Shelly Page Archives | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/tag/shelly-page/ All Things Nerdy Mon, 22 Jun 2026 10:26:44 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://i0.wp.com/thenerddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cropped-Nerd-Daily-Logo-Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Shelly Page Archives | The Nerd Daily https://thenerddaily.com/tag/shelly-page/ 32 32 122026701 38 LGBTQIA+ Books to Add to Your Pride Month TBR https://thenerddaily.com/38-lgbtqia-books-to-add-to-your-pride-month-tbr/ https://thenerddaily.com/38-lgbtqia-books-to-add-to-your-pride-month-tbr/#respond Sun, 21 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=63946 To celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month, I’ve gathered thirty-eight of my favorite queer stories. Whether you’re longing for a heist in the Faerie realm with your roommate (whom you may or may not have feelings for), yearning for an unforgettable adventure at a magic school in a queer-normative world, or searching for a quirky, cozy, and mossy spaceship to call home, I’ve got the story for you. And They Were Roommates by Page Powars Touching, thoughtful, and incredibly […]

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

]]> To celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community this Pride Month, I’ve gathered thirty-eight of my favorite queer stories. Whether you’re longing for a heist in the Faerie realm with your roommate (whom you may or may not have feelings for), yearning for an unforgettable adventure at a magic school in a queer-normative world, or searching for a quirky, cozy, and mossy spaceship to call home, I’ve got the story for you.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

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.

Red, White, and Royal Blue Casey McQuiston

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.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/38-lgbtqia-books-to-add-to-your-pride-month-tbr/feed/ 0 63946 Q&A: Shelly Page, Author of ‘Brewed With Love’ https://thenerddaily.com/shelly-page-brewed-with-love-author-interview/ https://thenerddaily.com/shelly-page-brewed-with-love-author-interview/#respond Tue, 07 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=54238 We chat with debut author Shelly Page about Brewed With Love, which is a cosy sapphic romantasy about a teen witch trying to keep her family’s apothecary up and running, with a little help from her ex-best friend—and first crush. If you pre-order Brewed with Love from Books of Wonder by January 12th, you’ll receive a signed and personalised copy, plus a bookmark, postcard, AND a special edition surprise art print! Hi, Shelly! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? […]

The post Q&A: Shelly Page, Author of ‘Brewed With Love’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> We chat with debut author Shelly Page about Brewed With Love, which is a cosy sapphic romantasy about a teen witch trying to keep her family’s apothecary up and running, with a little help from her ex-best friend—and first crush.

If you pre-order Brewed with Love from Books of Wonder by January 12th, you’ll receive a signed and personalised copy, plus a bookmark, postcard, AND a special edition surprise art print!

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

Hi! I’m Shelly. I’m originally from Chicago, currently living in Los Angeles, and have a long distance love affair with New York. By day, I work as an attorney representing unhoused LGBT youth, and by night I write books!

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

I think I was maybe ten years old. I started scribbling ideas in my notebook and then when we got a computer (I’m a ‘90s baby) I started typing them and passing them around to my friends and family. My mom always encouraged my love of reading and writing and I never stopped!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

  • The first book you ever remember reading: I think it must’ve been Where the Red Fern Grows or Because of Winn-Dixie. Both sad coming of age books about dogs lol.
  • The one that made you want to become an author: I don’t think it was a book, to be honest. I think it was my mother’s encouragement.
  • The one that you can’t stop thinking about: This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone & Amal El-Mohtar.

Your debut novel, Brewed With Love, is out January 14th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Witchy lesbian small town romance!

What can readers expect?

They can expect a slow burn romance between a stubborn witch and her elusive first crush turned coworker. There’s lots of plant magic, quirky businesses, and a mystery!

Where did the inspiration for Brewed With Love come from?

Brewed with Love was inspired by a small town my mother used to live in near the Redwoods in California. Redwoods are beautiful, ancient trees along the central and northern coast. I wanted to write a story where a forest was at the heart of the book, so Brewed is set in Blackclaw Valley, a small town populated by witches who draw their magic from a redwood forest. The entire magic system is based on the properties of redwood trees. For instance, redwoods often grow in fairy rings, meaning they sprout new trees from their branches that end up being clones of the mother tree. One witch in the coven can clone themself and another can regenerate. I also wanted to write about a Black-owned business that really catered to its clientele and is a pillar of the community so that inspired Bishop Brews, the apothecary where Sage and Ximena work.

