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Cozy Up With These Friends to Lovers Books

12/12/2022

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In a world of tropes, friends-to-lovers is the sweetest, the coziest, the most fulfilling – so why not curl up with these heartwarming friends-to-lovers debuts this holiday season?
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​DRIZZLE, DREAMS, AND LOVESTRUCK THINGS by Maya Prasad, out now from Disney-Hyperion 
The Singh sisters grew up helping their father navigate the bustle of the Songbird Inn. Nestled on dreamy and drizzly Orcas Island in the Pacific Northwest, the inn's always been warm and cozy and filled with interesting guests—the perfect home. But things are about to heat up now that the Songbird has been named the Most Romantic Inn in America. Nidhi has everything planned out—until a storm brings a wayward tree crashing into her life one autumn . . . and along with it, an intriguing construction worker and a yearning for her motherland. Suddenly, she's questioning everything she thought she wanted. Avani can't sit still. If she does, her grief for Pop, their dad's late husband, will overwhelm her. So she keeps moving as much as she can, planning an elaborate Winter Ball in Pop's memory. Until a blizzard traps her in a barn with the boy she accidentally stood up and has been actively avoiding ever since. Sirisha loves seeing the world through her camera, but her shyness prevents her from stepping out from behind the lens. Talking to girls is such a struggle! When a pretty actress comes to the Songbird with her theater troupe, spring has sprung for Sirisha—if only she can find the words. Rani is a hopeless romantic through and through. After gently nudging her sisters to open their hearts, she is convinced it's finally her turn to find love. When two potential suitors float in on a summer breeze, Rani is swept up in grandeur to match her wildest Bollywood dreams. But which boy is the one she's meant to be with? Ultimately, the magic of the Songbird Inn leads the tight-knit Singh sisters to new passions and breathtaking kisses—and to unearth the truest versions of themselves. 
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JAGUARS AND OTHER GAME by Brynn Barineau, out now from Orange Blossom Publishing 
1808 Rio de Janeiro. The Portuguese Court flees Napoleon to Brazil. For the first and only time in history, a European royal family transfers its capital to an American colony. Maria Azevedo has spent years transporting gold through the jungle to Rio’s port. Together with her childhood friend, Mateus, she runs a mule train, dispatching jaguars and smugglers with a crack of her whip. With an iron grip on her team and her feelings, she’s never lost a man on the trail, but the Prince Regent’s efforts to civilize the city have her looking over her shoulder. More soldiers. New laws. Full stocks. Then Mateus is wrongly imprisoned for murder. Maria knows the only hope a Brazilian has for justice in the Court’s Rio is if someone drops the real murderer on the palace steps. With his execution date set, Maria recruits her sister and a friend in service to Mad Queen Maria. Together they begin hunting a murderer through a city teeming with corruption. The women soon uncover a conspiracy that reaches the heart of the Portuguese court. To save Mateus from execution, Maria will have to decide what she’s willing to risk for justice and, possibly, love. 
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BAD GIRLS DRINK BLOOD by SL Choi, out now from City Owl Press 
There is only one hybrid fae in existence, and that dishonor goes to Lane Callaghan. After a life spent dodging slurs, threats, and assassination attempts, Lane gave her past the one finger salute and ditched her former fae home for good. The detective agency she and her sisters run on the edge of Las Vegas continues to limp along, with Lane doing more debt collecting and intimidating than investigating, but anything to pay the bills. Between working for low-lifes to bring down even lower-lifes, eating cheesy poofs by the bucket, and flirting with the criminally attractive bartender where she conducts business, life is good. That ends when a routine job goes sideways, leaving Lane with a sack full of stolen sun shards—the source of sun fae power. Without the shards, the sun fae face giving up their magic completely, or risk death if they use their power. Considering they would rather see her dead, good riddance, as far as Lane’s concerned—except her father and adopted sister are sun fae. Lane must choose—return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her, or let them burn.
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THE LOVE MATCH by Priyanka Taslim, coming January 2023 from Simon & Schuster/Salaam Reads 
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Zahra Khan is basically Bangladeshi royalty, but being a princess doesn’t pay the bills in Paterson, New Jersey. While Zahra’s plans for financial security involve working long hours at Chai Ho and saving up to study writing in college, Amma is convinced that all Zahra needs is a “good match,” Jane Austen-style. Enter Harun Emon, who’s wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and…aloof. As soon as Zahra meets Harun’s stuck-up gaze, she knows it’s a bad match. It’s nothing like the connection she has with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the tea shop, who just gets Zahra in a way no one has before. So when Zahra finds out that Harun is just as uninterested in this match as she is, they devise a plan to slowly sabotage their parents’ scheme over the course of the summer. And for once in Zahra’s life, she can have her rossomalai and eat it too: develop real feelings for Nayim while “dating” Harun and keeping Amma happy. But love—and boys—are more complicated in real life than the stories Zahra writes. With the end of the summer looming, and her feelings growing more and more tangled, what was meant to be a simple scheme could cost Zahra’s dreams and her family’s future—or leave her with a broken heart. Sometimes, being a good Bengali kid can be a royal pain. 

Curated by Liz Bowery
Posted by Emi Watanabe Cohen
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10 Middle Grade Books with LGBTQ+ Rep

10/24/2022

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Check out these 10 middle grade books with LGTBQ+ rep! From STEM elements to mythology to mystery, there's something for every young reader.
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Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms by Jamar J. Perry
(2/1/2022 from Bloomsbury)
Cameron Battle grew up reading The Book of Chidani, cherishing stories about the fabled kingdom that cut itself off from the world to save the Igbo people from danger. Passed down over generations, the Book is Cameron’s only connection to his parents who disappeared one fateful night, two years ago. Ever since, his grandmother has kept the Book locked away, but it calls to Cameron. When he and his best friends, Zion and Aliyah, decide to open it again, they are magically transported to Chidani. Instead of a land of beauty and wonder, they find a kingdom in extreme danger, as the queen’s sister seeks to destroy the barrier between worlds. The people of Chidani have been waiting for the last Descendant to return and save them . . . is Cameron ready to be the hero they need?

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Drew Leclair Gets a Clue by Katryn Bury
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3/1/2022 from HarperCollins/Clarion)
In this modern take on Harriet the Spy, twelve-year-old Drew uses her true crime expertise to catch the cyberbully in her school—only to discover that family, friendship, and identity are the hardest mysteries to solve.
​Drew Leclair knows what it takes to be a great detective. She’s pored over the cases solved by her hero, criminal profiler Lita Miyamoto. She tracked down the graffiti artist at school, and even solved the mystery of her neighbor’s missing rabbit. But when her mother runs off to Hawaii with the school guidance counselor, Drew is shocked. How did she miss all of the clues? Drew is determined to keep her family life a secret, even from her best friend. But when a cyberbully starts posting embarrassing rumors about other students at school, it’s only a matter of time before Drew’s secret is out. Armed with her notebooks full of observations about her classmates, Drew knows what she has to do: profile all of the bullies in her grade to find the culprit. But being a detective is more complicated when the suspects can be your friends. Will Drew crack the case if it means losing the people she cares about most?

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The Best Liars in Riverview by Lin Thompson
(3/8/2022 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
In the woods of a small Kentucky town, Aubrey sets off on a journey about growing up, self-discovery, and acceptance while searching for their missing best friend—perfect for fans of King and the Dragonflies and Three Times Lucky.
​Aubrey and Joel are like two tomato vines that grew along the same crooked fence—weird, yet the same kind of weird. But lately, even their shared weirdness seems weird. Then Joel disappears. Vanishes. Poof. The whole town is looking for him, and Aubrey was the last person to see Joel. Aubrey can’t say much, but since lies of omission are still lies, here’s what they know for sure: For the last two weeks of the school year, when sixth grade became too much, Aubrey and Joel have been building a raft in the woods. The raft was supposed to be just another part of their running away game. The raft is gone now too. Aubrey doesn’t know where Joel is, but they might know how to find him. As Aubrey, their friend Mari, and sister Teagan search along the river, Aubrey has to fess up to who they really are, all the things they never said, and the word that bully Rudy Thomas used that set all this into motion.

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The Real Riley Mayes by Rachel Elliott
(5/3/2022 from HarperCollins/Balzer and Bray/Harper Alley)
Fifth grade is just not Riley’s vibe. Everyone else is squaded up—except Riley. Her best friend moved away. All she wants to do is draw, and her grades show it. One thing that makes her happy is her favorite comedian, Joy Powers. Riley loves to watch her old shows and has memorized her best jokes. So when the class is assigned to write letters to people they admire, of course Riley’s picking Joy Powers! Things start to look up when a classmate, Cate, offers to help Riley with the letter, and a new kid, Aaron, actually seems to get her weird sense of humor. But when mean girl Whitney spreads a rumor about her, things begin to click into place for Riley. Her curiosity about Aaron’s two dads and her celebrity crush on Joy Powers suddenly make more sense.

