About It Had To Be You (out July 16): Two contract killers, each with a hit out on the other, must fight their growing attraction as they face off in an epic game of lust and murder across Western Europe.

In her three-hour video dissecting Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight, ContraPoints argues readers can safely engage in toxic relationships in print. Let’s prove her right with five books about bad love. In honor of Sabrina Carpenter, we’re pairing each book with a tune from a girly pop queen.

Baby, let the games begin!

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing

Soundtrack: My Kink is Karma – Chappell Roan

Downing’s Twisted Love Story is about a relationship like no other. On-again-off-again couple Wes and Ivy use each other’s distress as foreplay, to the point that they may have (accidentally?) murdered someone. And now a detective is on their tail. Talk about letting it get bad when it ended.

Toxic Scale: 4/5, These two are just too entertaining to earn the full five.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Soundtrack: But Daddy I Love Him – Taylor Swift

My dream girl Ali is a Swiftie and she has a sense of humor, so she’s getting BDILH for her food science romance. Not in Love features a pair of lovers who think they can change the beat of their hearts but, quite literally, can’t hold back the chemistry. Main Character Rue and her work nemesis Kline have a top secret, super-hot affair that puts the urge in merger. The twist? She’s having his baby. No, she’s not.

Toxic Scale: 1/5, Rue and Kline are more “messy” than toxic, so they score low on the scale.

We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft

Soundtrack: Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl – Chappell Roan

Toxic female friendship on the dance scene? It has to be Chappell Roan. We Love the Nightlife tells the tale of two girlies who love to dance, and also suck blood, because they’re vampires. At every party, they’re the party. Until one of the girls wants out, and finds out just how hard it is to leave the party alive…

Toxic Scale: 3/5, Nicola and Amber have a toxic friendship, but they also have a lot of fun.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Soundtrack: Ivy – Taylor Swift

One simply cannot discuss toxic relationships in print without mentioning Miss Hoover. We need to pair a classic with a classic, so we’re going with Swift for this one. In It Ends With Us, main girl Lily reconnects with her old flame Atlas, but she’s been promised to another: the super-toxic Ryle. Atlas puts roots in her dreamland and starts a goddamn blaze in the dark. It’s all very drama!

Toxic Scale: 5/5, Ryle and Lily’s relationship is an honest, complex portrayal of abuse, but Lily’s relationship with Atlas gives the audience a couple to root for.

Almost Love by Louise O’Neill

Soundtrack: Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Louise O’Neill is one of my all-time favorite authors. She tells complicated stories that force readers to engage in the conversation. In Almost Love, we watch main character Sarah fall hard for older man Matthew. This book examines the dark heart of toxic relationships, and how some people believe that real love is supposed to hurt.

Toxic Scale: 10/5, this book examines every angle of a Bad Romance.

Bonus: It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier (aka Me)

My forthcoming novel isn’t exactly about toxic love; it’s just about assassins who kill people for a living. And also fall in love. So, totally healthy, balanced individuals.

Toxic Scale: 0/5, I will not be responding to comments at this time.

The post Please Please Please Give Me Books About Toxic Love appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We chat with author Samantha Downing about her latest book release A Twisted Love Story, which is a reckless, delicious thriller about a young couple that gives a whole new meaning to the dangers of modern dating.

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

I grew up in California, spent most of my adult life in New Orleans, now I’m back living in the Bay Area. I’ve been writing for a long time and I’m completely self-taught, it’s not something I studied in college. My first thriller was published in 2019. A Twisted Love Story is my fourth.

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

I was a big reader growing up and always had my nose in a book. I was that kid who read during recess instead of playing. But the writing didn’t start until I was an adult, and the first thing I wrote were short stories. Eventually I started writing books, but it was a long process. I had no idea what I was doing (and really, I still don’t!)

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

It wasn’t my first book, but the one I read the most as a kid was Ramona and Beezus. That one in particular struck a chord with me and I must have read it dozens of times.

Your latest novel, A Twisted Love Story, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

These five words are a little aspirational, but I hope this book is twisted, thrilling, addictive, unpredictable, and satisfying.

What can readers expect?

