About Floreana: On the Galápagos Islands, the lives of two women―a century apart―converge in the most startling ways in a historical novel of desperate love, secrets, and deception by the author of My Last Continent.

Being on a faraway island can seem like paradise—until it isn’t.

Often in real life (and always in literature) things can go sideways for those who find themselves on a remote island, far removed from their regularly scheduled lives and from society’s expectations. My novel, Floreana, set on the isolated Galápagos island of the same name, is narrated by two women separated by 100 years, whose stories show how being so far away can feel like freedom while often turning out to be anything but.

Both characters—one a Berlin hausfrau who flees to Floreana with her lover, the other a penguin researcher back in the field after a decade away—hope to find an escape on Floreana, only to end up facing the very challenges they’d hoped to outrun: questions about life, love, who they really are, and what their future holds. Whether fleeing to a desert island to start a new life or to save an endangered species, paradise is hard work—especially if you’re carrying your secrets with you.

And in fiction, islands aren’t merely settings but can be characters as well. The island of Floreana is haunting and capricious, seeing would-be settlers come and go while constantly plunging inhabitants into drought, then turning around and providing a tantalizing bounty of tropical fruits and veggies. And, of course, islands are moody; dramatic weather nearly always comes with the territory.

What I love about books set in remote place is that characters are forced to come to terms with themselves—usually when they’re looking to avoid doing just that. As the saying goes, “No matter where you go, there you are.” These 7 books feature tales of how the effects of isolation can lead humans to act in unexpected ways, for better or worse, as well as how it can help them discover who they truly are.

The Dolphin House by Audrey Schulman

In Audrey Schulman’s The Dolphin House, a young woman flees her Florida home after being sexually harassed at her job for the last time and travels to the island of St. Thomas, where she comes across a man-made sluice leading into a lagoon that holds four wild dolphins. Cora, who is hard of hearing above water, hears very well underwater, and she gets into the water with the dolphins in order to hear them better. The resident scientists, who actually know very little about the dolphins, hire her immediately, and she connects with the animals in ways no one has before, learning about the dolphins, herself, and her place in the world. Inspired by a true story about dolphin research in St. Thomas in the 1960s, this novel portrays sexism, science, and animal intelligence in a beautiful tribute to the natural world.

 

Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smith

In Alexis M. Smith’s novel Marrow Island, a devastating earthquake and the oil refinery accident that follows leave the island uninhabitable—or so the inhabitants believe. As it turns out, decades later there is a thriving community of “colonists” living there—but not all is as it appears.  Former islander Lucie Bowen returns to witness an astonishing transformation, and what she finds is both inspiring and devastating. Marrow Island, a book as much about a woman’s attempts to reconnect with her past as it is about the environment, reveals the connections between disasters natural and man-made, between relationships past and present, and how we recover—or do not—from landscapes forever changed.

 

 

Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Galápagos, which will see its fortieth birthday in 2025, still feels relevant as a story about a small group of people who end up stranded on a (fictional) Galápagos island after a global financial meltdown. Told from the perspective of a descendant of the survivors who is looking back one million years later, this novel reveals how much more difficult life was in the 1980s, when our oversized human brains led to society’s downfall. From our arrogance to our ability to deceive to our great capacity for denial, having a big brain was nothing but trouble. With Vonnegut’s signature wit and wisdom, this is a survival story of the fittest.

 

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

In this stunning novel set at a lighthouse on an isolated point of land, a grieving couple rescue an infant, adrift at sea with her deceased father, and claim her as their own. Still mourning her miscarriages and stillbirth, Isabel convinces her reluctant husband, Tom, that the baby who washed ashore is meant to be theirs. Living in isolation, they can live their uneasy family dream until they return to the mainland when the child is two—and realize their actions didn’t happen in isolation after all.

