And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

Touching, thoughtful, and incredibly fun, And They Were Roommates is a delightful YA light academia romance.

Brewed with Love by Shelly Page 

Sweet, cozy, and mysterious, Brewed with Love is a thrilling YA fantasy with witches, an immersive small-town setting, and a tender romance.

By Any Other Name by Erin Cotter

Blending the history of 1500s London with swoon-worthy romantic tension, By Any Other Name is an unforgettable YA historical fiction novel.

Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo

With faerie curses and a cozy fairytale atmosphere, Call Forth a Fox beautifully retells the Brothers’ Grimm’s “Snow White and Rose Red.”

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Spellbinding and powerful, Cemetery Boys is a simultaneously heart-wrenching and heartwarming YA contemporary fantasy with mythology, ghosts, and brujx set during Día de Los Muertos. 

Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado

Uplifting, hopeful, and funny, Coming Out Perfect is a beautiful YA graphic novel of familial expectations, fitting in, queer community, and coming out.

Daughter of the Bone Forest by Jasmine Skye

Set in a queer-normative world with a sentient forest, a magic school, shapeshifting, witches, and romance, Daughter of the Bone Forest is a sweeping YA fantasy.

Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban

Witty, comforting, and swoony, Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend is a Victorian romance with hijinks, matchmaking, and love.

Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian 

Empowering, thought-provoking, and romantic, Exquisite Things is a propulsive YA historical fantasy of art, storytelling, immortality, resistance, community, grief, belonging, and, ultimately, hope.

Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos 

Wildly entertaining and achingly beautiful, Furious is a swoon-worthy YA contemporary romance that’s perfect for fans of Fast & Furious.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher 

Swoony, hilarious, and riveting, Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a heartwarming medieval romcom filled with found family, love, and witty banter galore.

Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews 

With a bloodthirsty garden, gritty botanical horror, and lingering love story, Hazelthorn is an enrapturing YA gothic.

Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Romantic, fierce, and heartwarming, Just Between Us is an unputdownable YA graphic novel with figure skating, romance, and stunning imagery.

Moss’d in Space by Rebecca Thorne

Quirky, vibrant, and wonderfully mossy, Moss’d in Space is a creative and hilarious cozy sci-fi novel.

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Set in a dystopian society with a dark academia atmosphere, body-swapping, assassins, and magic, Queen of Faces is a sharp and lyrical YA fantasy.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 

Laugh-out-loud funny with found family and forbidden romance, Red, White & Royal Blue is a cinematic and irresistible contemporary romance.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell 

Monstrous and splendidly strange, Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a quirky, vicious, and surprisingly cozy fantasy.

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Brimming with wit, whimsy, romance, and magical creatures, Sorcery and Small Magics is an enchanting cozy fantasy.

Soul of a Gentleman Witch by David Ferraro

Sweeping and threaded with magic, Soul of a Gentleman Witch is an addictive YA cozy fantasy that’s perfect for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Tenderly, I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

With a breathtaking romance, lyrical prose, and an eerie atmosphere, Tenderly, I am Devoured is a magical YA fantasy.

The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton 

Brimming with friends-to-lovers yearning, Fae, and a riveting heist, The Absinthe Underground is a captivating YA fantasy perfect for fans of Moulin Rouge! and The Cruel Prince.

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch

Funny, vibrant, and magical, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards is an addictive fantasy romcom with academic rivals-to-lovers tension.

The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray by Christine Calella 

With a maritime adventure, a beautiful sibling bond, and a compelling cast, The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a gritty, emotional, and exhilarating YA fantasy.

The House of Now and Then by Edward Underhill 

Heartfelt and hopeful, The House of Now and Then is a sweeping summer romance with an undertone of magic set in Cape Cod.

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland 

With witches, a dark academia atmosphere, demons, and a murder mystery, The Invocations is a gripping and haunting YA thriller.

The Last Best Quest Ever by F.T. Lukens

Magical, adventurous, and hilarious, The Last Best Quest Ever is a delightful YA fantasy romp with found family and fantastical creatures.

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride 

Spellbinding and achingly beautiful, The Leaving Room is a tender YA novel-in-verse brimming with emotion, memories, family recipes, love, and hope.

The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson

Set in modern-day Chicago and threaded with Greek mythology, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World is a poignant and touching urban fantasy perfect for fans of Hadestown.

The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson

Infused with horror, art, and romance, The Macabre is an adventurous and inventive contemporary fantasy.

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

 With adventure, magic, and rivals-to-lovers tension, The Midnight Girls is a cinematic and whimsical YA fantasy.

With Fire in Their Blood by Kat Delacorte

Set in Italy with witches, a love square, and warring mafia clans, With Fire in Their Blood is a romantic and thrilling YA paranormal romance.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White 

Vicious, sharp, and brilliantly unsettling, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is a YA historical fantasy set in London, 1883.

This Must Be the Place by Kelly Quindlen 

Welcoming, emotional, and tender, This Must Be the Place is a captivating YA contemporary novel with found family set in small-town Alabama.

This Raging Sea by De Elizabeth

Sea-soaked, haunting, and lush, This Raging Sea is a YA dark fantasy with romance, eldritch secrets, horror, witches, and time travel.

Time After Time by Mikki Daughtry 

Vivid and romantic, Time After Time is a breathtaking YA romance following two love stories set one hundred years apart.

Vile Lady Villains by Danai Christopoulou 

Sharp, lyrical, and twisty, Vile Lady Villains is a fierce and creative fantasy threaded with Greek mythology and Shakespeare.

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune 

Heavy yet full of life, We Burned So Bright is a heart-wrenching but unexpectedly comforting fantasy of humans at the end of the world facing love, loss, and life itself.

What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch

Twisty, immersive, and magical, What Wakes the Bells is a gripping YA fantasy with a gothic atmosphere inspired by a Prague legend. 

From heartwarming found families to swoon-worthy romances to laugh-out-loud banter, these stories bring extra queer joy, community, and love to the Pride Month celebration. Happy reading, and Happy Pride Month!

The post 38 LGBTQIA+ Books to Add to Your Pride Month TBR appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Sara and Beth! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourselves?

Sara: Hello hello! I’m the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of multiple books for teens and adults, spanning fantasy to historical romantasy to contemporary romcoms, including The Nightmare Before Kissmas and Night of the Witch.