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

I honestly loved writing the scene where we realize why Ximena had to cut Sage off. It’s not the main mystery in the story, but it’s a pivotal moment for the characters emotionally and romantically. I think oftentimes people believe they have to keep the prickly parts of themselves hidden in order to be loved. That’s not true!

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

Yes! I think the hardest part was making the tonic recipes and investigative notes actually interesting to read! My editor wanted them to be as engaging as the rest of the story, so I brainstormed with a friend on how to make basic lists and facts sound funny and fresh. Most of the problems I encounter while writing are often solved by a good brainstorming session with friends!

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for your?

Rocky lol. The book I initially signed with my agent for died a submission. The next book I wrote received two R&Rs, one of which became Brewed with Love. In the interim, Night of the Living Queers sold and published, which is technically my first book baby. The takeaway is to keep going and try not to become discouraged by rejection. There is more than one path to becoming a traditionally published author.

What’s next for you?

Another (unannounced) YA romantasy! You can expect a similar vibe to Brewed with Love with more hijinks and flirting!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?

Honestly, so many! If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal and Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory are at the top of my list!

Will you be picking up Brewed With Love? Have you already? Tell us in the ocmments below!

The post Q&A: Shelly Page, Author of ‘Brewed With Love’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/shelly-page-brewed-with-love-author-interview/feed/ 0 54238 20 New YA Books To Read In January https://thenerddaily.com/january-2025-young-adult-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/january-2025-young-adult-book-releases/#respond Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=54928 From fairytale retellings and academic rivals, to royal drama and hilarious rom-coms, there are so many new young adult books to get excited about in January 2025!  Read on to discover new books from Brigid Kemmerer, Megan Lally, Gayle Forman, Ann Liang, and many more! Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.orgAn Into the Woods-inspired fairy tale retelling where Cinderella never went to the ball and must lie to get her prince. Breath […]

The post 20 New YA Books To Read In January appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> From fairytale retellings and academic rivals, to royal drama and hilarious rom-coms, there are so many new young adult books to get excited about in January 2025! 

Read on to discover new books from Brigid Kemmerer, Megan Lally, Gayle Forman, Ann Liang, and many more!

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
An Into the Woods-inspired fairy tale retelling where Cinderella never went to the ball and must lie to get her prince.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A young warrior dreams of proving his worth in the elite Guardian Tournament, fighting not only for himself but the fate of everything he loves.

All the Love Under the Vast Sky by Kip Wilson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Twelve short stories in verse by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the highs and lows of love – romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love.

Bingsu For Two by Sujin Witherspoon

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
This outrageously charming and infuriatingly adorable enemies-to-lovers coffee shop romance is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Better Than the Movies.

Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Dangerous magic. Fateful choices. Broken promises. The spellbinding series by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer continues.

Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this haunting companion to Bittersweet in the Hollow, a girl who can smell the lies of others uncovers the incendiary mysteries of her small Appalachian town.

The Rival by Emma Lord

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again.

No Place Left to Hide by Megan Lally

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Some secrets just won’t stay hidden in this twisty new thriller from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Megan Lally!

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A cozy sapphic romantasy about a teen witch trying to keep her family’s apothecary up and running, with a little help from her ex-best friend—and first crush.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Heartstopper meets Derry Girls in this wonderfully hilarious rom-com about finding your first love when your personality might be too big for the world around you.

After Life by Gayle Forman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
This magnificent tour de force by acclaimed author Gayle Forman brilliantly explores the porous veil between life and death, examines the impact that one person can have on the world, and celebrates life in all its beautiful complexity.

The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this riveting historical thriller inspired by true-life events, Belladonna meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the bestselling, and award-winning author of If You Could See The Sun comes a new page-turning speculative YA about a girl who wishes she could be as perfect and successful as her cousin… then wakes up the next morning in her cousin’s body.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . . Family secrets that can’t stay buried . . . A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . . This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it . . .

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
This historical novel in prose and verse tells the story of a deadly secret hiding in plain sight and of the women who risk everything to provide care for those with nowhere else to turn, perfect for fans of Blood Water Paint and The Lost Apothecary.

