2023 is here, so get ready to be amazed by the incredible books heading your way! In this round up, we take a look at an array of highly anticipated books releasing between the months of January and June from authors such as Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Harlan Coben, Emily Henry, Rachel Lynn Solomon, Kalynn Bayron, and many more plus some dazzling debuts.

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other January to June 2023 lists, including 2023 Romance, 2023 Young Adult, 2023 Middle Grade, and 2023 Queer Books!

Looking for our July to December picks? Check them out here!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below what books you are looking forward to!

JANUARY

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
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Kate Alice Marshall’s What Lies in the Woods is a thrilling novel about friendship, secrets, betrayal, and lies – and having the courage to face the past.

Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
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This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
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New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix takes on the haunted house in a thrilling new novel that explores the way your past—and your family—can haunt you like nothing else.

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
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From the New York Times bestselling author of the Brown Sisters trilogy, comes a laugh-out-loud story about a quirky content creator and a clean-cut athlete testing their abilities to survive the great outdoors—and each other.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
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Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. The Ivy League is going straight to hell in the sequel to the smash New York Times bestseller Ninth House from #1 bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Begin Again by Emma Lord
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Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Emma Lord’s Begin Again is an unforgettable YA novel of love and starting again.

Exes and O’s by Amy Lea
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A romance novel–obsessed social media influencer revisits her exes on her hunt for true love in this romantic comedy from the author of Set On You.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
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Return to the opulent world of Elfhame, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dangerous desires, with this first book of a captivating new duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black. 

Behind the Scenes by Karelia Stetz-Waters
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Fans of Abby Jimenez and Meryl Wilsner will fall in love with this hilarious and refreshingly authentic novel about second chances, pugs, and finding the perfect muse . . .

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie
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From the macabre mind of a Bram Stoker Award-nominated author, this heart-pounding novel of horror and psychological suspense takes a ghost hunting reality TV crew into a world they could never have imagined.

Promise Boys by Nick Brooks
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The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks’s Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names―for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.

Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen
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About a Boy meets What We Do In The Shadows in the next fun genre-mashup from Mike Chen, featuring a punk-rock vampire learning to connect to the world again when her surly teenaged grand-nephew needs her, and her music, to get him through a tough time.

FEBRUARY

A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
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Intricate and epic, Samantha Shannon sweeps readers back to the world of A Priory of the Orange Tree, showing us a course of events that shaped it for generations to come.

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author and TikTok favorite Tessa Bailey comes a steamy new rom-com about a starchy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…

The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Heywood
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Nationally bestselling author of Daughters of Sparta Claire Heywood returns with an imaginative and female-centered reinterpretation of the myth of the great hero Perseus, told through the voices of three women who are sidelined in the traditional version—his mother, Danae; his trophy, Medusa; and his wife, Andromeda—but whose viewpoints reveal a man who is not, in fact, a hero at all.

The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan
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The House Guest is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan―but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse?

The Magician’s Daughter by H.G. Parry
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In the early 1900s, a young woman is caught between two worlds in H. G. Parry’s spellbinding tale of miracles, magic, and the adventure of a lifetime.

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong
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In a dazzling new fantasy world full of whispered secrets and political intrigue, the magic of women is outlawed but four girls with unusual powers have the chance to change it all.

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
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The Haunting of Hill House meets Sadie in this evocative and mind-bending psychological thriller following two teen girls navigating the treacherous past of a mysterious mansion ten years apart.

I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
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In the riveting new novel from the author of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist The Great Believers, a woman must reckon with her past when new details surface about a tragedy at her elite New England boarding school.

Best Served Hot by Amanda Elliot
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Two restaurant critics learn their opposing tastes might make for a five-star relationship in the next foodie romantic comedy from the author of Sadie on a Plate.

Seven Faceless Saints by M. K. Lobb
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Discover what’s lurking in the shadows in this dark fantasy debut with a murder-mystery twist, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
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A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.

Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher
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In April Asher’s next Supernatural Singles novel, Not Your Ex’s Hexes, a one-night-stand between a willful witch and a broody half-demon conjures an adventure that wouldn’t be complete without several magical mishaps.

MARCH

The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten
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In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.

Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf
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For fans of Ikegna and A Tale Dark and Grimm comes a story of a brave heroine, a beguiling villain, fantastical worlds, magical adventures, and a journey that will remind you that hope, friendship, and love endures all.

The Love Wager by Lynn Painter
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Two people make a wager on who can find love first, not realizing what they should be betting on is each other, in this new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Wrong Number.

Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
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For fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe, a stunning debut following Clytemnestra, the most notorious villainess of the ancient world and the events that forged her into the legendary queen.

Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland
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From New York Times bestselling author Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton comes the first book in a ferocious YA fantasy duology featuring ancient magic, warring factions, and a romance between the two people in the world with the most cause to hate one another.

Jane & Edward: A Modern Reimagining of Jane Eyre by Melodie Edwards
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This powerful reimagining of Jane Eyre, set in a modern-day law firm, is full of romance and hope as it follows the echoing heartbeats of the classic story.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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A lonely shopkeeper takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way in this captivating mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
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Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman’s determined quest to seize a final chance at glory—and write her own legend.

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley
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A “wildly surprising, entertaining” (Jodi Picoult) novel featuring a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law, full of tremendous heart, wit, and wisdom from the USA Today bestselling author of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island.

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
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A teen boy tries to discover the reason behind his best friend’s disappearance―and the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic stranger―in misty Victorian London, in Kalynn Bayron’s My Dear Henry, a gothic YA remix of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, sixth in the Remixed Classics series.

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
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An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive, and must break out of prison to find out the truth in #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s latest breathtaking thriller.

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
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A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.

APRIL

Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
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Terry J. Benton-Walker’s contemporary fantasy debut, Blood Debts, is “an extravaganza from start to finish” (Chloe Gong) with powerful magical families, intergenerational curses, and deadly drama in New Orleans.

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune
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New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

Happy Place by Emily Henry
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A couple who broke up months ago pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda
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From the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and “master of suspense, Megan Miranda”, a thrilling mystery about a group of former classmates who reunite to mark the tenth anniversary of a tragic accident—only to have one of the survivors disappear, casting fear and suspicion on the original tragedy.

Silver In The Bone by Alexandra Bracken
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Bracken cements her status as one of the top fantasy authors writing today in this stunning series opener inspired by Arthurian legend and fueled by love, revenge, and pure adrenaline!

The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly
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Two former female spies, bound together by their past, risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II—an extraordinary novel inspired by true events from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa
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A forbidden love between a Mexican heiress and a shrewd British politician makes for a tantalizing Victorian season.

The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
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In Lambda Award finalist Chana Porter’s highly anticipated new novel, an aspiring chef, a cyberthief, and a kitchen maid each break free of a society that wants to constrain them.

Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat by Sonya Lalli
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An impulsive decision to join an Alaskan cruise getaway brings the chance for an onboard romance in this new enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of A Holly Jolly Diwali.

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
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A thrillingly told queer space opera about the wreckage of war, the family you find, and who you must become when every choice is stripped from you, Some Desperate Glory is Astounding Award Winner and Crawford Award Finalist Emily Tesh’s highly anticipated debut novel.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
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A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match from “a true talent” (Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
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A comedy writer thinks she’s sworn off love, until a dreamy pop star flips the script on all her assumptions—a hilarious, observant, and deeply tender novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Eligible, Rodham, and Prep.

MAY

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang
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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.

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin
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A deliciously entertaining novel about the stars of a popular teen show from the early 2000s—and the reunion special, thirteen years after their scandalous flameout, that will either be their last chance at redemption, or destroy them all for good.

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Passage comes a riveting standalone novel about a group of survivors on a hidden island utopia—where the truth isn’t what it seems.