A Twisted Love Story is a about a very twisted, up-and-down relationship, and it really drives this story. Wes and Ivy have been together, on and off, for ten years and they just can’t quit each other. They’re sort of like a tornado that barrels through life, drawing others into their whirlwind. The results aren’t always good!

Where did the inspiration for A Twisted Love Story come from?

I wanted to write a book where the relationship was an actual character. Wes and Ivy are individual characters, but together they become something else. Love is also a character in the book, and how our relationships change us, define us, make us who we are. Everyone in the book has been affected by the relationships they’ve had, and they have become who they are because of them. We can’t always see this clearly in ourselves, but you can definitely see it in the characters of A Twisted Love Story.

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

I really enjoyed writing the scenes when Wes and Ivy are together. To me, they had a chemistry and it was fun to write their dialogue and the things they did to each other. In my mind, they are made for each other. But I’m not sure everyone will feel that way!

This is your fourth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?

I wish I could say I have a whole list of things I’ve learned about writing…but on most days, it feels like I haven’t learned a thing. For some reason, I thought writing would get easier. Turns out, the opposite is true.

I don’t know if this is good advice, but this is what I do:  If the writing is bad, delete it. If the book is bad, throw it out. Writing is the same as any other kind of art. A chef doesn’t cook a great meal every time. Sometimes it’s bad, and tossing in a little seasoning isn’t going to make it better. So the chef throws out the bad meal and tries again.

The same goes for a writer. If the book is bad, get rid of it and write another.

What’s next for you?

Working on my next book, another thriller.

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

I have so many favorite authors and books, it’s hard to pick just a few. I love everything written by Ashley Winstead, Hannah Morrissey, and Araminta Hall. All three write very, very dark thrillers, if that’s your thing.

I also love Heather Chavez, May Cobb, Rachel Howzell Hall, Mary Kubica, Caroline Kepnes, Kellye Garrett, Samantha Bailey, Hannah Mary McKinnon, Hank Phillippi Ryan…seriously, I could go on for a while here. But I don’t think you can go wrong with the books written by any of these authors.

Will you be picking up A Twisted Love Story? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Samantha Downing, Author of ‘A Twisted Love Story’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This is not a “whodunit” mystery as we meet our quirky, (and honestly fun to read) villain quite early on, and he has no hesitation in letting the reader in on what he is doing and what his “reasons” are for his actions. The tension and suspense in this story are built into the reader wondering if he is ever going to be caught, how he is going to be caught, and just how far he might go before that happens.

Teddy Crutcher is the Teacher of the Year at Belmont Academy and certainly wants to see students succeed. At least, he wants to see students succeed that he has determined should succeed. So, if he needs to help things along, and maybe cause, or prevent, other things from happening, well, surely he knows best…right?

All of the characters at Belmont Academy are well drawn and unique, but the students are most often the focus of the story. These teenagers are never left as just one-dimensional rich kids at a fancy prep school. These are multi-layered young people with complicated lives, thoughts, problems, goals, and allegiances. Downing has drawn these characters so well, for my own personal reading it sets a whole new standard for characterisation of teenagers.

As fans of her work have seen before, Downing can most certainly prolong the suspense and tension! With excellent pacing and smooth, well timed movement between the different characters in the story, she keeps the reader fully engaged and fascinated, waiting for the next twist this story will take. Samantha Downing has made For Your Own Good almost impossible to put down!

For Your Own Good is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up For Your Own Good? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn’t be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It’s really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

The post Review: For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This month sees new releases from the likes of Elizabeth Lim, Karin Slaughter, Jasmine Guillory, Max Barry, and so many more!

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

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse… Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Six teens murdered. A suspect behind bars. A desperate father. In a case this shadowy, the truth is easy to hide.

Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of the Dreamland series comes a new dark romantic fantasy about a young woman finding hope in her powers of destruction.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

False Witness by Karin Slaughter
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and The Silent Wife, an electrifying standalone thriller.

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Two people realize that it’s no longer an act when they veer off-script in this sizzling romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

XOXO by Axie Oh
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jenny’s never had much time for boys, K-pop, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. But when she finds herself falling for a K-pop idol, she has to decide whether their love is worth the risk. A modern forbidden romance wrapped in the glamorous and exclusive world of K-pop, XOXO is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Maurene Goo.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the critically acclaimed author of Jennifer Government and Lexicon comes mind-bending speculative psychological suspense about a serial killer pursuing his victim across time and space, and the woman who is determined to stop him, even if it upends her own reality.

Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Packed with irresistible romance and irrepressible heart, bestselling author Leah Johnson delivers a stunning and cinematic story about grief, love, and the remarkable power of music to heal and connect us all.

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

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

With half of 2021 almost behind us, it’s now time to start looking towards the next six months, and more importantly, the new books releasing between July and December 2021! Your to-buy lists are about to become even longer as it’s packed with books you’ll want to have your hands on ASAP from debut authors, as well as releases from some favourites, including Elizabeth Lim, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Samantha Downing, Anthony Ryan, TJ Klune, and so many more!

Read on to discover a few of our picks and be sure to tell us in the comments if you are looking forward to any of them too, plus stay tuned for our genre specific round-ups!

JULY 2021

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A fast-paced, thrilling horror novel that follows a group of heroines to die for, from the brilliant New York Times bestselling author of The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who is cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Mulan meets The Song of Achilles in Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, a bold, queer, and lyrical reimagining of the rise of the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty from an amazing new voice in literary fantasy.

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse… Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The New York Times bestselling author of the The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.

These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers’s delightful new Monk & Robot series gives us hope for the future.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

AUGUST 2021

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Courtney Gould’s thrilling debut The Dead and the Dark is about the things that lurk in dark corners, the parts of you that can’t remain hidden, and about finding home in places―and people―you didn’t expect.

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A sweet, queer teen romance perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Check, Please!

The Pariah by Anthony Ryan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Pariah begins a new epic fantasy series of action, intrigue and magic from Anthony Ryan, a master storyteller who has taken the fantasy world by storm.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of the beloved national bestseller Migrations, a #1 IndieNext pick, a gorgeous and pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits.

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic comes a “delicious, twisted treat for lovers of noir” about a daydreaming secretary, a lonesome enforcer, and the mystery of a missing woman they’re both desperate to find.

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in this irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe when she spends her summer on a road trip across the country.

The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A brand-new epic fantasy adventure set in the beloved world of the Demon Cycle, following a new generation of heroes, from New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett

SEPTEMBER 2021

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling new YA fantasy about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Beautiful World, Where Are You is a new novel by Sally Rooney, the bestselling author of Normal People and Conversations With Friends.

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.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

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?

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.

OCTOBER 2021

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, multiple award-winning novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is an achingly romantic, tender tale sure to captivate fans of Adam Silvera and Mary H.K. Choi.

All the Feels by Olivia Dade
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Following Spoiler Alert, Olivia Dade returns with another utterly charming romantic comedy about a devil-may-care actor—who actually cares more than anyone knows—and the no-nonsense woman hired to keep him in line.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered brings her patented charm to a new version of a classic story.

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From award-winning author Tara Laskowski, The Mother Next Door is an atmospheric novel of domestic suspense in which the strive for perfection ends in murder…

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Cassandra Khaw’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As darkness closes in on the city of shattered light, an heiress and an outlaw must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A psychic travel agent and a Seattle PD detective solve a murder in this quirky mystery in the vein of Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files and Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series.

Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

NOVEMBER 2021

Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A smash debut novel from rising star Yasmin Angoe, Her Name Is Knight features an elite assassin heroine on a mission to topple a human trafficking ring and avenge her family.

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From africanfuturist luminary Okorafor comes a new science fiction novel of intense action and thoughtful rumination on biotechnology, destiny, and humanity in a near-future Nigeria.

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Red White & Royal Blue meets Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in debut author Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light, featuring an Edwardian England full of magic, contracts, and conspiracies.

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick…

You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When a huge snowstorm hits, Adam and Whitney suddenly find themselves trapped inside the arcade. Cut off from their families, their worlds, and their responsibilities, the tension between them seems to melt away, leaving something else in its place. But what happens when the storm stops?

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first in a new historical rom-com series, a handsome earl hires a fake fiancée to keep his matchmaking mother at bay, but hilarity ensues when love threatens to complicate everything.

Blue-Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.