Beth: I live in the Appalachian Mountains with my husband and son, and I write a mix of fantasy and sci fi novels. I’m a huge nerd who loves Star Wars, history, and travel.

Your latest novel, The Crimson Throne, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Sara: Scotland, enemies-to-lovers (that’s totally one word, trust me), Outlander meets Reign

Beth: Scotland fae meets royal intrigue!

What can readers expect?

Sara: Samson, an Elizabethan slum orphan turned spy, is just doing his best. Alyth, a fae guardian hiding in plain sight amidst the court of Mary Queen of Scots, has no time for anyone’s nonsense. They, of course, find themselves needing to rely on one another, and oops is that a murder plot we’ve stumbled on? Oh dear.

Beth: A star-crossed romance wrapped up in the lush world of Scotland, built on the actual legends and lore and history that’s already there. This is one of my favorite time periods to research, where the royals acted in the wildest ways in real life, and we just added in some magic, some kissing, and some portals into the fae world.

Where did the inspiration for The Crimson Throne come from?

Sara: This one was all Beth! She’s a fount of knowledge re: Mary Queen of Scots and this whole era, so when she suggested this as our next historical adventure, I just kind of sat back and let her fly!

Beth: Sara and I finished doing an event to support our first duology, Night of the Witch and The Fate of Magic, and were eager to work together again, but we were going back and forth on ideas. Our first books together were set in Germany during the Trier witch trials, and we knew we wanted to blend magic and history together again. I might have strong-armed Sara into the idea of fae and Mary, Queen of Scots court by wooing her with the actual history of Lord Darnley and all the things he did during his short marriage to the queen, but Sara was the genius who figured out who the High Blade was—and once we had those pieces, we had the whole story!

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

Sara: Samson is my POV character, and he truly is the definition of “just doing his best.” He’s completely new to much of the world that Alyth has been dealing with her whole life, so his innocence and awe was a fun contrast to Alyth’s oftentimes jaded, tunnel-visioned focus. An unintentional grump/sunshine dynamic!

Beth: I wrote the character of Alyth, a lady-in-waiting for Mary, Queen of Scots, who has a big secret: she’s half-fae and works to maintain the barrier between the mortal world and the magical world, protecting them both from invasion of the deadly, bloody Red Cap fae. Alyth is a girl who was born to fulfill the duty, and she wraps up her worth with her work, unable to see that she does not have to fulfill responsibility in order to be loved and appreciated…at least until Samson comes along. This workaholic nature and false belief that her only value is in her tasks completed is definitely something I identify with as well…

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

Sara: Co-writing comes with a built in extra brain who knows the story as well as I do, so whenever either of us get stuck, it usually doesn’t take us long to unpick the knot. We do a lot of Facetime calls and collaborate over Google docs; and typically, if we hit a plot point where we have competing ideas, it just pushes us to collaborate on an entirely new idea that makes the story even better than we could’ve gotten to individually!

Beth: One of the best things about co-writing is that whenever I get stuck or panic about the story, I can call up Sara to talk me down off the ledge! I think the most difficult part for me, though, was narrowing down with areas the characters explore. Scotland is so rich in legend with so many lovely and amazing locations that I really did have to selectively limit which spots they go to. (That said, one of my favorite locations is going to be in Book 2, and I am very excited about that!)

What’s next for you both?

Sara: I’ve got the sequel to one of my adult romcoms coming in May, The Fake Divination Offense, a fantasy sports romance about a pro athlete who falls for a cheerleader; and next Fall, I’ve got the sequel to The Crimson Throne, as well as the first book in my next adult romcom series, this one about superheroes!

Beth: In February, I’ve got the omnibus edition of Chaotic Orbits releasing, and then the following year, I’m making my adult romantasy debut with a book near and dear to my heart that I am ecstatic to finally see released into the world after so many years!

And, of course, I’m working on the sequel to The Crimson Throne and the next duology with Sara!

Lastly, what 2026 books do you have your eye on?

Sara: I adored the first two books in Danielle Allen’s Curve series, so I am frothing at the mouth for Big Girl Blitz next summer. I also desperately need the sequel to I Killed the King by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah! Such a cruel ending!!

Beth: Look, I have been devouring Sara’s fun and rompy romances, so my big plan is to hack into her computer and steal her next project. I’ve also been waiting on Rachel Gillig’s sequel to The Knight and the Moth (that ending!!!), Demi Winter’s conclusion to The Road of Bones books, and Tanaz Bhathena’s recently announced Witch Daughter!

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

The post Q&A: Sara Raasch & Beth Revis, Co-Authors of ‘The Crimson Throne’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart: In this holiday romance with an enchanting twist, a magic-averse witch returns home to save her small town’s beloved winter festival in time for the holidays with the help of her estranged coven and distractingly handsome childhood rival.

What happens when you take holiday “magic” and make it literal? Stories that will completely sweep you up in cozy wonder this holiday season. Ever since the Christmas Carol, writers have been using magical plot devices to create a sense of adventure and force their characters to travel down a path toward becoming the best version of themselves in time for Yuletide. Adding romance into the mix adds a delicious stake to that journey—fix your heart, or watch it break when love slips through your fingers.

From time travel to magical archives to charming ghosts, all of these books use magical twists to add an enchanting sparkle to familiar holiday romance tropes. The end result is a collection of delightful, satisfying reads that will help you get through those long winter nights.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Maelyn Jones is stuck in a time loop, reliving the same holiday trip to Utah, and must figure out how to break free. Could it have something to do with the two brothers between whom she also finds herself stuck? Holiday romance meets Groundhog Day in this timeloop romance that was both hilarious and touching. Family takes center stage, as Maelyn’s evolving relationships with both her biological family and found family prove critical to her escape.

Childhood friends to lovers pairs well with the story themes of nostalgia, tradition, and learning to let go and move on, all wrapped up in delightfully festive wrapping.

Winter’s Wishfall by Ceri Houlbrook

Ellie Lancaster flees heartbreak to take a job on a remote Scottish island where she finds her job is to archive centuries of scrolls that all begin “Dear Father Christmas…” There she is swept up in the magic and mystery of her task and learns to take charge of her life again. Along the way she also gains a found family, and a slow burn romance with a grumpy caretaker is the icing on the cake.

