About The Ends of Things: A propulsive literary debut, The Ends of Things is both a thought-provoking suspense and a meditation on female friendship and agency—perfect for fans of The White Lotus and authors like Catherine Steadman and Rachel Hawkins.

Beauty and danger. These seem to be the key features of a successful thriller—and a perfect beach book. Many of us reach for thrillers when we’re headed on vacation, but at first glance, it seems counterintuitive: We go on holiday because we want to escape the stress of our hectic lives. So, if it’s rest and relaxation we’re after, why do we choose to read about murder and mayhem?

To help understand this apparent contradiction, it helps to go back, way back, to the Ancient Greeks. They recognized a dichotomy in human nature—the need for order and the need for chaos. This duality was epitomized in their literary concepts of the Apollonian and the Dionysian. Apollonian refers to ideas like order and reason, logic and harmony. Dionysian refers to disorder and irrationality, passion and chaos. Opposites to be sure, but they’re interconnected. Nietzsche wrote about how these two forces of human nature pop up in Greek tragedies all the time.

So, what’s the payoff for feeling this tension between order and chaos? Catharsis—a release of negative emotions. In some ways, the same is true of vacation. We journey to a foreign land to escape, yes, but also to reflect on our problems, so that we can return to our lives refreshed, with a new perspective.

Reading a beachy mystery, then, only enhances our cathartic experience. We become engrossed in the story, and every suspenseful twist and turn dredges up negative emotions we might be struggling with in our own lives. When we reach the resolution, we experience a purging of these emotions, heave a sigh of relief and feel better.

Here are five delicious mysteries and thrillers to feed our obsession with bad things happening in beautiful places:

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

A fast-paced mystery about the disappearance of two siblings, fourteen years apart, at an idyllic summer camp in the Adirondacks. The missing children are no ordinary campers either – they’re the kids of the family that owns the camp and employs the locals.

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

When a wealthy industrialist hires conman Tom Ripley to bring his prodigal son Dickie home from Europe, Tom travels to beautiful Italy to find Dickie. But Tom’s gradual obsession with Dickie and his decadent lifestyle soon turns deadly.

The Ends of Things by Sandra Chwialkowska

When a solo female traveler disappears from a lux beach resort in the Bahamas, fellow vacationer Laura becomes obsessed with the missing woman and embroiled in the police investigation that unfolds.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

When someone is found dead at an elementary school fundraiser in the scenic Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia, suspects and motives abound. A thrilling mystery told in multiple perspectives that centers on three mothers – Celeste, Jane, and Madeline – and their families and friends, in the leadup to the night of the murder.

The Guest by Emma Cline

Set in the Hamptons in the last days of summer, The Guest follows Alex, an enigmatic drifter on the run for mysterious reasons, who skillfully ingratiates herself with the Long Island elite.

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Releasing on December 1, The Last Caretaker is an empowering and harrowing story about a woman in search of a new beginning who is put to the test in ways she never imagined.

I don’t always have a personal connection to the subject matter of my novels: With a background in magazine journalism, I’m not afraid to tackle research-intensive topics I know little about to start. I’ve written fiction about the fraught search for a kidney donor (A Million Reasons Why), the fascinating role of end-of-life doulas (The Next Thing You Know), and even parental kidnapping (Almost Missed You). But when it comes to domestic violence, I found out the hard way that we’re all just one tragedy away from the worst kind of crash course—into warning signs we must have missed.

My favorite novels that draw awareness to this important—and shockingly common—issue don’t merely use an abusive spouse as an antagonist but give meaningful insight into the slow-burn danger of abuse and what it takes to break the cycle. And they do it by being empowering and engaging rather than heavy-handed or depressing.

Two of my own novels feature women on the run, but from entirely different perspectives: Not That I Could Tell, in which a young mom’s neighbors are baffled by her disappearance after a backyard bonfire, and my latest, The Last Caretaker, in which a woman accepts a job as resident caretaker at a nature reserve only to realize her new home doubles as a safehouse for a secret network that helps women in danger escape. Here’s a shortlist of other such page-turners from authors I admire:

Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle

Many readers know Kimberly Belle from her blockbuster The Marriage Lie, but of all her riveting novels, this is my favorite. One woman is finally enacting her carefully laid escape plan, while another has gone missing—and the way their stories twist together is jaw-droppingly clever. The authentic voices of the hunted—and the hunter—will chill you to the bone.

