Get These Books!

August stays Augusting.

As promised, I’m writing another newsletter about September books I want to buy. You may remember that I told you to get: Tracy Badua’s GHOUL SUMMER, out next week, Sonora Reyes’s THE GOLDEN BOY’S GUIDE TO BIPOLAR, V L Bovalino’s THE SECOND DEATH OF LOCKE, and Kalynn Bayron’s MAKE ME A MONSTER

Alright, let’s get into it with some more recs!

First up we have: BLOOD MOON by Britney S. Lewis, out September 9th. This Young Adult Paranormal Romance has all my favorite things: werewolves, vampires, Black girls being loved, and mystery! Little bit Vampire Diaries, little bit Twilight, more than a little bit original and BLACK. Yes!! Also the cover could not be more on brand for this genre, which is the besttttt, look.

Here’s the description: Mirabella Owens grew up with legends of wolves that traveled to her midwestern town to protect humans from vampires. Of a werewolf that fell in love with one of the undead, unraveling a blood-soaked history. But Mira stopped believing in those fairy tales years ago. She stopped believing in a lot of things after her mom left without a trace when she was only thirteen.

As Mira begins her freshman year at Lakeland University, she’s ready to leave the past behind her. Only the past isn’t finished with her yet. Strange animal attacks are occurring around campus, reopening cold cases tied to her mother’s disappearance. And the only person who seems to know anything is Julian Santos, the boy who is hell-bent on getting Mira to leave campus for reasons she can’t begin to understand. But Mira refuses to let him keep his secrets, not when the truth is the difference between life and death.

Mira will have to accept that there is much more to the old town myths, and her growing feelings for Julian, than she ever could have anticipated. And as the Blood Moon rises, she will come to know a world that will shatter her past and change her future.

Get it here.

Next up, we have Ryan LaSala’s THE DEAD OF SUMMER, out September 16th. Earning high praise from Tiffany D. Jackson to Andrew Joseph White and with a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly that said it’s: “A propulsive paranormal thriller”, you know it’s going to be delightfully compelling. Ryan’s books tend to be wholly unique while carrying a signature style that somehow balances between horror and humor perfectly?! Like, how does he do that? Also, another cool cover:

Here’s the description: Stephen King meets Holly Jackson by way of We Were Liars in this action-packed story of queer horror from the acclaimed author of The Honeys! Two Days Before Ollie Veltman is finally coming home to the quaint island of Anchor’s Mercy after a year away while his mom battled cancer. It should be a celebration -- his mom is cancer free, and she’s determined to have the best summer ever -- but Ollie’s (now ex) best friends think he abandoned them, and he’s returning with a lot of questions. Because for a place that’s perfect on the surface, a secret rots below the waves. A secret that could explain his mom’s illness, and the illness of so many other locals. Ollie’s desperate search for the truth turns life-or-death when a storm descends upon the island. In its wake, a long-sunken horror rises . . .

Three Weeks After Ollie is being held in isolation aboard a military hospital ship in the harbor. They say he’s a survivor, but they only know half the story. The truth is more monstrous than Ollie ever believed, and he suspects his saviors aren’t here to save anyone. Only Ollie can stop what's coming, but that means getting back to Anchor’s Mercy before it vanishes, taking with it everyone he has ever loved.

Get it here.

Then we got Claribel Ortega’s fourth installment in the Witchings series, SCEPTER OF MEMORIES, also out September 16th. This middle grade magical series has the right amount of friendship, mystery, and cozy to be the perfect fall (and all year) read for kiddos and adults alike. My child and I adore these books and she has been hounding me for not only every copy (we have two of the first Witchlings for friends to borrow) but Claribel’s autograph too. So if Claribel sees this, please help meeeeee. You have a huge fan this side of the ocean. Also, look at this cover from the incredible from Lissy Marlin:

Here’s the description: THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES! Perfect for fans of Wicked, Upside-Down Magic, and The Wizard of Oz. 

Dangerous times call for dangerous magic . . . Evil dwells in Ravenskill. Seven, Thorn, and Valley are determined to stop Ambert Lophiifor’s plan of taking over the Twelve Towns. With Seven’s Uncle powers and their new coven behind them, surely they’ll be able to defeat him at last. But strange things are happening around Ravenskill—the Witchlings’ allies are starting to forget them! When the Witchlings are charged with the crime of practicing unnatural and dangerous magic, no one is there to come to their defense. Without any support, the Witchlings are forced to flee beyond the borders of the Twelve Towns and into the swirling grey mists of the Enchanted Grim, hoping to find the one witch who might have the knowledge and power to help them: Delphinium Larkspur. The Grim is an uncharted wilderness filled with monstruos, where no normal witch would ever be able to survive. But there’s nothing normal about the Witchlings, their courage, or their friendship. Together with their Nightbeasts, they are determined to find a way to save their home. Even if it means embracing the monstruos within themselves.

Get it here.

Lastly, we have Hannah V Sawyerr’s TRUTH IS, out September 23rd. Hannah Sawyerr’s books are contemporary heavy hitters; deep, emotional, and honest. I’m not surprised she has won all the critical acclaim either, she’s telling the stories that aren’t always the easiest to tell, yet you know will resonate with audiences, and save lives. They normalize big feelings, difficult experiences, and provide hope. As with All the Fighting Parts, another gorgeous cover that conveys the powerful themes:

Here’s the description: From the critically acclaimed author of All the Fighting Parts comes an empowering and defiant novel in verse in which a teen poet grapples with an unplanned pregnancy and determines what happens to her body in a world that wants to take the choice away from her.

Seventeen-year-old Truth Bangura wants nothing more than to know a life beyond her hometown. Writing and performing is her only solace in a life overwhelmed by a drifting relationship with her best friend, an emotionally turbulent home environment, and the reality that her below average grades make her true dream--escaping her mother's grasp after graduation--uncertain. When Truth learns she's pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, she makes one decision she's finally sure about: an abortion. Determined to move forward, Truth turns to the pages in her notebook with the support of her slam poetry team--including the poet with a voice smooth as summer jazz, who's been catching her eye during practice. At an open mic night, Truth finally gains the courage to perform a piece that dives into her rocky relationship with her mother-and reveals the choice she never told her. But when a video of Truth's performance is posted online and starts going viral, her decision quickly becomes everyone's business-including her mother's. Told through searing free-verse, journal entries, and interspersed fill-in-the-blank poetry prompts, Hannah V. Sawyerr's Truth Is reminds us there is always a choice. There is always hope. And there is always a way forward.

Get it here.

And finally, here’s a blurb for Until the Clock Strikes Midnight I want to share with you all from……… SARAH BETH DURST… oh, you know, just The New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop (that’s one of the leading examples of cozy fantasy) and so many other incredible works––and I mean it, she has been publishing steadily since 2016. Also hello fellow Massachusetts-er!! Here’s what she said:

"A delightful and unique take on fairy godmothers and finding happily-ever-after! Sweet and joyful, this book is as irresistible as hot chocolate swirled with magic!" —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times-bestselling author of The Spellshop

Ayyyyyyye!! Just letting you know, in case you didn’t, that you can and should (and super pretty please do) preorder Until the Clock Strikes Midnight here. For reals. And keep your receipts, I’ve got some beautiful plans for all of you who do :))

As always, thank you for reading and your support. Until next time,

Alechia