Everything We Didn’t Say by Nicole Baart
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Little Broken Things, a “race-to-the-finish family drama” (People) following a mother who must confront the dark summer that changed her life forever in order to reclaim the daughter she left behind.

DECEMBER 2021

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” ―Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep weaves a richly atmospheric adult debut following three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune as they investigate the disappearances of two outsiders.

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Wicked Deep meets House of Salt and Sorrows in this new standalone YA fantasy set in a snow-cloaked kingdom where witches are burned, and two enchantresses secretly compete for the heart of a prince, only to discover that they might be falling for each other.

Absynthe by Brendan Bellecourt
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In his sci-fi debut, Bellecourt explores an alternate roaring 20s where a shell-shocked soldier must uncover latent telepathic abilities to save himself and the people around him.

Safecracker by Ryan Wick
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this wicked debut, safecracker Michael Maven must pull off the most dangerous theft of his long career–or his friends and family will be killed.

Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys readers first fell for in the New York Times bestselling rom-com What If It’s Us.

Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A whip-smart, piercing debut novel, Smile and Look Pretty follows four assistants who band together to take on their toxic office environments in the ultimate comeuppance.

I Know Your Secret by Daphne Benedis-Grab
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

One of Us is Lying meets Pretty Little Liars for middle-grade readers.

What 2021 releases are you looking forward to releasing between July and December? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2021 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

APRIL

Lies We Bury by Elle Marr

Marissa was born in captivity.  It’s been twenty years since she gained her freedom, but a new string of murders threatens to bring all of her secrets to the surface.

The Perfect Daughter by DJ Palmer

Grace has to visit her teenage daughter in the state psychiatric hospital where she is being held on a charge of murder.  Doctors have disagreed about a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, but what dark and shocking secrets will be uncovered if she goes to trial?

The Truth About Unspeakable Things by Emily A Myers

After horrific trauma, Emma has finally opened her heart to love again.  She has kept so many secrets about the abuse she experienced, her past may destroy her before she gets her second chance at love and happiness.

Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan

After a violent home break-in, a family no longer knows whether they can trust anyone, even each other, as doubts, questions, and suspicions abound.  Gaslighting galore!

In The Company of Killers by Bryan Christy

A tightly wound debut thriller! Tom is an investigative reporter, but only as a cover – he’s also a CIA spy.  While he is on assignment in Kenya, his carefully crafted double life begins to fall apart, revealing truths that even Tom doesn’t know about.

MAY

The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda

Does anyone really ever ‘have it all’?  There is no limit to what some women will do to try to have it all, or to keep it.  In the name of love, or revenge, there is no limit to what a woman might do.

Find You First by Linwood Barclay

The master of psychological suspense is back with a deadly race against time when the unconventional heirs of a dying tech millionaire begin to meet mysterious ends.

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb

An elite club that focuses equally on target practice and martinis leads to a life of dangerous behavior, obsession, seduction, and murder when Sophie, her husband, and young son settle down in a small Texas town.

The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter

After observing the wealthy and elite of New York City through her camera lens, Delta feels an uncontrollable desire to no longer be separated by the camera, and instead be part of their world.  Manipulation at its strongest is on full display here!

A Good Mother by Lara Bazelon

An exciting debut thriller with two young mothers in different positions in the same murder trial, where the decision about what defines a good mother has to be answered by the jury!

JUNE

The North Face of the Heart by Dolores Redondo (Translated by Michael Meigs)

A young but experienced female detective literally follows a murderer into the eye of a storm when she helps the FBI find a killer using natural disasters to hide his crimes and aid his escape.

Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams

The author of No Exit is back with a new thriller where a young woman refuses to accept the official police version of her sister’s death.  Lena is willing to fight for the truth, but instead may be fighting for her life.

The Fiancee by Kate White

What should have been a relaxing family vacation is turned on its head when a mysterious woman is involved.  An unexpected death further rocks the family, but was that only the beginning?

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

The ultimate locked-room mystery, a claustrophobic thriller that takes place entirely on a twenty- hour flight from London to Sydney. A lot can happen in twenty hours.

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Set in 1991, when help was not just as close as a cellphone call away, two people share a car ride when neither person knows enough about the person they are riding beside.

