About Recommended Reading: 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 . . .

Hi, I’m Bobby Ashton, main character of the young adult rom-com Recommended Reading. I’m known around my town as the Book Whisperer, i.e. the fat, nice, gay boy who can matchmake anyone with their next perfect read and partner. Here are ten romances ranging from the classics to up-and-coming legendary novels that you will match with… and maybe a few extra credit bonus picks thrown in for good measure because you can never make just one (or ten) book suggestions(s).

Emma by Jane Austen

I’ve always felt a certain affinity for Emma Woodhouse. She’s smart, blessed, driven, and accomplished. She gives back to her community and has a knack for matchmaking. We’re very similar. But she’s got a touch of superiority and a few blindspots that make her her own worst enemy and nearly cost her her chance at true love. Maybe we’re too similar.

Speaking of, if you loved the original or the movie Clueless, L.C. Rosen wrote a queer YA contemporary version called Emmett.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

It takes guts and skill to start your debut YA novel with the death of the lovers and still draw the readers in. Bhathena’s got both in spades! You’ll love Zarin, labeled as a bad girl when she is displaced to Saudi Arabia, and Porus, who only has eyes for her despite everyone’s warnings. The talent and depth of thought the author poured into the characters and story is clear from the first page to the last.

Bonus! Bhathena’s sophomore YA is a sweet, cozy rom-com, and her latest novels are fierce, girl power fantasies inspired by medieval Indian mythology with great banter.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Emily Brontë’s (of the famous Brontë  siblings) only published this one novel. The intensity! The passion! The devotion that defies death! The songs by Kate Bush and Céline via Meatloaf! Heathcliff is one of the original brooding bad boys, stomping around the Yorkshire moors as he and Catherine pine for one another. True love has never been so deliciously sadomasochistic. Read the OG classic that inspired both the Twilight and Fifty Shades franchises which, in turn, helped legitimize fanfic.

Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson

Anne Carson reimagines an ancient Greek myth into a contemporary coming-of-age love story. Geryon uncovers the potential of his art when Herakles, the object of Geryon’s affection, leaves at the height of infatuation and reappears years later. Told in verse, Geryon’s monstrosity and journey through heartbreak is gut-wrenching and uplifting at the same time. Readers will ache with Geryon in this romance where maybe the lovers shouldn’t end up together.    

Out of the Blue by Jason June

You can’t go wrong with a Jason June rom-com. I dare you. Double dog dare you. You can’t! Every single one is an absolute delight. OOTB has a familiar Little Mermaid feel with Crest, the merperson, on their mer version of Rumspringa, as they must aid a human before time runs out and they remain stuck on land forever. Enter dual narrator, plus-size swimmer, Sean, who has just been publicly dumped by his boyfriend and is devastated by the unforeseen breakup. Seems like Crest found his human to help and what better way than to pretend to be a couple. Fake lovers to true love trope? Hello! Yes!

Bonus points if you check out the rest of Jason June’s titles. Extra credit super duper bonus points if you also check out the audiobooks because Jason June is a superb voice actor and hearing the author read their work as intended is pretty special.

All My Friends are Superheroes by Andrew Kauffman

Tom is just a normal guy stuck in a world where everyone is a superhero, including his wife, the Perfectionist. When his wife’s ex uses his powers to make the Perfectionist no longer see or hear Tom, he must somehow get her to before she moves on perfectly, as per her name, and forgets him forever. This one is a short novel and makes a perfect gift even for non-readers who don’t have a lot of time to commit. Prepare for your nails to dig into the cover of the book as you flip those pages and hope Tom manages to save his relationship.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Two magicians challenge one another to a magical duel to prove who can raise the best successor, in a battle that will result in death. The venue, a midnight circus that arrives filled with spectacles unlike anyone has ever seen. But it all disappears by the morning. The contenders, Celia and Marco, who fall in love with one another’s spells and then each other even when they know they must win the competition or perish. High stakes much? Lavish descriptions of settings create an unforgettable story of seemingly doomed love.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

What do you get when two writing best friends, one known for her revolutionary body-positive writing and one known for her no-holds-barred romance. A series of Christmas adult romances following former boyband members and unforgettable female leads that are like spicy Hallmark holiday movies in book form. AMLMC is the first book in the series that follows bad boy boyband member, Nolan, who needs to redeem his image through good behaviour and a wholesome holiday film, and Bee, a curvaceous adult film star who accidentally gets cast opposite Nolan, her teen crush and the guy who subscribes to her content. Sex positive and body positive, you will fall in love with the main characters and all the side characters. There are three Christmas Notch Series novels, two novellas, and three bonus chapters to keep you busy from January through December.