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
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A small-town sweetheart and an emotionally unavailable bad boy try to find some common ground in this chemistry-filled romance from the author of The Cheat Sheet and When in Rome.

The Isles of the Gods by Amie Kaufman
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Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in the start of a riveting fantasy series that spans gangsters’ dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle and the Illuminae Files.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon
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Utterly original and wildly entertaining, with a protagonist whose life is a total mess, Killing Me is the laugh-out-loud funny thriller that we never knew we needed.

The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
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A Big Chill for our times, celebrating decades-long friendships and promises—especially to ourselves—by the bestselling and celebrated author of The Guncle.

Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena
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Of Light and Shadow is a novel about magic, mayhem, love, and betrayal―the story of a bandit and a prince who change each other in unexpected ways.

The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop
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Joining a post #MeToo discourse, The Girls of Summer grapples with themes of power, sex, and consent, as it explores the complicated nature of memory and trauma––and what it takes to reframe, and reclaim, your own story.

Venom & Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliott McLemore
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Two enemy kingdoms are forced to work together to break a curse in this lush YA fantasy, featuring a transgender prince and a bigender dama/assassin in the lead roles.

Dragonfall by Laura Lam
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Long-banished dragons, revered as gods, return to the mortal realm in the first in this magical new epic fantasy trilogy from a bestselling author

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
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Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script—from the New York Times bestselling authors of The Soulmate Equation and The Unhoneymooners.

JUNE

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool
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In this romantic, edge-of-your-seat YA fantasy/mystery, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with a powerful noble to gain entry into an illustrious―and deadly―society that holds clues to her mother’s disappearance. Perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager
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Bestselling author Riley Sager returns with a Gothic chiller about a young caregiver assigned to work for a woman accused of a Lizzie Borden-like massacre decades earlier.

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier
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Set in the glamorous, competitive world of showjumping, a novel about the girls who ride, their cutthroat mothers, and a suspicious death at a horse show…from the author of Good Rich People

Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
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#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey returns with the hilarious follow-up to Secretly Yours, in which a down-on-her-luck Napa heiress suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine
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For fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Mexican Gothic, a novel set in 18th-century Venice at a prestigious music school, about two girls drawn together by a dangerous wager

Business or Pleasure by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

What Remains by Wendy Walker
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Detective Elise Sutton is drawn to cold cases. Each crime is a puzzle to solve, pulled from the past. Steeped in guilt, and on a leave of absence from work, she’s numb, even to her husband and daughters, until she connects with Wade Austin, the tall man whose life she saved. But Elise soon realizes that he isn’t who he says he is. 

Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould
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Two sisters travel to an isolated Arizona town to investigate its connection to their mother’s death, but uncover more than they bargained for in this supernatural thriller from the author of The Dead and the Dark.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
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The bestselling author of The Party returns with a deliciously twisted story of friendship, retribution, and betrayal about a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past—and the wealthy society wife she saves from drowning, who pulls her into a dark web of secrets and lies.

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
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At Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night? This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Fear Street.

The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson
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If you knew how dark tomorrow would be, what would you do with today? The First Bright Thing is a spellbinding debut for fans of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue.

Threads That Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou
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In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city.

What 2023 book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated 2023 Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We chat with author Sonya Lalli about her latest book release A Holly Jolly Diwali, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!

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

I’m from Canada and I’m a romance and women’s fiction author of Punjabi and Bengali heritage. I grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, but after spending time living in London and Toronto, my husband and I now call Vancouver home. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I love travelling, doing yoga, playing piano, reading and my new goldendoodle puppy, Joey!

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I think I’ve always loved books. I’ve been told that my very first book was one that I made myself out of construction paper and the story featured a talking snake. I don’t remember much about it so I must have been very young. My mom still has that book – she kept it as proof that I’ve always wanted to be an author.

