It’s almost spring break and summer is right around the corner, so it’s time to start picking out your beach reads! Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of one, these young adult thrillers and romances will transport you to beautiful and unique locales from the comfort of your favorite reading nook.

First stop, the City of Light with Under the Surface by Diana Urban. But readers won’t be lingering by the Eiffel Tower or strolling the Champs-Elysees in this spooky read. This excellent pulse-pounding thriller takes place in the catacombs, a series of tombs far beneath the streets of Paris. 

Hop a train from France to Italy and fall in love with All Roads Lead To Rome by Sabrina Fedel, a Roman Holiday-esque YA romance featuring an anxious introvert who thinks she knows all the gelato shops and picturesque ruins of the Eternal City. But when she meets a Scottish hottie and gets embroiled in a fake-dating scheme, will it be her heart that’s left in ruins?

Next, hop another flight to India for Love Craves Cardamom by Aashna Avachat (coming out in May) for a read with a rich backdrop of art and culture. In this romance, Archana Dhawan is looking forward to a semester abroad–without the distraction of boys. But at her museum internship near the palace in Rajasthan, her plans go awry when she meets a cute gardener and things heat up. 

If you’re all about the ocean, dip into the edge-of-your-seat thriller Seasick by Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn, set aboard a luxury yacht en route to sunny Bermuda (where two ex-best friends find one of their privileged group murdered). Trapped at sea, the two girls realize a serial killer is closing in, and they have nowhere to run. 

If the yacht makes it back to the States, disembark in New Orleans, Louisiana for The Debutantes by Olivia Worley. This glittering thriller is set among the glamorous balls and colorful festivities of the Mardi Gras season, where a mysterious Jester appears and threatens to reveal secrets about the debutante that turned up dead the previous year. Three friends work to unearth the Jester’s identity and prevent another killing in this riveting mystery.

It’s not necessarily a vacation destination, but who wouldn’t want to visit a posh New England boarding school to soak up some dark academia vibes? In A Darker Mischief by Derek Milman, initiation rituals can be downright dangerous as a disadvantaged queer teen works to fit in… and stay alive. Come for the stained glass and manicured lawns of the lush campus setting, stay for the thrilling mystery. 

The post Armchair Vacation: YA Reads In Stunning Locations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Pintip and Love! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves?

Hi! We’re so thrilled to be here.

Pintip: A first-generation Thai American, I grew up in a tiny town in Kansas. I went on to graduate from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language, and to receive my J.D. at Yale Law School.

I’m a two-time RITA® award winner and a New York Times bestselling author of eight young adult novels. My books have been translated into four languages, and they have been nominated for the following awards and lists: ALA’s Hal Clement Notable Young Adult Book List; Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of the Year; a Junior Library Guild selection; the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire; the Japanese Sakura Medal; the MASL Truman Award; the Tome Society It list; and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award.

I’m obsessed with penguins, and my childhood dream was to marry someone whose last name is “Gwynn” — so that my name could be “Pin Gwynn.” Alas, I got stuck with Dunn instead, but my husband and three children are worth the sacrifice.

Love: I’m a bi-racial high school junior who has OCD. I have a deep passion for storytelling and have written fourteen manuscripts to date. My other interests include dance, volleyball, piano, violin, and public speaking. My favorite activity, however, is cuddling my dog, Strawberry. I frequently engage in writing sprints with my mom — and easily beat her word count every time.

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

Pintip: When I was in the first grade, my teacher asked us what I wanted to be when we grew up, and my answer was “author.” So, even though I’m not sure how, I knew from a very young age that this was what I was meant to do!

Love: Ever since I was young, I would tell myself stories when I was in bed. That’s how I fell asleep every night. However, I didn’t write my first manuscript until the fourth grade, during NaNoWriMo. Fast forward a few years, and I started writing seriously in the seventh grade when the pandemic started. For the first time, I started writing down the stories I would tell myself in my head, and I fell in love with writing.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading:

Pintip: A story in the first-grade reading textbook about a boy who had a stuffed bear named Foo Foo. The year before, my brother had named his stuffed animal Foo Foo, and I remember being so impressed with his creativity… that is, until I found out many months later that he had borrowed it from a story.

