Hi, Kit! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hello there! I’m a writer of suspense for adult and teen readers. In addition to my work as a writer, I’m the managing editor for the independent literary publisher Black Lawrence Press and the mom of a spirited three-year-old. Friends and Liars is my seventh published novel!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I can’t remember a time when stories weren’t an important part of my life. My parents read to me from birth, and I developed a love of books very early on. In first grade, my amazing teacher actually bound the stories we wrote and illustrated in class into little books. I still have a few! I continued exploring writing as a creative outlet as a child and teen, and by the time I got to college and enrolled in my first creative writing workshop, I was beginning to suspect that writing had its hooks in me for good.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The first chapter book I read on my own was Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford. I still have my copy!
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Hunger Games series. The storytelling is incredibly captivating—I wanted to hook readers the way Suzanne Collins’ iconic series hooked me.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10. It’s one of the best-written psychological thrillers of all time.

Your latest novel, Friends and Liars, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Luxe Italian palazzo revenge plot!

What can readers expect?

Friends and Liars follows an estranged group of college friends who reunite five years after the mysterious death of their classmate and one-time close friend, heiress Clare Annabelle Monroe. The book’s mystery centers around how Clare wound up drowned in Lake Como, Italy, outside her family’s lavish palazzo five years ago—and who was responsible. Think The White Lotus vibes (Italy season), secrets, betrayal, and a masterful revenge plot that will place those closest to Clare in danger.

Where did the inspiration for Friends and Liars come from?

When I began brainstorming Friends and Liars several years ago, I’d recently attended a college reunion, so that very much on my mind—how you can be so incredibly close with certain people for a period of your life, then fall swiftly out of touch. Enter my estranged group of friends—Harper, Luca, Sirina, and David.

The idea continued to develop during a fall getaway to the Hudson Valley with my husband. We took a hike up to a breathtaking mountain house built on a lake in New York State, and I had the idea for getting my group of estranged college friends together there, perhaps following the mysterious death of a classmate.

The idea transformed over several years of simmering on the back burner—the mountain house became a palazzo and the Hudson Valley lakeside setting became Lake Como, Italy. But the estranged college friends remained, as did the death of their classmate, heiress Clare Monroe, which still haunts them five years later.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I love developing immersive settings for my readers to get lost in, and crafting Palazzo Mella and the characters’ various excursions around the Italian countryside was incredibly exciting for me as a writer. The palazzo, a vacation home for Clare Monroe’s family, is gorgeous and a bit quirky—a beautiful terrace, acres of gardens, rooms named after Italian filmmakers, and an anachronistically modern boat house. It was a joy to write.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

My largest challenge when writing Friends and Liars was time. I had a newborn at home, and my writing time was more limited than it had been in quite a while, since drafting my debut. Panera was my savior—truly. I’ve never been a coffee shop writer; it’s always my preference to work at home. But that wasn’t an option while drafting this book, and I set up shop at my local Panera for a few hours three days a week to work on the draft. I learned to adapt to the new “office.” Earbuds and white noise help a lot. It took much longer to reach “the end” on my first draft than I was used to, but eventually I got there!

What’s next for you?

My next novel is a glossy NYC murder mystery called Murder on the Upper East Side. Think Gossip Girl, for adults, with murder. It’s my first book I’m publishing under a pen name, Gigi Waldorf, which is fun. It’s coming out in June in the UK and in September in the US!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?

A few of my favorites that I read this year were Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson, House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen, The Murder After the Night Before by Katy Brent, and The Gallery Assistant by Katie Belli. I’m looking forward to The Storm by Rachel Hawkins and All the Little Houses by May Cobb, both coming in January.

Will you be picking up Friends and Liars? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Kit Frick, Author of ‘Friends and Liars’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s Only A Game is a twisty, fast-paced YA thriller, a dangerous game becomes all too real when Marina and her friends are framed for murder.

When I first set out to write the idea that would eventually become my debut novel, It’s Only a Game, I picked up every young adult thriller I could get my hands on. I was initially reading to understand the genre and to find comparable titles for pitching, but that quickly turned to reading for enjoyment. There’s something so inherently accessible about thrillers—between fast pacing, high tension, and the promise of answers to be revealed, they’re easy to pick up and hard to set down. I love that rush of trying to guess along the way and the satisfaction of turning the last page after the mystery has been solved.

I’ve read so many amazing YA thrillers that there’s no way I can include them all in one article, but I’m excited to share a few recent reads (and one beloved reread!) that I absolutely adored. I hope you’ll consider picking them up! And if you’re up for a YA thriller featuring a group of gamers who are blackmailed into playing a dangerous video game with real life consequences, my book, It’s Only a Game, will be out on July 9 this year!

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell

Mara Racette, a relative newcomer to the Blackfeet Reservation, hasn’t had the warmest welcome. But she’s hopeful when a local girl invites her to a traditional Blackfeet giveaway to honor her missing sister—until a girl from the giveaway is found murdered.

Told through the perspective of four Blackfeet teens as well as snippets from a true crime podcast, Looking for Smoke is a deeply moving novel that brings attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement. Cobell crafts a compelling, masterful story full of complex characters you’ll find yourself rooting for and twists that will keep you guessing!

Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He

Ella Moore is the queen bee of Sierton High. When she’s murdered at her own party, the prime suspect is Dawn Foster, the new girl at school and the last person to hand Ella a drink before she died. As Dawn investigates Ella’s past in an attempt to clear her own name, she discovers just how many people hated Ella—some of whom have no qualms about letting Dawn take the fall for Ella’s death.

Told through dual perspectives, Perfect Little Monsters is a clever, page-turning book that reminded me of Mean Girls (one of my favorite movies) in the best way. He’s writing sucked me in immediately and kept me riveted through the ending, which was a stunner—especially when paired with the author’s note.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

A teen wakes up bruised and shivering on the side of a dirt road with no memory of what happened to her—or even of her own name. After being picked up by a local officer, she’s brought home by a man who’s been searching frantically for her—a man who claims her name is Mary and he’s her father. In another town, Drew searches for his girlfriend, Lola, who’s been missing for weeks—and whom everyone in town thinks he murdered.

Told through Mary’s and Drew’s perspectives, That’s Not My Name is tense, impossible to put down (I read it in one day), and hard-hitting. I was completely blown away by Megan Lally’s mastery of plots, reveals and twists—and that ending will stick with me for a long, long time.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo

Once-popular Jo-Lynn Kirby is now an outcast at school—so, when her ex-best friend Maddie comes to her claiming to be in trouble, Jo figures it’s another cruel prank…until Maddie goes missing. Jo agrees to fake-date her ex-crush, Hudson Harper-Moore, as a way into her old clique to investigate Maddie’s disappearance—but being back on the inside means confronting the secrets and betrayal that ruined Jo’s reputation and broke her friendship with Maddie.

I fell hard for Jo—she’s a force of personality with a voice that absolutely leaps from the page. She feels real, complicated, and relatable. I loved every moment of her journey, from her initial, prickly determination not to rely on anyone to her slow discovery of the joy in connection and reconnection—both with herself and others—as she’s forced to work through past traumas. Not Like Other Girls brought tears to my eyes—emotions that only intensified with the deeply personal author’s note. A masterfully written mystery!

The One That Got Away with Murder by Trish Lundy

When Lauren O’Brian moves to a new town, she’s relieved to leave her past behind—painful memories that her summer hookup, Robbie Crestmont, helps her forget. Then she learns that Robbie’s ex-girlfriend mysteriously drowned at his lake house over a year earlier. Lauren knows what it’s like when everyone assumes the worst of you…but when she finds shocking evidence that might implicate Robbie, she must decide who to trust—the boy she’s growing closer with or the town that’s convinced he’s a murderer.

The One That Got Away with Murder is as clever as the title suggests. Lundy keeps readers guessing throughout—and wondering, alongside Lauren, just how far we can trust the Crestmonts. With complex characters, precisely timed backstory reveals, and a satisfying ending, this book was a stunning read!

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz

Izzy Morales and five friends join Izzy’s best friend, Kassidy, in a 1920s-themed getaway at a glamorous historic mansion. There, they party in vintage dresses and expensive jewelry—until Kassidy’s boyfriend turns up murdered. Investigators consider everyone a suspect—and no one can leave the estate until they find the killer.

With comps like One of Us is Lying and Knives Out, this book has a lot to live up to—and Muñoz delivers! The atmosphere is stellar and there are plenty of suspicious motives to go around. Suddenly a Murder is a fun and compelling locked room mystery that nods to classics like Agatha Christie while weaving in hard-hitting modern issues.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Daunis Fontaine—biracial, an unenrolled tribal member, and product of a scandal—has never quite fit in either her hometown or the nearby Ojibwe Reservation. When someone she loves is murdered in a drug-related incident, Daunis agrees to work as an undercover informant to help find the source of the meth addiction ravaging her community—a choice that will uncover more deceit and corruption than Daunis could’ve imagined and put her at increasing risk.

Firekeeper’s Daughter is one of those deeply moving, once-in-a-generation books that deserves every bit of acclaim it has received and more. Boulley expertly balances every aspect of this incredible book that is so powerful that I started crying upon starting the reread—and finished rereading anyway, tears and all.

Girls Who Burn by M.K. Pagano (Out July 16)

Addie Blackwood’s sister, Fiona, died a year ago. Since then, Addie has suspected Thatcher Montgomery, the rich boy down the street, of killing Fiona…until Thatcher’s found dead too. Addie tentatively agrees to team up with the only person she can trust, Seth Montgomery—the boy she was with during both deaths. But the more Seth and Addie learn, the more it seems their families’ pasts are tied up in what happened to Fiona, and the less Addie knows who to trust.

Girls Who Burn perfectly entwines the danger and suspense of a thriller with the emotional, wonderfully angsty tension of an enemies-to-lovers romance. With beautiful prose and fast pacing, Pagano tackles themes of loss, guilt, and class differences in this twisty, thoroughly enjoyable mystery that will leave readers breathless to the very last page.

Under the Surface by Diana Urban (Out August 13)

While on a class trip to Paris, Ruby’s best friend follows a local guy down to explore the Catacombs one night—and Ruby, Ruby’s ex-best friend, and another classmate end up along for the ride. They get lost underground—a nightmare that only grows worse when they realize someone is hunting them through the tunnels. Meanwhile, Sean, the boy who loves Ruby, races to find her from aboveground, helping the police and pushing awareness for the plight of the missing teens—before it’s too late for them all.