Enchanting, whimsical, and romantic, Houlbrook’s background in folklore comes through in how richly folkloric the whole tale reads. It leaves you wanting to believe in holiday magic.

The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Holly Chase had her shot at redemption when she was visited by three Ghosts, but she didn’t take it, and died shortly after. Given yet another shot at redemption, she is enlisted by Project Scrooge to be their latest Ghost of Christmas Past. Her first five years of afterlife proved to be as miserable as her life had been, but then she meets her newest Scrooge and everything begins to change for the better.

A beautiful, modern retelling full of the Scrooge story full of second chances and a whole lot of heart.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling

The Wedding Witch follows the third Penhallow brother, Bowen, a reclusive witch from the mountains of Wales, and Tamsyn, a procurer of magical artifacts, as they attend a Yuletime wedding in a fake relationship and end up swept back to 1957 to solve a magical mystery that spans generations. They struggle to set things right while not unraveling too much of the future they hope to return to, all the while navigating a growing attraction for another.

My personal favorite of Sterling’s popular Graves Glen series, Bowen and Tamsyn’s escapades are equal parts festive, intriguing, and sexy.

Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Nightmare Before Kissmas brings us into the world behind all of the holidays, which is run by elaborate courts each ruled by monarchs and grow in power with the celebration of their holidays. Courtly politics takes front-and-center as Coal, the prince of Christmas, is forced to be betrothed to his best friend, the princess of Easter. This gets even more complicated as Hex, the Prince of Halloween, arrives to compete for her hand. As these things go, the princes of these holidays end up much more interested in each other than the princess.

The romance between the golden-heated prince of Christmas and the broody, guarded prince of Halloween has all the swoony, festive, slow-burn enemies to lovers charm you could hope for, and the magic is charmingly drawn directly from the holidays themselves.

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

People pleasing Harriet finds herself haunted by a Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan, who insists he must’ve been sent because she has something that needs fixing. But though he is able to take her on a magical journey through her memories, neither of them can find anything in her past behavior that would justify his assignment to redeem her. The longer the assignment drags out, the more his magic begins to go haywire, and the closer they are drawn together.

 The end result is magic, mayhem, and a deeply cozy and sexy story about learning to trust that you are enough and finally letting down the walls that kept you safe.

Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle

Bettie Hughes, a once wealthy influencer now secretly broke and squatting in a dead woman’s house, has been dreading facing her family at the holidays—that is, until she accidentally plays a record backward and conjures Hall, the Holiday Spirit, a charming if offbeat man who offers to grant her wishes in order to help her rediscover joy and connection. They attend her family’s Christmas gathering as fake fiances, with Hal granting Bettie’s wish after wish, but the happier she becomes, the shorter his time on earth grows.

This book has Hogle’s trademark hilarious mayhem and delightfully eccentric characters, alongside the magic of second chances.

Season of the Witch by Sophie Morgan

High on my winter TBR for this year is the third in Sophie Morgan’s Toil and Trouble series. Season of the Witch forces together a pair of magical exes, Tia and Henry, who are forced together in a fake dating arrangement in order to secure a deal for the benefit of their recently merged family potion companies. Henry wants to win Tia back, but his efforts are complicated by the fact she erased memories of their time together.

This festive enemies to lovers promises banter, shenanigans, and a deeper story about family, identity, and vulnerability.

The post Eight Magical Holiday Romances to Enchant and Delight appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Hi! I’m Sara Raasch, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of now thirteen (!!) books. (Wow, when did that happen?) My books range from teen historical romantasies to adult fantasy romcoms such as THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE KISSMAS and, most recently, THE ENTANGLEMENT OF RIVAL WIZARDS!

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

I was very cliché in that I always wanted to be a writer! My earliest memories are of wanting to see my book on shelves, and tagging along with my cousins to sell handmade books at their lemonade stand. Luckily, I’m not relegated to hawking my books on the side of the road anymore. Or handmaking them, because letsbehonest, that is not where my skillset lies.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Felicity the American Girl series. I was wholly obsessed with Revolutionary War America as a child, and that says pretty much all you need to know about me.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Sharon Shinn’s Twelve Houses series. It was the first high fantasy book I read that showed me what could be done with sweeping, immersive world building.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Anything by Jordan L. Hawk. I scream about their books with my whole soul any chance I can get, especially their Whyborne and Griffin series. Steampunk historical queer romance, plus Lovecraftian monsters, plus it’s a twelve book series where each book contributes seamlessly to the overall plot and the main couple never breaks up? That series is magic incarnate.

Your latest novel, The Entanglement of Rival Wizards, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

OH THIS QUESTION IS MEAN. Wait, those don’t count as my five words, do they? Crap, focus, Sara.

Okay, five words, for real this time:

Magic STEM Caleb/Essek (one word? One word) bi disasters

What can readers expect?

Magic STEM Caleb/Essek bi disasters. Just gonna use that as my official plug now.

THE ENTANGLEMENT OF RIVAL WIZARDS follows human wizard Sebastian as he competes for a grad school grant against his academic nemesis, half-elf wizard Elethior. They hate each other so much. So very much that they end up kissing. And there’s an invisible fox familiar and discussions about the military industrial complex and pranks as a love language.

Where did the inspiration for The Entanglement of Rival Wizards come from?

My editor suggested my next project be some kind of magic STEM book, and I was immediately like “No way, once magic is science it stops being magic,” and then I sat with it for a moment and went “Wait…but wizards are magic scientists, basically?” Wizards, to me, mean Caleb and Essek from Critical Role’s Campaign Two, so I knew I had to do an homage to them. Thus, my magic wizard grad student scientists with war criminal vibes were born!

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

I got a kick out of writing Sebastian’s fox familiar, Nick. He’s invisible and a terror, and I love him.

But I also really loved writing Sebastian’s relationship with his best friend, Orok. I adore writing best friend dynamics, and they were so squishy and supportive of each other. I love them fiercely, and I was so stoked to revisit them in Orok’s book!

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

I never went to grad school, so I had to do a ton of research into how exactly that institution works. I asked friends who graduated from grad school programs and did as much online research as I could, and I hope I’ve done it justice, at least enough to pass as a magical fantasy version of a graduate program!

What’s next for you?