Extra credit if you want to delve into either author’s awesome other books that range from warm-your-heart to set-your-loins-on-fire.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples

Imagine if Romeo and Juliet were from two warring, intergalactic species instead of families and not only survived, but had a daughter who decided to tell their story in graphic novel space opera form. The result would be Saga. Better yet, the parent lovers bond over their shared adoration of a romance novel! Books really do bring couples together! A broad spectrum of diversities coupled with positive messaging about acceptance and tolerance provides the perfect balance of heart-melting and kickass moments.

The post The Book Whisperer’s Annotated Recommended Reading (AKA Bobby Ashton’s Brief List of Romances You Don’t Want to Miss) appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Tanaz Bhathena’s Of Light and Shadow, which is out May 23rd!

When they don’t give us our birthright, we steal it.

Roshan Chaya is out for justice. Abandoned by her parents at birth and adopted by the kingdom of Jwala’s most notorious bandit before his brutal murder, she is now leader of the Shadow Clan, a gang of farmers-turned-bandits impoverished by the provincial governor’s atrocities and corruption. Roshan’s goal: to avenge her adoptive father and earn back rights and dignity for her people.

Prince Navin has always felt like an outcast. Second in line for the throne, he has never been close to his grandmother, Queen Bhairavi of Jwala. When a night out drinking with friends leads to his capture by the infamous Shadow Clan, Navin schemes to befriend Roshan and use her as a means to escape. His ploy, however, brings Navin closer to the corruption and poverty at the heart of Roshan’s province, raising questions about its governor and Navin’s own family.

To further complicate things, the closer Roshan and Navin get, the harder it becomes to fight their growing attraction. But how can they trust each other when the world as they know it starts to fall apart?

Set in a magical world inspired by the badlands of 17th century India, this standalone epic fantasy novel by Tanaz Bhathena is packed with political tensions, dangerous schemes, and swoon-worthy romance that asks the age old question: can love conquer all?

A silhouette fell across his lap. He looked up, breath catching for a split second. It was her. The Shadow Bandit, Roshan, unmasked. He’d recognize those dark brown eyes—and the anger in them—anywhere. She had a round face with acne scars on the chin, an upturned nose, and full brown lips that bloomed pink at the center. There was no evidence of laugh lines anywhere. Yet, despite the obvious lack of humor on her face, the flirt in Navin had to admit the obvious: She was pretty. Dangerously so.

The worn red jama and black trousers she wore did little to hide her curves or the muscles on her arms and thighs. As if sensing the turn of his thoughts, one of her sturdy brown hands settled on the wide, crossbar grip of a punch-dagger strapped to her waist, sheathed in a scabbard under a wide black waistband. A warning. Navin’s gaze moved back to her face, to wavy hair that ended in a crop below her ears, a red so dark it appeared nearly black. In Prabha, people called the shade a true Jwaliyan red. A color that was not quite fire, not quite coal. The palace courtiers spent hours in beauty houses across the capital, used countless concoctions of magic, henna, beetroot, and jatamansi to mimic what appeared to be the Shadow Bandit’s natural hair color.

“Looks like the rajkumar has too much weight on him. We should relieve him of it.” Lalit was eyeing Navin’s pearl and ruby earrings and matching four-strand necklace, the white jade bracelets on his wrists.

“Good point,” she said. “One of those trinkets could be amplifying his powers. Take it all off, Rajkumar.”

That goddess-forsaken tharra. He should’ve never tried to outdrink Shera.