This heart-pounding book is a mix of survival thriller, tense teen drama, and twisty mystery, with an overarching romantic theme. I’m in awe of Urban’s skill in crafting a suspenseful, incredibly creepy and emotional story that does not let up until the very end. Five heartfelt shivers for this amazing book!

More YA Thrillers to Pick Up

• For fans of historical thrillers—The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
• For fans of The Picture of Dorian Gray—She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard
• For fans of dark academia—How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao
• For fans of Carrie—The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
• For fans of survival thrillers—Stay Dead by April Henry
• For fans of Rebecca—I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
• For fans of psychological thrillers—The Half-Life of Molly Pierce by Katrina Leno
• For fans of Get Out—Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
• For fans of Scrabble—Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
• For fans of Angie Thomas—When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris

The post Kelsea Yu’s YA Thriller Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With a rollicking pace and shocking twists and turns, The Split captivatingly explores how little we know the ones we love—and how one small choice can change everything.

1. The Concept

The concept of this book is just incredible and I haven’t heard of many books like this ever. Frick’s idea of having the book split around a single decision and create two divergent storylines is amazing. The execution is great as well, creating two distinctive and compelling mysteries.

2. The Characters

Frick has a knack of creating these strong, three-dimensional characters that leap off the page and draw you in. Jane is another of those messy, relatable and complex characters. In each timeline, she is slightly different but you very much get the sense of the overshadowed sister who is somewhat jealous. Playing detective has interesting consequences and development for Jane in each case.

3. Frick’s Writing

My god, does Frick know how to write a thriller that just sinks its teeth into you straight away. From the opening set-up, you are pulled into this moody, almost noir mystery that is so tense and tangled. It is plotted incredibly well and the atmosphere is also top notch. You can feel the impending countdown to destruction, creating a suspense that keeps you on your toes throughout.

4. The Twists

There is so much to unpack in this book. Frick leads you chasing down rabbit holes after red herrings and coming up with alternative theories that seem to change every chapter. You can guess little of what is coming next, as there are usually some surprises in store just around the corner.

5. The Exploration of Fate and Destiny

The central concept is essentially a play on the Butterfly Effect, meaning the whole book plays out as a meditation on the consequences of our actions. This leads to an intriguing discussion around fate and destiny, with some meta themes coming through around the control we ultimately have over our own stories.

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

The post Top Five Reasons To Read ‘The Split’ by Kit Frick appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Kit Frick’s The Split, which releases on February 13th 2024.

Jane Connor is resigned to being the “plain Jane” of her family—pragmatic and dependable—so unlike her beautiful and impetuous younger sister Esme. When Esme calls Jane during a flash summer storm, announcing she’s left her high society husband, Jane is shocked to learn that her sister wishes to stay with her. Could this be an opportunity for them to become close again? The only catch: Esme needs a ride from the city to their small Connecticut hometown, and Jane is terrified of getting on the highway…because of what she did when they were teens.

Jane must either let Esme stand on her own two feet for once or jump to her flighty younger sister’s rescue—and her choice cleaves her life in two.

In one reality, Jane can’t overcome her fear and tells Esme to crash with a friend. Twenty-four hours later, her sister is missing. Tortured by regret, Jane dedicates herself to piecing together Esme’s life before her disappearance, unraveling a web of lies, broken relationships, and, finally, the truth.

In the other reality, Jane swallows her fear and offers her less-than-grateful sister a ride. But while Jane hopes living together in their childhood home will be healing, Esme is aloof and increasingly reckless. The tension between the sisters builds until they are finally forced to reckon with the explosive secret from their past that could destroy their fragile bond—and both their lives.

With a rollicking pace and shocking twists and turns, The Split captivatingly explores how little we know the ones we love—and how one small choice can change everything.

Esme’s name flashes across the screen, and I hurry to answer. Sometimes, I miss our old closeness with a ferocity that knocks the breath from my lungs. But it’s been years since my sister and I talked every day, since we went to each other with our problems, since she called me out of the blue.

It’s not surprising, given what I did . . .

“Hello?”

“Jane, thank god you picked up.”

Phone cradled to my ear, I step out of the car and clamber up the stairs to the kitchen, thankful to be in for the night.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“I left Mark.”

The almost flawlessly Michelangean face of my sister’s husband flashes across my mind—the chiseled jawline, not a hint of stubble to be found; straight nose; icy blue eyes; closely clipped brown hair. It’s nearly impossible to picture Mark Lloyd cast aside, his confidence shaken.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I need some time to clear my head,” she says, “and nothing exciting ever happens in Branby.”

My chest swells with the knowledge that she wants to come here, to me, to weather the storm. Is it too much to hope that her return home will open a new chapter for us, one in which we start to mend? I want it so badly, my throat aches.

“You can stay as long as you want,” I say.

Esme doesn’t respond right away, and it hits me that she didn’t actually say she wanted to stay at Old Boney, with me. Laughter erupts in the background, and the clinking of glasses. It sounds like she’s at a party, or out at a restaurant, and the noise reminds me I haven’t gone out on a Saturday night since Jamie ended things between us.

My sister and I have always been so different. While Esme is a social butterfly, I am reserved; while she thrives on drama and secrecy, I am practical and measured. Even our names are uncanny reflections of the women we’ve become—plain Jane after my paternal grandmother; then Esme, Mom’s fanciful choice for her second daughter after ceding to Dad’s strong will when naming their first.