First Love Language by Stefany Valentine

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
For fans of Frankly in Love and Tokyo Ever After comes a romantic dramedy about finding love and reconnecting with your culture in the most surprising ways.

Build A Girlfriend by Elba Luz

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.

The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Uprooted meets Children of Blood and Bone in this dark fantasy inspired by a Malian fairy tale about a princess whose suitors are challenged to gruesome trials.

Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this story filled with “romantic tension, royal drama, and family secrets” (Kristy Boyce), four teens living in a glamorous boarding school must compete in order to inherit a European kingdom.

What January YA releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 20 New YA Books To Read In January appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/january-2025-young-adult-book-releases/feed/ 0 54928 72 Of The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2025 https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-2025-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-2025-book-releases/#respond Sun, 29 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=54480 The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie! We apologise in advance to your TBR and bank account, but there’s so many fantastic upcoming young adult books hitting shelves between January and June 2025! There’s new releases from Brigid Kemmerer, Libba Bray, Neal Shusterman, Allison Saft, Tracy Deonn, Ava Reid, Jennifer Dugan, Dahlia Adler, Elizabeth Lim, Becky Albertalli, and many more, plus […]

The post 72 Of The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> The Nerd Daily may obtain commissions for qualifying purchases from the links included in this article, but it’s so important to remember to shop local and indie!

We apologise in advance to your TBR and bank account, but there’s so many fantastic upcoming young adult books hitting shelves between January and June 2025! There’s new releases from Brigid Kemmerer, Libba Bray, Neal Shusterman, Allison Saft, Tracy Deonn, Ava Reid, Jennifer Dugan, Dahlia Adler, Elizabeth Lim, Becky Albertalli, and many more, plus incredible debut novels!

Read on to discover new books hitting shelves in the first half of the year and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Fantasy & Sci-Fi and Fiction lists.

JANUARY 2025 YA BOOKS

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A young warrior dreams of proving his worth in the elite Guardian Tournament, fighting not only for himself but the fate of everything he loves.

Bingsu For Two by Sujin Witherspoon

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
This outrageously charming and infuriatingly adorable enemies-to-lovers coffee shop romance is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Better Than the Movies.

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
This historical novel in prose and verse tells the story of a deadly secret hiding in plain sight and of the women who risk everything to provide care for those with nowhere else to turn, perfect for fans of Blood Water Paint and The Lost Apothecary.

Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this story filled with “romantic tension, royal drama, and family secrets” (Kristy Boyce), four teens living in a glamorous boarding school must compete in order to inherit a European kingdom.

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Calella

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
An Into the Woods-inspired fairy tale retelling where Cinderella never went to the ball and must lie to get her prince.

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A cozy sapphic romantasy about a teen witch trying to keep her family’s apothecary up and running, with a little help from her ex-best friend—and first crush.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the bestselling, and award-winning author of If You Could See The Sun comes a new page-turning speculative YA about a girl who wishes she could be as perfect and successful as her cousin… then wakes up the next morning in her cousin’s body.

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . . Family secrets that can’t stay buried . . . A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . . This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Heartstopper meets Derry Girls in this wonderfully hilarious rom-com about finding your first love when your personality might be too big for the world around you.

The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this riveting historical thriller inspired by true-life events, Belladonna meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

Build A Girlfriend by Elba Luz

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.

Carving Shadows into Gold by Brigid Kemmerer

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Dangerous magic. Fateful choices. Broken promises. The spellbinding series by New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer continues.

FEBRUARY 2025 YA BOOKS

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with another glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.

Wicked Darlings by Jordyn Taylor

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the author of The Revenge Game comes a twisty YA thriller about the underbelly of Manhattan’s high society, where nothing is off-limits—not even murder.

Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From New York Times-bestselling author Libba Bray comes an evocative and groundbreaking young adult historical mystery that examines truth, rebellion, reconciliation, and what must be sacrificed for a better world.

Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend’s disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger, perfect for fans of Ace of Spades.

These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A vengeful female spirit with a thirst for justice ignites a teen girl’s rage in this new YA horror, perfect for fans of She Is a Haunting and House of Hollow.