 

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

This twisty psychological thriller begins in the 1950s with two U.S. Marshals visiting the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on the Alcatraz-like Shutter Island, where the hospital was once a military barracks. The Marshals are there to investigate the disappearance of one of the hospital’s patients, but Teddy Daniels has his own agenda, and the story, addled with suspicion about experiments and psychotropic drugs, gets darker and more sinister along the way. A catastrophic hurricane stranding them on the island adds to the tension of the story, which ends with a spectacular twist.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Being trapped on an island, whether with friends or strangers, makes for a great thriller—like Lucy Foley’s The Guest List. The haunting atmosphere of the secluded Irish setting—a tiny island off the coast, cut off from the mainland, in the midst of a raging storm—makes the location a character in itself, and the bad behavior of the humans keeps the tension rising, especially when one of them turns up dead. The seething jealousies and the luxurious amenities make this a wedding to die for, and it’s pure deadly fun.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Among the most famous of island novels, Lord of the Flies is the poster child for what can go wrong when stranded in total isolation. When seven British schoolboys are stuck on an uninhabited island, order descends into chaos and imagination turns into paranoia—and none of it ends well. This classic novel remains one of the most insightful, if quite terrifying, glimpses into human nature—with the island as the instigator of what we all may be capable of.

The post Seven Books About Islands and Isolation appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With new releases from Josh Malerman, Lucy Foley, Nicola Yoon, Claudia Gray, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and many more, there are plenty of new June 2024 book releases to get excited about this month!

Read on to discover a few picks hitting shelves this month from rich historicals to thrillers, and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any!

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

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A chilling horror novel about a haunting told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy,” from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box

Anna Bright Is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall

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The Dropout meets Inventing Anna in this cinematic and page-turning summer read! A ripped-from-the-headlines story set in the glossy offices of Silicon Valley startups and NYC new media, Anna Bright Is Hiding Something explores our fascination with female founders breaking barriers—and sometimes behaving badly in the process.

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

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In this clever, surprising, page-turner, the world’s most lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It’s a kill-or-be-killed situation, but the first option is off the table. What’s a reformed hit man to do?

In A Dark Mirror by Kat Davis

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A decade-old crime unites its devoted fans in a haunting novel about delusions in the dark and the dangerous games children play.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

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Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin… The deliciously twisty new locked room murder mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List and The Paris Apartment

Do What Godmother Says by L.S. Stratton

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A modern-day writer and a Harlem Renaissance artist are connected by a painting with a deadly secret in this gripping dual-timeline gothic thriller. 

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

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Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom—reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

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A hotly-anticipated and endlessly provocative new thriller of race and privilege set in an all-Black gated community from #1 New York Times best-selling author Nicola Yoon

The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck

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From the glamorous world of D.C. Intelligence to the sultry shores of the Straits of Florida, The Last Twelve Miles is based on the true story of two women masterminds trying to outwit each other in a dangerous and fascinating high stakes game.

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

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From the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that “hits like a sledgehammer . . . an absolutely must-read novel” (Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl).

The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh by Claudia Gray

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The third book in the Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney Mystery series, which finds the amateur sleuths facing their most daunting challenge yet: preventing the murder of the imperious Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel

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A woman’s ambitions clash with familial expectations in a captivating novel about generational secrets and self-discovery by the bestselling author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave.

The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas

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Acclaimed author Trisha R. Thomas delivers a masterful new tale of scandal and intuition. In 1950s oil-rich Oklahoma, Bailey Dowery, a dressmaker with the gift of “second sight,” reluctantly reveals the true loves and intentions of her socialite clients, making her a silent witness to a shocking crime.

Bear by Julia Phillips

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A mesmerizing novel of two sisters whose lives are upended by an unexpected visitor—a tale of family, obsession, and a mysterious creature in the woods, by the celebrated, bestselling author of Disappearing Earth.

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd

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The gripping follow up to the “smart, stylish, and savage” (People) New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick The Club—a twisty mystery involving a cursed wealthy family and a Surrealist painting which holds the key to three suspicious deaths over the course of a century.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

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A bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming story about one young woman’s attempt to navigate adulthood, new motherhood, and her meager bank account in our increasingly online world—from the PEN/Faulkner finalist and critically acclaimed author of The Knockout Queen.

How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley

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A senior citizens’ center and a daycare collide with hilarious results in the new ensemble comedy from New York Times-bestselling author Clare Pooley.

The Pecan Children by Quinn Connor

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For fans of The Midnight Library and Demon Copperhead comes a breathtaking story of magical realism about two sisters, deeply tied to their small Southern town, fighting to break free of the darkness swallowing the land―and its endless cycle of pecan harvests―whole.