Though the bandits’ auras were slowly emerging again, most were still invisible to Navin’s eyes or indeterminate wisps of color around their heads. Every person’s aura was made up of different colors, and each color identified a specific emotion. It would be folly to attempt a spell, even on a small scale, without seeing the exact colors within their auras or even ascertaining the group’s general emotional state.

Naturally, the Shadow Bandit would be worried about Navin’s amplifiers, though she really needed only his bracelets. Embedded with firestones and seaglass, their ends shaped to formed two alligator heads joined in an open-mouthed kiss. They’d been gifted to Navin by his grandmother shortly after his father had abandoned him.

Navin didn’t particularly enjoy wearing the bracelets; they felt like shackles on a good day. But the combination of white jade, firestones, and seaglass worked like a dream when it came to amplifying soul magic. The only other amplifier he had on his person was the signet ring he’d worn since he’d come of age—a plain but comfortable band made of polished Jwaliyan teak.

“Take it all off?” Navin drawled, hoping she didn’t see the rapid pulse at his throat. “Is this your idea of foreplay? I’d prefer we get to know each other a little. Perhaps over a meal and a few cups of wine.”

A few snickers followed his comment. The Shadow Bandit’s eyes narrowed.“I have little inclination of bedding anyone who smells like a drunk water buffalo.”

Laughter echoed in the cavern. Even Navin’s mouth fought a smile. The girl was right. He did stink. Well, then. Perhaps it was time to change that.

As he slowly rose to his feet, he felt the buzz of magic—a barrier, he guessed, by the thornlike sensation against his skin. In the blink of an eye, the katar was pricking his throat.

Ah. So she, at least, could cross the barrier.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded. This close, he could see the fine lines of her deep brown irises, smell the cloves on her breath and the sweat beading her skin. His gaze trailed her throat, pausing at the wooden amulet between her collarbones. Something was carved there—a tree, maybe—but it was the grain of the wood that caught his attention. The fiery swirls of firebloom bark. An amplifier, perhaps?

The blade burned his skin this time; the Shadow Bandit had drawn blood. He wrenched his gaze up from her amulet back to those murderous brown eyes.

“Take it all off, Navin,” he whispered. “Call me by my name and I’ll do exactly what you say.”

A tremor curved her mouth. The katar did not budge.

Dear goddess, let her take the bait.

It was a gamble, challenging the Bandit in this way. But names bred familiarity and familiarity was the first step to creating a bond in soul magic. If she chose to say his name of her own volition, their bond would grow stronger, making her more susceptible to his influence. Right now, despite the challenge he’d issued, she still had the upper hand. She could order her minions to strip Navin of his jewels. She could torture him until he chose to remove them himself.

An apology crawled up his throat, ready to emerge, when the Shadow Bandit spoke:

“Take it all off. Navin.” She spat out the last word as if it was tainted.

As if he was tainted in some way.

Yet the moment she spoke his name, the faded colors of her aura darkened to a single shade, surrounded her face like the sun. Raging russet, Navin named the color, relieved at being able to see her emotions, angry as they were. The more vibrant her aura became, the stronger their bond would grow, allowing him to manipulate her emotions without her noticing. As long as he could still speak, of course.

He curbed a grin. “As you wish. Roshan.”

Undoing the hoops in his ears, he dropped them to the floor. The necklace followed, and then, more reluctantly, his bracelets. But there was no way he could hide them; their mere ostentatiousness made it impossible. His only hope now lay in the unassuming teak ring still on his finger. Still unnoticed—though that could change at any moment.

Unless . . .

Navin grinned wide and let his jama slip off his shoulders.

As expected, the move caused more than a few raised eyebrows. “What are you—” the Shadow Bandit began.

“You did say to take it all off, Roshni. And I don’t want you to remember me smelling like water buffalo.” Then, with a quickness he normally reserved for rapid, lust-filled interludes in quiet alleys or secluded public baths, he undid the drawstring of his trousers and let them fall to the floor.

“Goddess’s flaming hair,” he murmured, watching the Shadow Bandit’s eyes grow wide. The red light of her aura now started mingling with another color: the delicate pink of embarrassment. “It seems I’m not wearing underclothes today.”

A few snickers erupted around them.