Goodbye Earl by Leesa Cross-Smith

The subtitle, written right on the cover in smashed cherry pie, says it all: This is “A Revenge Novel,” and it’s every bit as irreverent (and dare I say fun) as the “Chicks” song it borrows its title from. Goodbye Earl is a celebration of friendship, tight-knit circles, and how far we’ll go to protect the people we love.

A Light in the Forest by Melissa Payne

Motherhood is at the heart of this story, where a woman flees her abusive husband with little but her baby in her arms—and ends up tracing her own mother’s footsteps back into a past she knows little about. Payne builds a community around her characters while keeping us guessing if they’ll ever feel safe.

Hadley and Grace by Suzanne Redfearn

I adore road trip stories, as well as characters who make unlikely, mismatched pairs. Hadley and Grace has both: Two very different women who find themselves on the run from a common enemy, each with her own reasons—and secrets. There’s a Thelma and Louise quality to this story that I bet you’ll love as much as I do.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

This story begins with an irresistible premise: A homeless woman saves a rich attorney’s wife from throwing herself into the ocean to escape the husband she thinks of as her captor. But if you think you know where this story is going, think again: It’s one of the most twisty books I’ve ever read.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

It’s not just a woman who goes missing here, it’s a young couple: But the story immediately raises questions of obsession, control, and the reckless nature of any crime of passion. Lisa Jewell masterfully populates her trail of clues with seemingly unrelated characters who are so authentic, you won’t soon forget them.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

There’s a reason Colleen Hoover is dominating the bestseller lists: Her novels are compulsively readable, and this one makes a tough topic accessible and sympathetic, without simplifying a complicated issue. There’s romance, there’s danger—and there’s strength and determination readers will relate to.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

If you haven’t read the book or seen the HBO adaptation, you’re missing out on one of the best ensemble cast stories of domestic abuse where we least expect it—and the shame that keeps it behind closed doors.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

For the young adult reader in your life, this book is an important and accessible foray into how it all starts. Dessen is wonderful at writing vulnerable teenage characters who find themselves in over their heads, and breaking down perceptions that abusive relationships only happen to “other people.”

Giving the Devil His Due: A Charity Anthology

I confess I’m not an avid short story reader, but I’m including this anthology because of its mission: Proceeds support The Pixel Project global nonprofit to stop gender-based violence. Stories contributed by sixteen award-winning fantasy, science-fiction and horror writers offer different spins on a theme: predators and abusers who “meet their comeuppance in uncanny ways.”

The post Empowering Page Turners About Women Who’ve Had Enough appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Releasing on September 1st, Don’t Forget To Write is set in 1960 and follows a young woman who discovers a freedom she never knew existed.

When a plot twist is done well, it not only surprises readers, but it also changes the entire story. When you’re reading a thriller, you know it’s coming. But when an author really throws you for a loop in another genre, it often means the difference between a book you never think about again and a book you can’t stop thinking about. The twist can’t come out of nowhere—there have to be subtle clues that will have readers flipping back pages if not rereading the whole thing. My personal favorites have a little ambiguity as well, leaving me trying to talk about their endings with the enthusiasm that Crossfitters have when they talk about Crossfit.

So without spoilers, here are five books with plot twists so great you won’t Forget to Write about them!

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Okay, I know. You’re thinking the plot twist is that I didn’t pick The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for this. But the twist in Daisy Jones is, in my opinion better, because it really does reframe the entire story. And it had me on the edge of my seat during the last episode of the series to make sure they didn’t change it. Because love Daisy or hate her, that ending gives new meaning to the entire book and is likely why I’m still blasting “Regret Me” in my car.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I figured out ONE of the twists early on. I’m hard to stump with that. But the other? Nope. You got me. And the bond that these women form through their shared trauma really makes the climax of this story of unlikely friendships so much more powerful.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Is this book more scandalous because that twist may have been inspired by something real that came from the author’s conservation work in Zambia? Yes. But that doesn’t take away from what is the most glorious ending to this story. This is another case of me figuring out one twist, then getting walloped when there turned out to be a second, bigger one at the very end.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Good grief. Actually, that would have been a great title for this book. Because that’s really what it is. But that ending! And the twist makes the real title so much more poignant, because there’s no such thing for Briony—there are some wrongs that cannot be undone. It honestly made me want to call my brother and apologize for every mean thing I ever did to him when we were kids because you never know when it will be too late.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Yes, it came out over twenty years ago. But this book absolutely broke me—both the surface story and the twist. And honestly? It’s hard to determine which is more tragic. It’s a book I wish I could go back and experience for the first time because there are so few twists that rival this one. It would be like watching The Sixth Sense for the first time. You will never again be as innocent as you were at the start of the story.

