roommate.

Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee

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A new mom repairs her broken dreams in this hilarious rom-com about starting over that sparkles with intelligence, wit, and compassion.

Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff

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Set both in the chaos of fame and the high stakes world of New York City restaurants, this novel sprinkles in a second chance at love and a dollop of celebrity drama to create a romantic romp that will make even the most jaded reader smile.

How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly

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Chemistry sizzles in this workplace rom-com set in the world of high school basketball as the author of Love & Other Disasters delivers a sapphic romance full of humor and heart.

At First Spite by Olivia Dade

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Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot’s Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town’s famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can’t stand lives right next door—and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Just My Type and Lease on Love comes a new romantic comedy in which a former actress-turned-screenwriter finds herself back in the spotlight, only for her romantic lead to be the one man she can’t stand.

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

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A surprise pregnancy leads to even more life-changing revelations in this heartfelt, slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance of found family and unexpected love.

The Catch by Amy Lea

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A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey launches a super sexy sports romance duology with a rom-com about a bad boy professional athlete who falls for his biggest fan…

Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne

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Two sisters roll up their sleeves to run a dilapidated inn but must learn to work with the locals in this deliciously spicy novel inspired by Sense and Sensibility.

MARCH 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

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Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander

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The author of Love Buzz follows her acclaimed first novel with a delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

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Travel consultant Addie Macrae discovers more than just the countryside when she’s sent to help a struggling tour company in Alexandra Kiley’s debut Kilt Trip. Set against the vibrant Scottish countryside, this enchanting romcom features a spicy enemies-to-lovers tale full of clever banter and relatable family dynamics.

Trouble by Lex Croucher

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A Regency-era romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist and queer twist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

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A humorous and unique rom-com that sees two wedding crashers fall for each other. This intriguing premise delivers on its promise with so much feeling and so much fun.

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett

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When a Victorian apothecary hires a stoic private investigator to protect her business, they learn there’s only one way to treat true love—with a happily ever after.

This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

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For fans of Tia Williams and Colleen Hoover comes a deeply moving and personal novel about sacrifice, self-reliance, and finding true happiness from “one of the finest romance writers of our age.”

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

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From the author of the BookTok sensation Done and Dusted comes the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance featuring opposites attract and forced proximity.

Maya’s Laws of Love by Alina Khawaja

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A bride-to-be convinced she’s cursed in romance finds her luck changing—at exactly the wrong time.

Flirty Little Secret by Jessica Lepe

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You’ve Got Mail meets Abbott Elementary in this sweet, sexy romantic comedy for fans of Lynn Painter and Lyssa Kay Adams. 

A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins

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Bestselling author Manda Collins continues the Ladies Most Scandalous series with this delightful, witty historical romance in which two friends reunite —and discover hidden feelings—perfect for fans of Evie Dunmore and Netflix’s  Bridgerton!

APRIL 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

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A sexy, sapphic, opposites-attract romance with Mazey Eddings’ signature sparkling voice!

Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle

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A steamy, riotous second-chance romance about a magical florist’s unexpected reunion with her high school sweetheart . . . while she fake dates his soon-to-be stepbrother.

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

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A sharp and scintillating summer novel that will make readers laugh out loud and cry happy tears from the New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

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The author of the “sexy, insightful, and utterly charming” (BuzzFeed) Kiss Her Once for Me returns with a new queer rom-com following once childhood best friends forced together to drive their former teacher across the country.

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

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The brilliant contemporary romance novel debut from Yulin Kuang, the acclaimed screenwriter of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation and director of the forthcoming Beach Read feature film.

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel

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In this sweeping second chance romance from debut author Myah Ariel, the unexpected spark of two former flames may force them to choose between their dreams and each other.

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams

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College exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies to lovers, second-chance romance, the highly anticipated companion novel to the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet—from the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

Happy Medium by Sarah Adler

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A clever con woman must convince a skeptical, sexy farmer of his property’s resident real-life ghost if she’s to save them all from a fate worse than death, in this delightful new novel from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes.

Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner

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“A story of love, healing, and second chances ” (Emily Henry) following a down on his luck country musician who, in the throes of grief after a shocking loss, moves back home and rekindles a relationship with his high school sweetheart, from award-winning author Jeff Zentner.