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

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A tender and touching novel about a young woman who discovers the family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer in North Carolina.

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron

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This epic, dazzling tale based on true events illuminates a woman of color’s rise to power as one of the few purported female pirate captains to sail the Caribbean, and the forbidden love story that will shape the course of history.

What June books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 20 New Fiction Books To Pick Up In June 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Which Paris will you pick? From the refined elegance of Dior’s world to the formality of the British Ambassador’s residence and the Gothic backstreets of Montmartre, if you’re missing travel, these books will take you to the heart of Paris!

THE FASHIONABLE MYSTERY   
The Last Dress From Paris by Jade Beer 
Part fashion treasure hunt, part family mystery, this story delivers Paris twice. Once in the (almost) present day of 2017 and, in alternating chapters, in the 1950s. Thirty-two year old Lucille is sent to Paris by her grandmother and asked to retrieve a couture Dior dress that she wore there in 1953. But almost as soon as she arrives, Lucille realises her grandmother has been economical with the facts. There starts an increasingly romantic dash across the city, retracing where not one but eight Dior looks were worn. Through Lucille’s eyes we see a modern day Paris, one that feels a long way from the life of Alice Ainsley, the young wife of the British Ambassador to France and also a lover of Dior’s collections. Desperate to break free of the constraints of her loveless marriage, Alice embarks on a thrilling affair in the 1950s that will take her all over the city for secret rendez-vous. Eventually the two timelines collide with deeply felt consequences for everyone. The book launches seventy-five years after Christian Dior unveiled his first Spring/Summer collection at 30 Avenue Montaigne, the same address where Lucille begins to understand who she really is. 

THE ROMANCE 
Paris for One & Other Stories by Jojo Moyes

Nell is forced to travel to Paris alone when her boyfriend Pete misses the train they should be boarding together in London because he’s ‘stuck at work.’ This forces a voyage of discovery as Nell, reluctantly initially, embraces the challenge of surviving the world’s worst romantic weekend, determined she is ‘going to be Parisian.’ From the simple task of getting a taxi alone from the Gare du Nord to negotiating a double-booked hotel room and eating alone in chic French cafes, things take an upward turn with the arrival of local Frenchman Fabien. This is an escapist tale of foreign romance played out in the galleries, gardens and avenues of Paris with a tick list of all the major attractions. 

THE WHODUNNIT
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

A darker, more Gothic version of Paris, set for the majority of the action inside an old and at times claustrophobic apartment block in the disorientating back streets of Montmartre. Jess arrives at her brother Ben’s address to find him missing and when he stays that way, everyone else becomes a potential suspect in his disappearance. 

Foley shows us a wealthier Paris, where the apartment’s residents hold glamorous parties, cover their walls in expensive art, and fill their cellar with vintage wine, while staff ensure the building and grounds are well tended. But hers is a seedier Paris too. Nightclubs that are a front for something far murkier and corrupt authorities who can’t be trusted. Foley’s Paris doesn’t feel safe, you wouldn’t want to wander its streets alone but as she says herself you may well love watching her characters get their just desserts.

THE COMEDY
The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy

Let’s confidently predict that from the first turn of the first page, you will laugh out loud at Sally Jay Gorce’s romp around all the most glamorous cocktail parties in Paris. Readers have been since this novel first published in 1958. Sally Jay, a 21 year old American graduate and aspiring actress falls in and out of love and in and out of bed with various suitors, her ‘vague nymphomania’ getting her into increasing trouble in the city of lovers. She wears evening dresses through the morning streets of Paris, dyes her hair bright pink, there’s plenty of Pernod and Champagne-fuelled gossip and all the mistakes you might expect from someone so young and ambitious. Dundy’s tantalizing approach to Sally Jay’s characterisation is brilliantly persuasive: ‘When I got stuck, I would say to myself What would I not do? and then I would have Sally Jay do it.’ 

THE MEMOIR 
Dior by Dior: The Autobiography of Christian Dior 

What could possibly be more Parisienne than a tell-all insider guide to life within the most famous fashion house in Paris, written by its founder and couturier. From the ground-breaking days of that first New Look collection, through all the exquisite details of the couture dress making process, the gruelling hours and lifestyle of the mannequins who showed them (and were wonderfully allowed to borrow dresses from previous collections) to the privileged clients who wore them and the powerful all-knowing women who helped mastermind the fashion empire, Dior satisfies every question you may have – all set to the backdrop of the city he loved. If you have never considered a trip to Paris, you’ll be booking it by the time you turn the final page. 