Love: Alpha Oops, by Alethea Kontis

The one that made you want to become an author:

Pintip: Little Women (I’m quite positive that I didn’t read this book when I was six years old. However, this is the book to which I remember rewriting the ending because I wasn’t happy with how the story turned out.)

Love: Forget Tomorrow, by Pintip Dunn. This was my mom’s first book, and she showed me that it was possible to achieve your dreams.

The one that you can’t stop thinking about:

Pintip: The Hunger Games.

Love: I Will Always Write Back, by Martin Ganda, Caitlin Alifirenka, and Liz Welch.

Your latest novel, The Lotus Flower Champion, is out October 31st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Thai folktales meets The Wilds.

What can readers expect?

An epic adventure featuring a biracial heroine with OCD, who is marooned with 10 strangers and her mother on a remote island, which looks like paradise but feels like hell, due to the machinations of an evil scientist. The story is brimming with intriguing psychic abilities, swoony romance, and heartwarming family relationships.

Where did the inspiration for The Lotus Flower Champion come from?

The inspiration for this story came nine years ago, when Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared on March 8, 2014. The Lotus Flower Champion is our answer to what happened to all those people. The story idea became more complicated by our interest in Thai folktales – and more layered still when we decided to tell the story with a heroine who has obsessive-compulsive disorder, which mirrors Love’s own struggles with this mental health condition.

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

It was very meaningful for Love to write about a heroine with OCD for the first time. Love’s struggle with this disorder has been long and oftentimes lonely, as she did not always know others who suffered from the same condition. We hope that this story will make others who also struggle with OCD feel less alone. It is so vastly important for young people to see themselves reflected in stories, and we hope that anyone who has felt a little bit different, for whatever reason, can find a bit of themselves in Alaia.

What was the writing process like?

Love wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and then Pintip revised that draft.

What’s next for you?

We are working on our next co-authored project together, which we hope we will be able to tell you about very soon!

Pintip’s next novel will be Seasick, a YA thriller that she co-authored with the incomparable Kristin Cast. Seasick will be released in June 2024.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

One of Pintip’s latest favorite books is Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson.

Love would like to recommend The Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs.

Will you be picking up The Lotus Flower Champion? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Pintip Dunn and Love Dunn, Co-Authors of ‘The Lotus Flower Champion’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi Pintip! Tell us about yourself?

Hi! I am a Thai American who grew up in a small town in Kansas. From there, I went on to graduate from Harvard with an A.B. in English Literature and received my J.D. from Yale Law School. I’m a NYT bestselling author of YA fiction, and I write in a range of genres, from science fiction to contemporary thrillers to rom coms. DATING MAKES PERFECT is my eighth book! I now live with my husband and three children in Maryland.

Your new novel, Dating Makes Perfect, releases on August 18^th. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?

Family-oriented #ownvoices Thai YA rom-com

We’d love to know more! What can readers expect?

Winnie and her twin sisters have never been allowed to date in high school. However, six months after her sisters get to college, their parents ask, “How come you’re not engaged yet?” The sisters are outraged, as romance is not a switch you can turn on and off. They declare that they won’t marry for at least thirty years, not until they’ve had lots of practice dating.

Realizing that their strict rules have backfired, the parents now decide that their youngest daughter, Winnie, must date in high school in order to practice necessary relationship skills. However, her parents will not only design the dates (basing them on classic rom coms), but they will also choose the boy she will date. Their first candidate? The son of their long-time family friends, Mat Songsomboon.

Mat is as gorgeous as he is infuriating. The only problem is… he just happens to be Winnie’s sworn enemy.  

Where did the inspiration for Dating Makes Perfect come from?