As I grew up, the more I read, the more I wanted to write my own stories too. Reading and writing have always been a huge part of who I am.

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

As a child, the first book series that I remember reading again and again was the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It’s a series of children’s books based on her childhood in the American Midwest in the late 1800s. I loved reading about her life, her family and her journey. The stories really resonated with me because I, like the author, grew up on the prairies.

I don’t really have a book that made me want to become an author since I’ve always wanted to write, but one book that I always recommend to people is My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. This book has everything to keep a reader interested: a complex protagonist, a vibrant setting, and a dangerous love triangle. But what I think makes this book really great is the relationship between Korede (the heroine) and her younger sister Ayoola (the serial killer). The book’s description of their bond as sisters and how it transcends their circumstances will resonate with anyone who’s ever had a complicated relationship full of love and resentment, loyalty and betrayal.

Your latest novel, A Holly Jolly Diwali, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Festive. Romantic. Adventurous. Joyful. Swoony!

What can readers expect?

While I write both romance and women’s fiction, A Holly Jolly Diwali is definitely more on the romance spectrum.

The book is about Niki Randhawa – she’s 29 and has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She’s always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she’s always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. Although Niki is Indian, she grew up in the USA and has never visited the country her family came from. When she’s laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn’t exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya’s wedding in Mumbai.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets hot, hot, hot London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it’s the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

Throughout her journey Niki experiences both the bad, like colourism, sexual harassment, and the realities of discovering her identity in a new country and the good, including a newfound passion in her whirlwind fling with Sam, and the joys of discovering her own roots.

Where did the inspiration for A Holly Jolly Diwali come from?

I love watching Netflix and Hallmark romantic comedies and holiday romances, like Holidate and The Knight Before Christmas, and was inspired to write a holiday romance that reflected the experiences of someone like me – a South Asian living in North American who celebrates Christmas, but also celebrates Diwali from my own culture.

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

I have personally experienced many of the things that my main character, Niki, experiences, including understanding her own prejudices about India and the conflicts within herself about her cultural identity. Writing this book gave me an opportunity to do some self-reflection and grow as a person and I tried to reflect some of that self-journey into Niki’s journey.

One challenge that I faced was the location research for the book. Although I’ve been to India several times, including Mumbai where most of the book is set, because of the pandemic I wasn’t able to travel there to do further research. I also wasn’t able to visit Goa, where the characters go on holiday. I had to do a lot of careful research to make sure I was as thoughtful and accurate as possible.

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

I loved writing the scene where Niki and Sam first lay eyes on each other. Niki is partying with Sam’s mother, Asha Auntie, and Sam is on stage playing the bass guitar but Niki doesn’t realise that the two of them are connected. Niki and Sam’s chemistry is explosive and obvious, and Niki really embarrasses herself when she realizes that Sam may not have been looking at her the whole time, but instead at his mother! (Of course, you find out quite quickly Sam really did notice Niki, too.)

What do you love about the romance genre?

The Happily Ever After feeling through and through. You get to explore complicated characters, see how they approach relationships, feel their angst and then cheer at their happiness. At the very core of every romance story are people just trying to connect with each other and that’s something most of us can relate to, especially now, when so many of us are feeling isolated because of the pandemic. Readers can experience so many emotions reading romance and it’s a nice way to escape into a story, even if only for a little while.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

The best advice: Read as much as you can, across genres. Reading a broad range of stories really helps your own writing in so many ways, including learning to think critically, structuring your story, and developing dialogue.

The worst advice: Write what will sell/is popular. I know some writers look at what is trendy and try to write things that will get them agented/published and while I guess that is one way to go about it, I don’t think that it works for everyone. If you have a story inside of you that just needs to get out, you should write it.

What’s next for you?

My next romance will feature Niki’s older sister, Jasmine! She is a fun, complicated character with her own journey, and I am excited to get to explore it and her romantic life in my next romance, which should be out in 2023. I’ve never written a companion novel before and I’m right in the middle of the process right now – it’s been really fun to bring in characters from A Holly Jolly Diwali into this new book.