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The Civil War of Amos Abernathy by Michael Leali
(6/7/2022 from HarperCollins)
A heartfelt debut novel about a boy’s attempt to find himself in the history he loves—perfect for fans of Dear Sweet Pea and From the Desk of Zoe Washington.
Amos Abernathy lives for history. Literally. He’s been a historical reenactor nearly all his life. But when a cute new volunteer arrives at his Living History Park, Amos finds himself wondering if there’s something missing from history: someone like the two of them. Amos is sure there must have been LGBTQ+ people in nineteenth-century Illinois. His search turns up Albert D. J. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who might have identified as a trans man if he’d lived today. Soon Amos starts confiding in his newfound friend by writing letters in his journal—and hatches a plan to share Albert’s story with his divided twenty-first century town. It may be an uphill battle, but it’s one that Amos is ready to fight. Told in an earnest, hilarious voice, this love letter to history, first crushes, and LGBTQ+ community will delight readers of Ashley Herring Blake, Alex Gino, or Maulik Pancholy.

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Repairing the World by Linda Epstein
(7/5/2022 from Aladdin/S&S)
A young girl grapples with her grief over a tragic loss with the help of a new perspective from Hebrew school and supportive new friends in this heartfelt middle grade novel about learning to look forward.
​Twelve-year-old Daisy and Ruby are totally inseparable. They’ve grown up together, and Daisy has always counted on having Ruby there to pave the way, encourage her to try new things, and to see the magic in the world. Then Ruby is killed in a tragic accident while on vacation, and Daisy’s life is shattered. Now Daisy finds herself having to face the big things in her life—like starting middle school and becoming a big sister—without her best friend. It’s hard when you feel sad all the time. But thanks to new friends, new insights, and supportive family members, Daisy is able to see what life after Ruby can look like. And as she reaches beyond that to help repair the world around her, she is reminded that friendship is eternal, and that magic can be found in the presence of anyone who chooses to embrace it.

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Grounded For All Eternity by Darcy Marks
(7/26/2022 from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin)
A group of kids from hell come to Earth on one of the craziest nights of the year—Halloween—in this snarky, witty middle grade adventure about teamwork, friendship, shattering expectations, and understanding the world (or otherworld) around us.
​Mal and his friends are just your regular average kids from hell. The suburbs that is, not the fiery pit part. But when Hell’s Bells ring out—signaling that a soul has escaped from one of the eternal circles, Mal and his friends can’t help but take the opportunity for a little adventure. Before they know it, they’ve somehow slipped through the veil and found themselves in the middle of Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. And what’s even worse, they’ve managed to bring the escaped soul with them! As the essence of one of history’s greatest manipulators gains power by shifting the balance on Earth, Mal and his squad-mates—along with some new friends that they meet along the way—work desperately to trap the escapee, save the people of Earth from the forces of evil, and find the portal back to their own dimension. If they can’t manage it before their parents realize they’re gone, they’ll be grounded for an eternity. And an eternity in hell is a very, very long time.

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The Trouble with Robots by Michelle Mohrweis
(9/27/2022 from Peachtree)
Evelyn strives for excellence. Allie couldn’t care less. These polar opposites must work together if they have any hope of saving their school’s robotics program. An excellent pick for STEAM enthusiasts, this earnestly told narrative features a dual point of view and casually explores Autistic and LGBTQ+ identities.


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Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Horne
(10/18/2022 from HarperCollins/ Clarion)
A funny, feminist, and queer contemporary middle grade debut that follows twelve-year-old loner Hazel Hill, who, after one of her classmates is harassed online, devises a plan to catch the school’s golden boy in the act.
Seventh-grader Hazel Hill is too busy for friends. No, really. She needs to focus on beating her nemesis, the gorgeous and smart Ella Quinn, in order to win the school-wide speech competition after last year’s embarrassing hyperbole/hyperbowl mishap that cost her first place. But when Hazel discovers Ella is being harassed by popular golden boy, Tyler Harris, she has to choose between winning and doing the right thing. No one would believe that a nice boy like Tyler would harass and intimidate a nice girl like Ella, but Hazel knows the truth—and she’s determined to prove it. In this deeply relatable, surprisingly humorous, and wonderfully empowering middle grade about friendship, finding your voice, and standing up for what you believe in, sometimes you have to lose in order to win.

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Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
(11/1/2022 from Penguin Random House/Labyrinth Road)
In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight battles for the heart of their kingdom. A thrilling middle-grade series opener that explores identity and gender amid sword fights and magic, and proves anyone can be a hero.
When their ex-hero dad is summoned back to the royal capital of Helston to train a hopeless crown prince, Callie lunges at the opportunity to finally prove themself worthy to the kingdom’s “great and powerful.” Except the intolerant great and powerful look at nonbinary Callie and only see girl. But Callie has always known exactly what they want to be, and they’re not about to let anything stand in their way. Trapped in Helston’s rigid hierarchy where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, Callie discovers they aren’t alone—there’s Elowen, the chancellor’s brilliant daughter, whose unparalleled power is being stifled; Edwyn, Elowen’s twin brother desperate to win his father’s approval; and Willow, the crown prince who was never meant to be king. In this start to an epic series packed with action, humor, and heart, Callie and their new friends quickly find themselves embedded in an ancient war—and their only hope to defeat the threats outside the kingdom lies in first defeating the bigotry within.

List curated by Michelle Mohrweis and Tracy Badua.
​Posted by Sarah Priscus.

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Unicorns, Mermaids, and Dragons, Oh My! 12 new novels about magical creatures

5/8/2022

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From gods and monsters to fairies and forest spirits, these debut novels bring magical creatures to life.
SIRENS AND SEASCAPES
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MONSTERS BORN AND MADE by Tanvi Berwah from Sourcebooks/Fire on September 6, 2022 
​In an oceanic world swarming with vicious beasts, the Landers―the ruling elite— have indentured Koral's family to provide the maristags for the Glory Race, a deadly chariot tournament reserved for the upper class. The winning contender receives gold and glory. The others, if they're lucky, survive. When the last maristag of the year escapes and Koral has no new maristag to sell, her family's financial situation takes a turn for the worse and they can't afford medicine for her chronically ill little sister. Koral's only choice is to do what no one in the world has ever dared: cheat her way into the Glory Race. This epic South Asian-inspired fantasy will leave you breathless until the very last page.

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SECOND STAR TO THE LEFT by Megan Van Dyke now available from City Owl Press 
​ Banished for doing the unthinkable, selling the hottest drug in Neverland—pixie dust, Tinker Bell wants absolution. Determined to find a way home, Tink doesn’t hesitate to follow the one lead she has, even if that means seducing a filthy pirate to steal precious gems out from under his…hook. Captain Hook believes he’s found a real treasure in Tink. That is, until he recovers from her pixie dust laced kiss with a curse that turns the seas against him. With his ship and reputation at the mercy of raging storms, he tracks down the little minx and demands she remove the curse. Too bad she can’t.

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A COMB OF WISHES by Lisa Stringfellow now available from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books 
 Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia. Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price… Lisa Stringfellow’s mesmerizing MG novel is set against the backdrop of Caribbean culture and folklore, telling a story of impossible wishes, magic, and of course… mermaids!

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A SONG OF SILVER AND GOLD by Melissa Karibian from Hansen House on June 15, 2022   
​ A princess disguises herself as a pirate captain to avenge the death of her brother and eradicate the sirens that plague their waters. A siren warrior, banished for the death of her princess, becomes human with the help of a sea witch so she can bring the princess back to life. The main ingredient for the resurrection spell? The heart of the pirate captain. But the two never expect to fall for each other. A SONG OF SILVER AND GOLD is a young adult, sapphic, fantasy retelling of “The Little Mermaid.” (Seriously, sign me up!)

DRAGONS & UNICORNS
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SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF by A.F. Steadman now available from Simon & Schuster 
​Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider, and the time has finally come for him to take his Hatchery Exam, which will determine whether he is destined to hatch a unicorn egg. But when Skandar is stopped from taking the exam, and the mysterious and frightening Weaver steals the most powerful unicorn in the world, becoming a rider proves a lot more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. As he faces elemental magic, fierce sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and, of course, bloodthirsty unicorns, Skandar is forced to question whether he’s meant to be the hero…or the villain. (Curating this list left me wondering… why aren’t there more books about unicorns??? Thank you A.F. Steadman, I’m looking forward to reading this one!)

