Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Tyffany D. Neiheiser’s Not Dead Enough, which is out January 23rd 2024.

Charlotte survived the car crash that killed her boyfriend Jerry, but that night, everything changed. Charlotte wants desperately to get back to “normal,” –whatever that means now– and start reconnecting with friends she hasn’t spoken to in months. And she’s trying to work through her PTSD with the help of her therapist, only she can’t tell the truth about Jerry or what really happened the night he died.

Just when Charlotte thinks she might be moving on, someone starts sending her threatening messages claiming to be Jerry, saying things only he would know. But it can’t really be Jerry because there’s no such thing as ghosts. The cold spots in her room must be a draft and the noises she hears must be the house creaking. There has to be a logical explanation for all of it. Because if ghosts are real, then Jerry came back for her—just like he always said he would.

I hated being awake at two a.m. It was the loneliest hour, the time when it was hardest to keep my thoughts in check. During the day, it was easier to pretend I wasn’t broken. But at night, it was impossible to ignore. Even my cat, Paisley, was curled up asleep somewhere else. She never came into my room anymore. The house creaked and I flinched. I never used to be like that. But now, everything made me jump.

It was just a settling noise. Probably. But what if it wasn’t?

Were the doors locked? I’d checked them an hour ago, but what if, when I checked them, I’d accidentally unlocked them?

My therapist, Gemma, told me my anxiety lied to me, and I knew she was right. But knowing something and feeling it were two different things. My brain knew the doors were locked. I remembered locking them.

But my anxiety whispered that I couldn’t trust what I thought. I huffed out a breath and got up.

I eased my bedroom door open and tiptoed downstairs, using my phone to light the hallway. I checked the front door, then the kitchen door. They were locked. Of course they were locked. I closed my eyes and sighed.

When I got back to my room, I stopped in the doorway. My room was cold, and it hadn’t been a few minutes ago. Weird. I put on a sweatshirt and sat back down.

I thought about texting Lori or Ian, but normal people were asleep.

I’m the only one who’ll ever love you, Charlotte. The memory of Jerry’s voice echoed in my head.

If Jerry and I were still together, I could text him. He never cared if I woke him up. He’d send me videos of ocean waves and tell me stories of how we’d lie on the beach or build sandcastles. While he talked, I could almost smell the salt and feel the hot sand.

But I couldn’t text Jerry anymore. That part of my life was over. I rubbed my achy eyes. Eventually, I’d be able to sleep.

As I scrolled through my phone, I tapped my foot. I opened Awake All Night, an app for insomniacs like me. I’d never messaged anyone, but I liked knowing other people were awake too.

One of the dots was only a few miles away. I’d looked at his profile before, but never messaged him. Starry_Nate, 16, Connoisseur of the Weird. The next closest people were Twinkletoes, 77, Former Ballroom Dancer, and Cogsworth, 43, Collects Talking Clocks.

Starry_Nate’s feed showed an article he’d shared about smart people being messy and staying up late. It was one I’d already read, but I skimmed it again. I hesitated. There was a Nate in a few of my classes. He seemed nice, but I’d never talked to him.

Randomly talking to someone wasn’t something I normally did, and if I were less exhausted, maybe I would have been nervous. But I was tired of thinking about the locks and Jerry.

2:03 AM
Sew_What?
Did you actually read the article before you shared it?

Starry_Nate
Of course. I read anything
that makes me look good. According to the article, I’m a genius.

Sew_What?
You know it was probably written by someone who wanted to justify being messy and sleeping in, right?

Starry_Nate
Obviously. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

I smiled. But then the skin on the back of my neck prickled, like someone was watching me. I tried to ignore it. I was alone in the room. The doors were locked. Everything was fine.

2:10 AM
Sew_What?
What does “Connoisseur of the Weird” mean?

Starry_Nate
Did you know bullfrogs don’t sleep?

Okay, who even knew stuff like that? Did he just Google “weird random stuff ”?

2:11 AM
Starry_Nate
Or snails have teeth?