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

Along with My Sister is a Serial Killer, which I mentioned above, I am also a huge Uzma Jalaluddin fan. I would absolutely recommend Hana Khan Carries On to everyone. I loved it – it’s a sweet romcom-type story – think You’ve Got Mail, but with poutine, podcasts and rival Halal restaurants! There are tougher issues dealt with as well, such as the immigrant experience in Canada, and Islamophobia. The book balances it all out so well and it’s ends up being a thoughtful, delightful, brilliant, multicultural story.

Will you be picking up A Holly Jolly Diwali? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Sonya Lalli, Author of ‘A Holly Jolly Diwali’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Nightwatch on the Hinterlands by K. Eason
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Set in the universe of Rory Thorne, this new standalone sci-fi mystery follows an unlikely duo who must discover the motive behind an unusual murder.

Litani by Jess Lourey
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The Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things and Bloodline explores the darkness at the heart of the rural Midwest in a novel inspired by a chilling true crime.

That Dark Infinity by Kate Pentecost
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An immortal monster hunter and a royal handmaiden embark on an epic journey to change their fates in this soul-stirring young adult fantasy novel for fans of The Witcher and The Last Unicorn.

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

A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli
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One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Children of the Fox by Kevin Sands
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Ocean’s Eleven meets The False Prince in this thrilling heist story for young readers, in which five kids with unusual talents are brought together to commit an impossible crime. Failure is unacceptable … but success could be deadly.

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

Jade Fire Gold by June C. L. Tan
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Girls of Paper and Fire meets A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in June CL Tan’s stunning debut, where ferocious action, shadowy intrigue, rich magic, and a captivating slow-burn romance collide.

Far from the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson
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A tense and thrilling vision of humanity’s future in the chilling emptiness of space from rising giant in science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Tade Thompson

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

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

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

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

Serena Singh is a strong, independent, smart, and ambitious Indian woman in her 30s who has always been sure about what she wants in life: a successful career, meaningful, and long-lasting friendships, and a good relationship with her family. She also knows what she does not want in her life: marriage and kids. We meet her at a stage where she is content with her accomplishments in life. She’s got a new job at one of the biggest advertising firms in Washington DC, she has her own apartment, and her little sister is getting married; which means that maybe her parents will stop questioning her life choices. But not everything’s coming up roses.

Things start to go sour for Serena after her sister’s wedding, and she starts to feel like she’s running behind. First of all, her relationship with her sister, who she thought was her best-friend, starts to weaken. And all her other friends are at a different stage of life than she is. They are prioritising their family and kids whilst Serena is prioritising her job and her friendships. This is why when her sister also announces her pregnancy, she feels like all the promises to meet up and hang out will fall through just like it happened with her other friendships. It’s sad to see the close bond they had fading. And, as if that wasn’t enough, her new job is not as wonderful as she thought it would be because her team isn’t exactly on her side. Then there’s the relationship she started with a man she met at her sister’s wedding? Not so perfect either, although she opened up to him quite a lot. In the midst of it all, she’s also reconnecting with an old flame and dealing with her family’s past.

In order to be happier, she decides to take the lead and find new friends. After some failed attempts, she finally manages to form a meaningful friendship with a new co-worker, Ainsley, who makes her see that she’s too focused on her career and that maybe she also has some part of blame for the way her friendships and relationships have not turned out that well. This is where we start to see her growth and how she “flips the script”, how she starts to learn that being a bit more open, and letting people in can bring more happiness into her life. This was a very good storyline. It is extremely hard to forge new and meaningful friendships as an adult, it’s hard to form that bond with someone you have no history with and it also requires time and effort. The one Serena starts with Ainsley offers two different perspectives as well as showing that a friendship grows and gets stronger when the people involved are willing to put work into it.

