”That’s what it’s like living with grief. Loneliness, even while you’re surrounded by people.”

One of these days Julian Winters is going to have to pick up my therapy tab if he keeps releasing books that make me question how I live my own life.

Find My Way Down to You ticked all my boxes. You have a pinch of fantasy, you have romance, and you have grief portrayed really well with a strong focus on healing.

The funny thing about grief is that no two experiences are ever the same. One could, for example, not relate to books like You’ve Reached Sam that had everyone in a chokehold back in the day, yet absolutely devour this tale of grief. This was the case for me with Find My Way Down To You. I admit I rarely pick up books that focus on grief and loss (you have to be in the right headspace for it), but this novel dealt so well with it and most of that may come down to the fact that while this is a story about grief, its main focus is on moving on and finding new ways to get back to actually living your life instead of being in the passenger seat waiting for someone else to take the wheel to get you back on track.

Don’t get me wrong, there is sadness here, it is a book about loss, after all. Auggie has been living in this kind of eternal limbo where he can’t and doesn’t seem to want to move on, but there are also so many moments of hope and progress that truly make this book stand out.

What I love most is how Auggie showcases some of the worst side effects of grief, the way you can lose yourself because you lost someone that in a lot of ways has affected how you see the world and interact with it. This, of course, drastically changes when he meets Cary, the ferrier of souls and gets introduced to death in an altogether new manner.

As always, Winters shines in portraying characters that are essentially good guys, but also flawed. Cary is your brooding boy that is secretly a marshmallow that always puts others and their feelings first. I love how he constantly tried to lift up Auggie.

Auggie, meanwhile, lives his life in pursuit of making other people happy…even when that ends up hurting him or making him lose his own way. The two of them worked together so well because at the core they care about the mark they leave on the (under)world, leaving it kinder than it was before. Their interactions were sweet and their conversations often felt like a warm hug. My only gripe would be that I wish there would have been a few more moments focusing on their relationship and the trouble that comes with falling for a guy whose literal job is carrying souls into the underworld. But since the focus here really was on grief and living again, I understand that this wasn’t supposed to be a super in-depth romance with all the expected beats.

The best part of this story is of course the gradual progress of healing. From the very difficult beginnings where you meet Auggie and realize just how much he has given up on his own life and future after losing his boyfriend London while everyone including his roommate has moved on to grander things, to the small, gradual steps he takes to participate in life again. It serves as a powerful reminder that no matter what losses we face, there is always something worth living for—we just have to find what that is for us.

Heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure, Find My Way Down to You is a life-affirming story that puts a new spin on grief turning your world upside down, perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam and At the End of the River Styx.

Find My Way Down to You is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 4th 2026.

Will you be picking up Find My Way Down to You? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

You’ve Reached Sam meets Hadestown in this enchanting, intoxicating romance across the mortal world and the underworld.

Eighteen-year-old August is trying to navigate life after the sudden death of his boyfriend left him devastated, aimless, and feeling guilty. Years after the tragic accident, August mistakenly stumbles into a world beyond his own—the Underworld. Unlike his own gray existence, the underworld is a lavish extravagant place, full of mystery and a flurry of charismatic gods, all curious about August’s arrival in their world. Realizing right away the opportunity in front of him, August goes searching for his lost love, guided by Cary, the smoldering, broody ferrier of souls. But the more time August spends down below, the more his intentions begin to blur. Is he visiting this realm to reunite with his soulmate? Or is he desperately, inexplicably, intoxicatingly drawn to Cary? With his own world in pieces and a dangerously seductive realm promising him a new existence at a heavy cost, August must choose: a life with grief or a love that might destroy him.

The post #ReadwithPride: Find My Way Down To You by Julian Winters appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez

A sunny, emotional new adult (NA) contemporary romance set in small-town Rhode Island with a friends-to-lovers romance, slice-of-life narration, and thoughtful exploration of burnout.

Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen

A sweet, welcoming young adult (YA) contemporary romcom set in Los Angeles that’s a love letter to books, cats, libraries, and Southern California.

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

A thrilling, fierce YA fantasy romance with pirates, enemies-to-lovers tension, and found family.

