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Our 28 Most Anticipated Reads of Summer 2020

by  | May 19
Book in the sand

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? If the answer is “far, far away,” take a BookCation with these reads coming out this summer. Bustle through the NYC neighborhoods of the 2000s. Sunbathe at a gorgeous Martha’s Vineyard mansion. Experience legal cannibalism in a dystopian world….Okay, so maybe not all of them are places you’d like to visit. But at the very least, we promise these books will help you escape from wherever you are. Keep on reading to find out more about our most anticipated reads of Summer 2020.

For more BookCation recommendations, check out Simon & Schuster’s summer reading guide.

Dear Emmie Blue

Dear Emmie Blue

by Lia Louis

Courtney’s Pick #1

There are so many amazing books coming out this summer, but Dear Emmie Blue is the one I am recommending to all of my friends to read first. I read this story pre-publication last October, and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. It’s one of those books I wish I could read for the first time again. Author Lia Louis is a beautiful writer, and I was swept up in Emmie Blue’s journey. Her story begins as most do: with a teenage girl putting a secret and her email address inside a balloon and sending it across the English Channel, only for it to be found by a boy in France named Lucas Moreau. Fast-forward fourteen years and Emmie is in love with Lucas, convinced the big question he has to ask will reveal his love for her. But when things don’t go as planned, Emmie realizes she has neglected other aspects of her life (from her relationship with her mother to her career) in favor of Lucas, and that it’s time to make a change. I love all these characters and by the end, I felt like I knew them personally. The novel is such a perfect hope-filled rom-com, I’d honestly be disappointed if it wasn’t adapted into a Netflix movie. This is one book you don’t want to miss.

Publication date: July 14, 2020

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Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels

by Hannah Orenstein

Molly’s Pick #1

I love the Olympics so much, that the Olympic Anthem was my ringtone for several years. (Remember purchasing custom ringtones?!) Like everyone else, I’m devastated that this year’s games have been postponed, but the great news is that you can still tumble into the world of competitive gymnastics through Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein. This engaging novel stars Avery Abrams, a former gymnast whose career and chances of a gold medal were cut short seven years prior due to an injury. After a tough breakup with her boyfriend, Avery returns to her childhood home to recalibrate her life. She begins to help train Hallie, a passionate and talented gymnast who's ready for her shot. But when a scandal rocks the gymnastics world, it forces Avery to confront her past experiences with the sport and protect Hallie and other young gymnasts from suffering the same fate.

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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Kings County

Kings County

by David Goodwillie

Morgan’s Pick #1

If you’re missing the hustle and bustle of NYC, I feel you. I am as well. To help with this nostalgia, I highly suggest you pick up a copy of Kings County. Why? This incredibly immersive story will throw you onto the streets of NYC in the 2000s, from the protests of Occupy Wall Street to the parties of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Audrey Benton arrives in New York City on a bus from nowhere, but she soon finds a home for herself amid the burgeoning indie rock scene. She also finds an unlikely match in Theo Gorski, a shy but idealistic mill-town kid who’s struggling to establish himself in the world of publishing. But when a secret emerges from Audrey’s past, it threatens to tear down everything she and Theo have created together. This love story is at once gritty and hopeful. You won’t want to put it down!

Publication date: July 28, 2020

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The Book of Lost Names

The Book of Lost Names

by Kristin Harmel

Molly’s Pick #2

I have been looking forward to the publication of Kristin Harmel’s newest book, The Book of Lost Names, ever since I read The Winemaker’s Wife. I love Kristin’s writing—it’s smart, evocative, and utterly engrossing. These qualities will no doubt extend to The Book of Lost Names, which is based on a true story from World War II about a young woman who helped hundreds of Jewish children flee the Nazis with her knack for forgery. I’m always interested in reading true stories about WWII, because inevitably the hero of the story was once a regular citizen who does extraordinary, courageous things; it reminds us all of what we can do in the face of such unfathomable circumstances. If you enjoyed The Light Over London, The Alice Network, or The Nightingale, be sure to read The Book of Lost Names.

Publication date: July 21, 2020

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The Only Good Indians

The Only Good Indians

by Stephen Graham Jones

Sara’s Pick #1

What does it mean to bear responsibility? That sounds like an easy question, but what you owe to others might end up being more than you bargained for. When four American Indian teens kill a pregnant deer, they set themselves and their loved ones on a dark and deadly path. Stephen Graham Jones is known for surreal horror that shakes you to the core, usually in more ways than one. The Only Good Indians is not only filled with terrifying imagery and heart-stopping twists, but it’s also laden with social commentary on masculinity, the trauma of systematic oppression, and the constant negotiation between identity and culture. If you need a read that'll send chills down your spine in the summer heat, this needs to be in your virtual beach bag.