The book starts off very strongly, however it sort of starts to drag in the second half. The pacing is slow and some parts of the story don’t really add to Serena’s journey. At the same time, the second chance romance with an old flame seems a bit forced at times. And, whilst by the end of the book, Serena still kept her beliefs of not wanting any kids of her own (which was very nice to see, just like the fact that her not wanting kids wasn’t treated as something she had to “overcome”), it would also have been good to see her come into her own without ending up with a partner.

With that said, there are some very strong points though. Lalli portrays perfectly the expectations that are placed on women by society and the stress they bring. Of course, there are differences and each woman goes through life differently due to numerous variances, but, at its core, the universal experience is the same: the pressure to get married and have children is always there and sometimes it seems that if one does not go down that path, their life must be sad and pitied, which is not true. Everyone’s decisions are valid and should be respected equally.

The cultural aspect also played a big role in this story and the portrayal of different cultures was so well done. Serena’s parents are immigrants who brought up their daughters in America; this prompts for some friction within the family as the sisters’ views aren’t as traditional as those of their parents. Whilst they still want to honour their parents and make them proud, they want to accomplish their dreams and live their life however they want. The cultural background of the family was very interesting to read about; oh, and there is also a lot of Indian food mentioned, which will have any reader who isn’t familiar with them constantly Googling all the delicious meals and salivating over them!

There is a dual perspective throughout the book where the author offers us Serena’s point of view in first person and Sandeep’s (her mother) in third person. This helps the reader understand the reality that first generation immigrant families experience and how different it is for parents and kids; it portrays all the hardships they go through and how they make them feel. There is a main conflict in the family (that sort of made Serena the way she is) which we only discover at the end, and whilst the resolution is well done, it would have been nice to get more insight into Sandeep’s back story because it would’ve been very interesting to have her voice heard a bit more! But overall, the characters are a great bunch!

All in all, Serena Singh Flips the Script is a reflective, hopeful, and light-hearted read. It shows the story of a woman with strong beliefs and who is sure of what she wants to get in life, whilst still portraying her flaws and how she is determined to grow and be a better version of herself.

Serena Singh Flips the Script is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 16th, 2021.

Will you be picking up Serena Singh Flips the Script? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Serena Singh is tired of everyone telling her what she should want–and she is ready to prove to her mother, her sister, and the aunties in her community that a woman does not need domestic bliss to have a happy life.

Things are going according to plan for Serena. She’s smart, confident, and just got a kick-ass new job at a top advertising firm in Washington, D.C. Even before her younger sister gets married in a big, traditional wedding, Serena knows her own dreams don’t include marriage or children. But with her mother constantly encouraging her to be more like her sister, Serena can’t understand why her parents refuse to recognize that she and her sister want completely different experiences out of life.

A new friendship with her co-worker, Ainsley, comes as a breath of fresh air, challenging Serena’s long-held beliefs about the importance of self-reliance. She’s been so focused on career success that she’s let all of her hobbies and close friendships fall by the wayside. As Serena reconnects with her family and friends–including her ex-boyfriend–she learns letting people in can make her happier than standing all on her own.

The post Review: Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I am in that stage of life where many of my friends and peers are getting married and having families. Before the pandemic my summers were full of weddings, bachelorette parties and showers, memories that I treasure even more now that we can’t so easily see one another. My social media feed is filled – to my delight – with baby photos and family portraits, which I like and comment on without fail. I am overwhelmed with excitement when someone I love enters a new stage of life, or announces a baby is the way, or finds someone to share their life with.

Yet, as married woman in her early thirties, I find myself defensive about my own journey. I have family members, friends, and even acquaintances who seem to be waiting with bated breaths for my next big announcement. I have had several professional accomplishments since my wedding day more than two years ago, but when I call them up to share the happy news, I’ve had to learn how to be careful in my approach.

Because many times when I’ve said “Guess what?”, or “I have something to tell you!”, or “I have news”, you can only imagine where their minds went. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a married woman in her thirties must be in want of a baby. Right?