JULY

Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen and Gary Braver

When a young woman who is both beautiful and brilliant plunges from her apartment balcony, the detective in charge can feel in her gut that there is more to the story than meets the eye.  Discovering her sordid secrets provides more questions, rather than answers.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

This best-selling author is back with a new thriller set in a prestigious private school.  Meddlesome parents, murder, Teacher of the Year, and overachieving students – what else could we ask for?

Her Last Breath by Hilary Davidson

When it is discovered that a woman predicted her own murder, her sister will absolutely not let the truth be brushed aside, despite being a pariah in her own family. Digging for the truth may come at too high of a cost, however.

Safe in my Arms by Sara Shepard

At an elite preschool, the principal is attacked and three moms who don’t think they fit in with the ultra-wealthy community work together to both find out who is trying to frame them as well as how to keep their real secrets hidden.

Silver Tears by Camilla Lackberg

Three generations of women have been hiding from one man, but secrets always eventually come out.  Betrayal and tears are sure to follow.

Are you as excited as we are about all of these upcoming thrillers? Are some of your favourite authors back with something new? Which books are you most excited to pick up? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Thrillers We Are Eagerly Anticipating In The Next Few Months appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Taking a family road trip that no one wants to be on, three siblings (and two of their spouses) set out to recreate a trip they took with their grandfather when they were children. However, this is not a joyous recreation of treasured childhood moments, though. This is part of the instructions included in their grandfather’s will.  They did not enjoy the trip as children, and they aren’t enjoying it now.

As they travel through Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and other states, heading to the west coast, they stop at the various local and roadside attractions they had visited the first time they made this trip, now seeing these museums and oddities through adult eyes. Each of them start to question events from the past, as well as just what the current trip is all about.

Between the stops they make, as they travel, they start to talk. Secrets come out, old jealousies resurface, and as the long road means long hours in the car, old resentments inevitably arise. Those miseries experienced by the characters, however, are pure gold for the reader! The twists and turns, revelations and backstories, dark humour and suspense never stop.

Siblings Eddie, Beth, and Portia have their entire dysfunctional lives on display throughout this long road trip, and it will be difficult for most readers to find anyone they can consistently call ‘likeable’. (For readers that are not concerned with likeability, you are in for a big treat!)

While I would never want to be on this road trip, being able to comfortably sit back and read about it is an absolute joy! This clever tale of greed, betrayal, and family is edgy and entertaining from start to finish. It is a pure fun, escape-from-the-world type of book, but with lots of sneaky little details and an interesting way of telling an outlandish tale.

Fans of Samantha Downing’s My Lovely Wife will certainly enjoy He Started It. I predict the ending may be a little controversial and will certainly lead to a lot of discussion. People will be thrilled with it or furious about it, but it certainly works for the family we come to know in those pages.

He Started It is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up He Started It? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven’t all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we’ll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.

It’s even harder when you’re all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory—a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won’t stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there’s a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.

But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

The post Review: He Started It by Samantha Downing appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

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

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

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

The Shadows by Alex North
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

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

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

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The first novel written for an adult audience by the mega-selling author of the Divergent franchise: five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers must face even greater demons—and reconsider what it means to be a hero…by destiny or by choice.

The Girl and the Stars by Mark Lawrence
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A stunning new epic fantasy series following a young outcast who must fight with everything she has to survive, set in the same world as Red Sister.

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
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A riveting debut novel set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, about four young women making their way in a world defined by impossibly high standards of beauty, secret room salons catering to wealthy men, strict social hierarchies, and K-pop fan mania.

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Set in a lushly drawn world inspired by Inquisition Spain, Zoraida Córdova’s hotly anticipated new fantasy is an epic tale of love and revenge perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Maas.

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

From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family—not unlike your own—just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in…. (Update: He Started It has now been pushed back to July 28th 2020).

Not That Kind of Guy by Andie J. Christopher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

An office attraction becomes something more when they’re off the clock in this delightful romantic comedy by the USA Today bestselling author of Not the Girl You Marry.