Sebastian’s BF gets his own book! THE FAKE DIVINATION OFFENSE comes out May 19, 2026, and follows Orok, now a star athlete, as he’s forced into a PR relationship with a feisty, fan-favorite cheerleader. This book is sports romance meets DND with religious trauma, fake dating, size differences, and a possessive mc!

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

I’ve been reading a lot of poetry books to refill my word well, and I was really moved by FOREST OF NOISE by Mosab Abu Toha. I also had the pleasure of reading an early copy of I KILLED THE KING by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah, a YA closed door fantasy murder mystery that comes out this fall – it was so clever and fun! And Chip Pons’ WINGING IT WITH YOU was delightful and steamy!

You can find Sara on Instagram, Tumblr, and TikTok.

Will you be picking up The Entanglement of Rival Wizards? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Sara Raasch, Author of ‘The Entanglement of Rival Wizards’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

In this installment, we follow Kristopher Clause as he begins to rebuild his joy after the painful and chaotic fallout surrounding his father’s schemes. When holiday magic goes missing in the land of St. Patrick’s Day, Kris is drawn into a mystery that might just offer him the escape he desperately needs. Along the way, he encounters the St. Patrick’s Day prince, a figure who initially seems like an adversary (especially considering this isn’t the first time they met at odds) but ultimately becomes everything Kris could have hoped for in his quest for a happy ending.

If you haven’t yet read The Nightmare Before Kissmas, I’d highly recommend doing so before diving into this one. While Go Luck Yourself stands on its own, having the context of book one will enrich the experience and deepen your understanding of certain familial relationships. After what happened in the first book, Kris’s brother Coal is busy picking up the pieces left by their father, who, now living his best life in the Caribbean, hands over the holiday empire to his son in the midst of a midlife crisis. Meanwhile, Kris investigates the St. Patrick’s Day mystery, eager to distract himself from the emotional turmoil of a recent rejection from Iris – which we all were kind of rooting for in the first book, let’s be real. Disguised as an ambassador from Christmas, Kris now works to rebuild trust in the wake of his father’s actions.

One of the highlights of Go Luck Yourself is the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Kris and the St. Patrick’s Day prince, Loch (though we will not speak about this name because it haunts me—Loch means hole in German, in case you were wondering. You can guess the kind of jokes I have become very familiar with from prepubescent boys from an early age on). Although the tension is resolved fairly quickly, it’s still an enjoyable ride watching these two attempt to one-up each other, with Kris’s magical abilities adding a nice layer of fun. While Loch, the prince, could have used more depth in terms of characterisation, his more understated presence worked well in the context of Kris’s family drama and the book’s overall focus on mental health. The exploration of self-imposed pressure and its consequences is particularly poignant and relatable.

Kris and Loch’s romance, though filled with ups and downs, ultimately shows how their bond helps each of them grow. Their support for one another is a key theme, offering space for personal growth throughout the story. Additionally, there are plenty of cameos from characters in the first book, sure to delight fans who couldn’t put it down.

That said, I did encounter some of the same issues I had with The Nightmare Before Kissmas. The fluctuating tone of the narrative was jarring at times, especially when combined with the characters’ shifting emotional states. While I understand that anxiety and emotional turmoil can cause such shifts, the tone didn’t always match the characters’ inner thoughts or were so interchangeable that it was hard to remember whose head we were stuck in, which made it harder to follow at certain points. There’s also a tendency to summarise scenes or reiterate information from the same point of view, which occasionally made the pacing drag. Moreover, some abrupt tonal shifts—particularly from light-hearted fun to heavy, almost war-like drama followed up by intimate scenes—felt out of place.

While the intimate scenes in the story may not be for everyone, and the dominant/submissive dynamics could be polarising depending on your preferences (especially if you’re only exposed to traditionally published romance), they add an element of tension to the romance that might appeal to some readers. For me, I couldn’t help but notice the influence of Raasch’s previous YA works blending with her attempt to create a more mature, adult-themed narrative.

Another point of critique is the characters’ lack of agency. While this isn’t as glaring as in Coal’s story, it’s still noticeable that these are grown adults who often take a passive approach to their own lives. This gives the story a certain YA feel, despite the more mature content.

However, if these issues didn’t bother you in the first book, they’re likely to be less of a concern here, as the subtlety of the second book’s execution makes them easier to overlook. Ultimately, Go Luck Yourself retains the fun, witty dialogue, holiday-themed antics, and irresistible chemistry between the protagonists that made the first book a hit.

Personally, I’m still hoping for a Netflix adaptation—or something similar—that can bring Raasch’s delightful world to life in a Hallmark-esque holiday movie.

So cuddle up, get yourself a nice hot ale (if you’re into that) and count your lucky stars while falling head over heels for this enemies-to-lovers holiday romcom!

Go Luck Yourself is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 11th 2025.

Will you be picking up Go Luck Yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!

Someone has been stealing Christmas’s joy, and there’s only one clue to the culprit―a single shamrock.

With Coal busy restructuring Christmas―and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean―Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick’s Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?

Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can’t get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch’s face in―he’s infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot―

Wait―hot?

Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas’s stolen magic isn’t as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that’s always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday’s resources―like his heart?

The post #ReadWithPride: Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Prepare your romance-loving heart as there are some stellar romance books releasing in the first half of 2025! Between the months of January and June, you’ll see new releases from Emily Henry, Charlotte Stein, TJ Alexander, Jasmine Guillory, Ali Hazelwood, Meryl Wilsner, Abby Jimenez, Sarah Hogle, Katherine Center, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Ashley Poston, and many more, along with so many debuts too!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, YA books, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, and Fiction books list.

JANUARY 2025

Zoe Brennan, First Crush by Laura Piper Lee

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A struggling vineyard owner gets a second taste of her first crush in this romantic comedy that sparkles with humor and heat.

Work In Progress by Kat Mackenzie

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A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.

Unromance by Erin Connor

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A recently dumped TV heartthrob enlists a jaded romance novelist to ruin romance for him—one rom-com trope at a time—so he never gets swept off his feet again . . .

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

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Archaeologist Miriam and journalist Rafael are destined to be rivals and must journey together to find the Lost City of the Moon. As they navigate treacherous paths and rival crews, their hearts become entangled in a thrilling adventure where love and duty collide in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

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USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti returns with another hot, hilarious Regency romp about a reclusive earl and the wallflower-turned-radical-pamphleteer who turns his life upside down.