Publication date: July 14, 2020

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An Elegant Woman

An Elegant Woman

by Martha McPhee

Zoey’s Pick

Did you love Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane? Are you ready for a sweeping multigenerational family story, surrounding one very unique woman? An Elegant Woman is inspired by author Martha McPhee's own family, and it follows narrator Isadora's efforts to understand the sharp, adventurous person of her grandmother. The book opens with this line, and had me hooked from the beginning: "For as long as I could remember, my grandmother was dying and telling stories. 'I'm just a candle in the wind,' she would say, and clutch her heart, sighing audibly. 'I'm just an old, threadbare mule going round and round the katydid.'"

Publication date: June 2, 2020

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Florence Adler Swims Forever

Florence Adler Swims Forever

by Rachel Beanland

Sharon’s Pick #1

Florence Adler Swims Forever has all the trappings of unforgettable historical fiction. Rachel Beanland creates an immersive setting that takes readers to Atlantic City, “America’s Playground,” during the summer of 1934. Her memorable characters—including a woman who is training to swim the English Channel, her bedridden, pregnant sister, and a mysterious young woman recently emigrated from Nazi Germany—are all cramped together in an apartment above a bakery. To top it off, tragedy strikes, and the characters become embroiled in a series of secrets and lies. Did I mention that the book is based on a true story and that it’s Beanland’s debut novel?

Publication date: July 7, 2020

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Basic Bitchen

Basic Bitchen

by Joey Skladany

Courtney’s Pick #2

I’m cooking up a storm in quarantine, or at least I’d like to be. However, while most cookbooks have delicious recipes, they don’t speak to my inner foodie. Ever since reading Stassi Schroeder’s Next Level Basic, I have fully embraced my inner-basic bitch—and she is crying out for basic meals that were a staple in my pre–social distancing life. Enter Joey Skladany and his cookbook, Basic Bitchen. With a glass of rosé in hand, Joey starts with pantry staples you’ll actually use and then works up from there. With recipes from Basic Bitch Lifeblood, a.k.a. the Pumpkin Spice Latte, to “I Could Eat This, Like, Every Day” Sushi Rolls, you’ll have access to the variety and deliciousness your inner basic bitch craves. And when life goes back to normal? Your friends will be running to your place for an in-person gossip session with amazing food and drinks.

Publication date: August 4, 2020

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The Girl from Widow Hills

The Girl from Widow Hills

by Megan Miranda

Saimah’s Pick

What would you do if you suddenly woke up and found yourself standing over a dead body but have no recollection of how you got there? In Megan Miranda’s latest thriller, The Girl from Widow Hills, Arden Maynor, a.k.a. Olivia Meyer, wakes up to this nightmare after sleepwalking. She hasn’t had a sleepwalking episode in two decades, but as a young girl she was swept into a body of underground pipes while sleepwalking during a storm and went missing for three days. Her story made national headlines and cast the harsh glow of the spotlight on her little town. She changed her name and moved across state lines to leave her past behind. But it won’t let her out of its grip that easy…the mysterious corpse lying at her feet outside is a man she knows from her previous life. Was she responsible for his death? Did anybody see what happened? You’ll have to read this suspenseful, fast-paced story to find out!

Publication date: June 23, 2020

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Grown Ups

Grown Ups

by Emma Jane Unsworth

Heather’s Pick #1

Millennials have been blamed for everything from killing chain restaurants to choosing avocado toast over homeownership, and it’s beyond frustrating. That’s why I am always up for novels about the very real struggles of adulting in a world where 30-somethings have already endured not one but two historic economic downturns. Enter Emma Jane Unsworth’s Grown Ups, pitched as a “neurotic dramedy,” which tells the story of Jenny McLaine, whose life is a hot mess. Not only has she lost her job as a columnist, but her ex has moved on, and she’s feeling the strain of unrealistic expectations for women, which social media only heightens. Even with support from her family and friends, it’ll be on Jenny—and Jenny only—to turn her life around, and who can’t relate to that tough realization?