And one last bonus book: Don’t Forget to Write!

What are your favourite book plot twists? Don’t Forget to Write them in the comments!

The post Books With Surprise Endings You Won’t Forget To Write About appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them!

The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An African tightrope walker who can’t die gets embroiled in a secret society’s deadly gladiatorial tournament in this thrilling historical fantasy set in an alternate 1880s London, perfect for fans of The Last Magician and The Gilded Wolves.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A Man Called Ove meets The Good Place in Under the Whispering Door, a delightful queer love story from TJ Klune, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Nice Girls by Catherine Dang
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A pulse-pounding and deviously dark debut, written with the psychological acuity and emotional punch of Luckiest Girl Alive and All the Missing Girls, that explores the hungry, angry, dark side of girlhood and dares to ask what is most dangerous to a woman: showing the world what it wants to see, or who she really is?

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
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Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
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Lee Mandelo’s debut Summer Sons is a sweltering, queer Southern Gothic that crosses Appalachian street racing with academic intrigue, all haunted by a hungry ghost.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, a gloriously entertaining novel of heists, shakedowns, and rip-offs set in Harlem in the 1960s.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
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From New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer comes a blockbuster fantasy series about a kingdom divided by corruption, the prince desperately holding it together, and the girl who will risk everything to bring it crashing down.

My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Paloma thought her perfect life would begin once she was adopted and made it to America, but she’s about to find out that no matter how far you run, your past always catches up to you…

So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
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Four young Black sisters come of age during the American Civil War in So Many Beginnings, a warm and powerful YA remix of the classic novel Little Women by national bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
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New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.

Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers comes a novel that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest

Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this much-anticipated series opener, fate binds two Black teenagers together as they strike a dangerous alliance to hunt down the creature menacing their home—and uncover ancient deadly secrets.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget. Rock Paper Scissors is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney.

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two best friends say “I do” to living together, for better or worse, in this bold women’s fiction novel from Alexa Martin.

What September 2021 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The locked room mystery has been around for a long time, with a popular example being Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, where ten strangers are lured to an island, and start dying off one by one. The appeal is that the physical limitations of the story means that the person “whodunnit” has to be in the initial group of people. There is an indirect challenge to the reader to solve the crime before the final, satisfying reveal. It makes for a gripping, hair-raising read, requiring little effort other than sitting back and letting events reveal all the clues.

Here are a few modern “locked room” mysteries that will have you reading from cover-to-cover in a single-sitting. These are highly recommended for getting out of a reading rut, and escaping our very own global “locked room”.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Rowan Caine is a live-in nanny whose sole responsibility is the care of two little girls, who live in a “smart” home on the Scottish highlands, while their parents are away for work. Rowan has to contend with the emotional isolation of caring for young children, and the fact that her only adult contact with the outside world is the janitor, Jack. Add the eeriness of physical isolation, compounded by the malfunctioning technology of the house, and you have an eerie tale, told in Rachel’s desperate letters from prison to her lawyer. Something went seriously wrong, and there are only a handful of people who could have been responsible.

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin

Who doesn’t want to be stuck in a small, confined space with their work colleagues? And apparently as small as a Zoom meeting room might be, the confines of an elevator in an isolated construction site with three other people is much more stifling. Told from the alternating perspective of Sara, and one of her colleagues stuck in the elevator, things escalate quickly from what seems to be a team-building exercise, to an all-out struggle for survival. A team shares both it successes and its failures, and also the consequences of its behaviour.