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THE LOST RYŪ by Emi Watanabe Cohen from Levine Querido on June 7, 2022   
​Kohei Fujiwara has never seen a big ryū (Japanese dragon) in real life. Those all disappeared from Japan after World War II, and twenty years later, they’ve become the stuff of legend. Their smaller cousins, who are small enough to fit in your palm, are all that remain. 

 Still, Kohei is determined to bring the big ryū back. With the help of Isolde, his new half-Jewish, half-Japanese neighbor, and her Yiddish speaking dragon, Kohei embarks on a journey to the underwater dragon palace, Ryūgū-jō. There, he uncovers not only the dark truth behind the ryū’s disappearance, but the secrets his own family has kept to ensure his safety. 

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LIA PARK AND THE MISSING JEWEL by Jenna Yoon now available from Aladdin/S&S   
​When twelve-year-old Lia’s secret agent parents are kidnapped by an ancient diviner spirit, Lia and her friend Joon must follow a series mysterious clues to rescue them. Their journey takes them to Lia’s grandmother’s home in Korea, and eventually to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King. (This book is like Spy Kids with dragons and Korean art history, and I cannot recommend it enough!)

GHOSTS & SPIRITS
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NURA AND THE IMMORTAL PALACE by M.T. Khan from Little, Brown Books on July 5, 2022 
  Pakistani twelve-year-old Nura works as a mica miner to help her sweatshop worker mother. But when the mines collapse and her best friend is ruled dead, Nura digs deeper to find a portal world of jinn, and that the kids aren’t dead—they’ve been stolen. This beautiful MG fantasy novel is set in a rural Pakistani town and explores Pakistani culture, the cycle of child labor, and a glance into Islam.

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RAVENFALL by Kalyn Josephson from Delacorte PRH on August 30, 2022   
​Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family’s standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it’s hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death. When fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects… (This book features both Celtic and Jewish folklore, and it’s a perfect spooky read for MG mystery lovers!)

GODS & MONSTERS
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FRANCES AND THE MONSTER by Refe Tuma from HarperCollins on August 23, 2022   
​When Frances is left home yet again with only an infuriatingly clever robot named Hobbes for company, she enters her parents’ off-limits laboratory, determined to claim her freedom and prove her scientific mettle. Instead, she accidentally awakens her great-grandfather’s secret and most terrible invention—an enormous monster who breaks out of the manor and disappears into the city below. With her pet chimp, Fritz, and a reluctant Hobbes by her side, Frances sets off to find the monster, facing a persistent constable, angry locals, and an unexpected friendship along the way. But with the trail going cold and the monster nowhere in sight, Frances is running out of time before her future science career, and the town itself, are doomed forever. (Frankenstein retelling? Girls in STEM? This book has it all!)


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GAME OF STRENGTH AND STORM by Rachel Menard from Flux on June 7, 2022  
​A gender-bent Hercules retelling set in the fictional island kingdom of Olympia. 17-year-old Gen has to complete the better half of 10 near-impossible labors before the storm-wielding Castor in order to save her father from prison. (I just realized I read a very early version of this back in 2019 and I absolutely ADORED it. Can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy!)

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THE LAST FEATHER by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou from Flame Tree Press on July 19, 2022   
​Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever.

Curated by: Emi Watanabe Cohen
Post by: Erin La Rosa
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15 Asian Authors to Celebrate

5/1/2022

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May is a month for celebrating Asian heritage and descent, so here are some 2022 debut authors to celebrate!​
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The Circus Infinite by Khan Wong from Angry Robot Books on March 8, 2022 
​Hunted by those who want to study his gravity powers, Jes makes his way to the galaxy's infamous pleasure moon. But it doesn’t take long for him to catch the attention of the crime boss who owns the resort-casino where he lands a circus job, and finds himself faced with a choice: he makes an offer: do anything and everything asked of him, or face vivisection.  

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A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin from Feiwel & Friends on March 29, 2022 
When Ning accidentally poisons her mother, she enters a competition to save her sister from the same fate. But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.

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Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li from Tiny Rep Books/Dutton/PRH on April 5, 2022 
Ocean's Eleven meets The Farewell in Portrait of a Thief, a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums; about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity.  

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Freddie vs. the Family Curse by Tracy Badua from Clarion on May 3, 2022 
In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations. . . or be trapped in an amulet forever.  

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Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon from Aladdin / Simon & Schuster on May 3, 2022 
Perfect for fans of the Storm Runner and Aru Shah series, this thrilling middle grade fantasy follows a young girl who must venture to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King in Korea to save her parents from an evil diviner spirit. 

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Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu from Razorbill/PRH on June 21, 2022
Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu’s mission to save herself—and her friends—from a dangerous plot to control their minds.  

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Boys I Know by Anna Gracia from Peachtree Publishing/Peachtree Teen​ on July 5, 2022
A high school senior navigates messy boys and messier relationships in this bitingly funny and much-needed look into the overlap of Asian American identity and teen sexuality. 

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The Sleepless by Victor Manibo from Erewhon Books on August 2, 2022
In a near-future New York City where a minority of the population has lost the need for sleep, a journalist fights to uncover the truth behind his boss’s murder on the eve of a sinister corporate takeover—while his own Sleeplessness spirals out of control.  

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The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia from Tachyon Publication on August 9, 2022
In this intricately layered debut fantasy, a nonbinary refugee practitioner of blood magic discovers a strange disease causing political rifts in their new homeland. This moving, nuanced exploration of immigration, gender, healing, and family hearkens to fantasy classics such as the Broken Earth Trilogy, The Four Profound Weaves, and Who Fears Death.  

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Monsters Born and Made by Tanvi Berwah from Sourcebooks Fire on September 6, 2022 
"She grew up battling the monsters that live in the black seas, but it couldn't prepare her to face the cunning cruelty of the ruling elite. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Fable, this South Asian-inspired fantasy is a gripping debut about the power of the elite, the price of glory, and one girl's chance to change it all."  

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Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije from HarperCollins on October 4, 2022
Twelve-year-old Shad Hadid is an aspiring baker who’s life is uprooted when he discovers he’s descended from a long line of alchemists and sent to the mysterious Alexandria Academy. Only, his arrival at the school awakens a nefarious force long lurking in the shadows, and he’ll soon learn he holds the key to either stopping—or unleashing—their evil plot.  

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If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang from Inkyard/HarperCollins on October 11, 2022
In this genre-bending YA debut, a Chinese American girl monetizes her strange new invisibility powers by discovering and selling her wealthy classmates' most scandalous secrets.  

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The Blue Bar by Damyanti Biswas from Thomas & Mercer on October 25, 2022 
On the dark streets of Mumbai, the paths of a missing dancer, a serial killer, and an inspector with a haunted past converge in an evocative thriller about lost love and murderous obsession.

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Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer from Wednesday/Macmillian on November 1, 2022 
Told with biting insight and fierce humor, Susan Azim Boyer's Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, a budding romance, friendship, family, and her future, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance.  

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The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim from Simon & Schuster Children's UK on January 3, 2023 
For fans of Sandhya Menon, Gloria Chao, and Jenny Han, THE LOVE MATCH is a young adult romantic comedy starring Zahra Khan, a Bangladeshi-American teenager who has to deal with growing feelings for two very different boys after her meddling widow mother decides to play matchmaker.  

For more information on May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States, visit https://asianpacificheritage.gov/
Curated by: Tracy Badua
Posted by: ​Erin La Rosa
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15 New Novels About Family Secrets

4/24/2022

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All families are complicated, but some are more complicated than others. And some have witches, secret agents, and aliens in their ranks. Here’s a selection of 15 new #22Debuts about complex families and the secrets they keep.
THE TURNING POINTE by Vanessa Torres (Now Available from Knopf Books for Young Readers) 
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When sixteen-year-old Rosa Dominguez pirouettes, she is poetry in pointe shoes. And as the daughter of a tyrant ballet Master, Rosa seems destined to become the star principal dancer of her studio. But Rosa would do anything for one hour in the dance studio upstairs where Prince, the Purple One himself, is in the house. After her father announces their upcoming auditions for a concert with Prince, Rosa is more determined than ever to succeed. Then Nikki--the cross-dressing, funky boy who works in the dance shop--leaps into her life. Weighed down by family expectations, Rosa is at a crossroads, desperate to escape so she can show everyone what she can do when freed of her pointe shoes. Now is her chance to break away from a life in tulle, grooving to that unmistakable Minneapolis sound reverberating through every bone in her body.