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

A sexy, compelling contemporary romance with sapphic love, immersive settings, and, of course, flirting lessons.

Furious by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos 

A riveting, achingly beautiful YA contemporary romance infused with sapphic love, found family, and nods to Fast & Furious.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

A playful, uplifting YA medieval rom-com inspired by Arthurian legend, brimming with queer love and witty banter.

If We Never End by Laura Taylor Namey 

A tender, atmospheric YA contemporary romance set in small-town Oregon with mystery, summer adventures, and a paranormal love story.

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

A magical, exhilarating cozy fantasy romance with music, a sea serpent, sweet treats, sailing, and found family.

Seyoon and Dean, Unscripted by Sujin Witherspoon 

A campy, vibrant YA contemporary romance following a wilderness game show with rivals-to-lovers tension and reality TV drama.

Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West

A hilarious, witty contemporary romcom with a fake-dating romance, creative plot, and beautiful exploration of family and friendship.

These Kindred Hearts edited by Shari B. Pennant 

An enchanting, heartfelt YA fantasy romance anthology brimming with pulse-pounding action, touching love stories, diverse characters, and clever magic systems.

The House of Now and Then by Edward Underhill 

A sweeping, tender queer contemporary romance set in a Cape Cod cottage with a magical twist.

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther 

A joyful, vivid YA contemporary romance set at Martha’s Vineyard following a propulsive game of assassin during a summer wedding.

The Summer of Lost Things by Jenn Bennett 

An adventurous, cinematic NA contemporary romance set in small-town Michigan with childhood friends-to-lovers yearning, perfect for fans of National Treasure.

This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede 

An atmospheric, captivating YA fantasy romance set in an Italy-inspired world with a bodyguard romance, hilarious cast, and lethal magic.

Tropesick by Lauren Okie 

A twisty, laugh-out-loud funny contemporary romance with an emotional core that presents fan-favorite romance tropes with heartwarming and heart-wrenching flair.

From small-town adventures to big-city jaunts, harrowing high-seas quests to heartwarming sun-soaked shenanigans, these sixteen captivating romances will bring fun, joy, and love to your summer TBR. Happy reading!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 16 Swoonworthy Summer Romance Reads appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House by Jenny L. Howe, which releases on July 21st 2026.

Amity Callaway is sick of being known as the weird girl. As annoyed as she is that her recently divorced mom just moved them across the country to the tiny, quirky town of Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts, it could be the fresh start she needs.

Until Amity discovers their absolute disaster of a new house is supposedly haunted.

Theo Hargrave, amateur ghost hunter and son of the local general contractor, is a true believer. When he shows up on their property with his EMF reader in hand, Amity is ready to debunk all his theories. She’s definitely not staring at the small scar through his eyebrow or his ridiculously soft lips.

But even Amity can admit their home renovation is doomed. Nothing is going right, from the paint that refuses to dry to the fixtures that keep coming loose. So Amity and Theo strike a deal—his family’s construction expertise for her help investigating the house’s supernatural secrets. Even scarier than ghosts, though? Amity’s growing feelings for Theo.

Loading…

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

The post Read The First Chapter From ‘How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House’ by Jenny L. Howe appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Ruinous Ends by I. V. Marie, which releases on July 14th 2026.

The Decennial is over, but for the students of Blackwood Academy, the fight for the afterlife has just begun.

The infamous school was hiding more secrets—and lies—than any of the Decennial’s participants could have imagined. And there’s still so much that remains buried beneath its ancient foundations. Now the future of the academy, and all the souls within it, rests in the hands of six former pupils:

The charmer and the golden boy . . .
The traitor and the girl desperate to save her . . .
The Chosen One and the one who would choose her over and over again . . .

Any of them could be the hero the afterlife needs . . . or the villain who will destroy it for good. Because the truth is, Blackwood’s biggest secret has yet to come to light—and when it does, it will shake the institution to its core.

1
AUGUST

Augustine Hughes was losing his mind.

Time had become a fickle and unstable thing; it drifted through his fingers like the remnants of a bad dream. There were moments of clarity—­breaths of hope among the rot filling his lungs—­but it was never enough to drag him back to reality. The darkness was too hungry. The poison too thick.