Publication date: August 18, 2020

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Filthy Beasts

Filthy Beasts

by Kirkland Hamill

Morgan’s Pick #2

Are you as obsessed with memoirs as I am? Then you must add Filthy Beasts to your TBR. Kirk is eight years old when his family moves from New York’s upper-class society to his mom’s native Bermuda. Kirk and his brothers are left to fend for themselves as their mother succumbs to alcoholism. After eventually leaving his mother’s dysfunctional orbit for college in New Orleans, Kirk begins to realize how different his family was—and how his upbringing has been—from that of his friends and peers. Filthy Beasts is both a gripping riches-to-rags story and the unforgettable journey of a man coming to terms with his family’s flaws and his own buried truths.

Publication date: July 14, 2020 

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Craigslist Confessional

Craigslist Confessional

by Helena Dea Bala

Justin’s Pick

Helena Dea Bala’s odyssey into the deep, dark, and concealed corners of other people’s lives began after she put an ad on Craigslist with the subject line, "Tell me about yourself." More than half a decade later, the former Washington lobbyist and attorney is making a living by lending a compassionate ear to complete strangers through her blog. For Craigslist Confessional, the author has compiled 40 intimate, heart-wrenching, and acutely human confessions into her collection, where she examines topics related to loss, love, and identity. While not always an easy read (you’ll likely need to take a breather between reading some of these stories), Dea Bala’s book is an engaging call for empathy. It confronts us with the struggles and truths that these strangers reveal about their day-to-day lives and, in so doing, asks us to be a little bit kinder to—and more understanding of—everyone we encounter.

Publication date: July 7, 2020 

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Horse Crazy

Horse Crazy

by Sarah Maslin Nir

Heather’s Pick #2

My mom practically grew up on horseback, graduating from casual rides in neighborhood pastures to barrel races in county competitions. But whereas her childhood was rural, mine was decidedly suburban, the result being that I haven’t spent nearly as much time with these majestic animals as she did. In the past few years, though, it’s become our thing to take mother-daughter trips out West, where we always make it a priority to ride, and I love it. So while journalist and equestrian Sarah Maslin Nir’s new book, Horse Crazy, is something my mom will definitely be receiving as a gift (shh), I am just as excited to read it myself. Part memoir about how the author’s obsession with horses has shaped her life, part in-depth profile of fascinating characters in the riding world (and in her own life), Horse Crazy attempts to answer the question: What is it about these graceful animals that has inspired endless devotion across time and space?

Publication date: August 4, 2020

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Little Disasters

Little Disasters

by Sarah Vaughan

Holly’s Pick #1

Jess is a stay-at-home, seemingly put-together mother of three, whom Liz always deemed as "perfect." Until one night, Jess's baby, Betsy, is brought into Liz's ER with a fractured skull and no answers from the mom as to how the infant came to this injury. As Liz, the other doctors in the ER, child services, and Jess's husband attempt to uncover what truly happened to Betsy, dark secrets surface, revealing that perhaps Jess is not as perfect as everyone was led to believe. As you read this gripping new suspense novel, you'll feel heartache for all the characters involved. I truly could not put it down.

Publication date: August 18, 2020

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Tender Is the Flesh

Tender Is the Flesh

by Agustina Bazterrica

Sharon’s Pick #2

I absolutely love dystopian novels and Agustina Bazterrica’s Tender Is the Flesh is the type of book that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre. The book’s premise is Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle injected with nightmare fuel: animals have been infected with a virus that makes them poisonous for human consumption, and human meat, dubbed “special meat,” is now legal to eat. The narrator Marcos is a processing plant worker in the business of slaughtering humans. One day, he comes across a specimen that haunts him to the point where he treats her as a human being, knowing full well that enacting personal contact with those destined to become “special meat” is punishable with death. If you’re as much of a fan of dystopian novels as I am, this one is a must-read.

Publication date: August 4, 2020

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The Brideship Wife

The Brideship Wife

by Leslie Howard

Alexandra's Pick

I’m a fan of all historical fiction—whether it’s royalty in sixteenth-century England or unsung heroes in WWII’s Paris. But my absolute favorite historical novels are those that teach me a part of history, particularly Canadian history, that I had never known before. That’s certainly the case with Leslie Howard’s The Brideship Wife, which is available now. This debut novel delves into the true history of the British “brideships,” which sent young women to the British colonies in order to marry eligible men. The unique thing about these brideships is that some of the women actually found independence in these new countries. This novel, set in the Victorian era, follows Charlotte, who, after a disastrous party that puts her reputation at risk, decides to set out from England on the Tynemouth—a real-life brideship—for British Columbia. It’s an entirely engrossing read, and I can’t wait to see how it ends!