They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall

Seven strangers receive an invitation to a private island under the pretense of a reality TV show competition. Told from the first-person perspective of Miriam, things quickly escalate, and they realise that they have each been brought to the island for a secret they’ve been harbouring, and it’s time for a reckoning. This one is directly inspired by, and is a modern retelling of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is best known for Big Little Lies and her empathy and insight into people’s motivations, which is reflected in Nine Perfect Strangers. Nine people arrive at a remote wellness resort to work on varying personal goals for ten days that are meant to change their lives. Their lives do change, but not as advertised in the brochures. There’s something not quite right about Tranquilium House, and ultimately the guests have to decide what their true values and priorities are.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A weekend at a hotel in the snowy mountains sounds like the perfect cozy getaway, even if it means a storm has cut off the hotel staff and eight guests from civilisation. That’s until one guest dies mysteriously, and then another. As the body count rises, paranoia sets in and the accusations fly. By the time the police arrive, the guests and staff have been through a harrowing experience.

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

Three year old Coco Jackson goes missing at her family’s vacation home after her father’s 50th birthday party, and is never seen again. The mystery goes unsolved until the death of the father, Sean Jackson, many years later. Sean’s family and their friends finally meet for his funeral and attempt to bury the past, only to dig it up and have to face it first. There is no way anyone could see this conclusion coming!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Set on a private island, the Sinclair cousins meet when their families visit in the summer. The relationships between their parents and their grandparents have an inevitable, lasting effect on their summers and the rest of their lives. It’s a beautiful, quiet, yet suspenseful read, that has you gasping at the conclusion, which again, you will never see coming!

The Last by Hanna Jameson

Set in a world that quickly unraveled after an apocalyptic nuclear event, twenty guests deal with their abrupt disconnection from life as they knew it. They also contend with each other as resources deplete and a body is discovered in the hotel’s water tank. Events are narrated through the eyes of Jon, a historian by occupation who is away from his wife and two kids, and describes how we cope when we are forced to deal with the unthinkable.

The Guest List by Lisa Foley

Set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, The Guest List is the tale of events that take place at a wedding. It’s told from the first-person perspectives of the wedding planner Aoife, Jules the bride, Hannah the “plus-one”, Johnno the best man, and Olivia the bridesmaid. The varying points of view make for a dizzying read, that digs into each of the characters personalities and motives. It’s a slow burn that will have you wondering who the victim was, who murdered them, and why.

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

The post 9 Locked Room Mystery Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s also new releases from Lian Moriarty, Khaled Hosseini, and Paulo Coelho. Need a little history of fantasy? The Lost Queen follows Languoreth, the twin sister of the man who inspired the legendary character of Merlin, while The Silence of the Girls focuses on the timeless legend of The Iliad, as experienced by the captured women living in the Greek camp in the final weeks of the Trojan War.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Scott Westerfeld returns to the world of Uglies in this new series. Frey and Rafi are inseparable . . . but very few people have ever seen them together. This is because Frey is Rafi’s double, raised in the shadow’s of their rich father’s fortress. While Rafi has been taught to charm, Frey has been taught to kill. Frey only exists to protect her sister. There is no other part of her life. Frey has never been out in the world on her own – until her father sends her in Rafi’s place to act as collateral for a dangerous deal. Everyone thinks she’s her sister – but Col, the son of a rival leader, is starting to get close enough to tell the difference. As the stakes grow higher and higher, Frey must decide whether she can trust him – or anyone in her life.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The retreat at health and wellness resort Tranquillum House promises total transformation. Nine stressed city dwellers are keen to drop their literal and mental baggage, and absorb the meditative ambience while enjoying their hot stone massages. Watching over them is the resort’s director, a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. These nine perfect strangers have no idea what is about to hit them.

Vengeful by VE Schwab
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In the sequel to Vicious, Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there’s Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn’t know about his most recent act of vengeance. Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.

Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini
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A short, powerful, illustrated book written by beloved novelist Khaled Hosseini in response to the current refugee crisis, Sea Prayer is composed in the form of a letter, from a father to his son, on the eve of their journey. Watching over his sleeping son, the father reflects on the dangerous sea-crossing that lies before them. It is also a vivid portrait of their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city’s swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
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Mists of Avalon meets Philippa Gregory in the first book of an exciting historical trilogy that reveals the untold story of Languoreth—a powerful and, until now, tragically forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legendary character of Merlin.

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the Booker Prize-winning author of the Regeneration trilogy comes a monumental new masterpiece, set in the midst of literature’s most famous war. Pat Barker turns her attention to the timeless legend of The Iliad , as experienced by the captured women living in the Greek camp in the final weeks of the Trojan War.