The post 5 Books That Will Take You To The Heart of Paris appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… 

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
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A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love—with all its complications—by debut author Ashley Herring Blake.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
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Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist
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From debut author Kit Mayquist, a propulsive and atmospheric modern Gothic with all the splendor of The Great Gatsby . . . and all the secrets, lies, and darkness that opulence can hide.

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
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In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

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.

Fake by Erica Katz
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From the author of The Boys’ Club, a gripping novel set in the high-stakes world of art forgery that moves across the globe, from the trendy art galleries of Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood to the high-flying international art fairs of Hong Kong.

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
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From a major new debut author in epic fantasy comes the first book in a trilogy where action, intrigue, and magic collide. The Justice of Kings introduces an unforgettable protagonist destined to become a fantasy icon: Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice, who is a detective, judge, and executioner all in one. But these are dangerous times to be a Justice…. 

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard
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Beach Read meets The Flatshare in this warmly funny and delightfully sharp debut rom-com about a down-on-her-luck young woman who turns an innocent mix-up between a dating app and a roommate app into a new chance at love.

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
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Witchlings follows a 12-year-old witch who is sorted into a coven of unwanted spare witches with her bully and the new witch in town; they must now band together to defeat the fearsome Nightbeast or risk being turned into a trio of toads. This magical adventure about earning your full powers is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont
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Nina de Gramont’s The Christie Affair is a beguiling novel of star-crossed lovers, heartbreak, revenge, and murder—and a brilliant re-imagination of one of the most talked-about unsolved mysteries of the twentieth century.

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.

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

The post February 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome to 2022, but more importantly, welcome to a whole lot of new book releases to look forward to over the next year!

In this round up, we take a look at an array of highly anticipated books releasing between the months of January and June. From new releases from favourite authors such as Rachel Lynn Solomon, Sarah J. Maas, Tahereh Mafi, Marlon James, Emily St. John Mandel, Holly Black, Christina Lauren, Ryan Sager, and many more, to absolutely dazzling debuts, you’re sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list!

Stay tuned as we’ll be releasing more 2022 lists for several genres!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourite January to June 2022 releases and tell us in the comments if you’re looking forward to any of them! 

JANUARY

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A TV meteorologist and a sports reporter scheme to reunite their divorced bosses with unforecasted results in this charming romantic comedy from the author of The Ex Talk.

Good Rich People by Eliza Jane Brazier
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A destitute woman deceives her way into the guesthouse of a Hollywood Hills mansion and inadvertently becomes a target in the twisted game of the wealthy family upstairs in the next intoxicating novel from Eliza Jane Brazier.

Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
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Anything But Fine is a hilarious coming of age story about a gay ballerina who loses his dancing dreams, but finds his true self and his first love. 

The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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Three years ago, Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen were the brightest literary stars on the horizon, their cowritten books topping bestseller lists. But on the heels of their greatest success, they ended their partnership on bad terms, for reasons neither would divulge to the public. They haven’t spoken since, and never planned to, except they have one final book due on contract.

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi
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In his adult novel debut, Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and NAACP Image Award finalist and ALA Alex and New England Book Award winner Tochi Onyebuchi delivers a sweeping science fiction epic in the vein of Samuel R. Delany and Station Eleven.

Echoes and Empires by Morgan Rhodes
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Falling Kingdoms series comes the first book in a brand-new duology about forbidden magic and dangerous secrets, for readers of Victoria Aveyard and Margaret Rogerson.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
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A troubled young mother yearns for a shot at redemption in this heartbreaking yet hopeful story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover.

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
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From Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, comes Reckless Girls, a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set on an isolated Pacific island with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

A Thousand Steps by T. Jefferson Parker
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A Thousand Steps is a beguiling thriller, an incisive coming-of-age story, and a vivid portrait of a turbulent time and place by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
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Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
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The first openly nonbinary contestant on America’s favorite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut “that is both fantastically fun and crack your heart wide open vulnerable.” (Rosie Danan, author of The Roommate).