It was almost comical, the absurdity of it all. Losing his mind in the afterlife. He would have thought the worst of his troubles were behind him once he had died. Yet there he was, wandering the outskirts of purgatory, mind fragmented, whispering to the darkness like a madman.

He was mad, wasn’t he?

August laughed and the sound grated against his skin. He was fairly certain he was lying on the dirt floor, though it was impossible to tell. The only thing he was truly certain of was the agony. It filled every crevice of his soul. Every ligament and bone. Every atom of his being.

How long had he been like this?

The last thing he could remember was Wren’s voice dripping into his mind, warm and inviting, and then . . . fury. An anger he had never known possible. Everything blurred after that, twisting together until all semblance of reality had lost its meaning. And now all he knew was this torture . . . this suffering.

Old memories flickered through his vision like a sun-­damaged film reel, vignettes of a life that was no longer his.

August watched as a group of strangers slowly lowered his mother’s body into the ground. Next to him, his sister sobbed. She gripped August’s wrist as though she might float away if she let go. As if he were the only thing tethering her to the earth. Behind them, their father remained silent. He had not wept for his wife, and August was certain he never would.

Why would he?

He was the one who’d killed her, after all.

The memory fluttered away, drifting like morning fog, replaced by another.

“We must do something,” Edith pleaded, red-­rimmed eyes brimming with desperation. They were standing in the garden, hidden beneath the shadows of night. Above them, their father’s study window glowed amber.

“What are you suggesting?” August asked, fearing her answer.

Edith’s gaze drifted to the window, her face torn between sorrow and rage.

“We can make it look like an accident.”

“Edith,” August whispered. “You mustn’t say things like that—­” But his sister interjected, cutting him off.

“Her death was no accident, Augustine. We both know this.” Edith stepped closer, her dark eyes blazing beneath the light of her lantern. “Do you truly believe she simply fell down the stairs? After everything we’ve seen? Everything we’ve heard?”

“How will we be any different if we do to him what he did to her?” August challenged.

“What he did was murder.” The word spoken out loud, with such candor, sent a chill down August’s spine. “This . . . this is vengeance.”

“But . . . what if something happens?” he asked, voice shaking. “What about your soul?”

“My soul?” Edith chuckled, though her smile dropped when she saw the sincerity in her brother’s eyes. “Oh, Augustine. Do not fear for my soul. It is in nobody’s hands but mine.” When August didn’t budge, Edith let out a long and weighted sigh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say these things out loud. I just need some rest.”

August stepped closer, carefully inspecting his sister. “Are you certain?”

“Yes, little brother.” Clearly sensing August’s apprehension, Edith reached out and wrapped him in an embrace, whispering the next words into his ear. “I promise.”

But when she hugged August, he felt her heart hammering in her chest, her pulse beating like the frenetic wings of a hummingbird. And though he could not see his sister’s face . . . he knew exactly what she was staring at.

He knew her eyes were locked on that study window.

August tried desperately to cling to the memory, but it faded before he could watch what happened next, drifting within the invisible current. A new one took its place from one breath to the next.

The one he had tried so desperately to forget.

The door to the kitchen was ajar. August took a step inside, peering around the corner. His sister didn’t notice him at first, her lips lifted into a serene and placid smile as she poured a cup of tea. When he stepped forward, the old wood creaked beneath his weight and his sister’s head snapped up in surprise.

“Augustine. I thought you were asleep.”

“I was.” He approached the counter, rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes. “But I heard you down here.”

“Go back to bed.” Edith set the teacup on a tray, stirring the liquid inside with a silver spoon. “Father is in one of his moods. It is best you stay in your room and out of his way.”

“Is that for him?”

“Chamomile tea with a splash of rye and valerian.” She winked, stepping around the counter. “I am hopeful it will be enough to calm his nerves and send him to sleep.”

“Let me come with you—­”

“No,” Edith interjected, pausing beneath the doorway. “If he lashes out, I’d rather it be me than you.” She offered him an apologetic smile. “Please, Augustine. Just go to bed.”

August conceded with a nod and watched as Edith made her way upstairs, her footsteps receding. He was moments away from walking back to his bedroom when he noticed the empty glass vial on the counter.