Navin smiled, hoping the bandits didn’t see his tightening jaw. If they had, they didn’t say anything. No one seemed to have spotted the ring on his left pinkie, either. Curling the finger inward, he placed his hands on bare hips and pretended to be utterly at ease while their eyes roved over his form. He was already worse off without his bracelets than his clothes. But the teak ring could work as an amplifier. It was small and not enough for a truly powerful spell like the one he’d attempted on the dhow. But his mind and body were now throwing off the effects of the alcohol, and his soul magic was beginning to emerge, evidenced by the faded wisps of bandit auras around him. None, of course, were as clear as their leader’s, with whom he’d daringly formed a name bond. This, of course, would not last forever.

Already the Shadow Bandit was looking at him like he was a pile of dung, her nose wrinkled, her mouth pinched at the corners. Whatever embarrassment he’d seen in her aura had faded, a streak of cobalt muddying the red. Was she worried? Or worse: Was she suspicious?

Quietly, she scooped up Navin’s discarded jewels and clothes from within the barrier and handed them to Chotu, who stood beside her.

“Get the rajkumar some new clothes,” she said, her low voice a cold wash of water prickling over Navin’s skin. “Since he has generously donated his overpriced garments, we might as well give him some suitable replacements.”

“Haan, Sardar.”

Moments passed during which Navin began to sorely regret his attempt at bravado, his skin prickling under multiple gazes. But Chotu reappeared soon enough, his small hands holding out what appeared to be bits of folded gunnysack. Roshan took the clothes from Chotu and dropped them at Navin’s feet.

High hell. Was he really expected to wear that?

The curve of the Shadow Bandit’s mouth was as sharp as a blade. “Am I sensing regret, Rajkumar?”

“Navin,” he corrected. “And my only regret is that I’m naked and you’re not here touching me.”

It was dangerous to play like this—to try to strengthen their bond with lust. His stomach churned as the Shadow Bandit stepped forward, crossing his barrier with the ease of a hot knife slicing through butter. Her cool fingers brushed the cut at his throat. Ice coated Navin’s skin, making the fine hairs on his neck rise. He wondered if she’d frozen his voice again. He swallowed hard.

“Well, Navin?” she asked. “Are you happy now?”

Before he could reply, her hand dropped, leaving the skin at his throat tingling. Colors wafted around her: a blue cloud of worry, tinged with the slightest hint of yellow.

Fear? Was the Shadow Bandit afraid?

Not of him, certainly. She could kill him if she wanted to. No, something greater was at stake here. Something that had—he touched his throat with his fingers—made her heal his injury shortly after causing it. Navin never had been and never would be good at physical combat.

With a poor amplifier, he had no hope of taking on so many bandits. He would have to bide his time until he could escape. He would have to play the Shadow Bandit, play each of these bandits, the way he once did his tanpura, lightly plucking each of the instrument’s four strings, tuning it until it made the perfect sound. For now, he waited a few moments, allowing the slightest bit of magic to seep toward his throat—a subtle tingling sensation that only he was aware of.

“Tell me more, Roshni,” he said, ensuring that his voice was warm, but not too warm. Sweet, but not too sweet. “What do you want from me?”

For whatever she wanted, Navin would promise to give. Over and over, until she believed him, heart and soul.

Then, slowly, carefully, he would slide it out of reach.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Of Light and Shadow’ by Tanaz Bhathena appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover our picks and let us know if you’re excited for any of these releases too!

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
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With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestseller Becky Albertalli explores the nuances of sexuality, identity, and friendship.

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.

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.

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.

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

Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
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Sarah J. Maas meets A Deadly Education in A.M. Strickland’s lush, queer YA dark fantasy novel. Court of the Undying Seasons is a deliciously dark romantic novel and a pitch perfect modern take on classic vampire tropes.

Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell
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From the bestselling author of THE GREATCOATS and SPELLSLINGER : seven war mages with dark pasts and special powers must come together to fight an unknown enemy – but the stakes are higher than anyone can imagine . . . and someone’s setting them up for a fall.

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead
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The Boyfriend Candidate is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood, and is all about learning to embrace life outside your comfort zone, and reclaiming control of the voice inside that tries to tells you, you can’t.

Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson
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From award-winning author Leah Johnson comes a laugh-until-you-cry, cry-until-you-laugh story about friendship, change, and the power we have to love ourselves.

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.

Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
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From Ibi Zoboi, bestselling, award-winning author of American Street and co-author of Punching the Air, comes a bold new YA coming-of-age story, which explores race, feminism, and complicated family dynamics, about a girl whose father is the leader of a Black liberation group. The ideal next read for fans of Roxane Gay, Jacqueline Woodson, and Elizabeth Acevedo.

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.

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
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One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister’s No Two Persons is “a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives.”

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 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.

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

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

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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 Tanaz Bhathena about Rising Like A Storm, writing, book recommendations, and more!

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

Hi! I’m a young adult author of contemporary and fantasy fiction. I was born in India and raised in Saudi Arabia and Canada. I currently live in Mississauga, Ontario. My books include A Girl Like That, The Beauty of the Moment, Hunted by the Sky and most recently, Rising like a Storm, which releases on June 22.

How is your 2021 going in comparison to that other year?

In terms of activity, things still aren’t very different and, in that sense, 2021 is still an extension of The Year That Will Not Be Named. We’ve been in lockdown here, in Ontario, since December. But on the plus side, many of us have received our first vaccine shots, which is a relief.

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!

First book: Fairy Tales for 4 year Olds (Or that’s what I think it was!), A book that made me want to be a writer: A tiny bit embarrassing to admit, but it was probably a Sweet Valley High book, where Elizabeth Wakefield waxes poetic about being a writer, LOL! A book I’ll never forget: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. It completely changed the way I looked at writing.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

When I was eight years old and wrote and illustrated a story about three girls who went to visit a witch on a mountain. I don’t know what happened to them—I never finished that story—but that was the first of many little incomplete story bursts I would have until age eleven when I would finally finish a short story about a werewolf at a girls’ boarding school.

Rising Like A Storm is the final installment in your The Wrath of Ambar and it’s out June 22^nd 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Everything is gonna blow up!

What can readers expect?

They can expect to see more of Gul and Cavas and the Sisters of the Golden Lotus from the first book, along with a new, deadly tyrant queen. They can also expect to see more of the Pashu, who are a race of part-human and part-animal beings, who do some pretty cool magic!

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

Funnily, maintaining the momentum of the plot wasn’t as much of an issue as I thought it would be. The main challenge was remembering what I’d written in the first book. Sometimes I forgot certain things and had to go back and re-read. Having a brief chapter by chapter summary of the first book helped a lot. There were also instances when I needed to fix things in the first book so that the story made sense in the second.

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

I really loved the progression of both Gul and Cavas’s characters through the series, I enjoyed writing them both in very difficult situations. I also really enjoyed writing the new tyrant queen in Rising like a Storm. She wasn’t supposed to be a POV character in the series, but at the end of book 1, I knew something was missing, that the story risked having a one-dimensional villain if I didn’t put in her perspective. In terms of scenes, I love the climax of Rising like a Storm—it was one of the toughest scenes I had to write, but when it fell into place, I was so proud of it.

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

Best advice: Butt in seat. The book won’t write itself.

Worst advice: You don’t have the imagination for fantasy. Focus on contemporary fiction.

What’s next for you?

A project I can’t quite talk about yet, but it will also be in the fantasy genre.

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

I recently read Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron, which was wonderful. I was also fortunate to read early copies of Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua and Radha & Jai’s Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma—both of which I highly recommend.

Will you be picking up Rising Like A Storm? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Tanaz Bhathena, Author of ‘Rising Like A Storm’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

As an #ownvoices reviewer, can I take a moment to cry about just how happy it makes me to see an Indian inspired fantasy written an #ownvoices author in mainstream media? And it has a brown girl on the cover too and I’ll just be sitting over there fawning over this book!

“The sky will fall, a star will rise
Ambar changed by the king’s demise
Her magic untouched and unknown by all
Marked with a star, she’ll bring his downfall.”