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this third instalment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Dare You To Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When her FBI agent father is framed for murder, Kylene is forced to move in with her grandfather, back to the small town that turned its back on her, and the boy who betrayed her. All Ky cares about is clearing her father’s name, but someone won’t let her forget the photo scandal that drove her away two years ago. As the threats gain momentum, Ky finds an unlikely ally in the rookie FBI agent sent to keep an eye on her. Determined to expose the town’s hidden skeletons, Ky unwittingly thrusts herself into a much bigger plot. They thought she’d forgive and forget. They’re about to learn they messed with the wrong girl.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Elizabeth Lavenza is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything–except a friend. Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable–and it works. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth’s survival depends on managing Victor’s dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.

In Her Bones by Kate Moretti
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Fifteen years ago, Lilith Wade was arrested for the brutal murder of six women. After a death row conviction, media frenzy, and the release of an unauthorized biography, her thirty-year-old daughter Edie Beckett is just trying to survive out of the spotlight. She’s a recovering alcoholic with a dead-end city job and an unhealthy codependent relationship with her brother. Edie also has a disturbing secret: a growing obsession with the families of Lilith’s victims. She’s desperate to see how they’ve managed—or failed—to move on. While her escalating fixation is a problem, she’s careful to keep her distance. That is, until she crosses a line and a man is found murdered…

Hippie by Paulo Coelho
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Hippie, his most autobiographical novel to date, Paulo Coelho takes us back in time to re-live the dream of a generation that longed for peace and dared to challenge the established social order – authoritarian politics, conservative modes of behavior, excessive consumerism, and an unbalanced concentration of wealth and power.

The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
Goodreads | Amazon

From the New York Times bestselling authors of The Forgotten Room comes a captivating historical mystery, infused with romance, that links the lives of three women across a century—two deep in the past, one in the present—to the doomed passenger liner, RMS Lusitania.

Check out our other September book picks on our Goodreads list!

Any other releases you’re excited to read this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post September Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I don’t know about you, but I will admit: books and television are a few of my life’s greatest joys. And occasionally, when the two get put together, magic happens!

We’ve compiled a list of 10 great TV series that you may not have known were adapted from books! This list is perfect if you’re looking for something to cross off challenge #34 from The Nerd Daily’s 2018 Reading Challenge—a book adapted into a TV series. So whether you’re looking to cozy up with a cup of tea and a great book, or pop some popcorn and binge-watch a quality show, this list is certain to help you find what you’re looking for!

Read on to discover 10 TV series you may not have known were adapted from books, and let us know in the comments below which ones you’ll be checking out!

Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) | Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang

Based on chef Eddie Huang’s best-selling memoir of the same name, “Fresh Off the Boat” takes a humorous look at the lives of immigrants in America. In the 1990s, Eddie, a hip-hop-loving 11-year-old, relocates with his parents and two brothers to suburban Orlando from the Chinatown section of Washington, D.C. As Eddie’s dad, Louis, pursues the American dream by opening a Western-themed restaurant named Cattleman’s Ranch Steakhouse, Eddie and the rest of the family try to acclimate to their new, strange surroundings.

The 100 (The CW) | The 100 by Kass Morgan

When nuclear Armageddon destroys civilisation on Earth, the only survivors are those on the 12 international space stations in orbit at the time. Three generations later, the 4,000 survivors living on a space ark of linked stations see their resources dwindle and face draconian measures established to ensure humanity’s future. Desperately looking for a solution, the ark’s leaders send 100 juvenile prisoners back to the planet to test its habitability. Having always lived in space, the exiles find the planet fascinating and terrifying, but with the fate of the human race in their hands, they must forge a path into the unknown.

Big Little Lies (HBO) | Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Based on the same-titled best-seller by Liane Moriarty, “Big Little Lies” weaves a darkly comedic tale of murder and mischief in the tranquil beachfront town of Monterey, Calif. Amidst doting mothers, successful husbands, beautiful children, and stunning homes exists a community fuelled by rumours and divided into haves and have-nots, exposing fractured relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbours. Told through the eyes of three mothers — Madeline, Celeste and Jane — the series’ narrative explores society’s myths regarding perfection and its romanticization of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley star as the three prominent “mothers of Monterey.”