He picked it up, lifting it toward one of the iron sconces lining the walls. The label had been partially scratched off, but he could just make out the writing. Squinting, he read what was written upon the vial.

Arsenic.

And Edith had poured the entire bottle into their father’s tea.

August scrambled out of the kitchen, running up the stairs so fast he nearly slipped, barely catching himself on the railing. He gasped, picking up his pace, panic clouding his judgment. And before he could stop himself, before he could even decipher what he was about to do, he stumbled into his father’s study.

Edith stood next to their father, a hand on his shoulder. He had lifted the teacup to his lips and begun to take a sip when August first stepped into the room. Upon seeing August, their father froze, the edge of the teacup pressed against his mouth.

“Augustine . . .” Edith’s face contorted in confusion. “I thought I said to—­” Her voice caught in her throat when she noticed the glass vial in her brother’s hand. She tried to hide her reaction, quickly averting her gaze, but it was too late.

Their father had noticed.

“Come here,” he instructed, motioning August forward. “Hand me that.”

What happened next, August couldn’t quite remember. The memory sped up and slowed down, warping like a fun-­house mirror. The scene jolted, staccato, each moment flashing from one heartbeat to the next.

His father realizing what had been poured into his tea.

His hands gripping Edith’s neck.

August slamming his fists against their father’s back.

The unfathomable pain as his father threw him to the floor and snapped his leg in half.

Edith removing the knife in her waistcoat and plunging it into their father’s back.

Their father screaming like a wild animal as he ripped the knife out.

The look on Edith’s face when her own father brought the same knife down upon her.

In that moment, the memory came rushing back in with unwavering clarity. The knife had sliced clean through Edith’s abdomen. She fell to the floor, hands clutching her stomach, blood seeping through her fingers. August’s reaction was instinctual. Primal. He tackled his father, pushing him onto his desk, sending a candle tumbling to the floor.

The curtain closest to the desk caught fire. The flames ate away at the fabric, inch by inch. Beneath August, his father had hardened into stone. Mouth agape. Eyes wide.

August pushed himself away from his father, collapsing as the pain from his leg took hold. Next to him on the floor, Edith lay motionless, her vacant eyes staring up at the ceiling, the ghost of a smile on her lips. August dragged himself toward her, screaming out in agony as his broken leg arched unnaturally behind him. Around him, the fire grew. It devoured everything in its path—­the bookcases, the piles of notebooks, the old wallpaper.

Black smoke rushed into August’s lungs. He coughed, sputtering, choking helplessly.

There were two options. Two conclusions to his story. He could attempt to pull himself out of the study, to somehow drag himself down the stairs and out of the house. Or . . . he could stay there. He could end their story, once and for all, and burn.

The decision, however, was never truly his to make.

It was in that moment that a dizziness came over him. Whether it was from shock or his wound, he didn’t know. All he knew was that he was unable to move. His head slammed against the floorboards, as though he had been knocked to the floor by an invisible weight.

Smoke clouded his vision. Through the haze, he swore he saw someone standing on the other side of the room . . . watching. But before he could properly understand what he was looking at, the flames swallowed him whole.

And then . . . darkness.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Ruinous Ends’ by I. V. Marie appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’ve yet to pick up a book by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, you are missing out. So far all of her work has featured well-constructed plots, superb characterisation and twists that will leave you reeling. She is a phenomenal author and I will continue to read the stories she decides to tell. The Heirs is an excellent addition to that list. It takes the twisted genius of

The Umbrella Academy and adds the tightly plotted murder mystery of And Then There Were None. The concept is intriguing and incredible, and what Faridah turns it into is astonishing.

The Heirs is twisty, compelling and explores this world in fascinating ways. I read this book in public and had to stop myself from audibly gasping at some of the twists. Time seemed to just slip away as I was utterly lost in the story of The Buttons and this fiendish mystery that plagued them all. For me, that is the mark of a truly great book, where you can escape reality for a while and completely lose yourself in a story. It’s a layered story that you won’t be able to put down.