I laughed, then covered my face with a pillow to muffle the noise. My parents would freak if they knew I was still up. They liked to pretend my insomnia wasn’t happening. My mom always told me “fake it till you make it,” meaning that I was supposed to pretend nothing was wrong, even when it was. She was the master of that, saying she was okay when she wasn’t and putting on makeup as armor so no one would know she had feelings.

2:12 AM
Sew_What?
Gotcha. Weird random facts.

Starry_Nate
What is up with girls being obsessed with Pride & Prejudice?

My smile faded. How did he know I loved Pride and Prejudice? But then I remembered my profile had a “favorite books” section, and I could breathe again. It didn’t mean anything.

2:14 AM
Sew_What?
Does liking something make me obsessed? It’s not like I’m going to change my name to Elizabeth and start wearing petticoats.

Starry_Nate
Changing your name would
be stepping over the crazy line.

The crazy line. I flinched and my fingers went still on my phone.

I knew he was joking but still, I hated that word. Sure, I called myself crazy sometimes, but it was different when someone else said it.

Thump.

I jolted and looked toward the sound. My heart sped up.

Everything looked the same as it had a moment ago. Except for the book now lying on the floor. It must have fallen off my nightstand. For no reason. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, then picked up the book. It was cool to the touch. I hesitated, then put it back.

My laptop sat open on my desk, the screen saver giving my dark bedroom a subtle glow. I couldn’t sleep in the dark anymore, so I left my laptop open as a night-light. I lay back down on my bed and scrolled through pictures on my phone. There was ten-year-old Lori and me in a blue kiddie pool in my backyard, our smiles and pink bathing suits matching, Lori’s hair dark where mine was light, her skin tanned golden, while mine was pale and luminescent with sunscreen.

Next up was a picture of Ian and me when we were about twelve, grinning at the camera with our arms wrapped around each other, our faces smeared with icing from our annual birthday cake fight. Ian’s brown skin had turned a richer shade of sepia from his being outside all summer. Then Ian standing alone in his basketball uniform. A freckled arm slung over his shoulder was the only indication that I’d cropped Jerry out. My eyes pricked with tears, and I squeezed them shut, trying to remember who I’d been without Jerry. It was like taking the stitches out of leather. You could remove the thread, but the holes would still be there, showing something was missing.

When I was with Jerry, I’d become a version of myself I didn’t recognize. Now that he was gone, I wasn’t sure who I was or if I liked the person I’d become.

I threw my phone down, not wanting to think about how I used to be. I turned onto my back and stared at the beach poster on my ceiling.

My phone pinged.

2:23 AM
Starry_Nate
You still there?

I deleted the message I’d started writing. I started to delete my chat history, then remembered I didn’t have to do that anymore. Jerry wouldn’t see me messaging some other guy and get jealous. He couldn’t accuse me of hiding things. He couldn’t make me feel guilty.

I pushed the thoughts away. There was no point in thinking about any of that. Because Jerry was dead, and he wasn’t coming back.

Excerpted from Not Dead Enough by Tyffany D. Neiheiser Copyright © 2024 by Tyffany D. Neiheiser. Excerpted by permission of Viking Books for Young Readers. 

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Not Dead Enough’ by Tyffany D. Neiheiser appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Ready for some new YA books? There are so many new books to look forward to in January 2024 with new releases from the likes of Brigid Kemmerer, Ayana Gray, Emma Lord, Kaylie Smith, Goldy Moldavsky, and many more, along with those making their exciting debut!

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

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Circe goes YA in this unapologetically feminist retelling of the Medusa myth steeped in Indian mythology, a YA epic fantasy addition to the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports

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A compelling YA anthology from editors Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports with stories from Carrie S. Allen, Sara Farizan, Juliana Goodman, Maggie Hall, Leah Henderson, Sarah Henning, Naomi Kanakia, Miranda Kenneally, Yamile Saied Méndez, Cam Montgomery, Marieke Nijkamp, Amparo Ortiz, Aminah Mae Safi, and Kayla Whaley.

Destroy the Day by Brigid Kemmerer

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In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series, New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end.

My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy

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My Fair Lady meets the classic teen film She’s All That in this charming and swoony new rom-com from Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country. Perfect for fans of What If It’s Us and She Gets the Girl.

