‘Throwback’ by Maurene Goo Cover Reveal

As of November 8, Publishers Weekly exclusively revealed the cover to YA contemporary romance author Maurene Goo’s newest novel that has a sci-fi twist, Throwback, which is slated for a 2023 release with independent publisher Zando Books.

The novel follows Samantha Kang, whose never gotten along well with her mother Priscilla, until she’s found herself transported back to the 90’s…with her teenage mother! While wondering where she fits in this analog world, she wonders if her mother is someone she could actually become closer too as she tries to journey back home.

Goo had this to say about the story which “fulfills a long-held ambition” stating “I always knew that I wanted to write a mother-daughter book, but it took years for me to figure out a way to write one that wasn’t just overwrought with angst,” she said. “My own relationship with my mom in my teens was fraught—like Priscilla and Halmoni’s [Priscilla’s immigrant mother]—and I needed to find an entry into the subject that was fun, somehow. I got to thinking about time travel, because I love time travel stories, and realized my favorite movie, Back to the Future, was a perfect inspiration point. What if you could go to school with your Korean mom? That concept alone is so loaded with possibility.”

Cover designer is Natalie Sousa and illustrator is Kemi Mai.

Back to the Future meets The Joy Luck Club in this YA contemporary romance about a Korean American girl sent back to the ’90s to (reluctantly) help her teenage mom win Homecoming Queen.

Being a first-generation Asian American immigrant is hard. You know what’s harder? Being the daughter of one. Samantha Kang has never gotten along with her mother, Priscilla—and has never understood her bougie-nightmare, John Hughes high school expectations. After a huge fight between them, Sam is desperate to move forward—but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back.

To her shock, Sam finds herself back in high school . . . in the ’90s . . . with a 17-year-old Priscilla. Now this Gen Z girl must try to fit into an analog world. She’s got the fashion down, but everything else is baffling. What is “microfiche”? What’s with the casual racism and misogyny? And why does it feel like Priscilla is someone she could actually be . . . friends with?

Sam’s blast to the past has her finding the right romance in the wrong time while questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. Will Sam figure out what she needs to do to fix things for her mom so that she can go back to a time she understands?

Throwback by Maurene Goo is set to be released April 11, 2023!

‘Stars And Smoke’ by Marie Lu Cover Reveal

On September 30, revealed through Twitter was the cover to #1NYT Bestselling author Marie Lu’s YA action-thriller Stars And Smoke, slated for a Spring 2023 release!

Winter Young is a superstar who soon becomes a secret agent to infiltrate a criminal tycoon’s inner circle, the cunning, charismatic pop star is joined by the youngest spy in the covert ops organization The Panacea Group, Sydney Cossette, who poses as his bodyguard. As the mission brings them both closer together, they may become the biggest heroes the organization’s ever seen, if they can survive each other.

In her initial tweet, Lu confirmed the novel is to be a standalone, along the veins of Mission Impossible and The Hating Game.

Cover illustrator is Jessica Cruickshank and art director is Aurora Parlagreco.

Meet Winter Young—rookie backup dancer turned global pop phenomenon. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. Now he’s bringing his swoon worthy assets to a whole new arena…Infamous criminal tycoon Eli Morrison has just one weakness—his daughter, Penelope. And Penelope has just one wish for her nineteenth birthday—a private concert with Winter Young. When covert ops organization The Panacea Group approaches Winter with this once-in-a-lifetime chance to infiltrate Morrison’s inner circle, Winter must use his fame, cunning, and charisma to pull it off—only he won’t be on his own.

Posing as Winter’s bodyguard is the fiery Sydney Cossette, Panacea’s youngest spy. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter’s charms, but as the mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit there’s more to this A-lister than slick dance moves and a handsome face. Panacea’s unlikeliest partners just might become its biggest heroes—and maybe even more—if they can survive each other first.

Stars And Smoke by Marie Lu is set to be released April 4, 2023!