THE HITMAN’S DAUGHTER by Carolyne Topdjian (Now Available from Agora/Polis Books)
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The Château du Ciel was once the destination for the rich and famous to play, drink and ski—complete with a luxurious railway to shuttle those desiring extra privacy. Now, however, the guests are few and far between. The New Year's Eve party was supposed to hoist the rundown hotel back to its former status, until a massive blizzard hits, trapping the guests who've come to celebrate the grand hotel's last hurrah. The circumstances might even be romantic, if the Château wasn't reputed to be haunted. When hotel employee Mave Michael finds the resident artist dead, and shortly thereafter security finds Mave alone with the body, the reputation that Mave has fought long and hard to outrun comes back to haunt her: Her father is a notorious hitman serving multiple-life sentences in prison. She has changed her name and location dozens of times, but he somehow manages to track her down—even sending her a postcard on the eve of her birthday, January 1st. She's the perfect choice to frame for murder, and now the number one suspect. Mave can no longer deny the lessons in survival her father taught her, or her uncanny sixth-sense in “finding” lost objects. To save herself, she not only has to stop running from her own past, she must unearth the history of the hotel, its elite guests and buried secrets—one deadly sin at a time.

REMEMBER ME GONE by Stacy Stokes (Now Available from PRH/Viking) 
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At The Memory House, Lucy’s father can erase folks’ heartache and tragic memories. Lucy can’t wait to learn the family trade and help alleviate others’ pain. But everything is not as it seems. Lucy practices memory-taking on her dad, his memory won’t come loose, and in the bit that Lucy sees, there’s a flash of Mama on the day she died, tinged red with guilt. Then Lucy wakes up the next morning with a bruised knee, a pocketful of desert sand, and no memory of what happened. She has no choice but to listen to Marco Warman—a local boy she’s always wondered about who seems to know more than he should. As Lucy and Marco realize there are gaps in their own memories, they team up to fill in the missing pieces—to figure out what’s really going on in their town, and to uncover their own stolen history along the way. But as the mysteries pile up one thing becomes certain: there are some secrets in Tumble Tree people will do anything to keep.

SINGING LESSONS FOR THE STYLISH CANARY by Laura Stanfill (4/19/2022 at Lanternfish Press) 
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In sunny Mireville, France, Henri Blanchard grows up in his legendary father Georges’s shadow. Georges is a master serinette craftsman, building high-pitched barrel organs to train songbirds to sing human melodies—and village lore credits him with chasing off the clouds. Henri, alas, prefers making bobbin lace with the local girls to the workshop he’s supposed to inherit. But when he discovers a secret trove of letters that reveal a prodigy half-brother in America, his efforts to impress his father become increasingly outlandish—and ultimately dangerous.

JORDIE AND JOEY FELL FROM THE SKY by Judi Lauren (Now available from Jollyfish Press) 
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Twelve-year-old Jordie knows he’s descended from aliens. Not only were he and his twin brother, Joey, found abandoned in a field full of crop circles when they were babies, but they also can’t seem to fit in anywhere, least of all the foster homes they’re constantly moved in and out of. When Jordie and Joey are kicked out of their current home and faced with the possibility of being split up for the first time, they set off to find their birth parents. From Arizona to Roswell to Area 51 in the Nevada desert, the twins begin a search for where they truly belong. But Jordie’s about to discover that family isn’t always about the ones who bring you into the world, but the ones who help you survive.

THE MONSTERS CLUB by Lotté Jean Elliott (Now available from Northodox Press)
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A model student at an exclusive private school, Junie Han is popular, bright and destined for Oxford University. But unbeknownst to her wealthy friends and family, Junie is also a gifted hacker, and is using her talents to make money as a means of escaping the life they have planned for her. As long as she can maintain her image of perfection, nothing will stop her. Whilst exploring the dark web, Junie and her fellow hacker, Yamazaki, discover a site called the Monsters Club, a place where murderers post pictures of their victims. After investigating the site, Yamazaki disappears. And Junie begins to receive alarming messages from an anonymous stranger... As Junie's two lives begin to unravel, she finds herself cracking under the pressure of keeping her secrets and her safety. Will she, or someone she loves, become the next victim posted on the Monsters Club's website?

FREDDIE VS. THE FAMILY CURSE by Tracy Badua (5/3/2022 at Clarion) 
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In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations… or be trapped in an amulet forever.

OUR LITTLE WORLD by Karen Winn (5/3/2022 at Dutton/PRH) 
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July 1985. It’s a normal, sweltering New Jersey summer for soon-to-be seventh grader Bee Kocsis. Her thoughts center only on sunny days spent at Deer Chase Lake, evenings chasing fireflies around her cul-de-sac with the neighborhood kids, and Max, the boy who just moved in across the street. That and the burgeoning worry that she’ll never be as special as her younger sister, Audrina, who seems to effortlessly dazzle wherever she goes. But when Max’s little sister, Sally, goes missing at the lake, Bee’s long-held illusion of stability is shattered in an instant. As the families in her close-knit community turn inward, suspicious, and protective, things in Bee’s own home become increasingly strained, most of all with Audrina, when a shameful secret surfaces. With everything changed, Bee and Audrina’s already-fraught sisterhood is pushed to the limit as they grow up—and apart—in the wake of an innocence lost too soon.

THE GRAVITY OF MISSING THINGS by Marisa Urgo (6/7/2022)
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This #OwnVoices debut contemporary YA novel follows a bi teen who has to juggle first love and a family secret when her pilot mother's plane mysteriously vanishes, leaving her mother as the prime suspect.

THE LOST RYŪ by Emi Watanabe Cohen (6/7/2022 at Levine Querido) 
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In post-WWII Japan, Kohei must team up with his new neighbor, a mixed Jewish/Japanese girl, to search for the truth behind his family history and the disappearance of the giant dragons that fought in the war.

ONYEKA AND THE ACADEMY OF THE SUN by Tọlá Okogwu (6/9/2022 at S&S) 
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Onyeka has a lot of hair—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. Even with the support of her best friend, Cheyenne, who couldn’t care less what other people think, Onyeka can’t help but wish she could tame her vibrant curls. Then, Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair inexplicably takes on a life of its own, pulling Cheyenne from the water. Onyeka’s mother reveals the shocking truth: Onyeka’s has psychokinetic powers and is a Solari, one of a secret group of mutants unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the Academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies.

HANA HSU AND THE GHOST CRAB NATION by Sylvia Liu (6/21/2022 at PRH/Razorbill) 
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If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city’s most talented twelve-year-olds, Hana Hsu will be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk. Even scarier, she starts to notice that something’s not right at Start-Up—some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea. Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country—and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana’s willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends—and herself— from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows?

LIA PARK AND THE MISSING JEWEL by Jenna Yoon (6/28/2022 at Aladdin/S&S) 
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Twelve-year-old Lia Park has spent her whole life dreaming of becoming a monster hunter with IMA, the secret organization where her parents work. There's only one problem: Lia doesn't have any magic. Or so she thinks. Turns out, Lia's parents have been keeping some pretty big secrets from her, including the nature of her true powers. When her family is kidnapped by an ancient diviner spirit, Lia and her friend Joon must follow a series mysterious clues to rescue them.

GOTH GIRL, QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE by Lindsay S. Zrull (7/19/2022 at Flux) 
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Jessica was claimed by the state when her bio mom’s mental illness made her unstable. But while their relationship is far from traditional, blood ties are hard to break. When a woman claiming to be Jess’ biological mother barges into her DMs, Jess wants to meet her. There’s only one problem: Jess can’t reunite with her mom in New York City without a bunch of paperwork and she worries her social worker will never approve the trip. That’s when she remembers her classmate Oscar’s cosplay group, who are aiming for that big convention in New York… So Jess joins Oscar’s team—with every intention of using them to get to her mom. But her plan gets complicated when she discovers that, actually, cosplay is pretty great, and so is having friends. And Oscar, who Jess thought was just a shy nerd, can be as gallant and charming as the heroes he pretends to be. As the big convention draws near, Jess will have to decide whether or not chasing a dream of “family” is worth risking the family she’s built for herself.

IN THE SHADOW GARDEN by Liz Parker (11/13/2022 at Grand Central Publishing/Hachette) 
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In this debut novel by Liz Parker, three generations of witchy women who have the ability to make people forget their pain are coming to a reckoning with a rival family 20 years after their town forgot an entire summer.

Curated by: Emi Watanabe Cohen
Posted by: Damyanti Biswas
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Earth Day: 12 #22Debut Books for Nature Lovers

4/22/2022

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To celebrate Earth Day this Friday, here are twelve 2022 debut adult and YA novels that will immerse readers in nature.