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

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Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

Only and Forever by Chloe Liese

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It’s a room-mance for the books in this tender, steamy story about unexpectedly finding love and being brave enough to let it revise life’s narrative in the final book in the beloved Bergman Brothers series.

MAY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

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This Summer Will Be Different offers an idyllic coastal setting, enticing vacation descriptions, and a story that is equal parts sexy romance and female friendship.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

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From the iconic internationally bestselling author of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy: A forbidden affair erupts volcanically amid a decadent tropical wedding in this outrageous comedy of manners from the iconic author of Crazy Rich Asians.

Savor It by Tarah Dewitt

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Filled with spicy summer fun, small-town charm, and Big Feelings, this highly anticipated romcom is Tarah DeWitt’s best yet.

Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward

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Three wildly different sisters reunite for a destination wedding at an English castle in this heartfelt and rollicking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

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A time travel romance, a speculative spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingeniously constructed exploration of the nature of truth and power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette

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From the creator of viral TikTok account Betty’s Book List, a debut romance about a supermodel and a photographer with a past marriage pact who meet again ten years later on a photoshoot in Cinque Terre, Italy.

Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown

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From The Bachelorette star and New York Times bestselling author Hannah Brown comes an irrepressibly funny romantic comedy about two frenemies on the verge of making the biggest mistake of all . . .

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

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Sparks fly between two women pitted against each other in this delectable new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Sorry, Bro.

Second Night Stand by Karelia Stetz-Waters and Fay Stetz-Waters

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One hook-up is about to become one seriously hilarious situationship in this vibrant and lively romantic comedy about taking chances . . . and breaking the rules.

Love, Lies and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau

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The author of the “full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman returns with a charming and clever rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother…only to find that maybe mother does know best.

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

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Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

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When a librarian moves to a quaint Irish village where her favorite novelist lives, the last thing she expects is to fall for the author’s prickly son… until their story becomes one for the books, from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

JUNE 2024 BOOK RELEASES

One Last Summer by Kate Spencer

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From the cohost of the award-winning and uber-popular Forever35 podcast comes a dreamy, laugh-out-loud summer romance that asks: What do you do when the life you’ve planned isn’t what you’ve dreamed? 

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

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A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science—from New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

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New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center’s latest laugh out loud, feel good rom-com about writing your own story, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren.

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren

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A witty and deeply romantic modern reimagining of Disney’s Tangled, by the New York Times bestselling author duo Christina Lauren, part of the acclaimed and bestselling Meant to Be collection.

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb

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A divorcee embarks on her “year of yes” and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood.

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson

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A professional baseball player and his heckler prove that true love is worth going to bat for in the next swoony romance by USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

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A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction…literally, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics.

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle

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For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

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A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Match Me If You Can by Swati Hegde

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A young magazine writer in Mumbai must prove her matchmaking skills—and contend with growing feelings for her close family friend—in this debut desi romance.

Isabel and the Rogue by Liana De la Rosa

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When a Mexican heiress defies Victorian society to protect her country a British war hero makes it his new mission to protect her…

Barely Even Friends by Mae Bennett

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A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist. Fans of fairy tale adaptations, and readers of Julie Murphy and Falon Ballard, will adore Mae Bennett’s debut romance.

What 2024 romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2024 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It can be said that Crazy Rich Asians, the book and the movie has garnered much fame and success in the last few years that Kevin Kwan has become a well-known author. I’ve heard many things about Kevin Kwan, but I had yet to read one of his novels.

I never thought that I would ever read a novel that embodied the feel and experience of luxury like Sex and Vanity did. That’s exactly what it was all about. The main character, Lucie, was born in a wealthy family that dates its power and wealth from the settlement of the United States.

The story begins at a wedding in Capri, Italy. As one would expect, a wedding for the rich isn’t just a one-day event, but instead a full week of celebrations with various activities. When Lucie is invited and goes along with her chaperone and family relative Charlotte to Capri for the festivities of her old friend’s wedding, relationships and scandals begin to unfold.