Wrong.

More and more women are choosing not to lead conventional lives when it comes to marriage and motherhood, yet we have been socialized to expect certain milestones from ourselves and others. And it’s not that I disagree with conventional choices, or that I don’t eventually plan to make more of them for myself, I am simply frustrated by the expectation that we make them. That a romantic partnership of a certain number of years should lead to marriage. That family happiness is dependent on children – and that those offspring be produced within a predetermined timeline. That domestic bliss is an inevitably if we women want to be happy.

I think part of the reason so many of us turn to women’s fiction is because it’s rife with smart, bold, and interesting characters who must battle against what’s expected of them. Often, they feature unconventional women, or women who have followed the tried and tested path, but now find themselves unhappy and at a crossroad.

Their journeys can be complicated and harrowing, emotional and physical, depending on the genre. In The Girl on the Train, the main character must reconcile with the choices she’s made not only to grow as a person, but literally to save her own life. Twin sisters in historical novel The Vanishing Half defy their community’s norms in very different ways, and must learn how to live with both the advantages and consequences of their respective choices. And the titular character in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has chosen to live her life in solitude, until a new friendship forces her to come out of her shell.

Women’s fiction author Saumya Dave also deftly writes characters in the South Asian diaspora who struggle with cultural expectations, both in her debut novel Well Behaved Indian Women as well as her forthcoming novel What A Happy Family. And perhaps one of the most memorable women’s fiction heroines of our time is Bernadette Fox, in Maria Semple’s Where’d You go Bernadette. Here, our eccentric, loveable protagonist has always defied the norm, personally and professionally, until her life comes to a breaking point and she simply disappears.

In my latest novel Serena Singh Flips the Script, the main character has long decided that she does not want to have children, but faces intense scrutiny by not only society but also her traditional Indian community and family. However, on her journey she realizes that her rejection of one societal norm does not mean she does not want or cannot have others, such as a fulfilling relationship with a romantic partner, friends, and her judgmental family.

Women have always faced barriers, whether we choose the conventional path or not. I love that women’s fiction celebrates all of us.

The post Breaking the Barriers of Expectation with Women’s Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett
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What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humour and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it’s elemental.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
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The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes…

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
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A refreshingly timely and relatable debut novel about a young woman whose life plans fall apart when she meets her wife.

Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Serena Singh is tired of everyone telling her what she should want–and she is ready to prove to her mother, her sister, and the aunties in her community that a woman does not need domestic bliss to have a happy life.

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
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The cozy comforts of an English village bookstore open up a world of new possibilities for Evie Starling in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

The Love Proof by Madeleine Henry
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A brilliant physicist studying the nature of time embarks on a journey to prove that those we love are always connected to us, leading to surprising revelations in this fresh and unique love story. 

Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton
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For fans of Close Enough to Touch and Me Before You comes a poignant and moving novel about two patients who fall in love as they recover from traumatic injuries in the same hospital ward…all without seeing each other.

Make Up, Break Up by Lily Menon
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In Menon’s adult debut, two app developers and former flings butt heads as they find their offices right next to each other. 

The Bookworm’s Guide to Flirting by Emma Hart
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Let it be known that I, Saylor Green, am wholeheartedly against blind dating. So when Dylan Parker takes the seat across from me, I’m ready to dismiss him at one glance. The problem? He’s hot and funny and sweet and the exact kind of guy I read about in the romance novels I sell like hotcakes in my bookstore. He’s also my new roommate.

Detour to Love by Amanda Radley
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Fate, upgrades, and a troupe of travelling clowns bring Celia and Lily together for a journey memorable for all the wrong reasons. Not only do they have nothing in common, they really can’t stand each other. But people are not always as they seem, and Celia and Lily are about to realise, there’s more than one path to love.

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros
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Told in alternating timelines, THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED examines the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal, and the endings we can’t bring ourselves to see coming.