The Ivory Key by Akshaya Raman
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In this epic YA fantasy debut, magic, a prized resource, is the only thing between peace and war. When magic runs out, four estranged royal siblings must find a new source before their country is swallowed by invading forces. The first in an Indian-inspired duology that’s perfect for fans of There Will Come a Darkness, The Gilded Wolves, and We Hunt the Flame.

FEBRUARY

Ramón and Julieta by Alana Quintana Albertson
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When fate and tacos bring Ramón and Julieta together on the Day of the Dead, the star-crossed pair must make a choice: accept the bitter food rivalry that drives them apart or surrender to a love that consumes them—perfect for fans of Jane the Virgin!

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List comes a new locked room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide… 

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
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Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.

Tripping Arcadia by Kit Mayquist
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From debut author Kit Mayquist, a propulsive and atmospheric modern Gothic with all the splendor of The Great Gatsby . . . and all the secrets, lies, and darkness that opulence can hide.

The Violence by Delilah S. Dawson
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Three generations of abused women must navigate their chilling new reality as a mysterious epidemic of violence sweeps the nation in this compelling novel of self-discovery, legacy, and hope.

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
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A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.

Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James
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Both a brilliant narrative device—seeing the story told in Black Leopard, Red Wolf from the perspective of an adversary and a woman—as well as a fascinating battle between different versions of empire, Moon Witch, Spider King delves into Sogolon’s world as she fights to tell her own story. Part adventure tale, part chronicle of an indomitable woman who bows to no man, it is a fascinating novel that explores power, personality, and the places where they overlap.

Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
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The debut adult novel by the bestselling and award-winning YA author Nina LaCour, following two women on a star-crossed journey toward each other. (Edit: Yerba Buena will now publish on May 31st 2022)

House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
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In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
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Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an enthralling feminist retelling of the classic Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong,” perfect for fans of Wintersong, Uprooted, and Miyazaki’s SpiritedAway.

Lease On Love by Falon Ballard
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Beach Read meets The Flatshare in this warmly funny and delightfully sharp debut rom-com about a down-on-her-luck young woman who turns an innocent mix-up between a dating app and a roommate app into a new chance at love.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek
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Introducing a sharp-witted heroine for the 21st century: a new amateur sleuth exploring the landscape—both physical and virtual—of New York in a debut novel about love, technology, and murder.

MARCH

Sundial by Catriona Ward
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Sundial is a new, twisty psychological horror novel from Catriona Ward, internationally bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street.

Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
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The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
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The much-acclaimed viral sensation from Olivie Blake, The Atlas Six—now newly revised and edited with additional content, is a dark academic debut fantasy with an established cult following that reads like The Secret History meets The Umbrella Academy.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
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From the author of the breakout thriller Every Last Fear, comes Alex Finlay’s electrifying next novel The Night Shift, about a pair of small-town murders fifteen years apart―and the ties that bind them.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir comes a brilliant, unforgettable, and heart-wrenching contemporary YA novel about family and forgiveness, love and loss, in a sweeping story that crosses generations and continents.

Lakelore by Anna Marie McLemore
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In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake – but can they keep their worlds above water intact?

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
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The Golden Couple is the next electrifying novel from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us.

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma
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Nisha Sharma’s hilarious new romantic comedy inspired by The Taming of the Shrew features a love-phobic TV doctor who must convince a love-obsessed homebody they are destined to be together.

When We Were Birds by Ayanna Lloyd Banwo
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A mythic love story set in Trinidad and Tobago, Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s radiant debut introduces two unforgettable outsiders brought together by their connection with the dead.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James
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A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch
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A wry and bold debut novel, which is at once an irresistible catastrophe waiting to happen and an unflinching exploration of how we narrate the stories of our lives, as an aspiring novelist finds herself stalking—and writing about—her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
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A stunning YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, this gripping debut introduces us to a lineage of seers defiantly resisting the shifting patriarchal state that would see them destroyed―perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir.

APRIL

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan
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Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After.

Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
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In this twisty, mind-bending thriller from the bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes, Emma Averell worries that her crippling insomnia is a sign that she’s slowly going insane—like the mother she’s worked so hard to leave in her past.