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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Summer Darlings

Summer Darlings

by Brooke Lea Foster

Courtney’s Pick #3

Summer Darlings was my most-anticipated May release, but it’s a great read for any summer month (and beyond)! First, just look at that cover! Maybe it’s the current social-distancing situation, but I would love nothing more than to be dipping my feet into a pool while sporting an adorable red retro swimsuit just about now. Second, behind this inviting cover is a jaw-dropping story. The year is 1962, and Heddy Winsome, a would-be screenwriter, is the nanny for one of the wealthiest families on Martha’s Vineyard. As the summer progresses and Heddy interacts with the residents on the island, she soon learns that no one is actually who they appear to be. In my opinion, this is the perfect escapist read for summer. 1960s Martha’s Vineyard? Secrets of the obscenely rich revealed? A nanny getting paid to watch this all unfold? Count me and my flip-flops in. Honestly, though, does anyone know where to buy a vintage swimsuit like that?

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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The Answer Is . . .

The Answer Is . . .

by Alex Trebek

Emily’s Pick #1

Jeopardy! is basically my family’s religion. Every night after dinner we would all gather together to watch Alex Trebek and the gang question those answers to their heart’s content. The beloved game show host has always been relatively quiet about his personal life, but ever since the flood of well wishes after his stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis last year, he decided to open up about his life and experiences on the show. I can’t wait to read more behind-the-scenes scoops of the show; relive those epic runs by James Holzhauer and Ken Jennings from Trebek’s POV; and hopefully learn what really goes on in Trebek’s mind during those contestant interviews. “Good for you” can only say so much.…

Publication date: July 21, 2020

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Pizza Girl

Pizza Girl

by Jean Kyoung Frazier

Sharon’s Pick #3

Jean Kyoung Frazier, you had me at pizza. A contemporary take on a coming-of-age story, Pizza Girl follows our pregnant, eighteen-year-old heroine as she grapples with the death of her alcoholic father while delivering pizzas in suburban Los Angeles. Her life begins to change when she develops an obsession with one of her customers, a stay-at-home mother who regularly orders pickle-covered pizzas to ensure her son’s happiness. This debut novel promises to be humorous, poignant, unexpected, and unforgettable!

Publication date: June 9, 2020

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Big Summer

Big Summer

by Jennifer Weiner

Sabrina’s Pick

A plus-sized media influencer, a love-hate relationship with high school’s most popular mean girl, and an unexpected invitation to a high-society wedding sound like the recipe for a Mean Girls meets Revenge of the Bridesmaids mash-up. Jennifer Weiner’s Big Summer follows the witty, moving, and suspenseful story of Daphne Berg, a body-positive social media Instagrammer who is starting to bloom in her own skin when her ex–best friend, the most perfect girl in high school, invites her to be her maid of honor. Drue Cavanaugh and Daphne Berg have not exchanged words in seven years, so when Daphne finds herself answering to Drue’s beck and call under the guise of a waterfront Cape Cod mansion wedding with the promise of hot guys and brand partnerships, she begins to question the true motive of Drue’s invitation. Is everything as it seems? Weiner explores issues of appearance versus reality, female friendship, and family bonds in this riveting summer tale. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting to see how this story unfolds.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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Resistance

Resistance

by Tori Amos

Heather’s Pick #4

If there’s a song that suits me better at the start of every work week than Tori Amos’s “I Don’t Like Mondays,” I’ve yet to hear it. My ears perked up, therefore, when I first heard she was releasing a book. I was completely SOLD when I learned the title: Resistance. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter’s lyrics have always had a political bent, as she’s used her voice to call out injustices, but now she’s revealing more about what fuels her artistic process than ever before. Even better, in the book she’s set to share actionable advice for becoming a more engaged citizen. I’m excited to dig in.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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You're Not Special

You're Not Special

by Meghan Rienks

Sara’s Pick #2

Everyone likes to think they're special; that their trials and tribulations are somehow unique; and that no one could really understand what they're going through. Well, actress and YouTube star Meghan Rienks is here to disavow you of that illusion in the gentlest, funniest way possible: by showing you how she got through it all herself. Rienks grew up in a small town with little to do but talk into a camera from her bedroom, which is how she attained her YouTube fame. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. From tales about dating disasters to toxic friendships to stepping out on her own, Rienks will having you laughing, cringing, and feeling empowered to not feel alone in your own angst as she details the weird and wonderful turns her own life has taken.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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Catherine House