I’ve had so many conversations with other Thai Americans and Asian Americans, whose parents seemed to change their minds in an instant about their children not dating and settling down. One moment, the parents wanted their children to focus on their studies, and the next, all the parents asked about were relationship statuses and grandbabies. That magic moment might happen during college or grad school or a first job, but all these instances were characterized an abrupt and sudden switch.

I thought it would be fun to turn this phenomenon on its head. What if the parents realized that their stringent rules about dating backfired? What if they had to completely backtrack and require their youngest to date in high school? What if they had no experience dating in America and had to rely on classic rom coms to draw inspiration for the fake dates?

Presto! DATING MAKES PERFECT was born!

Was there a certain scene, character, or perhaps some dialogue that you really enjoyed writing?

I love the twin sisters, Ari and Bunny. Writing any scene that involved them just made me smile. I also loved writing the text message that Winnie and Mat send each other. I think these messages showcase Mat’s charm and self-confidence, and I was totally giggling as I wrote those scenes.

You’ve previously written young adult sci-fi books, as well as a YA contemporary and mystery. Is there a genre that you prefer more?

I love writing in the YA age category because I love the journey that a protagonist undergoes in discovering who they are — and oftentimes, that person is stronger, more capable, and more resilient than they ever dreamed possible. I explore this same journey, no matter which genre of YA I write. So no, there’s not a particular genre that I prefer. I love them all! The reason I write in such a wide variety, however, is because I seek to challenge myself with every book that I write. In particular, if someone tells me that I can’t do something, I want to prove them wrong. Especially if that person is me.

DATING MAKES PERFECT is my first book in the rom-com genre…and I think I’m in love! (Pun intended.)

Your first novel published in 2015. What would you say is the biggest thing you have learned since then when it comes to writing and the world of publishing? 

A lesson I’ve been learning all my life — but one that has been especially reinforced during these last five years — is that my self-worth has to come from an internal place, rather than from external events. I’ve had so many surreal moments since my first novel was published. My lifelong dreams came true — and then some.

At the same time, the publishing world is tough, filled with rejection and criticism at every turn, and the surreal times are simply that — fleeting, transitory moments that can’t sustain me in the long run. I learned that I have to believe in myself and my talents. I have to remember — and constantly remind myself — why I love writing. Because I’m the one who has to get up and write more books every day.

The support from my publisher and my readers has been phenomenal. I treasure every ounce of love I receive, but I’m well aware that it’s not guaranteed. So, I know that I have to value my own writing first.

What’s next for you?

I’m playing around with a couple different projects, vastly different from each other. Both challenge me in a new, exciting way, and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing what happens!

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?

Do I ever! Abigail Hing Wen’s LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI treads on new ground, and it was exciting for me to read, and Lyla Lee’s I’LL BE THE ONE spoke to me in a very real way. For raw, powerful YA that takes your breath away, I recommend Elizabeth Acevedo’s CLAP WHEN YOU LAND, Kacen Callender’s FELIX EVER AFTER, and Dean Atta’s THE BLACK FLAMINGO. Finally, for swoony and heartwarming romance, by writers whom I admire and respect: Farrah Rochon’s THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT; Kwana Jackson’s REAL MEN KNIT; Mis Sosa’s THE WORST BEST MAN; Vanessa Riley’s A DUKE, THE LADY, AND A BABY; and Priscilla Oliveras’s ISLAND AFFAIR.

Will you be picking up Dating Makes Perfect? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Pintip Dunn, Author of ‘Dating Makes Perfect’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Pintip Dunn, author of recently released Star-Crossed, was kind enough to speak with Teralyn about what inspired her to write this new novel, her life, and writing. Check out her insightful answers below!

Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Kansas, the daughter of parents who immigrated from Thailand. I attended college at Harvard University, where I majored in English, and then law school at Yale.I married my college sweetheart, and after practicing law for a brief time, I left the profession to raise three  children and write.