There, she meets George Zao, another wealthy young man invited to the wedding with his mother. As the wedding approaches, she slowly and unexpectedly learns more about him but is basically in denial of her attraction because of the expectations from her blue-blooded family and her experience in her family while being of mixed-Chinese heritage from her mother’s side.

This novel was so interesting and I could directly relate to it as a mixed-Chinese woman, even if I wasn’t brought up in wealth and luxury. It wasn’t directly about the rich, but about Lucie’s development for accepting herself, her heritage with pride and standing up for herself.

Throughout the book, Charlotte and multiple other characters, especially within her family as well as random strangers, present micro-aggressions and signs of racism. From the first chapter,  the Asian culture of the rich is put down because of how wealth is treated differently within inner circles in America.

Further in the book, as the story switches to 5 years later and Lucie is engaged to a very rich newcomer to the community, more questions are brought up about how old money and new money are considered in the wealthy community. This was all encompassing the idea of inclusion within a group, which was very interesting to examine.

I have to admit that it is quite hard to be able to fully interpret my feelings because there is so much to talk about! This book has layers of topics embedded in the story. When it comes to the writing style, it was surprising how detached Kwan writes his characters. I, very much, felt like I was often watching an episode of Gossip Girl as they talked about famous people and famous things I had no grasp of. It was also a small turn-off that Kwan kept using footnotes. Even with books I love, like Nevernight, footnotes are inherently annoying and often disrupt the flow of the writing.

Going back to the note of detachment, although the main idea of the story was the romance, the book’s main content was all about the luxuries and the lives of these wealthy characters. There was a lack of connection to the actual relationship developing between Lucie and George. The constant focus on expensive products and famous wealthy people made the parts of the book where Lucie was contemplating or freaking out over George really strange and impromptu.

However, after finishing the book and thinking on it, I really think this was done on purpose. Their relationship being the ray of light among all the other extremely unlikable characters gave a point of difference. The story wasn’t just about the romance, but about Lucie’s growth as a person within this community, and while the plot of the book itself wasn’t binge-worthy, the story managed to engage and keep you hooked in.

George was probably my favourite character as he was so down to earth and cared about the environment. He was also the only character to actually come across as humble and good-hearted. Lucie was interesting because I wasn’t a fan of her, but I still wanted to know what she would do.

It doesn’t seem like it was the point for the reader to ever actually like anybody in this book, not even Lucie but to instead understand and appreciate the small good bits (predominately George I’d say) among the stuck-up rich who only care about sex and vanity.

I’ll be considering whether I want to read Crazy Rich Asians and other novels by Kwan, but this novel was certainly thought-provoking and brought many questions and discussion topics in terms of racism, culture, micro-aggressions, and the general acceptance that everybody craves. I think I’d still recommend Sex and Vanity, purely to incite discussion and because it was generally still quite a light read.

Sex and Vanity is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore!

Will you be picking up Sex and Vanity? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

The iconic author of the bestselling phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians returns with a glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father’s family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.

On her very first morning on the jewel-like island of Capri, Lucie Churchill sets eyes on George Zao and she instantly can’t stand him. She can’t stand it when he gallantly offers to trade hotel rooms with her so that she can have the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, she can’t stand that he knows more about Curzio Malaparte than she does, and she really can’t stand it when he kisses her in the darkness of the ancient ruins of a Roman villa and they are caught by her snobbish, disapproving cousin, Charlotte. “Your mother is Chinese so it’s no surprise you’d be attracted to someone like him,” Charlotte teases. Daughter of an American-born-Chinese mother and blue-blooded New York father, Lucie has always sublimated the Asian side of herself in favor of the white side, and she adamantly denies having feelings for George. But several years later, when George unexpectedly appears in East Hampton where Lucie is weekending with her new fiancé, Lucie finds herself drawn to George again. Soon, Lucy is spinning a web of deceit that involves her family, her fiancé, the co-op board of her Fifth Avenue apartment, and ultimately herself as she tries mightily to deny George entry into her world–and her heart. Moving between summer playgrounds of privilege, peppered with decadent food and extravagant fashion, Sex and Vanity is a truly modern love story, a daring homage to A Room with a View, and a brilliantly funny comedy of manners set between two cultures.