Fantastic Hope by Laurell K Hamilton and William McCaskey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A collection of sixteen sci-fi and fantasy stories edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton and author William McCaskey, joined by Kevin J. Anderson, Griffin Barber, Patricia Briggs, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Monalisa Foster, Robert E. Hampson, John G. Hartness, Jonathan Maberry, L. E. Modesitt, Jr., Jessica Schlenker, Sharon Shinn, M. C. Sumner, Patrick M. Tracy, and Michael Z. Williamson.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
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In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
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Fried Green Tomatoes and Steel Magnolias meet Dracula in this Southern-flavoured supernatural thriller set in the ’90s about a women’s book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend.

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie
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A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend—the man he trusts most and might even love—only to learn that his friend is secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire.

Something She’s Not Telling Us by Darcey Bell
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From the New York Times bestselling author of A Simple Favor comes an electrifying domestic thriller of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when her brother brings his new girlfriend to visit—and no one is telling the truth about who they really are.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed traces the lives of two young women fighting to write their own stories and escape the pressure of familial burdens and cultural expectations in worlds too long defined by men.

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

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

Read on to discover our picks and tell us if you have read any this year in the comments below!

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Christopher is seven years old. Christopher is the new kid in town. Christopher has an imaginary friend. The epic work of literary horror from the #1 bestselling author of The Perks of Being A Wallflower.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive…

The Escape Room by Megan Goldin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of JP Delaney’s The Girl Before and Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10 comes this hair-raising novel of deception and revenge that will blow readers away.

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.

The Institute by Stephen King
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is Stephen King’s gut-wrenchingly dramatic story of good vs. evil in a world where the good guys don’t always win.

A Stranger on The Beach by Michele Campbell
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From bestselling author Michele Campbell comes A Stranger on the Beach, an edge-of-your seat story of passion and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Full Throttle by Joe Hill
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this masterful collection of short fiction, Joe Hill dissects timeless human struggles in thirteen relentless tales of supernatural suspense, including “In The Tall Grass,” one of two stories co-written with Stephen King, basis for the terrifying feature film from Netflix.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The next heart-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager follows a young woman whose new job apartment sitting in one of New York’s oldest and most glamorous buildings may cost more than it pays.

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Four women learn their boss (a man who’s always been surrounded by rumours about how he treats women) is next in line to be CEO—what will happen when they decide enough is enough?

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.

Reputation by Sara Shepard
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this fast-paced new novel from Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars, a tight-knit college town scrambles for answers when an e-mail hack reveals life-changing secrets and scandals.

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In his boldly imagined first novel, Ta-Nehisi Coates, the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me, brings home the most intimate evil of enslavement: the cleaving and separation of families.

The Testaments (The Handmaid’s Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Margaret Atwood’s sequel picks up the story fifteen years after Offred stepped into the unknown, with the explosive testaments of three female narrators from Gilead.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

The Night Before by Wendy Walker
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Told in dual timelines—the night before and the day after—The Night Before is a riveting thriller about family loyalty, obsession, and what happens when the desire for love spins out of control.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.

The Whisper Man by Alex North
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of suspense, as a father and son are caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.

Find Me (Call Me By Your Name #2) by André Aciman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this spellbinding exploration of the varieties of love, the author of the worldwide bestseller Call Me by Your Name revisits its complex and beguiling characters decades after their first meeting.

Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A chilling collection of psychological suspense and literary horror from the multiple award-winning author of the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.

Mother Knows Best by Kira Peikoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A mother’s worst nightmare, a chance at redemption, and a deadly secret that haunts a family across the generations. Past, present, and future converge in this mesmerising psychological thriller from critically acclaimed author Kira Peikoff.

The Suspect by Fiona Barton
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The new must-read standalone crime thriller from the author of Sunday Times bestseller, The Widow, and the Richard & Judy No. 1 bestseller, The Child – featuring unforgettable journalist, Kate Waters.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things, a delicious novel of glamour, sex, and adventure, about a young woman discovering that you don’t have to be a good girl to be a good person.

Inspection by Josh Malerman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Boys are being trained at one school for geniuses, girls at another. Neither knows the other exists—until now. The New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box invites you into a world of secrets and chills in a coming-of-age story like no other.

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.

Do you have any other favourite 2019 fiction books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Best Fiction Books of 2019 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.