Bet The Farm by Staci Hart
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Olivia Brent has one summer to save the dairy farm she just inherited. But there’s one problem, and it’s not her lactose intolerance. Jake Milovic. The brooding farmhand has inherited exactly fifty percent of Brent Farm, and he’s so convinced the city girl can’t work the land, he bets she can’t save it in a summer. Determined to prove him wrong, Olivia accepts what might be the dumbest wager of her life.

What February 2021 romance books are you looking forward? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February 2021 Romance Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

February sees the release of titles such as Good Riddance, a new romantic comedy by Elinor Lipman, Sophie Kinsella’s I Owe You One, and The Rosie Result, the final instalment in Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project.

Read on to discover our romance picks and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited to check out!

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman
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The delightful new romantic comedy from Elinor Lipman, in which one woman’s trash becomes another woman’s treasure, with deliriously entertaining results.

Boyfriend For Hire by Kendall Ryan
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I’m the guy you call when you need to impress your overbearing family, your boss, or your ex. Yeah, I’m a male escort, but not just any escort, I’m the escort. The one with a mile-long waiting list and a pristine reputation that’s very well-deserved. But I’m not the guy who falls for a client. Not once in six years. And then I meet Elle. Her friend has hired me to escort her to a wedding, but Elle doesn’t know we’re just pretending.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion
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The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli
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One devoted modern girl + a meddlesome, traditional grandmother = a heartwarming multicultural romantic comedy about finding love where you least expect it.

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an irresistible story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be “the one,” and an IOU that changes everything

Tomboy by Avery Flynn
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Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone
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For the first time in her life, Ireland Mills is happy with her body. Caleb Carpenter and Ben Weber are everything Ireland and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce dreamed of when conceptualising the “Real Kansas” promotional campaign. They’re handsome, young, educated, and totally dedicated to their small prairie town. When Ireland’s Prius gets stuck on a Kansas dirt road and a massive storm rips through town, she’s left stranded with nowhere to turn but to Caleb and Ben. These two hunky country boys are impossible to ignore, but could they ever be interested in her as well?

The Risk by Elle Kennedy
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Waiting For Willa by Kristen Proby
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Max Hull left Cunningham Falls a long time ago. Thanks to his killer instincts and business smarts, he’s come back to town richer than anyone’s wildest imagination. Now he’s closer to his family, living in his dream home, and at the top of his career—it sure looks like he has it all. All but one thing. And she’s not interested. Willa Monroe and Max were childhood sweethearts, but she’s moved on. Once he makes friends with her son and turns his attention on her, how long will she be able to resist him?

Dear George, Dear Mary: A Novel of George Washington’s First Love by Mary Calvi
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A novel about heiress Mary Philipse’s relationship with George Washington, based on historical accounts, letters, and personal journals by nine-time New York Emmy award-winning journalist Mary Calvi.

Tumble by Adriana Locke
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After being burned by her dream job in New York City, sports journalist Neely Kimber suddenly finds herself jobless and paying a long-overdue visit to her hometown in Tennessee. Her plan? Relax, reset, and head back up the corporate ladder. There’s just one unexpected step. Neely’s back in Dogwood Lane for barely a day when she sees the man she ran from nine years ago: the bad boy next door who was her first kiss, her first love, and her first heartbreak.

Beautifully Broken Pieces by Catherine Cowles
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Taylor is looking for peace and quiet away from the memories of all she’s lost. A small mountain town where no one knows her seems like the perfect escape. Walker loves his life just the way it is. His town, his family, his brothers in blue. Everything simple and easy—until a chance encounter changes it all. When Taylor’s solitude is interrupted by the rugged cop, they find that the very thing they were avoiding might be just what they both need. As their iron wills clash and passion flares…a killer lurks. And you never know who might be caught in the crosshairs.

Which February 2019 book are you most excited to read? Tell us in the comments below!

The post February Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.