I’m a New York Times bestselling author and a two-time RITA^® award winner. I’ve published five novels—STAR-CROSSED will be my sixth! My books have been translated into four languages, and I’ve been nominated for awards in three countries.

From your biography, I see that you have a J.D. in Law. What made you pursue writing instead?

Writing has been my passion my entire life, but for years, I was dissuaded from pursuing my dream because it was “impractical” and “frivolous.”

However, when I was a junior in college, my arms froze as I was typing a paper in the library—as in, I physically couldn’t move them from my shoulders to the tips of my fingers. And they stayed that way for an entire week. I was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia/RSI, which means that I can’t type on a keyboard or even handwrite for very long without debilitating pain. I got through college by dictating into a tape recorder and taking my exams orally. I even took the bar exam orally.

I became a lawyer…and then I had a flare-up; my most serious one yet. This one landed me flat on my back for the next six months. I couldn’t even sit up because the pain in my neck and shoulders was too intense. During this time, I wrote my first “real” novel lying underneath a glass coffee table, with my laptop open and face down on the glass, dictating into a microphone.

That was when I had an epiphany. I realised my body wasn’t punishing me. It was talking to me in the only way it knew how. It had tried over the years, starting in the first grade, whispering to me that I should be an author. But I refused to listen, letting other voices, more negative ones, push me away from my dream. So, my body spoke to me, louder and louder until I had no choice but to hear. It told me: this lawyer thing is not the right path for you! This is not what you were put on this universe to do. I left the legal profession at that point and never looked back.

To this day, I still can’t type on a keyboard without immense pain. Stress or extreme emotions can also trigger a flare-up. After dictating for years, I discovered a few years ago that I could tap on my iPhone without pain, so long as it was locked in portrait position. Thus, I now write all my novels entirely on my cell phone. I’ve written my last seven novels this way!

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I’m a total foodie, so my favourite thing to do is going out to a yummy dinner with my husband and friends. I also love hanging out with my three kids, whether we’re watching movies or white-water rafting or playing laser tag. I also enjoy working out, while watching one of my reality TV shows. Last but not least, I adore reading!

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

I think good writing is two-fold. First, on the sentence level, the prose should be elegant and compelling. Secondly, the storytelling craft should also be solid. This craft includes pacing, hooks, turning points, and character arcs.

Fortunately, there are a ton of classes and books out there about story structure, so craft is something that you can learn. It’s simply a matter of study. Elegant and compelling prose is also teachable—but I find that this is much more dependent on a writer’s intuitive ear and sense of rhythm. What’s more, voice is also wrapped up in producing compelling prose, which is a whole other complicated beast.

Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

My writing day is typically 9:30 am to 2:45 pm, which is when my kids are in school. Sometimes, I am able to squeeze an hour or two in the evenings, but my household is usually total chaos with three kids’ worth of classes, homework, dinner, and bedtime routines.

I’m not very good at multi-tasking, so there are days when I purely write and/or edit and other days when I catch up on the business side of being an author.

I often sprint with friends to keep me on track, and we usually work for an hour, check in with each other for five minutes or so, and then work for another hour. Rinse and repeat.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

There are two pieces of advice that have stuck with me through my entire career. The first quote, from Nora Roberts, is that you can revise a bad page, but you can’t revise a blank one. I think as writers, we put so much pressure on ourselves to write that “heartbreaking work of staggering genius” that it becomes virtually impossible to create anything. I truly believe that we have to give ourselves permission to not be perfect, to slap something on the page that we can fix later. This is how books get written. Otherwise, our perfectionism will keep us stymied on the very first page.

The second piece of advice is: “You are the only person in the world who can write this particular story.” I believe in this quote passionately. When I was getting rejected, again and again, I would tell myself that if I didn’t write this story, nobody would. And if I believed that this story belongs in the world, it would be a shame if it didn’t exist because I gave up.