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This month sees releases from loved authors such as Kevin Kwan, Sarah Henning, Michele Campbell, Paul Tremblay, and more! From fantastic fantasy to breathtaking romances, there’s something for everyone within these releases!

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Girls team up to overthrow the kingdom in this unique and powerful retelling of Cinderella from a stunning new voice that’s perfect for fans of A Curse So Dark and Lonely.

He Started It by Samantha Downing
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family—not unlike your own—just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in….

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The iconic author of the bestselling phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians returns with a glittering tale of love and longing as a young woman finds herself torn between two worlds–the WASP establishment of her father’s family and George Zao, a man she is desperately trying to avoid falling in love with.

The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Princess Will Save You is a YA fantasy adventure inspired by The Princess Bride, in which a princess must rescue her stable boy true love, from the acclaimed author of Sea Witch, Sarah Henning.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Luc O’Donnell is tangentially–and reluctantly–famous. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship…and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that’s when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don’t ever want to let them go.

The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From Michele Campbell, the bestselling author of It’s Always the Husband comes a new blockbuster thriller in The Wife Who Knew Too Much.

Queen of Storms by Raymond E. Feist
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dark and powerful forces threaten the world of Garn once more in this second novel in legendary New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist’s epic fantasy series, the Firemane Saga.

The Shadows by Alex North
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The haunting new thriller from Alex North, author of the New York Times bestseller The Whisper Man.

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Wilder Girls comes a new twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery—until she decides to return to her mother’s hometown . . . where history has a tendency to repeat itself.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The creeping horror of Paul Tremblay meets Tommy Orange’s There There in a dark novel of revenge, cultural identity, and the cost of breaking from tradition in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, Stephen Graham Jones.

The Book of Dragons by Jonathan Strahan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Scott Lynch, R.F. Kuang, Kate Elliott, Ken Liu, Todd McCaffrey, Garth Nix, Peter S. Beagle, and other modern masters of fantasy and science fiction put their unique spin on the greatest of mythical beasts—the dragon—in never-before-seen works written exclusively for this fantasy anthology compiled by award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan and with art by Rovina Cai!

Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A riveting novel of suspense and terror from the Bram Stoker award-winning author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.

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

The post July 2020 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Are you looking for new books to read in 2018? Or looking for a reading challenge? Well in case you missed it, join the The Nerd Daily’s 2018 Reading Challenge! It has 52 prompts to guide you to read one book per week, or to just read outside your comfort zone. To help you decide, we decided to put up some book recommendations for you. This recommendations consist of mixed audiences, from middle grade to adult and to different genres!

Read on to discover a few books to help you with some of our challenges!

1. Under 200 Pages: Novellas are great pick for this category or Tor short stories. I highly recommend The Night Cyclist and The Pauper Prince and the Eucalyptus Djinn!
2. New York Times Bestseller: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas has generated a lot of buzz last year and it debuted on New York Times Bestseller list! Plus it’s being adapted into a film!
3. Author Starting With T: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien is a classic or if you’ve read that, try the other fantastic books by Tolkien.
4. 2018 Film Adaptation: The adaptation of Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is scheduled to be released in March 2018, so go read it before (or after) the movie comes out!
5. Older Than 20 Years: If you haven’t started the Harry Potter series, this year is the right time! This year will mark 20 years since the release of Chamber of Secrets, the second book in the series, and the 21st of Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book. Two birds with one stone right?

6. Villain/Anti-hero: Vicious by V.E Schwab is one of my favourite books and with the main character an anti-hero, it creates a fascinating narrative around the term heroes and villains.
7. Reread a favourite: Self-explanatory prompts here, this year I want to re-read Harry Potter so any books could fit this prompt.
8. Goodreads Choice Winner: You can look for inspiration here, but I highly recommend The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. This nonfiction chronicles the origin of HeLa cells that helps founding a lot of medicine and the aftermath. The writing is very easy to read and fits everyone, so go give this book a try!
9. Written By Two Authors: Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman is one of the most hyped up books in the YA community. This book chronicles the space survival of Kady and her planet’s people from invasion and evil AI, told through journals and other things.
10. Time Travel: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon may be intimidating due to its size, but it’s pretty easy to read and the story is a page-turner!
11. Male Author: Any of Neil Gaiman’s books because he is such a fantastic writer so if you haven’t read any of his books, he’s perfect for this category. Plus I highly recommend The Graveyard Book.