SECOND STAR TO THE LEFT by Megan Van Dyke from City Owl Press on February 15, 2022
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Tinker Bell lived her perfect life working on inventions in the natural paradise of the pixies’ homeland, until what was supposed to be a fun trip to the human world left her in dire straits. To save her cousin, she’s forced to do the unthinkable: sell her pixie dust—the hottest drug in Neverland—leaving her cursed and unable to return home. To find her way back, she must unite on a quest with the roguish Captain Hook, who is convinced she’s cursed him with her kiss. High-seas adventure meets enemies-to-lovers romance in Second Star to the Left, this escapist fairy tale retelling set in the world of Peter Pan.

"Van Dyke's action-packed debut puts a sexy, adult spin on Tinker Bell and Captain Hook. The steamy scenes, explosive battles, and adventurous treasure hunt make for a gripping tale." — Publishers Weekly
THE LAST FEATHER by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou from Flame Tree Press on July 19, 2022
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In this action-packed portal fantasy, medical student Cassia awakens in a different realm, desperate to find the one person who knows how to save her dying sister. That person is her friend Lucas–a Reborn, born originally on earth, then restored into a new, magical life in the parallel world of Selene. The Reborn are stewards of the land, recouping their magic from the food they grow. Before she’s trapped there forever, Cassia must work with her new friends to break the curse threatening her sister and return to her own world.

FLORIDA WOMAN by Deb Rogers from Hanover Square Press/HarperCollins​ on July 5, 2022
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In this twisty dark comedy, Florida Woman Jamie goes viral for a crime she didn’t mean to commit, and is given a shot at avoiding jail time by volunteering at Atlas, a sanctuary for rescued monkeys deep in untamed wilderness. Run by three mysterious women who quickly take Jamie under their proverbial wings, Atlas proves to be far more wild than it seems.

“Florida Woman is a razor-sharp portrait of a woman who believes she might be an agent of chaos, who cannot avoid disaster, and the steps she takes, in the strangest of settings, to find a way not only to survive the disaster, but to be transformed by it. Deb Rogers writes with such verve and honesty about all the ways we stumble through life, and, like all great storytellers, gives us something wondrous when we reach the end of the journey.” — Kevin Wilson, bestselling author of Nothing to See Here
DAUNTLESS by Elisa A. Bonnin from Macmillan / Swoon Reads​ on July 19, 2022 
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  In this fast-paced fantasy inspired by the lush tropical forests of the Philippines, Seri lives in a treetop civilization where beasts prowl below, and valiant warriors keep them at bay. When stranger Tsana arrives wearing unusual clothes, speaking a different language, and communicating with the beasts, Seri begins to question the truths of the only world she’s ever known. Readers will love Seri and Tsana’s action-packed journey of self discovery, and their slow-burn sapphic romance.

"An epic fantasy mixed with heart-pounding action and a touch of romance, Dauntless will ensnare readers until the very last page. Elisa A. Bonnin’s rich world building and gorgeous prose will leave you tearing through chapters. The rich magic, thrilling action and jolting twists will leave you craving more!" ― Aiden Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of Cemetery Boys and Lost in the Never Woods
BEND TOWARD THE SUN by Jen Devon from St. Martin’s Griffin on August 9, 2022
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 Solitary botanist Rowan McKinnon is hired by the Brady family to tame their overgrown vineyard. Grieving physician Harry Brady is home on a leave of absence, hoping that his big family and rural sunshine will heal his heart. When Harry meets Rowan, he falls fast and hard, but she knows love is never what it seems, and her time at the vineyard is only temporary. Lush and vividly atmospheric, Bend Toward the Sun is a year-long love letter to nature, following Rowan and Harry as their relationship grows in tandem with the reawakening of the long-neglected vines.

“This is a book to be savored. Bend Toward the Sun is a lushly drawn portrait of two people with a magnetic, soul-deep connection, wrapped up in a gorgeous story of hope and healing. It’s the kind of romance that made me fall in love with the genre all over again―and I never wanted it to end. Consider me a Jen Devon fan for life.” — Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of Weather Girl
MONSTERS BORN AND MADE by Tanvi Berwah from Sourcebooks Fire on September 6, 2022
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 This South-Asian inspired fresh take on dystopian fantasy competition games follows Koral, a teenager whose marginalized family survives by capturing monstrous ocean creatures for a deadly chariot race tournament, the Glory Race. When her family’s financial situation becomes even worse, they can’t afford her chronically ill little sister’s medicine, so Koral makes the daring–and unprecedented–choice to cheat her way into the Glory Race–which is meant only for the ruling elite.

"Monsters Born and Made takes well-beloved YA tropes and turns them on their heads, creating an action-packed rallying cry against oppression and a riveting tale of one girl's desperation to survive no matter the odds." ― Roseanne A. Brown, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin
THE NET BENEATH US by Carol Dunbar from Forge Books on September 13, 2022
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Elsa Arnasson builds a life off-the-grid with her husband Silas, but it’s a life she was never fully prepared for. When Silas’s logging accident forces her to carry on alone with her two young children in their unfinished forest home, she must learn to rely on her own capabilities and the unexpected help she receives from her surroundings, namely, the trees. The Net Beneath Us immerses readers in a story of loss, self-reliance, and the wonder and harshness of Mother Nature.

“Containing wisdom as deeply rooted as a Wisconsin forest, The Net Beneath Us is an evocative and beautifully written meditation on grief and the lasting power of friendship. A story that reminds us that in difficult times, showing vulnerability can be the ultimate act of strength.” — Lucy Tan, author of What We Were Promised
DON’T LET IN THE COLD by Keely Parrack from Sourcebooks Fire on September 20, 2022
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In the wintry remote wilderness of Lake Tahoe, new stepsisters Lottie and Jade are forced into a struggle for survival when, after the power at their cabin is knocked out by a solar flare, a boy claiming to be lost in the woods arrives at their door. Add an impending blizzard and strange men in a truck in their driveway, and it’s a recipe for a chilling, suspenseful read.

"Don’t Let in the Cold is a tense thriller that tightens the screws on every page. A worthy addition to the genre!" — Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and #murdertrending
CALLED TO THE DEEP by Desirée M Niccoli from City Owl Press in Fall 2022 
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Off the rugged coast of Maine, offshore fishing captain Killian Quinn rescues the mysterious Lorelei Roth, only survivor of a shipwreck, and offers her sanctuary away from the prying public. As Lorelei recovers at Killian’s idyllic seaside cottage, she is tormented by strange dreams, and at night, she sleepwalks into the ocean, gripped by a disturbing new hunger. The handsome captain she’s developing feelings for begins to look like a tasty snack in more ways than one.

THE SURVIVING SKY by Kritika H Rao from DAW/ Penguin Random House in Fall 2022
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Set in floating colonies on a turbulent jungle planet, The Surviving Sky intertwines nature, technology, and arcane science in a speculative tale of human survival. Ahilya is married to Iravan, one of the revered mystics who manipulate the plant-based architecture where the last of humanity live. Though their marriage is tumultuous, when nature itself becomes increasingly volatile, Iravan and Ahilya must work together to save their marriage, their culture, and their entire civilization.

“The magic system is indeed unique and beautifully rendered, with clear rules and clearer mysteries, weaved intimately through both the physical world/city (jungle!! plants!) and the substrate of consciousness.” — Essa Hansen, author of The Graven Trilogy
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE by Kelly Ohlert from Alcove on December 6, 2022 
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People-pleaser Trixie finds herself in a very unique predicament: she’s just rescued a chicken crossing the road in downtown Chicago–yes, really–and her landlord has adopted a no-tolerance policy after several of her past attempts at pet-smuggling. Bear likes his quiet life, but a “Roommate Wanted” ad posted by his meddling sisters drops Trixie (and her chicken) on his doorstep, and quiet is a thing of the past. When Bear learns of his mother’s impending retirement, he fears losing the floral shop that felt like home growing up. Fun-loving Trixie reminds him what joy feels like, but if he’s to follow his passion for flowers and take over the family business, he'll have to heal scars left from the bullies of his past. Him, her, and a chicken make for one crowded coop in this outrageous romantic comedy.

“To Get to the Other Side is a sweet and heartwarming debut. Bear and Trixie fill this grumpy-sunshine romance with quirky fun.” — Kelly Siskind, author of New Orleans Rush
ACCOLADES OF WOLVES by Toni Mobley from Fractured Mirror Publishing on June 7, 2022 (Tentative) 
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After a breakup and the death of her mother, Phoebe Wood is spirited away to Norway by her best friend to distract her from the pain. On a hike through the scenic fjords, the girls are separated, and after Phoebe awakens, she’s no longer in the world she knows. Before her is a sprawling Viking-esque city ruled by three kings, where a civil war is brewing. Claimed as the mate of the Wolf King, Phoebe conspires with a shaman to find a way home, but as she unravels the secrets of the new world, she begins to fall in love with her captor king. From the rainy, winding streets of Edinburgh to the picturesque fjords of Norway, from a city of caves to a city of trees, the vibrant world of Accolades of Wolves celebrates the connection of human societies and nature.