Since then, a comment I’ve received a few times is “this story is . . . odd.” I’ve learned to embrace that comment because you know what? My stories are odd. And so am I. That’s what makes my viewpoint unique. That’s why I’m the only person in this world who can write my stories.

If you could give your younger self any writing advice, what would it be?

This is an interesting question, since it was the basis of my novel, FORGET TOMORROW! Let me explain. Several years ago, I was frustrated with all the rejections I was getting and lamenting to an editor-friend of mine. She said, “I wish I had a crystal ball. Then, I could tell you that five years from now, you would be published, and you wouldn’t waste so much time and energy worrying about it.”

The next day, I was thinking about her words and wishing that my future self could send to my present self a memory of myself succeeding as an author. My next thought was, “Hey, that would make a pretty cool idea for a book!” And presto, the FORGET TOMORROW series was born.

So, to answer your question, I would tell my younger self to persevere and believe in myself—because one day, somehow, I will achieve my dream!

You’ve published many books before Star-Crossed. How do you stay motivated and inspired to keep writing and publishing new stories?

This is a question that I’ve struggled with since I’ve been published. After all, what if you finally achieve the dream you’ve wanted all your life—only to discover it looks pretty different than what you imagined?

After lots of soul-searching, I realised that publishing, as well as life, is always going to be stressful. We’re not going to be able to change that fact. But the one thing that we can alter is our attitude. And so, these days, I’m much more relaxed about everything that could and does go wrong. I focus my energy, instead, on the parts that I truly love, the reason why I got into this business in the first place: writing.

Do you have a favourite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special?

My favourite character in STAR-CROSSED is probably Carr, the hero of the book. He is the brother of Vela’s best friend, and Vela has been in love with him most of her life.

He’s my favourite for several reasons. He’s super cute, of course, with caviar-black eyes and a lean, ropey build. But more than that, he’s just a stand-up guy. He would do anything to save his sister—even sacrifice his own life.

He and Vela bring out the best in each other. Unfortunately, Carr believes that he is only loved for the things he does for other, and it takes Vela to show him that he is deserving of love because of who he is. Likewise, Vela’s first thought is always to protect the people that she loves, and Carr teaches her that sometimes honour is more important than love, and that the right decision might be the most difficult one.

Ultimately, Carr is one of the most honourable guys that Vela has ever met . . . but it is this very honour that may be the cause of his demise.

Star-Crossed has such an intriguing and captivating synopsis. Where did you get your inspiration? What can you tell us about this book?

As I mentioned, my husband and I are total foodies. For over a decade, we would say to each other after a particularly big meal, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could transfer our calories to someone who really need them?” One night, I was lying in bed drifting off to sleep when it suddenly struck me that this would make a pretty cool idea for a book. (I’d also like to note how often ideas come to me as I’m falling asleep!)

Of course, the premise of STAR-CROSSED is a little more complicated. Because land is scarce on the planet of Dion, not enough food can be produced to feed the entire colony. Thus, Princess Vela steps up to receive a genetic modification so that she can convert food into energy more efficiently. The nutrition is extracted from her via a pill and distributed to the rest of the colony.

The genetic modification means that Vela’s life will be cut short by 60 years—but that’s not her worse problem. She’s been tasked with choosing a boy fit to die so that her father, the King, may continue to live. But the person who emerges as the best candidate is . . . the boy she’s loved all her life.

What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?

The biggest challenge in writing this book is that I wrote it while I was on submission with my first novel, FORGET TOMORROW. For a year, I was pummelled with rejections, which all said more or less the same thing: “We love this book, but we can’t publish it because of the genre.” I could’ve despaired. In fact, I did despair — for a short while. And then, that feeling turned into anger. That’s an emotion I had never experienced with my writing before. Hope, yes. Depression, definitely. But never anger.

A fire started burning deep inside me. “I’m going to write a book so good,” I swore to myself, “that they won’t be able to reject me, no matter what the market says!” So, maybe this difficulty turned out to be a good thing. I can honestly say that I put every bit of my heart into this book. I’ve produced seven novels that have been or will be published, and this is the only book I’ve written with this level of fire and passion.