Once there was Svapnalok, divided into four kingdoms, Ambar, Prithvi, Jwala, and Samudra with each standing for one of the elements of nature—sky, earth, fire and water. Once they used to be united and stood beside each other as friends would, but each Kingdom was corrupted in their own way, with Ambar the most corrupted. Now a tyrant rules Ambar and the other three kingdoms wouldn’t dare to go against him. However, the King of Ambar is rattled by the prophecy of the Star warrior and he has every girl with a star-like or even a non star-like birthmark hunted mercilessly, killing entire families to protect himself.

Gul hides her birthmark and after the loss of her parents, finds solace amongst a group of warrior females. She is driven by revenge against the man who ordered the death of her parents, but the fact that her magic is so temperamental makes things much harder for her. Cavas is a non magi boy and hence suffers having to live in the worst part of the city and be called a dirt licker by those with magic. He harbours a secret that could get him killed and has been leaking palace secrets to a mysterious man in exchange for money, which he needs for his sick father’s medicine.

While both Gul and Cavas sometimes really annoyed me with their decisions, I understood their confusion. The romance wasn’t my favourite, but it was still enjoyable even though it came together in a kind of insta-love manner, but there was still a lot of chemistry. There was such sweet banter, not being sure of their feelings, and a palpable attraction so I quite enjoyed seeing Gul and Cavas together.

I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters, especially Juhi, Amira, and Amar. Then there’s the ending, which has left me feeling very intrigued about other characters too. I liked that they all had a story and a life that did not have much to do with the protagonists, so the secondary characters were their own people and I definitely appreciate that!

“It wasn’t your fault, Rajkumar. You didn’t do anything.”
“No, I didn’t. And with my silence, I became an accomplice.”

The diversity could make one scream with joy about the amazing representation in this book. I recognised myself in how the characters looked, the clothes they wore, and the food they ate, plus I so badly want the chandaramas (moon shaped filigreed dough foiled with gold and garnished with honeyweed seeds) mentioned in the book! The world is inspired by medieval India and Persian mythology and I loved how within the book there are all kinds of diverse elements. Some characters pray to the sky goddess and some to Sant Javer, some to Prophet Zaal and there are also those who are atheists. They have all heard different stories and myths as a child and have experienced a variety of cultures. There was also casual queer representation and I hope we see more of that at the forefront in the sequel.

While I had some issues with the pacing, this book sets up the scene for a much more complex sequel. I have a few guesses about the ending and I can’t wait to read the second book to find out if I guessed right! I also cannot wait to know more about the world especially after what was revealed towards the end.

Hunted by the Sky is an amazing debut with badass females, Indian and Persian mythology, beautiful writing, and so much diversity.

Hunted By The Sky is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Hunted By The Sky? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Gul has spent her life running. She has a star-shaped birthmark on her arm, and in the kingdom of Ambar, girls with such birthmarks have been disappearing for years. Gul’s mark is what caused her parents’ murder at the hand of King Lohar’s ruthless soldiers and forced her into hiding to protect her own life. So when a group of rebel women called the Sisters of the Golden Lotus rescue her, take her in, and train her in warrior magic, Gul wants only one thing: revenge.

Cavas lives in the tenements, and he’s just about ready to sign his life over to the king’s army. His father is terminally ill, and Cavas will do anything to save him. But sparks fly when he meets a mysterious girl–Gul–in the capital’s bazaar, and as the chemistry between them undeniably grows, he becomes entangled in a mission of vengeance–and discovers a magic he never expected to find.

Dangerous circumstances have brought Gul and Cavas together at the king’s domain in Ambar Fort . . . a world with secrets deadlier than their own. Exploring identity, class struggles, and high-stakes romance, Hunted by the Sky is a gripping adventure set in a world inspired by medieval India.

The post Review: Hunted By The Sky by Tanaz Bhathena appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Who’s ready to get their hands on some new YA releases!? We definitely are and we bet you can’t wait too! We love a new year because that means there’s going to be so many new books coming out over the next 12 months from authors we already love as well as authors releasing their very first novel into the wild!

Naturally there’s many books being released, so we’ve narrowed it down to 48 titles that we are really looking forward to being released between the months of January and June!