12. Young Adult Novel: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins is such a fun series, filled with witty banter, cotillion, and a lot of ass-kicking.
13. A Number In The Title: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo follows a band of anti-heroes consisting of 6 thieves and convicts trying to pull off an impossible heist.
14. Start A New Series: Any series you want to start but never do? This prompt is the perfect motivation for you! I personally want to start Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder.
15. An Autobiography: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher is perfect for anyone whether they love Star Wars or not.
16. Short Stories: Anthologies have been gaining traction recently with a lot of authors releasing some sort of anthologies. One of the most well-known is My True Love Gave to Me, which is a Christmas anthology, or its summer counterpart, Summer Days and Summer Nights.

17. Recommended By Family: My family is not a huge reader, so it’s hard to get a recommendation from them. But my sister highly recommended The School of Good and Evil series by Soman Chainani, which is a middle grade book sets in a school that trains its pupil to become either heroes or villains.
18. A Red Cover: Scythe by Neil Shusterman is another series I want to start this year and it has gained a lot of hype. This book tells the story of a modern-day grim reaper working for the government to keep the population under control.
19. Set In The Past: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco follows the Jack the Ripper murder with our heroine Audrey as she breaks social constraints and try to solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper.
20. A Book You Never Finished: I picked up Heidi by Johanna Spyri, but after a few pages never continue reading it. Another self-explanatory prompt, all you need to do is try to find a book you put on hold or DNF before!
21. Sci-Fi: Sci-fi is not a genre I reach for often, but a lot of people like The Martian by Andy Weir and it also has been adapted to movie, so it seems like an appropriate read.

22. Three Word Title: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is unusual and captivating, and the title definitely makes sense after you finish the book and find yourself blown away by it!
23. Recommended By Us: Take a look at literature of the world articles, including Jamaica which highlights authors and characters from Jamaica.
24. About Family: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is filled with crazy antics of the Singapore richest, but at the heart of the book, it’s about family relationships between Rachel and her mother, as well as the Young clan.
25. Female Author: The Secret History by Donna Tartt has been praised at how atmospheric and fascinating the characters are.
26. Bought During A Holiday: I don’t know about you, but I always bought a lot of books during the holiday season due to the abundance of book sales happening. One of the books I bought was A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi.

Any recommendations you like the sound of? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Recommendations For Your 2018 Reading Challenge appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From best-selling YA novels such as Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Dumplin’, to Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer and the adaptation of the Alita graphic novels. Plus then you have classics such as A Wrinkle In Time and Fahrenheit 451.

This is by no means a definitive list as there are many adaptations scheduled for release in 2018, however, there are quite a few that have received no updates so perhaps they may be bumped to 2019. But, we have compiled a list of books that are being adapted into movies and TV this year for you to check out on Goodreads.

Read on to discover what’s coming book adaptations are hitting the theatres in 2018 and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

The Death Cure by James Dashner / January 26 / TRAILER
Thomas leads some escaped Gladers on their final and most dangerous mission yet. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all. Starring Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo Esposito and Ki Hong Lee.

12 Strong

Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton / January 26 / TRAILER
In the wake of Sept. 11, Capt. Mitch Nelson leads a U.S. Special Forces team into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. Once there, the soldiers develop an uneasy partnership with the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and its al-Qaida allies. Starring Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire), and Taylor Sheridan (Sons of Anarchy).

Annihilation

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer / February 22
A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don’t apply. Starring Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Oscar Isaac (The Last Jedi), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Atypical), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok), and Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin).

Every Day

Every Day by David Levithan / February 23 / TRAILER
Rhiannon falls in love with A, a mysterious spirit who inhabits a different body every day, but loving someone who is a different person every 24 hours isn’t easy. Starring Angourie Rice (Spider-Man Homecoming), Debby Ryan, Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man Homecoming), and Justice Smith (The Get Down).

Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews / March 2 / TRAILER
Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to ‘Sparrow School’ a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. But her first mission, targeting a CIA agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations. Starring Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), Joel Edgerton (Bright) and Jeremy Irons (Batman v Superman).