The Wildest Things by Andrea Hannah

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this sapphic Snow White retelling, if Snow is to save her kingdom from being ravaged by the Blight, she’ll have to kill the Evil Queen’s daughter…if she doesn’t fall in love with her first.

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes a young adult thriller about a world where happiness is contagious but the risks of catching it may be just as dangerous as the cure.

The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Cruel Prince meets The Selection in this captivating duology opener brimming with heart-pounding romance, vicious competition, and beautiful, cruel fae, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch Haven, Sasha Peyton Smith.

Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Brimming with magic and romance, a young fairy queen must form an unlikely alliance or risk an unspeakable danger destroying all she holds dear in this fantasy adventure from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft.

Unlock the Dark by Sasa Hawk

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer and Lexi Ryan, this debut romantasy stand-alone novel blends an immersive world, unique magic system, and swoon-worthy romance to create an unputdownable read that explores the great and terrible lengths to which love compels us to go.

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A teen girl travels to an exclusive boarding school after a deadly incident at her old school, but the wood-paneled halls of Agathion are built over centuries of secrets—including an ancient society which may have ties to demonic magic—in this dark academia fantasy perfect for fans of Curious Tides.

This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Perfect for fans of Raybearer and Fourth Wing, this astonishing sequel to the bestselling novel So Let Them Burn doesn’t hold back. After all, there are no easy endings in war—especially when sisters are forced to fight on opposite sides.

MARCH 2025 YA BOOKS

All the Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
With a crew so entertaining and unique―All the Hidden Monsters is funny, serious, scary―and you’ll never guess who did it. There’s a world below our own, but who is killing who in both of them?

Say a Little Prayer by Jenna Voris

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Saved! meets Casey McQuiston in this wry, heartfelt tale of a teen who’s taking her church camp by storm—one deadly sin at a time.

Nightweaver by R.M. Gray

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Filled with elemental magic, forbidden romance, and breathtaking twists, Nightweaver is a propulsive romantasy about an iron-willed heroine avenging her brother and discovering her destiny.

Oathbound by Tracy Deonn

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Tracy Deonn’s #1 New York Times bestselling Legendborn Cycle continues in the sensational third book about a dazzling contemporary fantasy world that blends Southern Black Girl Magic with secret societies and the legend of King Arthur!

When The Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies comes a new southern gothic supernatural thriller about a teen girl in a small Ozark town who can hear the bones of the dead.

Fable For The End of the World by Ava Reid

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in this stand-alone dystopian romance about survival, sacrifice, and love that risks everything.

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Jennifer Chen’s Hangry Hearts is a funny, big-hearted romance about friendship, family, and first love―and being brave enough to have it all.

Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From author Elisa A. Bonnin comes Lovely Dark and Deep, a YA dark academia novel exploring magic, loneliness, and the power of found family.

What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Inspired by an ominous Prague legend, What Wakes the Bells is a lavish gothic fantasy by debut author Elle Tesch that is perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace, Margaret Rogerson, and V.E. Schwab.

In The Company of Killers by Elora Cook

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Gossip Girl meets The Sopranos in this fast-paced drama about a teenage mafia heiress who would do anything to avenge her family, even join forces with her handsome enemy.

How to Survive a Slasher by Justine Pucella Winans

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight meets Scream in this YA slasher that turns classic horror tropes on their heads.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series. Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

APRIL 2025 YA BOOKS

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Bestselling Rebel of the Sands author Alwyn Hamilton is back with a glittering fantasy thriller about a glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From #1 New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Brian Selznick, a profoundly romantic YA novel about two boys finding each other and falling in love over one summer in Rome.

The Floating World by Axie Oh

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this lighthearted romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the National Book Award finalist and author of Pet comes a novel set in a magical West African world, about a teen girl who must save her missing twin while learning to navigate her own terrifying new powers.

Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
We Were Liars meets The Raven Boys in this mind-bending YA debut about dark revenge, twisted desire, and the sinister secrets lurking behind the walls of an elite boarding school.

Pride or Die by C.L. Montblanc

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this delightful dark comedy debut, when the members of an LGBTQ+ club find themselves accidentally framed for attempted murder, it’s up to them to clear their names before it’s too late.