Yin Yang Love Song By Lauren Kung Jessen

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In this charming rom-com filled with Chinese traditions and a family curse, an herbalist fake dates a star musician–perfect for fans of Helen Hoang and Jasmine Guillory.

The Lodge by Kayla Olson

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From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

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Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

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With his funny, big-hearted adult rom com debut, bestselling, award-winning YA author Julian Winters shows sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

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When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Let’s Call A Truce by Amy Buchanan

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Let’s Call A Truce is a sexy contemporary romance about second chances at life and love, bursting with humor and a touch of angst from debut author, Amy Buchanan.

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese

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Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

FEBRUARY 2025

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

MARCH 2025

Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch

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It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!

Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker

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One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.

The Love We Found by Jill Santopolo

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The long-awaited follow-up to the Reese’s Book Club pick and New York Times bestselling global phenomenon The Light We Lost: a thrilling love story about the roles fate and choice play in shaping a life.

Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam

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A steamy new rom-com from the popular author of Happy Endings and Full Exposure, where two friends get the opportunity to work together on their dream project—a Cinderella rock musical with an all-Asian cast—and discover that falling in love was the easy part…

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

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Perfect for fans of Ted Lasso, this delicious slow burn romance turns a pretend marriage into real love.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

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Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again, in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance by the author of Ready or Not.

Fan Service by Rosie Danan

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The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.

Cover Story by Celia Laskey

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A hilarious, emotional love story about an extremely anxious publicist who’s tasked with keeping an extremely gay starlet in the closet—but who ends up falling for her instead.​

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

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A Lady with a past. A man with ambition. A romance far from London society that might bridge their divides.

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

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A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.

A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander

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From the acclaimed author of Chef’s Kiss, a groundbreaking trans Regency romance that’s both delightfully witty and refreshingly iconoclastic.

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey

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One of the greatest love stories in history gets derailed when a struggling poet at Cambridge runs into a time-traveler who agrees to help him find his muse—a thoughtful and uplifting romantic comedy for fans of About Time and The Midnight Library.

APRIL 2025

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine

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A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead in this earnestly spectacular debut by a stunning new voice.

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

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Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey

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A small-town waitress and a big-city Broadway press agent swap homes to escape the messiness of their personal lives, only to find new purpose—and new love.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

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Meryl Wilsner’s spicy romance, their first with a nonbinary lead, where two lifelong best friends go on a nonrefundable honeymoon together and discover sometimes to find a happily ever after, you just have to ask.

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

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Two strangers find themselves stranded at sea together in this epic new love story by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

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Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping new novel from Emily Henry.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

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From the acclaimed author of Old Flames and New Fortunes comes a steamy enemies-to-lovers romantasy about a paranormal skeptic who is roped into a ghost hunting romp by the charming boy next door . . . who might just show her what real fantasies are made of.

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

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From the bestselling author of Done and Dusted and Swift and Saddled, the next book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance in which past lovers get a second chance to rediscover what they lost.

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

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A morbidly funny and emotionally resonant novel about the ways life—and love—can sneak up on us (no matter how much pepper spray we carry).

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

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The exciting new contemporary romance—and her first to feature a queer romance—by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed

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A society matchmaker realizes she’s in danger when her clients’ weddings are sabotaged in increasingly disturbing ways—an utterly original mystery from the New York Times bestselling author Aisha Saeed.

MAY 2025

A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher

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A witch and a shifter get a second chance at love in this new paranormal romantic comedy from USA Today Bestselling author April Asher.

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt

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Sparks fly in this summer romp for fans of Casey McQuiston when dancers at a Catskills resort try to pull off the perfect show, and find happiness and a place where they belong on the way.

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

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From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós comes a steamy love story of a divorced schoolteacher who discovers that her perfect no-strings fling is anything but…

Not So Fast by Karen Booth

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It’s Formula One—getting revved up is all part of the fun in this sizzling, high-octane rom-com for fans of Rush and The Hating Game.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

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A radiant, new escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

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A former adolescent TV punch line has left her awkwardness in the rearview mirror thanks to a fake-it-till-you-make-it mantra that has her on the cusp of success, until she tells a lie that sets her on a crash course with her past, spending a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

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An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and “melt your face off intimacy” (Jessica Joyce).

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

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Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

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A small-town waitress and a Hollywood star’s worlds collide in this new romance by Ashley Herring Blake, USA Today bestselling author of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

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No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

And They Were Roommates by Page Powars

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A hilarious, unputdownable second-chance-romance about the most unlikely, gay roommate mishap. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

JUNE 2025

Winging It With You by Chip Pons

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Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons’s gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in with the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North

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A grumpy burnt out physician and a sunshine psychologist must fake an engagement to save his whitewater canoeing/ relationship therapy startup in Maggie North’s sparkling second novel about starting over.

If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel

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Ms. and Ms. Smith meets The Pairing in this heart-racing romance of secrets, spies, and steam.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston

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A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Ready to Score by Jodie Slaughter

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Cleat Cute meets Friday Night Lights in this funny, spicy, emotional new sapphic romance from Jodie Slaughter.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

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Two estranged best friends find that their long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

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A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians’ tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.

I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan

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In this contemporary novel from the author of Counting Down with You, singer-songwriter Summer Ali shakes things up with a PR stunt “dating” actor Jules Moradi, but the lines between real and fake begin to blur.

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

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The USA Today bestselling author of The Worst Best Man is back with a fun and flirty rom-com about a pact between friends that goes awry when one of them unexpectedly announces they’re getting married.

Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja

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In this charming, delightfully original rom-com, a struggling writer’s muse suddenly comes to life, but can they create their own happily-ever-after?

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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Mulan is reimagined as a contemporary romance about family expectations, mistaken identity, and high stakes mergers—of both business and the heart.

Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

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From the author of Just Some Stupid Love Story, an irresistible rom-com about what happens when a cruise ship romance goes…overboard

What 2025 romance books are you looking forward to reading? Any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Let’s be real for a moment: If this book ever becomes a movie, we will all watch it on repeat every Holiday season, I guarantee it. However, while I absolutely adored the premise of The Nightmare Before Kissmas, the execution left me wanting a bit. But let’s get into it.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas features some incredibly fleshed-out characters that give the story an almost movie-like quality. You have Coal, who is struggling with being the son who always messes up and lands his Holiday (Christmas) in trouble, yet also has the best of intentions. Coal just wants to get back to a time where the holiday meant more than just one single day of joy and rather filled people with the spirit of kindness and compassion—something his father is not on board with. Then you have Kris, Coal’s brother, who is a little bit of a showstealer. His pining for their mutual best friend Iris (from the Easter Holiday) is sweet, heartbreaking and also makes me really intrigued to see how his story is going to unfold. Iris, meanwhile, is headstrong but also chained to the duties that come with being the Princess of Easter, often bending to the will of her family because she doesn’t want to cause any trouble. Hex, the love interest and Prince of Halloween also graces the pages with flair, fancy and funny quips.

With such an amazing cast of characters that felt like they almost jumped off the page, I was very confused by how little agency any of them had. Coal and Kris’s father is just shy of a dictator who constantly wants more power and prestige—and will sell out (read: marry off) his own children to get it. The way the father just pulled all the strings with no one standing up to him felt very YA to me. I expect this in young adult fiction because it does this type of story so well (because, as we all know, every dictator in a dystopian fiction will find their rightful end), but in an adult romance it just did not make sense to me. Are there attempts to stand up to him? Of course. Do those drive the plot forward or serve as a lesson? No. That entire storyline made the first half filled with unnecessary repetitions of the status quo drag especially when none of the internal conflicts saw any sort of development.

What I will also say is that I struggled to find my footing in the book as the prose sometimes felt like it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. While as mentioned above the plotline with Coal’s father and the lack of agency felt very YA, it sometimes gave me the ick to have a rather “younger” voice that sounded more like a teenager be followed up by overly sexual exclamations like Coal “still being able to taste” Hex. The discrepancy between the narrative voice during different scenes just didn’t quite work for me.

 Now that we got the nagging out of the way, let’s get to some highlights from this book beside the characters: The politics. The politics of the different Holidays and their rulers’ attempts to make their Holiday the one with the most prestige and power was really intriguing. I enjoyed the way alliances were formed and nefarious plots were being set up by the parents and how every single move, whether it was hosting a feast or inviting people was basically playing a game of chess with your enemy. Of course, there’s also an overarching plot with Holidays and the power that comes from people believing in it and celebrating it that really worked for me (and lowkey reminded me of Monsters, Inc. but in a good way).

As this is set around the Christmas time, there are also a lot of seasonally themed activities that are so enjoyable to read! From sleigh riding (or, well, a bit more magical version of that) to the way the decorations and lavish feasts were described, this will definitely get you in the mood for Christmas.

And lastly, of course, is the romance between Coal and Hex. While the premise is a bit misleading (they’re never really enemies or rivals, mind you, they jump each others’ bones almost immediately), their interactions felt downright charged with tension. From their very first kiss to the both of them forming an alliance to set things right in the world of Holidays, their characters really fit well together and made for some kick-your-feet-while-giggling moments. All in all, I’m sure this seasonal romance will find a permanent spot on many a shelf.

A wholesome reminder of what the Christmas holiday is all about, The Nightmare Before Kissmas will enchant you with an intriguing political layout of Holidays fighting to be at the top, a romance that will warm your heart and some Hallmark vibes to get you in the festive mood!

The Nightmare Before Kissmas is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of October 8th 2024.

Will you be picking up The Nightmare Before Kissmas? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky romcom where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.

Nicholas “Coal” Claus used to love Christmas. Until his father, the reigning Santa, turned the holiday into a PR façade. Coal will do anything to escape the spectacle, including getting tangled in a drunken, supremely hot make- out session with a beautiful man behind a seedy bar one night.

But the heir to Christmas is soon commanded to do his duty: he will marry his best friend, Iris, the Easter Princess and his brother’s not-so-secret crush. A situation that has disaster written all over it.

Things go from bad to worse when a rival arrives to challenge Coal for the princess’s hand…and Coal comes face-to-face with his mysterious behind-the-bar hottie: Hex, the Prince of Halloween.

It’s a fake competition between two holiday princes who can’t keep their hands off each other over a marriage of convenience that no one wants. And it all leads to one of the sweetest, sexiest, messiest, most delightfully unforgettable love stories of the year.

The post #ReadWithPride: The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As we approach the halfway mark of 2024, it’s time to start looking ahead to the phenomenal new books that will be hitting shelves over the rest of the year!

We’ve put together a small sample of anticipated releases that you should keep an eye out for with new books from the likes of Rainbow Rowell, Stephen Graham Jones, Casey McQuiston, Ransom Riggs, Jodi Picoult, Sally Rooney, Richard Osman, Sabaa Tahir, Courtney Gould, Darby Kane, and so many more, plus even some debuts you should definitely have on your radar!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and keep an eye out for when we round up further upcoming releases for the YA, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Romance, Fiction, and Middle Grade genres.

Let us know in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them or if you have other recommendations!

JULY 2024

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Get ready for a new series that brings readers deeper into the lush, romantic, and puzzle-filled world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series (over 3 million copies sold!), set a year after we last saw Avery and the Hawthornes.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments comes Slow Dance—a bright, beaming power ballad of a novel about a love so true it refuses to be forgotten.

It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant

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A fast-paced, completely delightful new mystery about what happens when parents get a little too involved in their kids’ schools, from NAACP Image Award nominee Elise Bryant.

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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A young woman wins the role of a lifetime in a film about a legendary heroine — but the real drama is behind the scenes in this sumptuous historical epic from the author of Mexican Gothic.

The Haters by Robyn Harding

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The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

The Blackbird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

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Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself—and her family history—in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling All Souls series.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez

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Two broken hearts decide that the best way to get over their first loves is with a no-strings-attached relationship in this spicy and charming debut romance.

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith

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A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song

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Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb

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Offered a dream job in Hollywood with a famous director and his actress wife, an insecure woman becomes their personal assistant where their secrets and lies place her in the crosshairs of a murder investigation.

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

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From New York Times bestselling horror writer Stephen Graham Jones comes a classic slasher story with a twist—perfect for fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix.