Curated by: Jen Devon
Posted by: Damyanti Biswas
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10 Black YA Books Debuting in 2022! (Jan-June)

4/11/2022

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We've compiled 10 AMAZING young adult books by Black authors debuting from January to June! From horror and contemporary to mystery and romance, these books will keep you on the edge of your seat. We can't wait to read them, what are you waiting for?!
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AND WE RISE by Erica Martin  Viking Childrens (2/01/22)
AND WE RISE is a powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout. The entire book is written in poetry. This is the only poetry book on the list. Also LOOK at this cover! It's BEAUTIFUL! All the different shades of black skin!

​https://www.22debuts.com/erica-martin.html

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REQUIRED READING FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED FRESHMAN by Kristen R. Lee Random House Kids (2/01/22)
A striking debut novel about racism on elite college campuses. Fans of Dear White People will embrace this activist-centered contemporary novel about a college freshman grappling with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist history--that may not be as distant as it seems. A black girl at an ivy league college, calling out the racism imbedded in its history. What more do we need?
https://www.22debuts.com/kristen-r-lee.html

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YOU TRULY ASSUMED by Laila Sabreen Inkyard Press (2/08/22)
In this compelling and thought-provoking debut novel, after a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths. I personally read and enjoyed this book.

​https://www.22debuts.com/laila-sabreen.html

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DAUGHTERS OF A DEAD EMPIRE by Carolyn Tara O'Neil Macmillan (2/22/2022)
Daughters of a Dead Empire is a harrowing historical thriller about dangerous ideals, loyalty, and the price we pay for change. An imaginative retelling of the Anastasia story. We can never have enough Anastasia retellings!!

​https://www.22debuts.com/carolyn-tara-oneil.html

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TURNING by Joy L Smith Simon and Schuster/Millner (3/01/22)
In this raw, searingly honest debut young adult novel, a former aspiring ballerina must confront her past in order to move forward from a devastating fall that leaves her without the use of her legs. REPRESENTATION! We don't see a lot of black dancers (esp ballet) at the forefront.

​https://www.22debuts.com/joy-l-smith.html

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BLOOD SCION by Deborah Falaye (3/08/2022)
Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, this deeply felt and emotionally charged debut from Deborah Falaye, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and Daughter of Smoke and Bone that will utterly thrill and capture readers. The cover is GORGEOUS.

​https://www.22debuts.com/deborah-falaye.html

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HUNT A KILLER: PERFECT SCORE by A.M. Ellis/Angelica Monai Scholastic (4/05/2022)
It’s time to HUNT A KILLER in this YA mystery series based on the bestselling subscription game.

https://www.22debuts.com/angelica-monai.html

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LOVE RADIO by Ebony LaDelle Penguin Random House (5/31/2022)
Hitch meets The Sun Is Also a Star in this witty and romantic teen novel about a self-professed teen love doctor with a popular radio segment who believes he can get a girl who hates all things romance to fall in love with him in only three dates. This is at the top of my TBR!

​https://www.22debuts.com/ebony-ladelle.html

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DEEP IN PROVIDENCE by Riss M. Neilson Macmillan(5/31/22) 
Three friends try and bring back another friend from the dead using magic. (BIPOC/LGBTQ REP!)

​​https://www.22debuts.com/riss-m-neilson.html

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THE BLACK GIRLS LEFT STANDING by Juliana Goodman Release Feiwel & Friends (6/28/2022)
MYSTERY!!! MC tries to solve the mystery of her sister's murder (who was killed by a police officer) by teaming up with her sister's boyfriend.

​https://www.22debuts.com/juliana-goodman.html

Curated by: Charity Alyse
​Posted by: Damyanti Biswas

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LEGENDARY: 12 upcoming books inspired by myth and folklore

4/3/2022

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Some stories are timeless for a reason. Here are some fresh takes on ancient stories, fascinating magic systems, and fantasy worlds inspired by the greatest legends of all time.
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DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS by Sue Lynn Tan
​Now Available from Harper Voyager

An enthralling fantasy novel inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother sets her on a dangerous path and pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Check this book out for some magic and treachery in a vivid, Chinese mythology-inspired world!
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A COMB OF WISHES by Lisa Stringfellow
Now Available from HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books



Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia. Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price…
Lisa Stringfellow’s mesmerizing MG novel is set against the backdrop of Caribbean culture and folklore, telling a story of impossible wishes and magic based in the deepest love.
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A MAGIC STEEPED IN POISON​ by Judy I. Lin
Now Available from Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends



For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu. When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. Not only does this book feature Chinese folklore, it also has a unique tea-based magic system!
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BLOOD SCION by Deborah Falaye
3/8/2022 from HarperCollins/HarperTeen



Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods. Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within. Deborah Falaye’s emotionally charged YA fantasy is inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, and has been described as a magnetic combination of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
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KAIKEYI by Vaishnavi Patel
4/26/2022 from Hachette/Redhook


In the spirit of Circe, Ariadne, and The Witch's Heart, this stunning fantasy novel reimagines the life of Kaikeyi, the vilified queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana. It is a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come. If you like retellings of iconic narratives through a feminist lens, this may be your next favorite read.
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FREDDIE VS. THE FAMILY CURSE by Tracy Badua
5/3/2022 from Clarion



In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations… or be trapped in an amulet forever. This heartfelt adventure story features Filipino folklore, mystical spirits, and complex family histories.
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LIA PARK AND THE MISSING JEWEL by Jenna Yoon
5/3/2022 from Aladdin/S&S


When twelve-year-old Lia’s secret agent parents are kidnapped by an ancient diviner spirit, Lia and her friend Joon must follow a series mysterious clues to rescue them. Their journey takes them to Lia’s grandmother’s home in Korea, and eventually to the undersea kingdom of the Dragon King. This fast-paced adventure features Korean folklore, magic, and Silla Dynasty art. Check out that awesome cover!
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THE LOST RYŪ by Emi Watanabe Cohen
6/7/2022 from Levine Querido


In an alternate, dragon-filled version of post-war Japan, ten-year-old Kohei and his new Japanese/Jewish neighbor, Isolde, must embark on an journey to the mythical undersea palace of Ryūgū-jō. This book features Japanese ryū, Western dragons, and a couple of hatchlings that are a brand-new mix of both.

(Note from the curator: Yes, we have two #22debuts exploring East Asian dragon palace legends! I recommend checking out LIA PARK and THE LOST RYŪ to explore both the Korean and Japanese variations on this mythology.)
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THE IMMORTAL PALACE by M.T. Khan
7/5/2022 from Little, Brown Books 

Pakistani twelve-year-old Nura works as a mica miner to help her sweatshop worker mother. But when the mines collapse and her best friend is ruled dead, Nura digs deeper to find a portal world of jinn, and that the kids aren’t dead—they’ve been stolen. This beautiful MG fantasy novel is set in a rural Pakistani town and explores Pakistani culture, the cycle of child labor, and a glance into Islam.
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RAVENFALL by Kalyn Josephson
8/30/2022 from Delacorte PRH 

Thirteen-year-old Annabella Ballinkay has never been normal, even by her psychic family’s standards. Every generation uses their abilities to help run the Ravenfall Inn, a sprawling, magical B&B at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld. But it’s hard to contribute when your only power is foreseeing death. When fourteen-year-old Colin Pierce arrives at Ravenfall searching for his missing older brother and the supernatural creature who killed their parents, Anna jumps at the chance to help. But the mysteries tied to Colin go much deeper than either of them expects… This book features both Celtic and Jewish folklore, and is the equivalent of a cozy wool sweater on a chilly Halloween evening! A perfect spooky read for MG mystery lovers.
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MARIKIT AND THE OCEAN OF STARS by Caris Avendaño Cruz
10/18/2022 from Farrar, Straus and Girroux


Inspired by Filipino folklore, the middle grade fantasy follows 11-year-old Marikit and her firefly companion as she sets off on her Diwata's Journey through the world of nature spirits, or Engkantos.​
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BITTER MEDICINE by Mia Tsai
Forthcoming 2023 from Tachyon Publications

Magical calligrapher Elle put her dreams on hold to hide her brother from their murderous family. But when her crush commissions her for a career-defining project, she must choose: risk her brother's life for a brush with fame, or walk away from the art— and the man— she loves.