Just as her silence is becoming unbearable, Esme clears her throat. Then her voice cuts through the background noise, carrying an obvious note of tension. “Thanks, Janie. I might take you up on that. But I need you to come get me.”

“You still haven’t told me what happened with Mark,” I urge, pressing the phone to my ear, hoping she’ll open up to me, like she always used to.

“I did though.”

“You realized it was a mistake,” I say. But something tangible must have happened to prompt her to leave him. “Did you have a fight?”

“No fight.”

“If Mark was hurting you, you’d tell me, right? If he did something—”

“It’s nothing like that,” she cuts in, voice clipped. “I left Mark on Thursday, and I’ve been figuring things out. I said I’d meet him for dinner tonight. He wanted to talk.”

“Okay,” I say slowly. “It went badly?”

“It didn’t go at all. Mark wants the impossible; I’m done. Dinner would have been a senseless agony. And now I really need a ride.”

My eyes travel again to the back of the house, rain pummeling the picture window. Water streams down the glass in sheets. “Where are you?”

“Thanks so much,” she says, although I haven’t agreed to anything. “I’ll text you the address.”

The call ends, and a moment later, my phone chimes with a new text.

420 Madison @ E 48.

Txt me when you’re here.

I blink at the screen, pulse ticking in my throat. It feels good to be needed, like old times.

But this is a bad night for a drive. I squeeze my eyes shut, and I can almost feel the steering wheel bucking in my grasp, the tires beginning to hydroplane. Then I’m back there, fifteen years ago. Scared out of my mind, totally out of control, screaming at the top of my lungs while Mom’s car spins and spins, hurtling toward the grim promise of impact . . .

I pry my eyes open and shake the memory away, but I’m left with the reality that Esme’s not exactly nearby; it’s an hour’s drive to Midtown Manhattan in the best of weather. My fingers hover over the screen.

It’s storming! I can’t drive into the city
right now. Don’t you have a friend you
can stay with for the night?

Jane, come on! I have nowhere to go.

That cannot possibly be true. After all, she’s been staying somewhere for the last two nights. But something is going on with her, more than she’s letting on. My stomach clenches with nerves—for what she’s not telling me, for what I need to do. Because I am incapable of ignoring her cry for help, a truth as elemental to our relationship as the molecules of our DNA.

I picture her then in the days after Mom and Dad’s divorce, a fragile ten-year-old in black leggings and a shimmery gold tank top that makes her look older than her age. She sits outside, on the patio wall, looking away from the house and chewing her fingers raw. I join her, and for a moment, we sit there in silence, staring at the lawn, the stone cottage in the back, the unblemished blue sky. Then she rests her head on my shoulder, a signal I can wrap my arm around her, draw her close to me, that she will let me absorb some of the hurt into my skin.

The memory fades and I head back into the foyer for my keys, torn between two competing urges: to tell my sister firmly but gently no for the first time in my life, or to get in the car and rescue her.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Split’ by Kit Frick appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I went into The Reunion with very, very high expectations. Kit Frick for me is an under-celebrated force to be reckoned with within YA mysteries and thrillers. I Killed Zoe Spanos still rings through my head to this day. Therefore, The Reunion was a book I keenly had my eye on—which was heightened hearing the marketing comparing it to The White Lotus. To me, this meant allowing for a cutting examination of wealth, privilege, and the same stench of secrets coming from those positions in a beautiful and glamorous location, full of three-dimensional, complex characters. I think Frick pulls all of this off and more.

It rips straight from the headlines in its salacious twists and turns, all of which belie the dark side of this life of luxury and privilege. There is dirt beneath everyone’s nails and secrets buried deep in the ground. Frick blends this so well with some scathing social commentary. They are literally within their own bubble of this holiday resort, but it is definitely a gilded cage. There are plenty of underlying tensions and a keen sense of control and power at the heart of every interaction. No one here is truly what they seem or completely free, with other forces always interfering. This, of course, heightens the tension even more. As the sun keeps beating down, the heat rises and becomes unbearable for our characters.

This is the definition of compulsive reading. As Frick moves from narrator to narrator, you start to uncover some of the pieces of this elaborate and impeccably plotted jigsaw puzzle. However, it is always hard to completely trust what you are reading. The use of so many voices can make differentiating them slightly difficult at times, but their individuality always shines through. I always snapped back after a sentence or two, recognising their distinctive voice. What an intriguing cast of characters as well. All of them fit into these archetypes but, as all good thriller characters should, they bust out of their respective boxes to reveal hidden depths and surprising twists to them. Some do this proudly and some only reveal in their quieter, introspective moments to only themselves and by proxy, the reader.

Also, the narrative keeps bouncing between timelines, giving you that past and present structure I have become accustomed to in thrillers. This builds suspense, particularly when details between the two start to merge, clash and surprise in perfectly unexpected ways. I always love when a book does this, as it just allows for so much more immersion into these two twisting timelines. You get to play detective even more and on a different level, trying to work it out before Frick reveals all. The pacing is excellent in this as well, keeping things moving along snappily and those pages flying by. However, Frick always ensures to allow time for character progression and development. In fact, the majority of these twists only pay off so well because you have had that time to invest yourself in these people and see beneath the façade they present to the world. All of them are acting all the time and only through their interior narrative do they truly let themselves free, or do they?

The Reunion is a scorching YA mystery, perfect to read by the pool or to allow yourself to be transported to warmer climates. Like the Mayweather lifestyle, its glittering exterior hides a dark and twisted heart.

