An atmospheric tale of intense cravings.
University is all about new experiences and figuring out who you are—but for one teen, it brings more than the usual challenges.
Rose’s childhood has been plagued by nightmares in which she dies “in different, terrifying ways.” Then there’s the near-death experience: She’s nearly hit by a truck and saved just in time by a beautiful boy whom no one else saw. Her insistence that he was real leads to her becoming a viral spectacle, exacerbating her feelings of alienation. So, after high school, Rose wants to get as far away from Irvine, California, as possible. This drive to escape leads her to Payen University in Massachusetts, where everything is redolent with cozy, historical atmosphere; she even enjoys the drizzly weather. Rose is startled to encounter her mysterious rescuer on campus, but he insists he’s never seen her before and tries to keep his distance. Still, she pursues him, feeling an inexplicable connection. Cross’ debut, which centers on two white-presenting leads, is filled with yearning and desire and will appeal to fans of The Vampire Diaries and Twilight. The tale offers different twists on typical vampiric lore. After being thrown into the world of the paranormal, Rose is forced to contemplate her place within it even as she faces life-threatening danger. Short chapters accentuate the fast pace, and the setting evokes spine-tingling autumnal and winter chills.
An atmospheric tale of intense cravings. (Paranormal romance. 16-18)Pub Date: tomorrow
ISBN: 9798217111251
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing.
For the second time in her life, Leo must choose between her family and true love.
Nineteen-year-old Princess Leonie Kolburg’s royal family is bankrupt. In order to salvage the fortune they accrued before humans fled the frozen Earth 170 years ago, Leonie’s father is forcing her to participate in the Valg Season, an elaborate set of matchmaking events held to facilitate the marriages of rich and royal teens. Leo grudgingly joins in even though she has other ideas: She’s invented a water filtration system that, if patented, could provide a steady income—that is if Leo’s calculating Aunt Freja, the Captain of the ship hosting the festivities, stops blocking her at every turn. Just as Leo is about to give up hope, her long-lost love, Elliot, suddenly appears onboard three years after Leo’s family forced her to break off their engagement. Donne (Brightly Burning, 2018) returns to space, this time examining the fascinatingly twisted world of the rich and famous. Leo and her peers are nuanced, deeply felt, and diverse in terms of sexuality but not race, which may be a function of the realities of wealth and power. The plot is fast paced although somewhat uneven: Most of the action resolves in the last quarter of the book, which makes the resolutions to drawn-out conflicts feel rushed.
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing. (Science fiction. 16-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-328-94894-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
A thoroughly original and campy gorefest with a touch of romance; a genre-blending treat.
Sundae Valentine was only 11 when she met Holly Jolly for the first time—the ghostly legend from Wildwood, New Jersey, offered her three wishes that came with a price.
For Sundae, Holly Jolly wasn’t just a monstrous story, but something that changed her entire childhood. Flash forward seven years, and she’s on top of the world: Just named prom queen, she and her cheerleader friends are en route to Wildwood along with the football team for a prom weekend celebration. But this trip brings back memories that pink-haired, blue-eyed, white-presenting Sundae is doing her best to mitigate with drugs, alcohol, and hook-ups (the girls have a Slut Cup competition—the winner is the cheerleader with “the highest body count on prom weekend”). Things start looking up when she meets Lia, whose band is playing a gig at the Wildwood motel where she’s staying, and there’s a spark of connection. But little does Sundae know that Holly Jolly has returned. Crowley’s propulsive and engaging horror story is witty and fun, with its blend of gore and light banter. The legend of Holly Jolly leaves a bit to be desired, unfortunately—it comes across as disjointed in comparison to how well-fleshed-out the rest of the story is. But Lia’s bandmates, Dallas and Edison, frequently allude to horror movie lore, which genre fans will enjoy.
A thoroughly original and campy gorefest with a touch of romance; a genre-blending treat. (Horror. 16-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781368101424
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
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