This book's release date has been pushed to 2023, but I need it ASAP!! It's a xianxia-inspired contemporary fantasy with a calligraphy-based magic system. ICONIC.
Curated by: Emi Watanabe Cohen
Posted by: Damyanti Biswas
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YOU'D BE A FOOL TO MISS OUT ON THESE #22DEBUT APRIL RELEASES

4/1/2022

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April brings us five wonderful middle grade reads.

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Christina Matula's THE NOT-SO-UNIFORM LIFE OF HOLLY-MEI from Inkyard Press/HarperCollins on 4/5/2022

​Packed with humor and heart, this debut middle grade series follows a girl finding her place in a brand-new world of private school and frenemies when her family moves to Hong Kong.
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https://www.22debuts.com/christina-matula.html

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Lee Y. Miao's WEI TO GO! from Clear Fork Publishing on 4/5/2022

WEI TO GO! is a contemporary mystery about a twelve-year-old California girl who wants to help her dad’s threatened company. It features sibling rivalry, travel to Hong Kong, sports, and multicultural family dynamics.
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​https://www.22debuts.com/lee-y-miao.html

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Justyn Edwards' THE GREAT FOX ILLUSION from Walker Books (UK), Candlewick Press (US) on 4/7/2022

Secrets and illusions abound as a group of young magicians competes for the prize of a lifetime in this gripping adventure, the first in an enthralling new series from debut author Justyn Edwards.
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https://www.22debuts.com/justyn-edwards.html

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Judi Lauren's JORDIE AND JOEY FELL FROM THE SKY from Jollyfish Press on 4/19/2022

Twin brothers Jordie and Joey have been in the foster care system since they were found abandoned in a crop circle as babies. Believing they crash landed there from a UFO, Jordie convinces Joey to follow him to the one place that might have answers about their origins, the center of extraterrestrial life: Area 51.​
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​https://www.22debuts.com/judi-lauren.html

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Karina Evans' GROW UP, TAHLIA WILKINS! from Little, Brown by 4/19/2022

Debut author Karina Evans gives modern-day readers their own version of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret with a fun and truthful romp about friendship, puberty, and growing up, in all its awkward glory.
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https://www.22debuts.com/karina-evans.html

Followed up by eight great young adult books.

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Kaitlyn Hill's LOVE FROM SCRATCH from Delacorte/PRH on 4/5/2022

Rival interns with sizzling chemistry in and out of the kitchen? That’s a recipe for love. This delectable debut romantic comedy about two rival interns with the recipe for love is perfect for foodies, feminists, and fans of aspirational YA romance like LOVE & GELATO and AGAIN, BUT BETTER.

​https://www.22debuts.com/kaitlyn-hill.html

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Betty G. Yee's GOLD MOUNTAIN from Lerner Publishing/Carolrhoda Lab on 4/5/2022

In 1867, fifteen year old Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as a boy and journeys from China to America to work on the transcontinental railroad. She vows to earn the money so desperately needed to save her father, but encounters far more danger than she ever anticipated. How far will she go to achieve her goal? ​

https://www.22debuts.com/betty-g-yee.html

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Emily J. Taylor's HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE from Razorbill/PRH on 4/5/2022

Decadent and darkly enchanting, this lavish YA fantasy debut follows seventeen-year-old Jani as she uncovers the deeply disturbing secrets of the legendary Hotel Magnifique.​

​https://www.22debuts.com/emily-j-taylor.html
​

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Kate Murray's WE WHO HUNT THE HOLLOW from Hardie Grant Children's Publishing on 4/6/2022

A firecracker urban fantasy about the youngest daughter of a family of women warriors, and the power she wishes she had …​
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​https://www.22debuts.com/kate-murray.html

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Samantha Markum's THIS MAY END BADLY from Wednesday Books on 4/12/2022

This May End Badly follows Doe, a senior at an all-girls boarding school whose life has revolved around a century-long rivalry with the boy’s school across the street. When she embarks on a fake-dating scheme to get under her worst enemy’s skin, she must contend with the lies she’s told, as well as the future of her beloved school.
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​https://www.22debuts.com/samantha-markum.html

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Lotté Jean Elliott's THE MONSTERS CLUB from Northodox Press on 4/21/2022

Whilst exploring the dark web, Junie and her fellow hacker, Yamazaki, discover a site called the Monsters Club, a place where murderers post pictures of their victims. After Yamazaki disappears, will Junie, or someone she loves, become the next victim?

​https://www.22debuts.com/lotte-jean-elliott.html

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Jennifer Wilson's SOMEDAY WE'LL FIND IT from HarperTeen on 4/26/2022
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Raw and unvarnished, Jennifer Wilson’s debut about one girl’s messy, unglamorous, very real summer in central Illinois is perfect for fans of Emergency Contact and Far from the Tree. This unforgettable debut takes readers on a heartbreakingly real journey of self-worth, understanding, and finding the people who believe in you.

https://www.22debuts.com/jennifer-wilson.html

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Debbie Schrack's SAVING SOPHIE from Fire and Ice in 4/26/2022
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A seventeen year old boy falls in love with the sole survivor of a devastating car accident caused by his half-brother.

https://www.22debuts.com/debbie-schrack.html
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And sixteen amazing adult books!

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Ashley Winstead's FOOL ME ONCE from  Graydon House/HarperCollins on 4/5/2022
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Second chances are for suckers. In this fierce and funny battle of the exes, Ashley Winstead's Fool Me Once explores the chaos of wanting something you used to have.

​https://www.22debuts.com/ashley-winstead.html

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N.E. Davenport's THE BLOOD TRIALS from Harper Voyager on 4/5/2022
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Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

​https://www.22debuts.com/ne-davenport.htm

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Kirsten Bohling's WE'D KNOW BY THEN from Lake Country Press on 4/5/2022
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In a monochrome world, Brighton Evans is a splash of brilliant color. Fans of bittersweet titles by Colleen Hoover and Jojo Moyes will have you invested in Brighton and Cain’s journey from the first page to the last.

​​https://www.22debuts.com/kirsten-bohling.html

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Lisa Roe's WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD from Sourcebooks Casablanca on 4/5/2022
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A heartwarming and life-affirming story of family dynamics, mother/daughter relationships, and second chances—perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Abbi Waxman.

https://www.22debuts.com/lisa-roe.html

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Grace D. Li's PORTRAIT OF A THIEF from Tiny Rep Books/Dutton/PRH on 4/5/2022
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Ocean's Eleven meets The Farewell in Portrait of a Thief, a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums; about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity.

​​https://www.22debuts.com/grace-d-li.html

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Chloë Ashby's WET PAINT from Orion/Trapeze on 4/14/2022
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Perfect reading for fans of Sally Rooney, Naoise Dolan and Raven Leilani, Ashby's electrifying fiction debut revolves around the rudderless Eve, who is forced to confront the traumatic events surrounding her best friend's death.

​https://www.22debuts.com/chloe-ashby.html
​

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Laure Van Rensburg's NOBODY BUT US from Penguin Michael Joseph (UK) on 4/14/2022
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In this locked room, high‑concept thriller that's part The Guest List, part The Girl Before, a couple's romantic weekend‑getaway is not what it seems.

https://www.22debuts.com/laure-van-rensburg.html

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Lis Angus' NOT YOUR CHILD from The Wild Rose Press on 4/18/2022
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​Ottawa psychologist and single mother Susan Koss discovers that a strange man has been following her twelve-year-old daughter Maddy. She fears he’s a predator, but it’s worse than that. He believes Maddy is his granddaughter, abducted eleven years ago, and he’s obsessed with getting her back.

​https://www.22debuts.com/lis-angus.html

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Laura Stanfill's SINGING LESSONS FOR THE STYLISH CANARY from Lanternfish Press on 4/19/2022
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​Populated with strong women and one odd young man who doesn’t fit into the box society has chosen for him, Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary is a nineteenth-century fable about finding your place in the world—even if it’s all the way across the ocean.

https://www.22debuts.com/laura-stanfill.html

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Maggie Giles' THE THINGS WE LOST from Rising Action Publishing Collective on 4/19/2022
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​Maddie wakes up twenty-six years old and in a completely different life. But is this new do-over exactly what she needs, even if it means her daughters never existing? 