The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Zoe Hana Mikuta delivers a bloody and unrelenting fantasy about young witches dangling on the edge of love and obsession, of magic and madness, of life and death (and death and death and death). . .

If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Booksmart meets Phantom of the Megaplex in Zakiya N. Jamal’s debut enthralling enemies-to-lovers queer romance, set against the backdrop of a historic Black-owned movie theater, the quirky employees who work there, and the suburbs of Long Island. Perfect for fans of Leah Johnson and Today Tonight Tomorrow.

Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love by Jessica Lewis

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Giving the new girl lessons in romance so she can woo your best friend couldn’t possibly go wrong…right? Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Casey McQuiston, this romantic comedy from Jessica Lewis is packed with heart.

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Two years ago, the murder of a neighbor tore three best friends apart–now the killer is going to walk free and the ex-friends are going to have to face the past–and each other–in another twisty thriller from the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Agathas.

Chaos King by Kacen Callender

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The explosive sequel to instant New York Times bestselling YA debut Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender.

Lady Knight by Amalie Howard

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The daughter of a duke defies the rules of London high society with the help of the resident rake—who just so happens to be her brother’s best friend—in this fun teen historical romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee.

MAY 2025 YA BOOKS

The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A twisty thrill-ride of unforgettable drama and suspense that “encapsulates the vulnerability of adolescents playing adult games” (Ali Hazelwood) from USA Today bestselling author Julie Soto, The Thrashers will keep you up at night desperate to read just one more page.

Audre and Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Scorching-hot summer. Scorching-hot chemistry. Two teens can’t forget they’re just friends in this sweet, funny, electrifying romance from New York Times bestselling author Tia Williams. Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Nicola Yoon.

Salvación by Sandra Proudman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains…if she doesn’t fall in love with one of his men first.

The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A heroine like no other, ancient magic unleashed, a fated epic battle–the first book in an enchanting YA fantasy duology inspired by Vietnamese lore, weaving magic, sisterhood, and self-discovery.

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the author of Some Girls Do comes a YA sapphic romance about two girls from different sides of the tracks.

This Moth Saw Brightness by A. A. Vacharat

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A weird and revelatory debut that vividly captures the dislocation of growing up BIPOC and neurodivergent in a country awash in both conspiracy theories and genuine conspiracies.

Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Dahlia Adler’s Come As You Are is about refusing to accept less than you deserve, and realizing that the best relationships are with people who know exactly who you are.

Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
An epic new fantasy about a demon hunter and a foot soldier thrown together in a centuries-old war. . . and the forbidden love that could change the course of history.

All-Nighter by Cecilia Vinesse

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Booksmart meets Today, Tonight, Tomorrow in this page-turning romp about two archnemeses—the valedictorian and the class slacker—who band together for a whirlwind night after discovering that they need each other to achieve their very different sunrise goals.  

Out of Step, into You by Ciera Burch

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Out of Step, into You is a sapphic contemporary romance following childhood friends turned cross-country team rivals who are forced to work together to win the state championship – for fans of She Gets the Girl.

Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Alien meets The Titanic in this tense YA science fiction horror series by #1 New York Times bestselling author E.K. Johnston.

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The young adult debut from the award-winning author of Arsenic and Adobo! When a high school tarot reader’s latest client goes missing after a troubling reading, she must apply everything she’s learned from her private investigator mother to solve a case of her own.

JUNE 2025 YA BOOKS

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Iron Chef meets The Hunger Games in Roselle Lim’s dazzling YA fantasy debut, following a young noodle chef who competes in a cutthroat cooking competition for the gods.

Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
RED QUEEN meets SHADOW AND BONE in this explosive start to a YA romantasy trilogy about dangerous magic, forbidden love, and a cut-throat competition for the throne in an empire where crowns are not inherited — they’re won.

The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw comes a haunting romantic contemporary fantasy about a teen navigating her family’s love curse that blooms with their enchanted tulips every year.

Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the author of the instant New York Times bestseller I Hope This Doesn’t Find You, Never Thought I’d End Up Here is another hilarious and romantic romcom from Ann Liang, this time following a former model determined to get revenge on the boy who ruined her life.

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Young Royals meets The Prince and Me when a disgraced princess falls for a new student at their all-girls boarding school, but the two must hide their forbidden love at all costs.