Reputation by Lex Croucher
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Bridgerton meets Gossip Girl with a dash of Jane Austen, in Reputation, a Regency-era historical romantic comedy with a deliciously feminist twist, from a hilarious new British voice, Lex Croucher.

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
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For fans of Caraval and The Night Circus, this decadent and darkly enchanting YA fantasy, set against the backdrop of a Belle Époque-inspired hotel, follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.

I Am the Ghost in Your House by Maria Romasco Moore
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From the author of Some Kind of Animal comes a wildly unique story about an invisible girl struggling to see herself in a world obsessed with appearances.

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose
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Meet the women of Buckhead — a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships. Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead — and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
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This seething, gut-punch of a thriller can only have sprung from the fiendish brain of Tarryn Fisher, one of the most cunning writers of our time.

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow
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A spellbinding debut novel tracing three generations of a Southern Black family and one daughter’s discovery that she has the power to change her family’s legacy.

Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
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A searing and compassionate new novel about a young Black nurse’s shocking discovery and burning quest for justice in post-segregation Alabama, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
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The award-winning, best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel of art, time, love, and plague that takes the reader from Vancouver Island in 1912 to a dark colony on the moon five hundred years later, unfurling a story of humanity across centuries and space.

The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa
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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a hilarious rom-com about two strangers who get trapped in a lie and have to fake date their way out of it…

The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann
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Thirty, flirty, and asexual Joy is secretly in love with her best friend Malcolm, but she’s never been brave enough to say so. When he unexpectedly announces that he’s met the love of his life—and no, it’s not Joy—she’s heartbroken. Malcolm invites her on a weekend getaway, and Joy decides it’s her last chance to show him exactly what he’s overlooking. But maybe Joy is the one missing something…or someone…and his name is Fox.

MAY

Book of Night by Holly Black
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black makes her stunning adult debut with Book of Night, a modern dark fantasy of shadowy thieves and secret societies in the vein of Ninth House and The Night Circus.

Hide by Kiersten White
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A high-stakes hide-and-seek competition turns deadly in this dark thriller from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
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The “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar) and New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners present a charming and laugh-out-loud funny novel filled with adventure, treasure, and, of course, love.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
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From the New York Times bestselling author of One Last Stop and Red, White & Royal Blue comes a debut YA romantic comedy about chasing down what you want, only to find what you need…

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer
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New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer expands the Cursebreaker world in an electrifying new series.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
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From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

City of Orange by David Yoon
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This imaginative and affecting new novel is beloved, bestselling, and award-winning author David Yoon at his finest: thought-provoking and heart-piercing, by turns funny and challenging, and at all times deeply human. 

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
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Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca in this debut supernatural suspense novel, set in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence, about a remote house, a sinister haunting, and the woman pulled into their clutches…

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
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An insightful, delightful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

My Summer Darlings by May Cobb
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Three lifelong friends plus a dangerous, sexy new stranger in town add up to a scorching summer of manipulation, obsession, and murder, from the acclaimed author of The Hunting Wives.

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
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Merida goes on an all-new, life-changing adventure in this original YA novel set several years after the close of Brave!

Boys, Beasts & Men by Sam J. Miller
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In Nebula Award-winning author Sam J. Miller’s devastating debut short-fiction collection, featuring an introduction by Amal El-Mohtar, queer infatuation, inevitable heartbreak, and brutal revenge seamlessly intertwine. Whether innocent, guilty, or not even human, the boys, beasts, and men roaming through Miller’s gorgeously crafted worlds can destroy readers, yet leave them wanting more.

JUNE

Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
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From the author of the critically-acclaimed Blackwing trilogy comes Ed McDonald’s Daughter of Redwinter, the first of a brilliant fantasy series about how one choice can change a universe.

American Royalty by Tracey Livesay
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In this dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real-life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, a prince who wants to live out of the spotlight falls for a daring American rapper who turns his life, and the palace, upside down.

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
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A dazzling epic of betrayal, love, and fate that spans five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family in the American West, from the author of the National Book Award Finalist Sabrina & Corina.

This Wicked Fate by Kalynn Bayron
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How much would you risk to save the ones you love? Would you tempt even the most dangerous fate?Bestselling author Kalynn Bayron continues the story of Briseis and her family’s deadly magic in the sequel to This Poison Heart.

Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
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A people-pleasing bridesmaid-for-hire falls for the crushable new lesbian in town. Will she finally find her happily ever after—and her own voice? 

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
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With his trademark blend of sharp characters, psychological suspense and gasp-worthy twists, Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake will shock readers until the very last page.

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
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A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installment of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
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A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors. Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and Annihilation.

The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
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In the first book of a visionary African and Arabian-inspired fantasy trilogy, three women band together against a cruel Empire that divides people by blood.

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
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Evvie Drake Starts Over meets Beach Read in this heartwarming and hilarious novel about a divorced romance channel screenwriter whose script about her marriage’s collapse just might help her reclaim her life and find love.

We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo
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The first book in a dark fantasy YA duology by the author of What Big Teeth, about the power and danger of stories and the untold costs of keeping magic alive, perfect for fans of Aiden Thomas and Marie Rutkoski.

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert
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She was the face that launched a thousand ships, The fierce beauty at the heart of Olympus, And she was never ours to claim. A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that’s as sinful as it is sweet.

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

The post The Most Anticipated 2022 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The blurb likens this to an Agatha Christie novel as there are similarities to Christie’s most popular novel, And Then There Were None, with guests invited to a remote island where a murderer lurks. However, an Agatha Christie novel’s key feature involves very subtle hints behind the murder carefully seeded throughout the story which are wrapped into a neat bow at the end by the novel’s detective, leaving you to marvel at her ingenuity and how obvious the murderer was in hindsight. You can’t go into The Guest List with a similar expectation as this isn’t really a murder mystery – we don’t even know the identity of the murder victim until the 92% mar. So if your idea of a good time is trying to put together the clues and guess the murderer’s identity, this will be a struggle as it’s hard for the audience to guess about means, motive, and opportunity without any idea who the victim is.

The Guest List is a slow-burn psychological thriller that focuses on establishing key characters by switching between first-person perspectives for Aoife the wedding planner, Jules the bride, Hannah the plus-one, Johnno the best man, and Olivia the bridesmaid. Each of the short chapters ends with an ominous observation (‘This place is enough to make you believe in ghosts’), ironic statement (“Today I am getting married and it is going to be bloody brilliant”), or mystery (“I’m the bad thing. What I’ve done”) which helps to build an increasing sense of dread along with flashing periodically to the night of the wedding when the shocking discovery of a body is made.

Most of the story is devoted to fleshing out the tense interpersonal relationships between the main cast and teasing out their mysterious long-buried secrets or recent traumas, which emerges as the real strength of the novel. These characters may not always be likeable, but they feel convincingly real with all their foibles and flaws, and even as I shook my head at Jules’ selfishness or Johnno’s pitying self-delusion, I surprisingly still felt pangs of sympathy because of how well the first-person perspective made me relate to them.

Of course the main intrigue we’re all here for is the identity of the murderer and murder victim, but because there is such a lengthy delay in revealing either, the author peppers in smaller mysteries about our protagonists to keep us invested. What painful trauma is behind Olivia’s self-harm? What is the dark secret that ties Will and Johnno together in spite of the obvious disparity in their social and economic status? Who sent the note warning Jules to call off the wedding? What happened on the infamous stag night that still haunts Charlie? And is there anything illicit in the connection between Jules and Charlie that Hannah needs to worry about or is she just being overly territorial about her husband? All of these questions make The Guest List an addictive page-turner and the short chapters rapidly switching between characters enhance the temptation to binge-read so you can get answers.

This is a book dripping with eerie atmosphere, sure to send chills down the spine of its audience even on a bright sunny day. If you’re looking for a read that offers interesting, flawed characters with shocking secrets, thick with tension and plot twists in a unique creepy setting, then look no further!

The Guest List is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 2nd 2020.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

Set on a remote island off the Irish coast, this is one guest list no one would want to be on, just as no one would have wanted an invitation to the New Year’s Eve party in Foley’s previous novel, The Hunting Party . Lives unravel amid the revelry on an eerie and remote island as family and friends assemble for a glam wedding in an updated Murder on the Orient Express. Each of the principal characters has a reason to want one of their number dead, there are old secrets, and one of them is murdered.

The post Review: The Guest List by Lucy Foley appeared first on The Nerd Daily.