So, what can we expect from 2020? Well there’s new books from familiar names such as Cassandra Clare, Melissa de la Cruz, Suzanne Collins,  Alwyn Hamilton, and many more! In terms of content, there’s gender-swapped retellings, vampires, assassins, magic, thrillers, dragons, sweet contemporaries, stories of friendship, tales of love and revenge, and much, much more!

Read on to discover just a few of our favourites and tell us in the comments if you are looking forward to any of these releases!

JANUARY

Oasis by Katya de Becerra
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this young adult thriller for fans of Lost and The Twilight Zone, a group of teens are saved when they come across a mysterious oasis. But who will save them from the oasis?

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen, and praised as “an intense rush of rebellion and romance” by #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Garber, this romantic and layered Own Voices debut from Abigail Hing Wen is a dazzling, fun-filled romp.

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With Anna-Marie McLemore’s signature lush prose, Dark and Deepest Red pairs the forbidding magic of a fairy tale with a modern story of passion and betrayal.

Rogue Princess by B.R. Myers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A princess fleeing an arranged marriage teams up with a snarky commoner to foil a rebel plot in B. R. Myers’ Rogue Princess, a gender-swapped sci-fi YA retelling of Cinderella.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo Brown
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Heavily autobiographical and infused with magical realism, Black Girl Unlimited fearlessly explores the intersections of poverty, sexual violence, depression, racism, and sexism―all through the arc of a transcendent coming-of-age story for fans of Renee Watson’s Piecing Me Together and Ibi Zoboi’s American Street.

Blood Countess by Lana Popović
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A historical YA horror novel based on the infamous real-life inspiration for Countess Dracula.

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Slay meets Eliza and Her Monsters in Eric Smith’s Don’t Read the Comments, an #ownvoices story in which two teen gamers find their virtual worlds – and blossoming romance – invaded by the real-world issues of trolling and doxing in the gaming community.

FEBRUARY

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller
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Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King, is back with an epic YA tale of ambition and love in The Shadows Between Us…

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Teen boys find love when their parents’ NASA mission uproots their lives in this sweet debut perfect for Adam Silvera fans.

The Queen’s Assassin by Melissa de la Cruz
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Red Queen, this is the first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy-romance duet about a deadly assassin, his mysterious apprentice, and the country they are sworn to protect from #1 NYT bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed have crafted a resonant, funny, and memorable story about the power of love and resistance.

Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of the Mask of Shadows duology comes a standalone fantasy where two young women must trade lives, work together to stay alive, and end a war caused by magic and greed.

The Last Confession of Autumn Casterly by Meredith Tate
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If I Stay meets One of Us is Lying in this gripping contemporary thriller.

Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.

Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

MARCH

Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Chain of Gold is the first novel in a new trilogy that stars the Shadowhunters of Edwardian London.

Bone ​Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Purdie comes a high-stakes fantasy duology flush with doomed romance and macabre magic, perfect for fans of Stephanie Garber and Roshani Chokshi.

Anna K.: A Love Story by Jenny Lee
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Dazzlingly opulent and emotionally riveting, Anna K.: A Love Story is a brilliant reimagining of Leo Tolstoy’s timeless love story, Anna Karenina―but above all, it is a novel about the dizzying, glorious, heart-stopping experience of first love and first heartbreak.

Greythorne by Crystal Smith
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Brimming with deliciously mysterious magic, political intrigue, and a passionate heroine who will do anything to save the ones she loves—this highly anticipated sequel to Bloodleaf won’t disappoint.

Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Greatest Showman meets This Is Us by way of Sarah Dessen in this heart-wrenching, hopeful contemporary novel about a multiracial teen who risks it all to follow her dreams by joining the circus, from the critically acclaimed author of Starfish.

Havenfall by Sara Holland
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A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it–at any cost. New York Times bestselling author Sara Holland crafts a breathtaking new contemporary fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Holly Black.

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets Clueless in this boy-meets-boy spin on Grease.

When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey
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A sly, witchy dark comedy about four teens whose magic goes wildly awry from Magic for Liars author Sarah Gailey, who Chuck Wendig calls an “author to watch.”