Kill Creatures by Rory Power

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the bestselling author of Wilder Girls and queen of twisty narratives, Rory Power, comes her highly anticipated new Young Adult thriller.

A First Time for Everything by K.L. Walther

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules comes a fun new coming-of-age romance full of dating disasters, powerful firsts, and the importance of family.

Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The beautiful and heartwarming new romance from Becky Albertalli, best-selling author of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda.

A Treachery of Swans by A.B. Poranek

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
From the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Dark Stands Still comes an atmospheric fantasy based on Swan Lake, following Odile as her plan to restore magic to her kingdom gets disrupted by a murder—forcing her to beg for help from the young woman whose identity she stole.

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
Set in the world of New York Times bestseller Seraphina, a boy on the run from a dragon—among other dangers—seeks refuge in a haunted abbey in this wholly original ghost story about what haunts us, and what connects us.

If We Survive This by Racquel Marie

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets in If We Survive This, a tense and emotional young adult horror novel from award-winning author Racquel Marie about a teen girl leading a group of survivors on a perilous journey during the apocalypse.

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

The post 72 Of The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/young-adult-2025-book-releases/feed/ 0 54480 Monsters, Queerness & Fears, Oh My! https://thenerddaily.com/night-of-the-living-queers-anthology/ https://thenerddaily.com/night-of-the-living-queers-anthology/#respond Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:00:54 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=45752 Guest post written by Night of the Living Queers co-editors Shelly Page & Alex BrownShelly Page is a young adult contemporary fantasy and horror writer making her editorial debut with Night of the Living Queers. By day, she’s a practicing attorney representing homeless LGBTQ+ youth of color. By night, she’s planning ways to scare her readers while simultaneously awakening their inner gay. She’s an oil painter, a lover of autumn, and possibly the only lesbian who doesn’t own a cat. Alex Brown loves rooting for […]

The post Monsters, Queerness & Fears, Oh My! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> Guest post written by Night of the Living Queers co-editors Shelly Page & Alex Brown
Shelly Page is a young adult contemporary fantasy and horror writer making her editorial debut with Night of the Living Queers. By day, she’s a practicing attorney representing homeless LGBTQ+ youth of color. By night, she’s planning ways to scare her readers while simultaneously awakening their inner gay. She’s an oil painter, a lover of autumn, and possibly the only lesbian who doesn’t own a cat.

Alex Brown loves rooting for the final girl—especially if she’s a monster. Alex has a short story in the instant Indie bestselling young adult folk horror anthology, The Gathering Dark. Alex is also the cocreator of The Bridge, a narrative fiction podcast that’s had over one million downloads to date! Alex’s sapphic YA horror-comedy debut is Damned If You Do. Alex lives in Los Angeles with her partner and their two very chaotic cats. Night of the Living Queers is her editorial debut. As far as she knows, she hasn’t summoned an Eldritch God who loves pizza . . . yet.

Night of the Living Queers is out August 29th.

Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology set on Halloween night during a blue moon. Thirteen stories explore how Halloween can be more than just candies and frights, but a night where anything is possible. Each short story is told through the lens of a different BIPOC teen and the Halloween night that changes their lives forever. 

Horror is a genre that lends to the exploration of fear which in turn allows for deep character growth. In this sense, it’s the perfect genre to explore the intersection of queerness and ethnicity because it encourages the exploration of the darker parts of humanity while offering a chance for queer people of color to be authentic without fear of judgment or reproach. Halloween in particular is a time when many people feel they no longer have to hide the best parts of themselves. This is true for everyone but particularly so for QPOC individuals. The intersection of queerness and ethnic diversity is functionally invisible in most things, horror included. Queer people of color have been pushed to the margins and subjected to dehumanizing stereotypes which warps their perception and authenticity. Through the horror genre, these stereotypes can be deconstructed. Night of the Living Queers allows queer readers to reclaim that narrative and celebrate the complexity of their identities.

Horror is also a great avenue for exploring concepts like fear and otherness, as it provides a way for us to turn things that may not necessarily be solid and tangible into something that we can point to and say, “See? I told you there was something lurking in the dark!” Sometimes it can be hard to articulate how it feels to not belong, or not feel wanted, or loved, or seen. But that’s where the monsters come in. Our negative emotions and experiences can take the shape of something new. Something we can understand.