Each of the siblings feels three-dimensional and I enjoyed following their narration as we got to learn more about them. All of them are hiding secrets, even from the reader at times. I liked how easily things shifted and dynamics were suddenly altered as you revisited events from a new perspective. They all have their defining gift and react to their upbringing in vastly different ways. This event forces them all back together again, which reignites old tensions and passions in equal measure. Every voice felt distinctive and I was impressed at the way Àbíké-Íyímídé was balancing all of their stories and competing timelines. The narrative structure of this book is astoundingly complex and truly a puzzle box. Once you find your way through the maze of the plot, the treasure is well worth the journey. The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of rabbit holes to lose yourself in and the twists are excellent as always. Ensure you keep your eyes peeled throughout though as Àbíké-Íyímídé keeps you guessing until the very end. This is a story that pays attention to detail and rewards any reader that does the same.

There is a lot to explore here around the concept of genius and the conditions which allow it to thrive. This social experiment has defined the lives of these children for better or worse and I enjoyed the way in which we see the ramifications of this play out. The use of multiple narrators allows us to see everyone’s perspective and gradually get a sense of the wider picture at play. There are plenty of secrets and lies to unpack and some messy dynamics to untangle. We move between the present investigation and the fateful time before to truly see the details and the domino effect of these events that ends in death. It keeps you on tenterhooks, racing through the pages to uncover just whodunnit and why. This is sharp and clever writing that keeps you engaged. It strikes a perfect balance between pacing and characterisation, giving you enough of each person to dig into who they are beyond their public facade. Each of them has shouldered the immense weight of these expectations and the perfection they are supposed to deliver. Their lives have been used as a game and now they are pawns in a new and deadly one.

The Heirs is a stellar work from a powerhouse YA author. Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to the twisted mystery within these pages.

The Heirs is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

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

Synopsis

From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder—perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games, Umbrella Academy, and Knives Out!

Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…

Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.

These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father’s impossibly high standards.

Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.

Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren’t the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies…

The post Review: The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Weight of One Pomegranate by Brynne Rebele-Henry, which is out now.

A discovery of authentic self and sapphic love—perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Lily Braun-Arnold.

Seventeen-year-old Isadora is reeling after the sudden loss of her older sister, Eleni, to a pulmonary embolism. Her grieving parents can’t offer much support—her only reprieve is her close friend Ani, but lately the intensity of her feelings for Ani have been more confusing than comforting. Then Isadora discovers secret letters in Eleni’s belongings that suggest her artist sister was hiding more from her family than Isadora ever expected.

Isadora travels to her uncle’s apartment in New York City, where Eleni lived, determined to unravel the threads of her sister’s life. As she searches for clues, Isadora embraces her own sexuality and begins to fall in love. But can she learn to live when Eleni will never have the same chance?

Heartbreaking and healing, this gut punch of a novel is an essential read for anyone who’s ever lost—and loved.

Loading…

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘The Weight of One Pomegranate’ by Brynne Rebele-Henry appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and the first two chapters from Eternally Yours by Anika Hussain, which releases on July 16th 2026.

They broke each other’s hearts. Now they’re working side by side to fix everyone else’s.

Poppy isn’t looking for love – she’s looking for a way to get her mum on the client list of Eternally Yours, the most exclusive matchmaking agency in town. So when she lands a summer job there, she’s ready to fake her passion for romance and keep her head down.

Except her ex-boyfriend Salman is also working there. And he somehow still knows exactly how to make her laugh when she’s trying to hate him.

As they’re forced to plan dates for other people, Poppy and Salman find themselves revisiting their own history – and maybe rewriting it. But will they be able to find their way back to each other for good?

Loading…

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

The post Read The First Two Chapters From ‘Eternally Yours’ by Anika Hussain appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd, which releases on July 7th 2026.

Can Sally save Jack from the shadows?

Sally should be at ease now that she has proven herself as Pumpkin Queen by saving Halloween Town from destructive spells twice. But the villain behind the town’s most recent troubles—a mysterious figure cloaked in darkness—is still at large, and Sally refuses to rest until she and her king, Jack Skellington, can find their enemy and stop them forever.