What was the highlight of writing this book?

The highlight of writing this book is the very last scene of this novel. When I conceive of my stories, sometimes I know exactly how the book will end, and other times, I surprise myself as I am writing. In STAR-CROSSED, it was the former: from the beginning, I knew that Vela would have to make an impossible choice, and I always knew what that choice would be.

However, that knowledge didn’t make it any easier to write this scene. I feel like I am doing something right when I cry while writing. And I certainly cried my eyes out as I wrote this finale, so I hope that it will resonate with my readers, as well!

What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?

There is a sequel, actually! SKY-KISSED takes place a few months after the end of Book 1, so it’s technically a sequel. However, while Vela and Carr will still play an important role, the story will follow Blanca (Vela’s sister) and Jupiter as they embark on a brand-new adventure. Thus, SKY-KISSED can also be seen as a companion novel. I’m having the best time writing Blanca and Jupiter’s story! It will be available in the fall of 2019.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?

1. Toxic by Lydia Kang

I had the honour of reading an early version of this book, and once again, Lydia blows me away! A powerful and evocative tale of a sentient spaceship—and her painfully human bond with the lonely girl who lives within her walls.

2. Once a King by Erin Summerill

This one is a fantasy, and I wanted to include it because I think there’s a lot of cross-over between the fantasy and science fiction genres. For example, STAR-CROSSED has been called a hybrid because it features a king, and what my book and this one have in common is that they both feature good kings, rather than evil ones. With poignant prose and intricate worldbuilding, ONCE A KING casts its spell from the very first page!

3. Zeroboxer by Fonda Lee

The world-building in this book is absolutely delicious! I’m reading this book now, and I’m having a hard time not dropping everything so that I can immerse myself in this world! Oooh, and I was delighted to discover that the hero shares the same name as my hero in STAR-CROSSED! From the summary: “A rising star in the weightless combat sport of zeroboxing, Carr the Raptor Luka dreams of winning the championship title. . . But when [he] discovers a far-reaching criminal scheme, he becomes the keeper of a devastating secret.”

Star-Crossed is now available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads!

Will you be checking our Pintip’s Star-Crossed? Have you ready any of her other works? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Interview: Pintip Dunn, Author of Star-Crossed appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

There’s also many other books in store for you such as titles by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Tahereh Mafi, and Neal Shusterman! If you’re after a good fantasy, give Megan Shepherd’s Grim Lovelies a go, or perhaps you’re after more of a historical (which there is plenty this month), so pick up Virginia Boecker’s An Assassin’s Guide To Love & Treason. Pintip Dunn’s Star-Crossed will satisfy sci-fi fans, while Claire Legrand’s Sawkill Girls will provide an excellent mystery thriller!

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

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Felicity Montague is through with pretending she prefers society parties to books about bone setting and he cares about anything more than her dream of becoming a doctor. A year after an accidentally whirlwind tour of Europe, she returns with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of Callum Doyle; and enroll in medical school. Doctor Alexander Platt is looking for research assistants in Germany. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid. In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that will lead her from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. She drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother. But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin.

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The drought—or the Tap-Out, as everyone calls it—has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, don’t take long showers. Until the taps run dry. Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turned against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life—and the life of her brother—is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive.

What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things. But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The del Cisne girls have never just been sisters; they’re also rivals, Blanca as obedient and graceful as Roja is vicious and manipulative. They know that, because of a generations-old spell, their family is bound to a bevy of swans deep in the woods. They know that, one day, the swans will pull them into a dangerous game that will leave one of them a girl, and trap the other in the body of a swan. But when two local boys become drawn into the game, the swans’ spell intertwines with the strange and unpredictable magic lacing the woods, and all four of their fates depend on facing truths that could either save or destroy them.