Whether it’s a vampire, Babadook, ghost, the shapeshifting demon in It Follows, or countless other creatures from folklore, myth, and our collective storytelling consciousness, the fear of something unknown – something waiting just at the edge of your consciousness, or out of sight – has been with us for as long as humans have existed. 

What first started out as a survival instinct – maybe those glowing eyes in the bushes belong to something that would like to eat you – has, unfortunately, turned into a way to alienate people who fall outside of a falsely imposed societal “norm.” If you don’t look a certain way, act a certain way, love a certain way, society is very quick to teach you that you’re not human anymore. Instead, you’re the thing with yellow eyes waiting to eat the human. 

And that’s where horror becomes fun. Because, while we all are human (despite what society would lead us to believe), there’s also something cathartic about being the monster. Or defeating the monster. Or, in some cases, falling in love with the monster. 

Horror (and life) are both about choices. Do you run from the monster? Embrace it? Or step into that dark room, take your power back, and face it?

And for additional YA books releasing this Fall that explore queerness through the horror lens, check out: 

The Spirit Bares its Teeth by A.J. White (September 5, 2023)

London, 1883. The Veil between the living and dead has thinned. Violet-eyed mediums commune with spirits under the watchful eye of the Royal Speaker Society, and sixteen-year-old Silas Bell would rather rip out his violet eyes than become an obedient Speaker wife. According to Mother, he’ll be married by the end of the year. It doesn’t matter that he’s needed a decade of tutors to hide his autism; that he practices surgery on slaughtered pigs; that he is a boy, not the girl the world insists on seeing.

After a failed attempt to escape an arranged marriage, Silas is diagnosed with Veil sickness—a mysterious disease sending violet-eyed women into madness—and shipped away to Braxton’s Sanitorium and Finishing School. The facility is cold, the instructors merciless, and the students either bloom into eligible wives or disappear. So when the ghosts of missing students start begging Silas for help, he decides to reach into Braxton’s innards and expose its rotten guts to the world—as long as the school doesn’t break him first.

The Forest Demands its Due by Kosoko Jackson (October 3, 2023)

Regent Academy has a long and storied history in Winslow, Vermont, as does the forest that surrounds it. The school is known for molding teens into leaders, but its history is far more nefarious. 

Seventeen-year-old Douglas Jones wants nothing to do with Regent’s king-making; he’s just trying to survive. But then a student is murdered and, for some reason, by the next day no one remembers him having ever existed, except for Douglas and the groundskeeper’s son, Everett Everley. In his determination to uncover the truth, Douglas awakens a horror hidden within the forest, unearthing secrets that have been buried for centuries. A vengeful creature wants blood as payment for a debt more than 300 years in the making—or it will swallow all of Winslow in darkness.

And for the first time in his life, Douglas might have a chance to grasp the one thing he’s always felt was missing: power. But if he’s not careful, he will find out that power has a tendency to corrupt absolutely everything.

Beholder by Ryan La Sala (October 3, 2023) 

Athanasios “Athan” Bakirtzis hasn’t had an easy life. Orphaned by a fire at a young age, he’s had to rely on his charm, his under-the-table job as an art handler, and the generosity of family friends to care for his ailing Yiayia, his grandmother.

But Athan also has a secret: a hereditary power that allows him to rewind the reflection in any mirror, peering into its recent past. Superstitious Yiayia calls the family ability a curse, and has long warned him never to use it. For Athan, who’s survived this long by keeping to the realm of the real, this is a perfectly agreeable arrangement.

Until the night of the party. After being invited to a penthouse soiree for New York’s art elite, Athan breaks his grandmother’s rule during a trip to the bathroom, turning back his reflection for just a moment. Then he hears a slam against the bathroom door, followed by a scream. Athan peers outside, only to be pushed back in by a boy his age. The boy gravely tells him not to open the door, then closes Athan in.

Before Athan can process what’s happening, more screams follow, and the party descends into chaos. When he finally emerges, he discovers a massacre where the victims appear to have arranged themselves into a disturbingly elegant sculpture—and Athan’s mysterious savior is nowhere to be found.