Then, strange storm clouds and directionless wind begin to haunt Halloween Town, and soon, citizens start to go missing. It becomes clear that the dark foe has decided to make the first move, and Sally will need allies from across the Hinterlands to stop him. But as Sally and Jack gather their friends to fight back against this attack, the unthinkable happens: the mysterious force takes Jack, too.

After learning that her nemesis is a dark prince who lives in a lost realm called Shadow Town, Sally embarks on another cross-realms quest to find a solution, one that will connect her to new locales like Chance Town and the Hinterlands Maze. With the prince tracking her at every turn, seemingly bent on revenge, Sally will need to fight with every fiber of her being to prevent Halloween Town from utter destruction. But what secrets is the prince hiding—and could the truth undo everything?

And . . . I’m suddenly gone. My reflection is now replaced by a shadow-drenched specter of myself. Everything around me is coal dark. I can’t see more than a few inches. Can’t breathe. I don’t know if I’m seeing a waking nightmare or a vision of the future or a slip of a memory. A whimper escapes my lips. My heart thrashes behind my ribs. I’m trapped in complete dark. Closed in. Claustrophobia burning through my veins until it erupts in a scream . . .

A shriek snakes out of my throat, and the mirror’s silver handle slips from my grasp. I’m back in Town Hall. Not trapped at all. Before I can grab it, the Mirror of Reverie hits the sharp table corner.

The clatter of broken glass rings against my cloth ears.

“The mirror!” The witch gives a garbled gasp. The Mayor’s face spins like a top. Jack jumps up, striding to my side, more concerned for me than the priceless treasure.

“Dear Sally,” he says, “did you cut yourself?”

I shake my head numbly, dropping to my knees to cradle the precious artifact in the basket of my arms, but it’s too late. A broken shard the size of my palm rests on the pumpkin-orange rug.

“I’m okay,” I whisper, my voice sounding distant. “But the mirror is broken.”

Jack helps me to my feet, cupping his smooth palm around my pale cheek. “Why, I’m sure it can be mended. Out of dozens of realms, someone must know a good glassworker.”

I gaze up at him, wanting to trust in the easy confidence in his smile. I wish my worst worry was a mirror in need of mending. Or a holiday that’s grown too tame. But I can’t shake the feeling that, somewhere beyond the borders of my town, something far more fragile than glass has shattered.

Copyright (C) 2026 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Random House/ Disney, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen’ by Megan Shepherd appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Where Lost Girls Go by Kody Keplinger, which releases on July 7th 2026.

There are many reasons why five girls have ended up living with Sol in a cabin in the Kentucky mountains. But the girls don’t talk about what has brought them each here or who they were before. They have become sisters and are grateful to have a place to call home.

Iris knows she owes everything to Sol. He has promised to keep them safe from their pasts. All he asks in return is for their loyalty, which Iris freely gives. With her sisters and Sol as her family, she feels happier than she has in a long time.

Until a new girl arrives and everything changes.

Sol christens her Rose and the sisters are quick to welcome her. Iris is drawn to Rose, but as they grow closer, Rose has Iris questioning things about this life in the woods. When Sol notices, he challenges Iris to prove her commitment to their family. Her sisters tell her that she should be willing to do anything for the man who saved her. But with each new ask, Iris realizes there is more to Sol―and her sisters―than she knows and some secrets should stay buried deep.

New York Times bestselling author Kody Keplinger weaves a stunning story about girlhood, power, and desperation that asks just how far we’ll go to save ourselves―and those we love.

Loading…

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Where Lost Girls Go’ by Kody Keplinger appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Blood of Gods and Girls, which releases on July 2nd 2026.

When she bleeds, the Kingdom falls.

At five years old, Nisha was selected to be the Mortal Goddess – a vessel for the great Goddess Shantavi. But on her twelfth birthday, Nisha escaped the temple before she could be sacrificed at the hands of the Immortal King.

Now the Kingdom searches for its new Mortal Goddess and their eye has fallen on Ratna, the only family Nisha has left.

Helped by a Golden Eagle Warrior and the only boy she has ever loved, Nisha must learn to embrace her power in order to liberate her people.

It’s time to take the Kingdom back.

Loading…

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Blood of Gods and Girls’ by K. L. Kaine appeared first on The Nerd Daily.