​​https://www.22debuts.com/maggie-giles.html

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Jendella Benson's HOPE AND GLORY from William Morrow / HarperCollins on 4/19/2022
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​A brilliant debut by a British-Nigerian author—a heartfelt family drama that will delight book club readers and fans of books like The Girl with the Louding Voice and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows.

https://www.22debuts.com/jendella-benson.html

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Mahi Cheshire's DEADLY CURE from Harvill Secker/Penguin Vintage on 4/21/2022
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​Deadly Cure is about two rival scientists/best friends and the search for a cancer cure, which gets very messy when one is murdered and the other becomes prime suspect.
 
https://www.22debuts.com/mahi-cheshire.html
​

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Jamie Liew's DANDELION from Arsenal Pulp Press on 4/26/2022
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​Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award winner: A debut novel in which a Chinese Canadian woman traces her mother’s past journey to discover who she really is and where she belongs.

​https://www.22debuts.com/jamie-liew.html


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KM Kelly's THE SLEEPERS from Bloodhound Books on 4/26/2022
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​A time bomb is ticking—but what if that time bomb is you? A chilling novel of intrigue, terror, and one man and woman in a race against the clock. 

https://www.22debuts.com/km-kelly.html
​

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Liz Bowery's LOVE, HATE & CLICKBAIT from MIRA (Harlequin) on 4/26/2022
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​When political consultant Thom and analyst Clay fake a relationship for the liberal vote, it hurtles toward something very real, which could derail the campaign and cost them both their jobs…and their hearts.

​https://www.22debuts.com/liz-bowery.html
​

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Vaishnavi Patel's KAIKEYI from Redhook/Hachette on 4/26/2022
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​A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana, weaving a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—and an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

​https://www.22debuts.com/vaishnavi-patel.html

We hope you love these releases! To connect with our authors and keep up with book news, find us @22Debuts on Twitter and Instagram.

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8 Funny Adult 2022 Debuts That Will Leave You LOLin!

3/29/2022

0 Comments

 
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In need of a laugh right about now (who isn't!)? Here are eight hilarious adult 2022 debut novels for the laugh-till-you-cry emoji in us all.
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Love at First Spite by Anna E. Collins
Graydon House/HarperCollins - 1.4.22

https://www.22debuts.com/anna-e-collins.html

They say living well is the best revenge. But sometimes, spreading the misery seems a whole lot more satisfying. That’s interior designer Dani Porter’s justification for buying the vacant lot next to her ex-fiancé's house…the house they were supposed to live in together, before he cheated on her with their realtor. Dani plans to build a vacation rental that will a) mess with his view and his peace of mind and b) prove that Dani is not someone to be stepped on. Welcome to project Spite House.

That plan quickly becomes complicated when Dani is forced to team up with Wyatt Montego, the handsome, haughty architect at her firm, and the only person available to draw up blueprints. Wyatt is terse and stern, the kind of man who eats his sandwich with a knife and fork. But as they spend time together on-site and off, Dani glimpses something deeper beneath that hard veneer, something surprising, vulnerable, and real. And the closer she gets to her goal, the more she wonders if winning revenge could mean losing something infinitely sweeter...


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Fool Me Once by Ashley Winstead
Graydon House/HarperColllins - 4.5.22
https://www.22debuts.com/ashley-winstead.html

Lee Stone is a twenty-first-century woman: she kicks butt at her job as a communications director at a women-run electric car company (that’s better than Tesla, thank you) and after work she is “Stoner,” drinking guys under the table and never letting any of them get too comfortable in her bed…

That’s because Lee’s learned one big lesson: never trust love. After four major heartbreaks set her straight, from her father cheating on her mom all the way to Ben Laderman in grad school—who wasn’t actually cheating, but she could have sworn he was, so she reciprocated in kind.

Then Ben shows up five years later, working as a policy expert for the most liberal governor in Texas history, just as Lee is trying to get a clean energy bill rolling. Things get complicated—and competitive—as Lee and Ben are forced to work together. Tension builds just as old sparks reignite, fanning the flames for a romantic dustup the size of Texas.


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Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill
Penguin Random House/Delacorte Press - 4.5.22
https://www.22debuts.com/kaitlyn-hill.html

This summer, Reese Camden is trading sweet tea and Southern hospitality for cold brew and crisp coastal air. She's landed her dream marketing internship at Friends of Flavor, a wildly popular cooking channel in Seattle. The only problem? Benny Beneventi, the relentlessly charming, backwards-baseball-cap-wearing culinary intern--and her main competition for the fall job.

Reese's plan to keep work a No Feelings Zone crumbles like a day-old muffin when she and Benny are thrown together for a video shoot that goes viral, making them the internet's newest ship. Audiences are hungry for more, and their bosses at Friends of Flavor are happy to deliver. Soon Reese and Benny are in an all-out food war, churning homemade ice cream, twisting soft pretzels, breaking eggs in an omelet showdown--while hundreds of thousands of viewers watch. Reese can't deny the chemistry between her and Benny. But the more their rivalry heats up, the harder it is to keep love on the back burner...


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Bad Girls Drink Blood by SL Choi
City Owl Press - 5.17.22
https://www.22debuts.com/sl-choi.html

There is only one hybrid fae in existence, and that dishonor goes to Lane Callaghan.  After a life spent dodging slurs, threats, and assassination attempts, Lane gave her past the one finger salute and ditched her former fae home for good. The detective agency she and her sisters run on the edge of Las Vegas continues to limp along, with Lane doing more debt collecting and intimidating than investigating, but anything to pay the bills. Between working for low-lifes to bring down even lower-lifes, eating cheesy poofs by the bucket, and flirting with the criminally attractive bartender where she conducts business, life is good.

That ends when a routine job goes sideways, leaving Lane with a sack full of stolen sun shards—the source of sun fae power. Without the shards, the sun fae face giving up their magic completely, or risk death if they use their power. Considering they would rather see her dead, good riddance, as far as Lane’s concerned—except her father and adopted sister are sun fae. Lane must choose—return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her, or let them burn.


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As Seen on TV by Meredith Schorr
Forever/Grand Central Publishing - 6.7.22

https://www.22debuts.com/meredith-schorr.html

Emerging journalist Adina Gellar is done with dating in New York City. If she’s learned anything from made-for-TV romance movies, it’s that she’ll find love in a small town—the kind with harvest festivals, delightful but quirky characters, and scores of delectable single dudes. So when a big-city real estate magnate targets tiny Pleasant Hollow for development, Adi knows she’s found the perfect story—one that will earn her a position at a coveted online magazine, so she can finally start adulting for real . . . and maybe even find her dream man in the process.

Only Pleasant Hollow isn’t exactly “pleasant.” There’s no charming bakery, no quaint seasonal festivals, and the residents are more ambivalent than welcoming. The only upside is Finn Adams, who’s more mouthwatering than the homemade cherry pie Adi can’t seem to find—even if he does work for the company she’d hoped to bring down. Suddenly Adi has to wonder if maybe TV got it all wrong after all. But will following her heart mean losing her chance to break into the big time?

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Florida Woman by Deb Rogers
Hanover Square Press/HarperColllins - 7.5.22

https://www.22debuts.com/deb-rogers.html

Jamie is a Florida Woman. She wears cutoffs, thrives in humidity, has been slapped by palm frond more times than she can count and now, after going viral for an outrageous crime she never meant to commit in the first place, she has the requisite headline to her name. But when the chance comes for her to escape viral infamy and imminent jail time through a community service placement at Atlas, a wildlife refuge for rescued monkeys, it seems like just the fresh start Jamie needs to finally get her life back on track—until it’s not.

Something sinister stirs in the palmetto woods, and secrets lurk among the three beguiling women who run the refuge and affectionately take Jamie under their wing for the summer. She hears the distant screams of monkeys each night, the staff forgo food in the name of sacrifice, and the land, which has long been abandoned by local farmers and resort developers, now proves to be dangerously, relentlessly untamed. As Jamie ventures deeper into the offbeat world and rituals of Atlas, her summer is soon set to become material for an even stranger Florida headline than she ever could’ve imagined.

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For Butter or Worse by Erin La Rosa
Harlequin/HQN - 7.26.22

https://www.22debuts.com/erin-la-rosa.html

An enemies-to-lovers mash-up of THE HATING GAME and THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF, in which two rival hosts of a massively popular cooking show have to fake a relationship to save their careers after an explosive on-air fallout, only to find their feelings for each other becoming real.
Their feelings are about to boil over...

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Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Berkley - 11.15.22

https://www.22debuts.com/nikki-payne.html

Liza B–The Only DJ That Gives a Jam—wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at their corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly—but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head.

At first, Dorsey writes Liza Bennett off as an over-caffeinated woke weekend warrior.  As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family he’s always felt a bit out of place, and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza’s protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionist is the most real woman he’s ever met.

List curated by: Susan Azim Boyer
Posted to the blog by: Ren Hutchings

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