AUGUST 2024

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

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In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston’s latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they’re over each other—except they’re definitely not.

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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When cracks start forming in an influencer’s curated life, she finds out that jealousy is just as viral as a video in this riveting suspense novel by bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

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From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer

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White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive…

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer

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A tender, laugh-out-loud debut romance about a woman who ends up in over her head after a little white lie . . .

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

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When a young woman is found dead on her college campus, her sister doesn’t believe it was an accident—and her search for answers leads her closer to home than she ever would have imagined in this thrilling debut novel from an exciting new talent.

The Girl With No Reflection by Keshe Chow

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A young woman chosen as the crown prince’s bride must travel to the royal palace to meet her new husband—but her world is shaken when she discovers the dark truth the royal family has been hiding for centuries—in this lush fantasy debut perfect for fans of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night and Violet Made of Thorns.

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley

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Ben Rosewood never meant to be bound to a vampire succubus, especially one as sexy-yet-terrifying as Eleanora Bettencourt-Devereux, but he has to admit there are some fang-tastic perks….

The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera

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A saucy, searingly original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories.

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom Riggs

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Visionary storyteller Ransom Riggs weaves the familiar with the peculiar in a stunning loss, triumph, friendship and magic, reminding readers everywhere that true heroes are made, not born—and that when you’re never the chosen one, sometimes you have to choose yourself. 

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

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From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Mad Honey comes an “inspiring” (Elle) novel about two women, centuries apart—one of whom is the real author of Shakespeare’s plays—who are both forced to hide behind another name.

SEPTEMBER 2024

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

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A sharp-tongued folklorist must pair up with her academic rival to solve their mentor’s murder in this lush and enthralling sapphic fantasy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

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For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude―a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.

An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson

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A student will find that the hardest lessons sometimes come from outside the classroom in this stunning dark academia novel from the acclaimed author of The Year of the Witching and House of Hunger.

Us in Ruins by Rachel Moore

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With a blend of humour, magic, and love, Rachel Moore crafts another stand-alone adventure rom-com full of double- and triple-crosses, hilarious shenanigans, and frustration-fuelled banter, where the best treasure is true love.

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

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Combining the heart and humour of The Thursday Murder Club with a puzzling international mystery, welcome to the blockbusting new series from the biggest new fiction author of the decade, Richard Osman.

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

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A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel from the international bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold.

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

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The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister.

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

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A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.

The Lovers by Rebekah Faubion

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A second chance at love is in the cards for two women working a stylish California wedding in this charming debut romance.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune

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Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig

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Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes

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The unbreakable bonds of family and love are explored in this brilliant and tender story from the author of Guy’s Girl.

OCTOBER 2024

The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni

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Two sisters. A lost imperial treasure. The world’s greatest puzzle master has twenty-four hours to solve the most dangerous mystery of his life . . . or die trying.

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen

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In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth. They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

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Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas in a sexy, quirky rom-com where the golden-hearted Prince of Christmas falls for the totally off-limits Prince of Halloween.

Heir by Sabaa Tahir

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Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with power, treachery, love, and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed, on a journey that may cost them their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

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The cozy, low stakes of Legends & Lattes meets the scorching bodyguard fantasy of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s From Blood and Ash in this enemies-to-lovers romance where, yes, the swords do cross.

Throne of Secrets by Kerri Maniscalco

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Two rivals torn apart by a dark memory reunite on a deadly hunt—and in an irresistibly twisted fairy tale—in the next steamy standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco.

Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews

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As alluring as it is unsettling, award-winning author CG Drews’ debut YA psychological horror will leave readers breathless and hesitant to venture deeper into the woods.

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S. K. Ali

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The first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali introduces a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war.

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney

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A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong

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From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood…

The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke

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A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

NOVEMBER 2024

The Author’s Guide To Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

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Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

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Where the Library Hides is Isabel Ibañez’s stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!

Games Untold By Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Romance, luxury, and secrets abound in this thrilling new collection that takes readers deeper into the world of the #1 bestselling Inheritance Games series.

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens

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From the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year, a hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch

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In this one-of-a-kind mystery with heart and humour, a hilariously grumpy pony must save the only human he’s ever loved after discovering she stands accused of a murder he knows she didn’t commit.

The Estate by Sarah Jost

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For fans of The Cloisters and The Cartographers comes a gripping speculative suspense that follows one woman with the ability to enter the dimension of art, who finds herself trapped in a French estate as the pawn in a rich man’s game…

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

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Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

I Am the Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea

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Jamison Shea’s sharp and unflinching voice will bring readers to terrifying new heights in this vicious sequel to the “relentlessly gory and almost euphoric in its embrace of the horrific” (NPR) I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me.

The Empty Place by Olivia A Cole

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A powerful and imaginative story about a girl fighting to find her way back home from a mind-bending land of the lost.

The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

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From NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Mary E. Pearson comes a thrilling romantic fantasy full of dangerous fae, dark secrets, and addictive romance

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

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New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante’s Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.

An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin

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A new standalone legal thriller from the international bestselling author of GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.

DECEMBER 2024

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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An enchanting novel about a witch who has a second chance to get her magical powers—and her life—back on track, from the national bestselling author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.

What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane

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Darby Kane, author of the #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, returns with another twisty domestic thriller about a wife wondering who tried to kill her husband twice before finally succeeding… because that was supposed to be her job. 

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction.

What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

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Yellowjackets meets Girl, Interrupted when a group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program find themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place.

Alter Ego by Alex Segura

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Alex Segura, LA Times Book Prize–winning author of Secret Identity, returns with a clever and escapist mystery set in the world of comic books. In the present day, a comics legend is given the chance to revive a beloved but forgotten character. But at what price?>

A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon

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Two hearts circle each other in the eye of the storm in this highly-anticipated follow-up to The Hurricane Wars—prepare for more enemies-to-lovers romance, magical adventures, and political schemes in this Southeast Asian-inspired world.

Roland Rogers Isn’t Dead Yet by Samantha Allen

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It’s the gig of a lifetime for this ghostwriter, except there’s a the client, a closeted A-list actor finally ready to come out in his memoir, is an actual ghost.

The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

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A brilliant queer dystopian novel from the author of Yours for the Taking, following a cast of characters on the margins of a strange and exclusive new society.