Something evil is compelling people to destructive acts, a presence that’s been hiding behind Athan’s reflection his whole life, watching and biding its time. Soon, he’s swept up in a supernatural conspiracy that spans New York, of occult high societies and deadly eldritch designs. If beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, what can it do to us once it’s inside?

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng (November 7, 2023)

After a shocking scandal that abruptly ended her teen popstar career, eighteen-year-old Sunny Lee spends her days longing for her former life and cyberstalking her ex-BFF and groupmate, Candie. The two were once inseparable, but that was then—before the tragedy and heartache they left in their wake.

In the here and now, Sunny is surprised to discover that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop in her hometown. Candie might be there chasing stardom, but Sunny can’t resist the chance to join her and finally confront their traumatic history. Because she still can’t figure out what happened that horrible night when Mina, the third in their tight-knit trio, jumped to her death. Or if the dark and otherworldly secrets she and Candie were keeping had something to do with it . . .

But the workshop doesn’t bring the answers Sunny had hoped for, nor a happy reunion with Candie. Instead, Sunny finds herself haunted by ghostly visions while strange injuries start happening to her competitors—followed by even stranger mutilations to their bodies. In her race to survive, Sunny will have to expose just who is behind the carnage—and if Candie is out for blood once more.

And, while not technically horror, we’d be remiss not to mention Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon (November 28, 2023)

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers’ queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who’s a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn.

But even Enzo doesn’t know about Gem’s dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they’ve never told anyone else.

When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who’ve known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem – or at least who Gem used to be – hasn’t always been the most benevolent deity. They’ve made a lot of enemies in the pantheon—enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.

It’s a good thing they’ve still got Enzo. But as worlds collide and the past catches up with the present, Gem will discover that everyone has something to hide.

The post Monsters, Queerness & Fears, Oh My! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/night-of-the-living-queers-anthology/feed/ 0 45752 August 2023 Book Releases https://thenerddaily.com/august-2023-book-releases/ https://thenerddaily.com/august-2023-book-releases/#comments Mon, 31 Jul 2023 22:00:46 +0000 https://thenerddaily.com/?p=45140 From grumpy-meets-sunshine romance and a Greek myth retelling, to a delightful YA horror anthology and rich fantasy novels, there’s so many books to devour or add to your TBR this August! Read on to discover just a few of our picks and let us know if you’ll be checking any of them out! Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-JonesGoodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy […]

The post August 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> From grumpy-meets-sunshine romance and a Greek myth retelling, to a delightful YA horror anthology and rich fantasy novels, there’s so many books to devour or add to your TBR this August!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and let us know if you’ll be checking any of them out!

Guardians of the Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sailor Moon meets Cinder in Guardians of Dawn: Zhara, the start of a new, richly imagined fantasy series from S. Jae-Jones, the New York Times bestselling author of Wintersong.

Accidentally in Love by Danielle Jackson
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A delightful rom-com where grumpy-meets-sunshine collides with enemies-to-lovers in this perfect summer novel, written for fans of Kate Stayman-London, Olivia Dade, and Denise Williams.

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.

Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. Queer star-crossed love amid a centuries-old feud takes center stage in this Romeo & Juliet remix that knows sometimes, the best way is to make it gay.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From award-winning, internationally bestselling crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard comes The Trap: an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.

House of Odysseus by Claire North
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This “powerful, fresh, and unflinching” reimagining from the award-winning author of the Penelope trilogy breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men (Jennifer Saint).

Night of the Living Queers: 13 Tales of Terror Delight
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Night of the Living Queers is a YA horror anthology that explores a night when anything is possible, exclusively featuring queer authors of color putting fresh spins on classic horror tropes and tales.

Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A modern tale of unexpectedly falling in love and finding your voice, Kiss the Girl is the highly anticipated third installment in the acclaimed and best-selling Meant to Be collection.

The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

More Perfect by Temi Oh
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A reimagining of the Greek myth of Eurydice and Orpheus, for fans of Becky Chambers and William Gibson by Alex Award–winning author Temi Oh.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Push meets The Silent Patient in a gripping thriller that follows a woman convinced a sinister figure is going to great lengths to make sure her pregnancy never happens—while the men in her life refuse to believe a word she says.

With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it–yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

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

The post August 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

]]> https://thenerddaily.com/august-2023-book-releases/feed/ 1 45140