The Reunion is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 29th.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the author of I Killed Zoe Spanos comes a YA thriller in the vein of The White Lotus and Karen M. McManus’s The Cousins following a doomed family reunion at a posh Caribbean resort, where old grudges and dangerous secrets culminate in murder.

Eleven Mayweathers went on vacation. Ten came home.

It’s been years since the fragmented Mayweather clan was all in one place, but the engagement of Addison and Mason’s mom to the dad of their future stepbrother, Theo, brings the whole family to sunny Cancún, Mexico, for winter break. Add cousin Natalia to the mix, and it doesn’t take long for tempers to fray and tensions to rise. A week of forced family “fun” reveals that everyone has something to hide, and as secrets bubble to the surface, no one is safe from the fallout. By the end of the week, one member of the reunion party will be dead—and everyone’s a
The Addison needs a better hiding place.
The Theo just wants to mend fences.
The Natalia doesn’t want to talk about the past.
The Mason needs to keep his temper under control.

It started as a week in paradise meant to bring them together. But the Mayweathers are about to learn the hard way that family bonding can be deadly.

The post Review: The Reunion by Kit Frick appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Frick wastes no time at all delving into the mystery. From the first page, she effectively sets the scene with the mystery of what really happened that day and the sudden horror and death. This family trip descends into chaos and death, the truth of which will only be discovered as you journey through. All of this makes for an intense and thrilling read from start to end. Frick’s writing style is so wonderfully concise, yet descriptive at the same time. It is incredibly immersive and fast-paced, while also allowing time for you to settle into the headspaces of these characters and empathise with them. The entire cast here is very three-dimensional and realistic, right down to the witty and sparkling dialogue between them. The setting amplifies this, with the claustrophobia of the boarding school emphasising the mystery and adding a slight Gothic touch. It feels ominous and foreboding. You always feel like someone is watching over your shoulder and can practically taste the oncoming disaster. Frick’s engaging, intriguing and cutting writing style seamlessly strings all of this together to create a riveting read.

This book has such an excellent and intriguing premise, which Frick exploits to its fullest potential. Very Bad People is a thought-provoking book that questions the line between justice and revenge, with a fascinating secret society centered around social activism and justice. I mean that entire concept is just endlessly fascinating and engaging. The discussion Frick opens up about justification and ethical reasoning for particular actions is so nuanced and three-dimensional. It is a complicated morality of guilt, loss and devastation on display here, with almost every character engaged in this spider’s web of duplicity and betrayal. You can completely understand the motivations and justifications for particular actions, but they also leave an uneasy taste in your mouth. This is not a book that allows for clean, neat and easy solutions. Instead, Frick steeps the book in that gray area where you are not really sure of the right answer. She leaves it up to the reader’s own interpretation and moral code to really decide what they align with by the ending. Speaking of which, Frick makes no exception in her ambiguity for the ending. It is left fairly open and ethically dubious, offering the ambiguity over to the reader, who in  a way has become the new detective.

The central mystery is so well put-together by Frick. Of course, there are twists and turns aplenty, which are genuinely surprising and have consequences for the entire story. I liked how every action here has actual consequences, with chains of events being set off by seemingly small details. Because Frick gives you time and space to become invested in the characters, the twists pay off that much more. Frick opts for mostly emotionally devastating twists, the type that are a real gut-punch for our characters. This really works, precisely because of the character development and work you have seen play out previously. The two interlocking timelines of events adds to the sense of drama, as you have the hazy recollection of that fateful day interspersed with the actions of the present. Frick’s way of tying it all together is so clever and really plays with your expectations.

Very Bad People is one of those YA mysteries you cannot get out of your head. From its important discussions to its mind-boggling twists, Frick puts in the time and work to create something truly special.

Very Bad People is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Very Bad People? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

Six years ago, Calliope Bolan’s mother drove the family van into a lake with her three daughters inside. The girls escaped, but their mother drowned, and the truth behind the “accident” remains a mystery Calliope is determined to solve. Now sixteen, she transfers to Tipton Academy, the same elite boarding school her mother once attended. Tipton promises a peek into the past and a host of new opportunities—including a coveted invitation to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society that looms over campus like a legend.

Calliope accepts, stepping into the exhilarating world of the “ghosts,” a society of revolutionaries fighting for social justice. But when Haunt and Rail commits to exposing a dangerous person on campus, it becomes clear that some ghosts define justice differently than others.

As the society’s tactics escalate, Calliope uncovers a possible link between Haunt and Rail and her mother’s deadly crash. Now, she must question what lengths the society might go to in order to see a victory—and if the secret behind her mother’s death could be buried here at Tipton.

The post Review: Very Bad People by Kit Frick appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The YA genre is not holding back when it comes to 2022’s upcoming book releases! Between the months of January and June, readers are going to be delighted as to what they can get their hands on with books from favourite authors, to those making their debut!

From stories of love, magic, and mystery, to retellings, anthologies, and sequels, you will surely find several new reads to add to your TBR and we apologies in advance for adding to it!

Looking for more releases? Check out our Most Anticipated 2022 Releases and our Must-Have 2022 Queer Releases.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you’re looking forward to!

JANUARY

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A bighearted novel about falling in love, making a mess, and learning to let go, When You Get the Chance is the next effervescent novel from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon YA Book Club pick You Have a Match.