Alias Grace (Netflix) | Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

Based on the 1996 Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, “Alias Grace” tells the story of young Grace Marks, a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who is accused and convicted of the 1843 murder of her employer and his housekeeper. Stablehand James McDermott is also convicted of the crime. McDermott is hanged, but Grace is sentenced to life in prison, leading her to become one of the most notorious women of the period in Canada. The story is based on actual 19th-century events.

Olive Kitteridge (HBO) | Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Oscar-winner Frances McDormand (“Fargo”) and Oscar-nominee Richard Jenkins (“The Visitor”) star in the four-part drama “Olive Kitteridge,” adapted from Elizabeth Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which spans 25 years. Outspoken middle school teacher Olive has a complex relationship with husband Henry, a good-hearted, selfless pharmacist. She is very critical, and he finds her harsh and hurtful, yet each has traits the other adores, but their son, Christopher, resents her behaviour and hates his dad being a victim. The program depicts life in a coastal town and the effects of mental illness.

The Sinner (USA) | The Sinner by Petra Hammesfahr

Young mother Cora Tannetti is overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage that leads her to commit a startling — and very public — act of violence, with no explanation as to why she did it. When Detective Harry Ambrose begins his investigation and grows obsessed with uncovering Cora’s hidden motive, the two work together to try to get deep into her psyche to learn about the violent secrets that are hidden in her past. The eight-episode thriller — which tries to uncover the “why” instead of the “who” or “what” — stars Jessica Biel, who also serves as an executive producer, and Bill Pullman in the lead roles.

Dexter (Showtime) | Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter Morgan is a Miami-based blood spatter expert who doesn’t just solve murders – he commits them too. In fact, he’s a serial killer, but he only kills the guilty, so he feels justified with his lifestyle choices. His policewoman sister and his cop co-workers have no idea Dexter lives a double life; however, adoptive father Harry knows his secret, and does, in fact, help Dexter hone his skills. It’s a unique brand of justice for which charming Dexter feels a psychological hunger.

Queen Sugar (OWN) | Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile

“Queen Sugar” tells the story of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Louisiana. At the center of the family are Nova, a journalist and activist; Charley, the wife and manager of an NBA player; and formerly incarcerated father Ralph Angel, who is searching for redemption. Following a tragedy in the family, the siblings must put their complicated lives aside so that they can come together to run the clan’s struggling sugar cane farm. Also involved in the farm are Aunt Violet and family friend Remy Newell.

Mindhunter (Netflix) | Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas

Catching a criminal often requires the authorities to get inside the villain’s mind to figure out how he thinks. That’s the job of FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench. They attempt to understand and catch serial killers by studying their damaged psyches. Along the way, the agents pioneer the development of modern serial-killer profiling. The crime drama has a strong pedigree behind the camera, with Oscar-nominated director David Fincher and Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron among the show’s executive producers.

The Leftovers (HBO) | The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

In a global cataclysm, “The Sudden Departure,” 140 million people disappeared without a trace. Three years later, residents of Mapleton, N.Y., try to maintain equilibrium when the notion of “normal” no longer applies. Intense grief has divided families and turned faith to cynicism, paranoia and madness, leading some of the traumatized to join the Guilty Remnant, a cultlike group. Kevin Garvey, a beleaguered police chief, must keep peace between townspeople and the cult, a task made tougher with concern about his kids. His daughter alternates between apathy and rebellion, and his wayward son befriends a charismatic prophet. “The Leftovers” is based on the best-seller by Tom Perrotta, who is one of the series’ executive producers.

Will you be checking out any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

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With a star-studded cast, the 7-episode miniseries is set in the seaside town of Monterey, California, but with small little towns, nothing ever appears to be as it seems. Filled with doting mothers, successful husbands, adorable children and beautiful homes, what lies will they tell to keep their perfect lives from unravelling.

The series will be told from the perspective of three mothers: Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and Jane (Shailene Woodley) who paint a picture of a town fuelled by rumours and lies. Conflict, secrets and betrayals are revealed which will compromise relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbors.

The darkly comedic drama weaves a tale of murder and mischief as it explores society’s myth of perfection and the contradictions that exist beneath our idealized façade of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship.

The series is directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club and Wild) and written for television and created by David E. Kelley (seven-time Emmy winner for Picket Fences, LA Law, The Practice and Ally McBeal). Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman also executive produced the series.

Big Little Lies stars Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård and Adam Scott.

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