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

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A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartrending young-adult reimagining of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, part of the Remixed Classics series.

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

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The epic sequel to the book Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, is a fast-paced, riveting YA fantasy inspired by the mythology and folklore of ancient China.

Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver

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From the bestselling author of I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, the story of a cupid who thinks they know everything about love… until they fall in love themselves.

Beasts of War by Ayana Gray

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In this epic conclusion to her New York Times bestselling series, Ayana Gray delivers a heart-pounding fantasy adventure filled with mythos, monsters, and mortal heroes who are astoundingly human.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

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Inescapably romantic and brimming with New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave.

Stay with My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan

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From the author of Counting Down with You and A Show for Two comes a new YA contemporary about a girl who accidentally sabotages an up-and-coming local band and falls for the guitarist while secretly trying to make up for her mistake.

The Atlas of Us by Kristin Dwyer

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Following her critically-acclaimed debut novel, Some Mistakes Were Made, Kristin Dwyer is back with The Atlas of Us, a novel about deep grief, found family, and a raw love story that will have readers crying and laughing in equal measure.

Dungeons and Drama By Kristy Boyce

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What do you get when you pair a charming gamer with a stubborn theatre nerd? Dungeons and Dragons is a new rivals-to-lovers gaming romance from Kristy Boyce, author of Hot British Boyfriend and Hot Dutch Daydream!

If I Promise You Wings by A.K. Small

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Hold Still meets You’ve Reached Sam in this lyrical novel about one young woman’s journey through the Paris fashion scene as she chases promises, overcomes grief, and falls in love.

Sky’s End by Marc J Gregson

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Plummet into a kill-or-be-killed competition where a scrappy underdog hell-bent on revenge must claw his way to the top in this thrilling YA fantasy debut

Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

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An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.

That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally

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From a gripping new voice comes a YA thriller with amnesia, stalking, abduction and twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, perfect for fans of Natalie D. Richards and Vincent Ralph.​

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia

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In this YA standalone perfect for fans of Tobly McSmith and Meredith Russo, the first out trans girl at an all-girls school must choose between keeping her head down or blazing a trail.

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

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From the author of Monsters Born and Made comes an action-packed South Asian inspired fantasy that will have your heart racing at every turn. 

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat

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Save the Date meets Never Have I Ever in this sparkling debut rom-com about a high school senior whose life suddenly gets a Bollywood spin when her sister gets engaged.

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang

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Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love.

Red by Annie Cardi

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A Christian girl is stigmatized by her peers after seeking an abortion in this modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter for the #MeToo era.

Just Say Yes by Goldy Moldavsky

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Inspired by Goldy’s childhood as an undocumented immigrant, Just Say Yes is full of heart and laugh-out-loud humour, while also tackling important themes related to immigrant issues with honesty and nuance.

A Reckless Oath by Kaylie Smith

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In this sequel to the spellbinding A Ruinous Fate, more action, romance, and magic abound as Calla and friends must deal with their losses and come to grips with their own part to play in the Fates’ War ahead.

A Place For Vanishing by Ann Fraistat

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A teen girl and her family return to her mother’s childhood home, only to discover that the house’s strange beauty may disguise a sinister past, in this contemporary gothic horror from the author of What We Harvest.

Not Dead Enough by Tyffany D. Neiheiser

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Girl in Pieces meets Cracked Up to Be in this raw and candid look at trauma about a girl who is being haunted and stalked by her definitely dead ex-boyfriend.

The Dark Fable by Katherine Harbour

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Magical heists. Deadly secrets. Come along for the ride . . . if you dare. This heart-stopping, seductive fantasy is perfect for fans of Six of Crows.

Wander In The Dark by Jumata Emill

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In this new pulse-pounding thriller from the author of The Black Queen, two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death.

The Summer Queen by Rochelle Hassan

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This captivating sequel to The Buried and the Bound draws readers into the twisted and irresistible world of the Fair Folk―perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Hazel Wood.

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

The post 28 YA Books Hitting Bookshelves In January 2024 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.