Hopepunk by Preston Norton
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A heartfelt and funny new novel about forgiveness and redemption, and about how hope is the ultimate act of rebellion, perfect for fans of John Green and Becky Albertalli.

The Red Palace by June Hur
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June Hur, critically acclaimed author of The Silence of Bones and The Forest of Stolen Girls, returns with The Red Palace—a third evocative, atmospheric historical mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and Kerri Maniscalco.

Into The Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald
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Fans of Holly Black and Kendare Blake will obsess over the conclusion to this deliciously dark YA fantasy duology!

Serendipity, edited by Marissa Meyer
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From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favourite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous. Contributors include Elise Bryant, Elizabeth Eulberg, Leah Johnson, Anna-Marie McLemore, Marissa Meyer, Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy, Caleb Roehrig, Sarah Winifred Searle, and Abigail Hing Wen.

Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
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Kathryn Barker’s Waking Romeo is a spectacularly genre-bending retelling of Romeo & Juliet asking the big questions about true love, fate, and time travel

Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
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Meg Long’s Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves is a captivating debut about survival, found family, and the bond between a girl and a wolf that delivers a fresh twist on classic survival stories and frontier myths.

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
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This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
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Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

The Kindred by Alechia Dow
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To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…

Medusa by Jessie Burton
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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill.

Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
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A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

FEBRUARY

And We Rise by Erica Martin
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A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity by Angela Velez
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Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
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Extasia by Claire Legrand
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From New York Times bestselling author Claire LeGrand comes a new, bone-chilling YA horror novel about a girl who joins a coven to root out a vicious evil that’s stalking her village. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Grace Year.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle
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The Bachelor meets Gilmore Girls in this laugh-out-loud young adult romance about a girl who joins her mother on a reality dating show for single parents—only to fall for a contestant’s son.

League of Liars by Astrid Scholte
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In this fantasy thriller, four teens charged with murder and the illegal use of magic band together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and How to Get Away with Murder.

You Truly Assumed by Laila Sabreen
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In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths.

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian
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A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
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A heartbreaking novel about finding your first love and what happens when it’s over too soon. Ashley Schumacher’s Full Flight is about how first love shapes us—even after it’s gone. 

Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
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For fans of Sandhya Menon and Adam Silvera, a prom-night romantic-comedy romp about a Sikh teen’s search for love and identity

Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
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The sweeping romance of Passenger meets the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song in this stunning contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, where the line between monster and hero is razor thin.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban
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Author of All Your Twisted Secrets, Diana Urban’s explosive sophomore novel, These Deadly Games, will keep you riveted until the final twist is revealed.

MARCH

The One True Me and You by Remi K. England
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A big-hearted, joyful romance and a love letter to all things geek, Remi K. England’s The One True Me and You is a *witness me* celebration of standing up for, and being, yourself.

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
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This Pride & Prejudice retelling brings New York Times bestselling Sayantani DasGupta’s trademark wit and insight to her bright and funny YA debut!

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee
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From New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, Traci Chee, comes a Japanese-influenced fantasy brimming with demons, adventure, and plans gone awry.

This Golden State by Marit Weisenberg
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Marit Weisenberg’s This Golden State follows a family on the run, a restless teenage daughter hungry for the truth, and the simple DNA test that threatens their carefully crafted world

Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram
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A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.

Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
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A ragtag band of misfits gets swept up in Holy Land politics in Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi, a thrilling YA remix of the classic legend of Robin Hood.

Message Not Found by Dante Medema
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An emotionally complex portrayal of secrets, loss, and grief from Dante Medema, Indies Introduce author of the Indie Next Pick title The Truth Project. 

A Forgery of Roses by Jessica S. Olson
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From the author of Sing Me Forgotten comes a lush new fantasy novel with an art-based magic system, romance, and murder…

Love, Decoded by Jennifer Yen
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For fans of Jenny Han and Jane Austen, a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt about the unexpected consequences of one teen’s quest to help her friends find love, from the author of A Taste for Love.

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz
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Blockbuster author Melissa de la Cruz’s YA retelling of Cinderella, set in 17th Century Versailles.

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux
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Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood, this genre-bending page-turner from New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux follows two girls who transport themselves into the world of their favorite book only to encounter the sinister alternate reality that awaits them. 

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
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A romantic YA fantasy perfect for fans of Erin A. Craig and Margaret Rogerson, about two people who find themselves competing for glory – and each other’s hearts – in a magical fox hunt.

APRIL

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
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What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family.

This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
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The Fountains of Silence meets Spinning Silver in this rollicking tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest from Sydney Taylor Honor winner Katherine Locke.

Queen of the Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
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They Wish They Were Us meets The Queen’s Gambit in the world of competitive Scrabble when a teen girl is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.

K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee
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She thought that debuting in a K-Pop band was the finish line, but it was only the beginning. Because now it’s not only her company judging her—it’s the entire world. If K-Pop Confidential was about finding your voice, K-pop Revolution is about finding the courage to stand by your beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence you.

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham
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Wilder Girls meets The Craft in this Sapphic horror debut that asks: what price would you be willing to pay to achieve your deepest desires?

Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
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Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera in the debut YA romance everyone is talking about!

Very Bad People by Kit Frick
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In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
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A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

Flirting With Fate by J.C. Cervantes
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Jane the Virgin meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes’s charming, romantic YA debut.