Imagine Us Happy by Jennifer Yu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Stella lives with depression, and her goals for junior year are pretty much limited to surviving her classes, staying out of her parents’ constant fights and staving off unwanted feelings enough to hang out with her friends Lin and Katie. Until Kevin. A quiet, wry senior who understands Stella and the lows she’s going through like no one else. With him, she feels less lonely, listened to—and hopeful for the first time since ever… But to keep that feeling, Stella lets her grades go and her friendships slide. With her life spinning out of control, she’s got to figure out what she truly needs, what’s worth saving—and what to let go.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
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Who are the Sawkill Girls? Marion: the new girl. Awkward and plain, steady and dependable. Zoey: the pariah. Luckless and lonely, hurting but hiding it. Val: the queen bee. Gorgeous and privileged, ruthless and regal. Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires. Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight… until now.

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
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Five years ago, Evelyn and Philippa Hapwell cowered from air strikes in a London bomb shelter. But that night took a turn when the sisters were transported to another realm called the Woodlands and found temporary refuge. When they finally returned to London, nothing had changed at all—nothing, except themselves. Now, Ev spends her days sneaking into the woods outside her boarding school, wishing for the Woodlands. Philippa, on the other hand, is determined to find a place in this world. But when Evelyn goes missing, Philippa must confront the depth of her sister’s despair and the painful truths they’ve been running from.

An Assassin’s Guide To Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker
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When Lady Katherine’s father is killed for being an illegally practicing Catholic, she discovers treason wasn’t the only secret he’s been hiding: he was also involved in a murder plot against the reigning Queen Elizabeth I. With nothing left to lose, Katherine disguises herself as a boy and travels to London to fulfill her father’s mission, and to take it one step further–kill the queen herself. Katherine’s opportunity comes in the form of William Shakespeare’s newest play, which is to be performed in front of Her Majesty. But what she doesn’t know is that the play is not just a play–it’s a plot to root out insurrectionists and destroy the rebellion once and for all.

When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen
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It’s 1871 and Emmeline Carter is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. Between her father’s sudden rise to wealth, and her recent engagement to Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, Emmeline has it all. But she can’t stop thinking about the life she left behind, including her childhood sweetheart, Anders Magnuson. Fiona Byrne, Emmeline’s childhood best friend, is delighted by her friend’s sudden rise to prominence, especially since it means Fiona is free to pursue Anders herself. But when Emmeline risks everything for one final fling with Anders, Fiona feels completely betrayed.

Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
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From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.

The Healer by Donna Freitas
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Marlena Oliveira has—mysteriously, miraculously—been given the power to heal all kinds of ailments. People around the world believe she is a saint. But her power comes at a price: she can’t go to school, she can’t have friends her own age, and she certainly can’t date. Then she meets Finn, a boy who makes her want to fall in love. For the first time, she begins to doubt whether her gift is worth all that she must give up to keep it.

Star-Crossed by Pintip Dunn
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Princess Vela’s people are starving. Stranded on a planet that lacks food, Vela makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes an Aegis for her people. Accepting a genetic modification that takes sixty years off her life, she can feed her colony via nutrition pills. But her best friend is still getting worse. Now the king is dying, too. When the boy she’s had a crush on since childhood volunteers to give his life for her father’s, Vela realizes her people need more than pills to survive. As tensions rise between Aegis and colonists, secrets and sabotage begin to threaten the future of the colony itself.

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver
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Everyone thinks Mia and Brynn killed their best friend, Summer. That driven by their obsession with a novel called The Way into Lovelorn the three girls had imagined themselves into the magical world where their fantasies became twisted, even deadly. The only thing is: they didn’t do it. On the anniversary of Summer’s death, a seemingly insignificant discovery resurrects the mystery and pulls Mia and Brynn back together once again. But as the lines begin to blur between past and present and fiction and reality, the girls must confront what really happened in the woods all those years ago—no matter how monstrous.

Check out what else is coming out this month on our Goodreads list!

What book are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

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