Love, Simon

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli / March 16
Everyone deserves a great love story, but for Simon, it’s a little more complicated. Starring Katherine Langford and Miles Heizer (13 Reasons Why), Jennifer Garner (Dallas Buyers Club), Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven), Colton Haynes (Arrow), and Nick Robinson (Jurassic World).

A Wrinkle In Time

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle / March 23 / TRAILER
The film begins after disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space in order to find him. Starring Rowan Blanchard (Girl Meets World), Chris Pine (Wonder Woman), Reese Witherspoon (Big Little Lies), Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Oprah Winfrey and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover).

Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline / March 29 / TRAILER
The creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies and he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. Wade Watts finds the first clue and starts a race for the Egg. Starring Tye Sheridan (X-Men: Apocalypse), Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One), Mark Rylance (Dunkirk), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley),and Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys).

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple / May 11
After her anxiety-ridden mother disappears, 15-year-old Bee does everything she can to track her down, discovering her troubled past in the process. Starring Cate Blanchett (Thor Ragnarok), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), and Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars).

Alita: Battle Angel

Alita by Yukito Kishiro / July 20
An action-packed story of one young woman’s journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world starring Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials).

Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan / August 17
Three aristocratic Chinese families’ love of gossip and backstabbing runs rampant when the heir to a huge fortune returns to marry his Chinese-American girlfriend. Starring Constance Wu (Fresh Off The Boat), Michelle Yeoh (Star Trek Discovery), Gemma Chan (Transformers The Last Knight), Awkwafina, Ken Jeong (Dr Ken) and Harry Shum Jr (Shadowhunters).

The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken / September 14
After a disease kills 98% of America’s children, the surviving 2% develop superpowers and are placed in internment camps. A 16-year-old girl escapes her camp and joins a group of other teens on the run from the government. Starring Amandla Stenberg (Everything, Everything), Mandy Moore (This Is Us) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones).

Boy Erased

Boy Erased by Garrard Conley / September 23
The son of a baptist preacher is forced to participate in a church-supported gay conversion program. Starring Troye Sivan, Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies), Joel Edgerton (Bright) and Russel Crowe.

First Man

First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen / October 12
A look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Starring Ryan Gosling (La La Land) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

The Girl In The Spider’s Web

The Girl In The Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz / October 19
Young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials, which stars Claire Foy (The Crown).

Mortal Engines

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve / December 14
Many years after the “Sixty Minute War,” cities survive a now desolate Earth by moving around on giant wheels attacking and devouring smaller towns to replenish their resources. Starring Hera Hilmar (Da Vinci’s Demons), Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings), and Robert Sheehan (Misfits). 

Dumplin’

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy / TBD
A girl with the nickname “Dumplin'” enters a beauty pageant in order to win over the boy she likes and stick it to the other girls at school. Starring Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$), Odeya Rush (Goosebumps), Dove Cameron (Descendants), Bex Taylor-Klaus (Scream 2015), Maddie Baillio (Hairspray Live), and Jennifer Aniston (Friends).

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury / TBD
In a terrifying care-free future, a young man, Guy Montag, whose job as a fireman is to burn all books, questions his actions after meeting a young girl…and begins to rebel against society. Starring Michael B. Jordan (Creed), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and Sofia Boutella (Kingsman).

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han / TBD
A teenage girl’s secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life. Starring Lana Condor (X-Men: Apocalypse), Noah Centineo (The Fosters) and Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars).

Bel Canto

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett / TBD
A world-renown opera singer becomes trapped in a hostage situation when she’s invited to perform for a wealthy industrialist in South America. Starring Julianne Moore (Still Alice) and Ken Watanabe (Godzilla).

Ashes In The Snow

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys / TBD
In 1941, an aspiring artist and her family are deported to Siberia amidst Stalin’s brutal dismantling of the Baltic region. In a seemingly hopeless place, love is the only means of survival. Starring Bel Powley (A Royal Night Out), John Hauer-King (Little Women) and Martin Wallström (Mr Robot).

Black Hand

Black Hand by Will Thomas / TBD
Police officer, Joe Petrosino, seeks justice against a ruthless Italian-American gang in New York. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Which one are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

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