The Close-up by Pip Drysdale

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A struggling author discovers the dark side of fame when a stalker begins reenacting violent events from her thriller in this electrifying and twisty new novel.

A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya

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A fledgling vampire and a headstrong vampire huntress must work together–against their better judgment—to rid the world of monsters in this irresistible romantic fantasy.

The Party by Natasha Preston

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Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English estate, Natasha Preston’s latest thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the party’s over…

The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

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A young woman channels the magic of the lush, fantastical plants that adorn her crumbling estate in The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt, a darkly enchanting novel for fans of The Magician’s Daughter and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries. ​

What books are you looking forward to releasing in the second half of 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Get Your Hands On These Anticipated July To December 2024 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Mother Code by Carole Stivers
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What it means to be human-and a mother-is put to the test in Carole Stivers’ debut novel set in a world that is more chilling and precarious than ever.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles
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Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky
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From the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Doors of Eden is an extraordinary feat of the imagination and a page-turning adventure about parallel universes and the monsters that they hide.

Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne
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Millions died after the first contact. An alien weapon holds the key to redemption—or annihilation. Experience Karen Osborne’s unforgettable science fiction debut, Architects of Memory.

The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska
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The Wicked Deep meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this gripping, dark fairy-tale fantasy about two girls who must choose between saving themselves, each other, or their sinking island city.

The Hierarchies by Ros Anderson
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Set in a recognizable near future and laced with dark, sly humor, Ros Anderson’s deeply observant debut novel is less about the fear of new technology than about humans’ age-old talent for exploitation. In a world where there are now two classes of women—“born” and “created”—the growing friction between them may have far-reaching consequences no one could have predicted.

The Heirs of Locksley (The Robin Hood Stories, #2) by Carrie Vaughn
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Carrie Vaughn follows up The Ghosts of Sherwood with the charming, fast-paced The Heirs of Locksley, continuing the story of Robin Hood’s children.

Ignite the Sun by Hanna Howard
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Once upon a time, there was something called the sun… In a kingdom ruled by an evil witch, the sun is just part of a legend about light-filled days of old. Luckily for everybody in the kingdom, Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the light–or she will lose everything trying.

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch
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Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Gladiator in the first book in this epic fantasy duology in which two warriors must decide where their loyalties lie as an ancient war between immortals threatens humanity.

Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly
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This action and adventure spy thriller—a fantasy spin on “Romeo and Juliet” from New York Times bestselling author MarcyKate Connolly—is perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Elly Blake and is about to become your new obsession!

Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne
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New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne returns to the world of his beloved Iron Druid Chronicles in a spin-off series about an eccentric master of rare magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
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An outsider who can travel between worlds discovers a secret that threatens her new home and her fragile place in it, in a stunning sci-fi debut that’s both a cross-dimensional adventure and a powerful examination of identity, privilege, and belonging.

What other fantasy and sci-fi releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy + Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Set Fire to the Gods is an elaborate fantasy novel with an interesting concept, but falls somewhat flat due to the execution. There are some unique ideas explored, but it takes a while for the worldbuilding and plot to get going, although both do pick up in the latter half of the book, and it finishes on a note that will likely leave you wanting the next book.

The worldbuilding is an important part of the story in a fantasy novel, but the initial introduction to the world isn’t very strong. It’s a peculiar mix of infodumping, in that there’s a lot of the history explained, but also too light on detail when it comes to the present-day structure. An example of this would be the gladiator fights: instead of wars, the gods of each country have their best gladiators fight in an arena; this is a really cool concept, but I felt it wasn’t explored enough.

From the description, the setting seems very much Roman-inspired, but was actually a mix of a Graeco-Roman, so while it was an interesting choice, some of the different pick-and-mix elements might be jarring to someone fond of these two classical periods. Whilst this may all sound fairly negative, as the book progresses and settles, it become much more engaging and enjoyable, especially as the world continues to be developed and the gladiator fights are explored in more detail.

The story is told from two points of view: Ash, who took her mother’s role as a gladiator after she was killed in combat, fighting for Ignitus, the god of fire, and Madoc, whose secret collaboration with his geoeia-wielding brother during fights has landed him a spot on earth god Geoxus’ roster, despite his actual power not being earth manipulation. Their voices are both distinct and reflect the positions that they are in in terms of culture and background, however, at times, they felt a little repetitive. The two of them did compliment each other well as main characters with their skillsets and visions matching up well, which made the dynamic between them interesting, but there was also a fair amount of slightly weird descriptions of each other’s physical appearance that felt out-of-place and forced.

The plot picks up just before the halfway point and while a fair amount happens in the first half, it felt more like exposition than anything else. It was fairly slow moving, and there was a lot of build-up without much indication of when the climax was actually going to come. There were certain moments where I did a double-take because there were a couple plot points and twists that were very similar to each other, which was at times confusing. There was a big reveal later on in the book that was quite a twist and raised the stakes a lot, which is what made the pacing and plot so much more engaging, and I’m hoping that this particular path that the plot was taking is continued in the sequel because there was a lot of potential.

One of the things done really well in this book is the dynamic between gods and humans, because of how close the gods are to their subjects, there’s a kind of invincibility to them but also they’re shown as imperfect and greedy. Ash in particular grapples with her view of Ignitus a lot because he’s responsible for the death of many people she was close to, but she begins to find out that actually, not everything she blamed him for was actually his fault. The two gods most prominent in the story are very much gray characters, and while Ignitus definitely isn’t the monster she always thought him to be, this doesn’t mean he is forgiven for all the harm he has caused.

While not the strongest YA fantasy book, Set Fire to the Gods is still a promising first instalment and what it lacked in the first part, it made up for in potential for the next book. A good read for anyone who’s interested in an exploration of the powers of gods and the roles that humans play in a world dominated by them, as well as elemental powers and the power of a soul.

Set Fire to the Gods is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 4th 2020.

Will you be picking up Set Fire to the Gods? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources.

Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family’s taxes. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn’t have the earth god’s powers like his opponents. His elemental gift is something else—something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.

When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games. The fights put Madoc in Ash’s path, and she realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs—but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.

But when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal—it will unravel the world.

The post Review: Set Fire To The Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons appeared first on The Nerd Daily.