APRIL

Incendiary by Zoraida Córdova
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me by Gae Polisner
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Gae Polisner’s Jack Kerouac is Dead to Me is a story about the fragility of female friendship, of falling in love and wondering if you are ready for more, and of the glimmers of hope we find by taking stock in ourselves.

Time of Our Lives by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
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A reflective, romantic coming-of-age novel that explores life after high school–perfect for fans of Fangirl and Emergency Contact.

The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Thirteen Reasons Why, This Is How It Ends, and All the Bright Places, comes a new novel about life after. How do you put yourself back together when it seems like you’ve lost it all?

Clique Bait by Ann Valett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Pretty Little Liars meets Burn for Burn in this thrilling debut from Wattpad star Ann Valett.

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny YA contemporary romance about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

From author Kelly Quindlen comes a poignant and deeply relatable story about friendship, self-acceptance, what it means to be a Real Teenager. Late to the Party is an ode to late bloomers and wallflowers everywhere.

Loveless by Alice Oseman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Loveless is a journey of identity, self-acceptance, and finding out how many different types of love there really are. And that no one is really loveless after all.

MAY

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The post 48 YA Book Releases To Look Out For In 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re after a contemporary, try either A Girl Like That or American Panda! And if you’re after a little fantasy or science fiction, pick up The Traitor’s Game or Ink, Iron and Glass!

Read on to discover our YA picks and tell us in the comments below if you will be reading any!

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce | Goodreads

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realise that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things, including a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston | Goodreads

Seventeen-year-old Ana was found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09 and saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him. She embarks on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship, but a spoiled Ironblood boy beats her and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them. The pair end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.

Assassin of Truth by Brenda Drake | Goodreads

The gateways linking the great libraries of the world don’t require a library card, but they do harbor incredible dangers. And it’s not your normal bump-in-the-night kind. The threats Gia Kearns faces are the kind with sharp teeth and knifelike claws. The kind that include an evil wizard hell-bent on taking her down. Gia can end his devious plan, but only if she recovers seven keys hidden throughout the world’s most beautiful libraries. And then figures out exactly what to do with them.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine | Goodreads

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson | Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Elena Mendoza is the product of a virgin birth. This can be scientifically explained (it’s called parthenogenesis), but what can’t be explained is how Elena is able to heal Freddie, the girl she’s had a crush on for years, from a gunshot wound in a Starbucks parking lot. Or why the boy who shot Freddie, David Combs, disappeared from the same parking lot minutes later after getting sucked up into the clouds.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton | Goodreads

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle and they control Beauty, a commodity coveted above all else. Camellia wants to be the favourite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to tend to the royal family. But once she arrives, it becomes clear that being the favourite is not everything she always dreamed it would be.

Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare | Goodreads

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation by her mother. But when her home is attacked and her mother abducted, Elsa must cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative 19th-century Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of pazzerellones—young people with a gift for mechanics, alchemy or scriptology—and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and a tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen | Goodreads

Kestra Dallisor has spent three years in exile in the Lava Fields, but that won’t stop her from being drawn back into her father’s palace politics. He’s the right hand man of the cruel king, Lord Endrick, which makes Kestra a valuable bargaining chip. A group of rebels knows this and they kidnap her. The kidnappers want her to retrieve the lost Olden Blade, the only object that can destroy the immortal king, but Kestra is not the obedient captive they expected.

American Panda by Gloria Chao | Goodreads

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies. With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth–that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

The Prince and The Dressmaker by Jen Wang | Goodreads

Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride―or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia―the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion! Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances―one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?

The Last To Let Go by Amber Smith | Goodreads

Junior year for Brooke Winters is supposed to be about change. But all of her dreams are shattered one hot summer afternoon when her mother is arrested for killing Brooke’s abusive father. No one really knows what happened that day, if it was premeditated or self-defense, whether it was right or wrong. And now Brooke and her siblings are on their own. In a year of firsts—the first year without parents, first love, first heartbreak, and her first taste of freedom—Brooke must confront the shadow of her family’s violence and dysfunction, as she struggles to embrace her identity, finds her true place in the world, and learns how to let go.

What February YA release are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

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