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum
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When a high stakes boarding school prank war leads to a fake dating scheme, two teens must decide if they are ready to take the ultimate risk — falling in love.

The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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Black Mirror meets Marie Lu’s Warcross in Nami’s continuing adventures as she fights to free her friends in this high-stakes sequel to The Infinity Courts by award-winning author Akemi Dawn Bowman.

All the Best Liars by Amelia Kahaney
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Amelia Kahaney’s All the Best Liars is a dark, modern psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about obsession, manipulation, and the intensity of those first friendships that take hold of you and never let go

MAY

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical romance in the vein of Groundhog Day about a girl forced to relive her disastrous first day of college—only to discover that her nemesis is stuck in the time loop with her.

Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
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An ancient city plagued by dragons. A flamenco dancer determined to save her ancestral home. A dragon hunter refusing to teach her his ways. They don’t want each other, but they need each other, and without him her world will burn.

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino
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Salem’s Lot meets The Darkest Part of the Forest in this horror-fantasy retelling of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan
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New from the author of Counting Down with You comes a sparkling YA romance about an aspiring screenwriter who falls for the indie film star who goes undercover at her school.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
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Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. Fans of One of Us Is Lying and Riverdale can’t miss this page-turning who-done-it that’s sure to be the next must read Young Adult thriller!

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
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In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Destination Unknown by Bill Konigsberg
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From Stonewall Award winner Bill Konigsberg, a remarkable, funny, sexy, heartbreaking story of two teen boys finding each other in New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
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Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.

Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
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Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates.

Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho
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What would you do if the world’s biggest K-pop star asked you to prom? Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon, this hilarious and heartfelt novel brings the glamour and drama of the K-pop world straight to high school.

All Signs Point to Yes, edited by G. Haron Davis, Cam Montgomery, and Adrianne White
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A YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.

A Cruel and Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth
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Half-fae Arlo becomes entangled in the courtly intrigue at the Seelie Summer palace as danger for ironborns mounts in this gripping sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star that’s The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones.

JUNE

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
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Secrets. Lies. Super-bad choices. Witchcraft. This is Our Crooked Hearts, a darkly gripping contemporary fantasy from Melissa Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

The Song That Moves the Sun by Anna Bright
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This sweeping YA fantasy romance full of star-crossed love, complex female friendship, and astrological magic is perfect for fans of Laini Taylor, Alexandra Bracken, and V.E. Schwab. From the acclaimed author of The Beholder.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede
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Emily Thiede’s exciting fantasy debut, This Vicious Grace, will keep readers turning the pages until the devastating conclusion and leave them primed for more!

Blade Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
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In the sequel to Victoria Aveyard’s instant #1 New York Times bestselling Realm Breaker, a divided world must rally, an unstoppable enemy must be defeated, and the fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

This Place Is Still Beautiful by XiXi Tian
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A sweeping debut novel about first love, complicated family dynamics, and the pernicious legacy of racism. Perfect for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Jandy Nelson, and Emily X.R. Pan, with crossover appeal for readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.

Valiant Ladies by Melissa Grey
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Two teen vigilantes set off on an action-packed investigation to expose corruption and deliver justice in Valiant Ladies, Melissa Grey’s YA historical fiction novel inspired by real seventeenth century Latinx teenagers known as the Valiant Ladies of Potosí.

Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J. Redwine
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The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart —from C.J. Redwine, the author of the Defiance series and the New York Times bestselling Ravenspire series. Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, And I Darken, and Ash Princess.

Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel
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The Dream Runners by Shveta Thakrar
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Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
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For Dracula lovers and fans of Diana Urban’s All Your Twisted Secrets, this spine-tingling thriller follows seven horror buffs as their dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare when they begin to be killed one by one.

Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard
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Game of Strength and Storm is a YA gender-bent Hercules retelling. Teenagers of Olympia Gen and Castor race to be the first to complete six nearly impossible challenges to obtain their greatest desire. Only one will win. The other walks away with nothing—if she walks away at all.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow
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I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

What 2022 YA book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 72 Upcoming YA Book Releases To Add To Your TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected–and that she knows what happened to her.

Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?

Anything that is compared to Sadie by Courtney Summers, one of my all-time favourite books, is something that I instantly need in my life. When you combine that with a razor-sharp mystery and the fact that it’s inspired by Rebecca, you have me utterly sold.

Frick takes the essence of Rebecca in all its shine-chilling, Gothic beauty and infuses it into a thrilling mystery. It reignites the spirit of the classic and gives it a fresh and new feel to it. Information is drip-fed to you through multiple timelines, allowing for a slow build of atmosphere and this constant unsettling sense of not being able to trust anyone. Everyone is a suspect and for a lot of the book you’ll go back and forth on whether Anna indeed committed the crime. That sense of déjà vu that haunts Rebecca is so prevalent here, with Anna’s uncanny resemblance to Zoe and the secrets that are slowly unravelled. Every character is carefully sketched out so a cloud of secrets looms above them, with salacious hints of affairs, obsession, and scandals.