Catherine House

by Elisabeth Thomas

Sara’s Pick #3

I love a good Gothic story, with characters trapped in an expansive but ever-ominous house, where they must contend with terrible secrets and their own fears. Okay, so maybe that’s going to hit a little too close to home for some people at the current moment, but for a spooky-loving reader like me, there’s no creepy read I am more eager to dive into this summer than Catherine House. The titular school is one of great prestige, promising its students vast future success—but only if they agree to give up three full years of their lives, with no contact with the outside world. No friends, family, TV, Internet: just themselves and rural Pennsylvania. Ines is willing to make that sacrifice, but when her roommate Baby’s time at the school ends in tragedy, she realizes something darker is afoot. Author Elisabeth Thomas’s writing will lull you into this world with luscious descriptions and dream-like prose, right up until the trap is ready to spring. If you’re looking for an all-consuming thriller, pick up this story set in the hallowed halls of higher learning.

Publication date: May 12, 2020

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My Kind of People

My Kind of People

by Lisa Duffy

Megan’s Pick

Say hello to your first (virtual) beach read of the summer! Lisa Duffy’s third novel, My Kind of People, is all about the power of community and the courage to start over. On Ichabod Island, 10-year-old Sky tragically loses her adoptive parents in a car accident and is left in the custody of their best friend, Leo. Along with his husband, Leo moves from New York to the island to care for Sky. There, Sky, Leo, and other island locals navigate tumultuous relationships, make surprising friendships, and uncover shocking secrets. You’ll be immersed in this small New England island town, and in true Lisa Duffy fashion, My Kind of People will captivate you with its cast of close-knit characters, pull at your heartstrings, and leave you feeling hopeful and whole.

Publication date: May 12, 2020

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More Than Love

More Than Love

by Natasha Gregson Wagner

Emily’s Pick #2

This summer, I’m on the lookout for emotional books filled to the brim with dynamic character interactions and life revelations that will keep me reading the day away. More Than Love is one of those books. This memoir from Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of late Hollywood actress Natalie Wood, describes her early childhood memories of her mom, and what it was like to experience Hollywood royalty from so close-up. At the story’s core is Natalie’s tragic sudden death by drowning while aboard a yacht in 1981—and the scandalous media and crime narrative that followed—with a cloud that has hung over her stepfather, Robert Wagner, ever since. Above all, this is a heartfelt, bittersweet ode from a fiercely devoted daughter to the adored mother she lost when she was just a child—and it makes me want to call my own mother right now and thank her for everything.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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The Down Days

The Down Days

by Ilze Hugo

Holly’s Pick #2

The premise of The Down Days is eerily similar to the pandemic conditions we've been living under—complete with mandatory face masks! But this disease is different. In fact, it's not much of a disease at all, but rather an outbreak of uncontrollable laughter, inevitably resulting in death. The worst part? No one knows how you catch it. Set in South Africa, The Down Days follows several characters as they navigate life within a quarantined city during this deadly outbreak. Faith, one of the city’s corpse collectors, agrees to help a desperate young girl find her lost younger brother. But as she investigates, she begins to wonder if the boy was ever real at all. Meanwhile, Sans, a trader of illicit goods, falls victim to distraction as a dream-like woman floats between his reality and subconscious. When his gang money goes missing, he's left searching for both answers and his own sanity. This story is told over the course of a week as Sans’s and Faith's lives intertwine. Multiple characters attempt to uncover how the laughter begins and how to stay safe as they question which reality they should trust.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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Ask Again, Yes

Ask Again, Yes

by Mary Beth Keane

Heather’s Pick #5

As the daughter of cops myself, I was immediately drawn to this touching novel about two NYPD officers, Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, whose families end up living next door to each other. As the years pass and their children grow up together, the two families’ lives become inextricably linked, for better and for worse, in ways they never could have predicted. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that this book—out in paperback now—will take you on an emotional journey you won’t soon forget. If you enjoy shows like This Is Us and Parenthood, you need Ask Again, Yes in your life.

Publication date: May 5, 2020

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

by Suzanne Collins

Emily Pick #3

I’m actually an OG Suzanne Collins fan, having followed along since her debut series, Gregor the Overlander—I haven’t looked at a laundry room the same way since—so I’m always on the lookout for what fast-paced, intelligent concepts she has coming next. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (prequel to the Hunger Games series) delves into President Snow’s story as he mentors a District 12 contender in the tenth annual hunger games. I always love a good villain origin story, and I have all the faith that this one will make any Hunger Games rereads even more heartbreaking now. And today is actually the publication day so I’m heading off now to read for hours on end. Peace out!

Publication date: Today!

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