Romance

A modern re-telling of Jane Austen’s classic Emma that manages to keep the charm of the original story while giving it a fresh perspective.

Neon is a seventeen-year old boy on the cusp of some major life changes; he’s about to finish school, but more importantly, he’s about to lose his virginity.

Author Abdi Nazemian is willing to use any tool at his disposable to shape his romance – even the Covid-19 pandemic. He turns protective gear into a romantic moment, as protagonist Kam is immediately captivated by his love interest Ash as he watches him remove his face mask for the first time.

A romcom with fairytale elements, Salomey Doku’s début graphic novel introduces readers to the love story of Brielle and Bear. With an ode to Beauty and the Beast, Brielle is a girl who loves to believe in fairytale romance, who meets Bear, a typical rugby captain.

Astrid is completely comfortable being herself. Surrounded by good friends and the star writer of her school’s Scribble Society, she even balances her time between her parent’s two houses like a pro. All is well, until she meets Teddy, the new boy.

A glittering young adult fantasy weaving together the viewpoints of the clever Seraphine Marchant and the cunning Ransom, this magical tale is bound to entrance readers the second they reach the first page.

The first publication from a brand-new Belfast-based publishing house, Hide & Seek charts the seasons through the eyes of the inner child of the contributors. Faerie Press is the first publisher of its kind, aiming to lift LGBTQ+ voices in Northern Ireland.

A coming of age novel that takes place over only forty-eight hours, Almost Nothing Happened has a vividly illustrated cover that instantly tells the reader that the title is not entirely true. Told between current events and flashback memories of the previous two months, the book follows narrator Callum through his sometimes improbable experiences around the varied neighbourhoods of Paris as he grapples with regret, impulsivity, and pining.

Based on the true story of the author’s grandparents, this poignant and beautifully illustrated picturebook brings to light the painful and often forgotten fate of Japanese Americans during World War II.