The mystery is so well-constructed and imagined. You become utterly wrapped up, spawning theories left and right as new clues are uncovered. Frick has crafted an incredible riveting mystery that makes it so hard to stop reading. As I read, my mind kept whirring as it thought up new potential theories. When a book consumes your every waking thought, you know it’s a good one and it’s what a mystery should achieve. Frick delivers all that and more. It’s definitely worth re-reading as it’s so interesting to see the breadcrumb trail of tiny hints that lead up to the big reveals. Like any good mystery writer, Frick tosses us a multitude of plot hints, threads, and potential red herrings to keep you constantly on your toes. You really can’t trust anyone you meet. While reading, you have to be constantly suspicious and looking for clues. This type of engagement in a book is so rare and it is an impressive feat.

I Killed Zoe Spanos utilises two alternating timelines (earlier in the summer and after the confession) and interludes of the podcast. It is the latter feature that reminds readers of Sadie, as it feels like such a real podcast that would definitely be a smash-hit. Using this allows the reader to feel more involved and part of the story, keeping you glued to the page. However, it is also similar to Sadie in its incisive, deeply feminist writing. Frick offers biting social commentary on the role of women and privilege, including an excellent conversation about white privilege. A lot of the book revolves around both media and public perceptions of people, showing how easily these can be manipulated and influenced by our own implicit biases. Frick plays with these expectations expertly, often exploiting assumptions that you may have made in order to surprise you.

On the flipside, Frick also offers a quieter study of guilt and grief alongside the dramatic mystery. It’s an emotionally charged story with a lot of introspective character study. This is particularly evident through Anna’s perspective. She may be somewhat unreliable and untrustworthy, but you can only reveal the truth by peeking into her mind. The structure really complimented the twisty nature of the story so much and the parallels within it. For example, the book’s opening and closing lines are both ‘I killed Zoe Spanos’, giving it this unsettling feeling of inevitable destruction.

I Killed Zoe Spanos is a stand-out YA thriller of 2020, with a dark and entrancing tone that will keep you hooked until that explosive final reveal.

I Killed Zoe Spanos is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up I Killed Zoe Spanos? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

This gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost.

What happened to Zoe won’t stay buried…

When Anna Cicconi arrives to the small Hamptons village of Herron Mills for a summer nanny gig, she has high hopes for a fresh start. What she finds instead is a community on edge after the disappearance of Zoe Spanos, a local girl who has been missing since New Year’s Eve. Anna bears an eerie resemblance to Zoe, and her mere presence in town stirs up still-raw feelings about the unsolved case. As Anna delves deeper into the mystery, stepping further and further into Zoe’s life, she becomes increasingly convinced that she and Zoe are connected–and that she knows what happened to her.

Two months later, Zoe’s body is found in a nearby lake, and Anna is charged with manslaughter. But Anna’s confession is riddled with holes, and Martina Green, teen host of the Missing Zoe podcast, isn’t satisfied. Did Anna really kill Zoe? And if not, can Martina’s podcast uncover the truth?

The post Review: I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth
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Saoirse doesn’t believe in love at first sight or happy endings. But after a chance encounter at an end-of-term house party, Saoirse is about to break her own rules. For a girl with one blue freckle, an irresistible sense of mischief, and a passion for rom-coms.

Influence by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham
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Get ready to delve into the world of teen influencers like you’ve never done before–from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS Sara Shepard and sixteen-year-old actress and social media personality Lilia Buckingham comes a twisty mystery that takes place in the fiercely competitive world of Internet stars. (Note: Influence has now been pushed back to January 2021)

Rebel Spy by Veronica Rossi
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A reimagining of the story behind Agent 355–a New York society girl and spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War–perfect for fans of Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key and the novels of Julie Berry.

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee
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The world of K-Pop has never met a star like this. Debut author Lyla Lee delivers a deliciously fun, thoughtful rom-com celebrating confidence and body positivity—perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Julie Murphy.

You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
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Liz’s plans to attend the uber-elite Pennington College come crashing down until she’s reminded of her school’s scholarship for prom king and queen. There’s nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, and the only thing that makes it halfway bearable is the new girl in school, Mack. But Mack is also in the running for queen. Will falling for the competition keep Liz from her dreams . . . or make them come true?

Category Five by Ann Dávila Cardinal
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Category Five is a new supernatural YA thriller from Ann Dávila Cardinal, set against the backdrop of a post-hurricane Puerto Rico.

I Think I Love You by Auriane Desombre
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A YA contemporary rom com about arch-nemeses Emma, a die-hard romantic, and more-practical minded Sophia who find themselves competing against one another for a coveted first-prize trip to a film festival in Los Angeles . . . what happens if their rivalry turns into a romance?

Hood by Jenny Elder Moke
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In Hood, author Jenny Elder Moke reimagines the world of Robin Hood in lush, historical detail and imbues her story with more breathless action than has ever come out of Sherwood Forest before. This novel is a must-read for historical-fiction fans, adventure lovers, and reluctant readers alike!

The Damned by Renée Ahdieh
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New York Times bestselling author Renée Ahdieh returns with the second instalment of her new sumptuous, sultry and romantic series, The Beautiful.

I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick
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This gripping thriller follows two teens whose lives become inextricably linked when one confesses to murder and the other becomes determined to uncover the real truth no matter the cost.

The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson
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It’s a new modern-day, star-crossed romance about what it really means to love your country—and yourself—from the acclaimed author of We Are the Ants and Brave Face, Shaun David Hutchinson.

You Say It First by Katie Cotugno
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You Say It First is a propulsive, layered novel about how sometimes the person who has the least in common with us can be the one who changes us most.

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

The post June 2020 Book Releases: YA appeared first on The Nerd Daily.