Happily and Madly: A Novel

Description

Maris Brown has been told two things about her destiny: 1. She will fall happily and madly in love. 2. She could be dead before she turns eighteen. The summer before that fateful birthday, Maris is in the wealthy beach town of Cross Cove with her estranged father and his new family--and the infamous Duvals. Since the youngest member of the Duval family, Edison, is back from college and back in the arms of Maris's new stepsister, her summer looks to be a long string of lazy days on the Duval's lush beach. But Edison is hiding something. And the more Maris learns about him, the more she's given signs that she should stay as far away from him as possible. As wrong as it is, Maris is drawn to him. Around Edison, she feels truly alive and she's not willing to give that up. Even if it means a collision course with destiny.

Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in northern California with her husband and a gorgeous and rambunctious Golden Retriever, Dylan McKay. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of long beach vacations.

Sexy and surprising, with sinister twists and turns lurking beneath the surface."--Kara Thomas, award-winning author of The Cheerleaders Forbidden romance, dark family secrets, twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end--get ready to fall madly and deeply for your next favorite YA romantic thriller.--Kim Liggett, author of The Grace Year Sophisticated and smart, Happily and Madly is everything you want in a summer read: a lavish beach setting, a troubled family, forbidden love, and a slow-burning mystery that sinks in its hooks and doesn't let go until the last page. I'm still thinking about it. --Virginia Boecker, author of An Assassin's Guide to Love & Treason "This lush and slow-burning mystery by Bass (Love and Other Theories, 2014; What's Broken Between Us, 2015) is intoxicating and exhilarating and will enthrall young readers and mystery fans alike. Readers will be hard-pressed to unravel the mystery before the last page."--Booklist This masterfully paced crime thriller grabs readers from the get-go and does not let up, pulling them along with Maris down a twisting path through blind alleys, past red herrings, and into an enticingly complex web of deceit, money, and power. The emotional backdrop of her difficulties with her father and her rebellion against him gives her character depth and also provides the setup for an even more chilling twist.--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A bold debut that authentically captures the frenzy of love, lust, and senior year of high school!--Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin', on Love & Other Theories "Warning: Bass's debut novel will ignite ALL your feelings!"--Wendy Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy, on Love & Other Theories "Careful, subtle and aching.--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Love & Other Theories