Best New Novels 2018 Novels & Stories

Triggers; Explicit s*xual content Forbidden/taboo romance —- “Don’t stop, Ethan… please.” Her voice cracked on a moan as his fingers dug into her thighs, spreading her wide in the dark truck. For years, eighteen-year-old Mia has been hopelessly in love with Ethan — her older brother Jake’s twenty-two-year-old best friend. To him she has always been “squirt,” the little sister he swore to protect. But now their parents are gone for two weeks, and Mia is no longer willing to stay invisible. She launches a slow, relentless seduction: tiny bikinis by the pool, lingering touches in the kitchen, whispered questions that make his body betray him. Ethan fights it with everything he has — the bro code, his girlfriend Sarah, and years of loyalty to Jake. Every time he almost gives in, guilt forces him to pull away. But when Mia starts making him jealous, the tension finally snaps. One explosive night in a dark, secluded spot, Ethan stops resisting. He pins her down and devours her completely — raw, desperate, and utterly consuming. Now the line has been crossed. And neither of them knows if they can ever go back.

I made a mistake that could ruin me. I fell for a man I should’ve feared. At sixteen, I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Gianni Rossetti. My best friend’s father. A ruthless billionaire. A cold-blooded villain. A man twice my age, who could destroy me with a single look. For years, I was nothing to him—a silly girl with a foolish crush. But I couldn’t forget those icy blue eyes, the way his presence made the world feel small and dangerous. By the time I was twenty-one, I knew I should’ve walked away, left my fantasies behind. But then, one night, Gianni noticed me. And my world turned upside down. He didn’t just see me—he ‘claimed’ me. Every forbidden fantasy I’d ever had, he brought to life. He touched me, possessed me, made me feel things that shattered everything I thought I knew. With him, I wasn’t just a woman; I was ‘his’. But the deeper I fall, the darker it gets. Gianni’s world is filled with secrets, shadows that whisper of violence and betrayal. His past is more than just a dark history—it’s a deadly curse that threatens to consume us both. I knew he was dangerous, but I never imagined this. Now I’m trapped, caught in a web of desire and deceit, and the deeper I go, the harder it is to find my way out. But the worst part? I’m not sure I want to escape. Not if it means losing him.

A story of betrayal, revenge, and a second chance at life. Sia was loved, respected, and accepted—until the day her own family turned against her. Accused of trying to kill her step-sister, she is brutally punished by the people she trusted the most. Her husbands, powerful and merciless, stand by as her life slips away, while her step-sister Ritu smiles like a devil, hiding a deadly secret. But fate has other plans. Sia wakes up five years in the past—alive, reborn, and filled with a burning resolve. This time, she is not the same gentle girl who begged for love. This time, she is a new Sia—strong, fearless, and ready to rewrite her destiny. She has been given a second chance… and this time, she will live for herself. But when love turns into betrayal, and betrayal turns into revenge, the world will tremble. Meet the new Sia—whose heart now holds only one emotion: hatred.

My best friend, Mia Sullivan, had gone abroad for three years. When she finally came back, she was in tears. She said she had been dumped by a scumbag, was pregnant, and had nowhere to go. I felt terrible for her, so I not only let her move into my house but also asked my husband, Hudson Darby, to take extra care of her. That was until I found a prenatal checkup receipt in the study. The patient was Mia, and the family member who had signed was Hudson. I worried I was jumping to conclusions, so I shoved it back and rushed out the door. After I got downstairs, I realized I had forgotten the files I needed for my meeting, so I headed back up. That was when I saw Hudson and Mia in each other's arms. "What if Charlotte finds out the baby I'm carrying is actually yours?" Mia asked. "Don't worry. Charlotte trusts us so much, there's no way she'll figure it out," Hudson replied. In that moment, the seven years of love I had given him instantly turned into a cruel joke.

At the family dinner over the holidays, Elias Barrett has given all of our relatives and their children thick wads of cash. When it's my turn, he just frowns at me. "We've been together for so long. What's the point in going through the motions? You're the one managing the finances, so you can just withdraw what you need from the account." I merely nod without saying anything. But soon, I notice a text message from his bank popping out on the notifications' list. "You have transferred 1,430 dollars to Jamie Sutton. Remark: Babe, happy holidays. XOXO Elias." It turns out that Elias' anti-formalism rule is meant for me, not others. I don't bother starting a fight or throwing a tantrum. Instead, I just cancel the booking on my wedding venue that will be used next month. After that, I shred the kidney donation consent form meant for Elias into pieces. Once the holidays are over, I'm not going to extend Elias' life for him anymore.

After three years of marriage, James Chancer’s high school sweetheart came back to town. The same day, Sarah Sanders found divorce papers on her desk from the man she'd given her heart to for the past three years. Outside the courthouse, James poured his heart out to his first love,"I never even touched her in all these years. It's always been you." That was the final straw for Sarah. Writing off their marriage as a complete waste, she dove back into her career and became more successful than ever. That's when everyone finally realized what James had thrown away - Mrs. Chancer wasn't just a pretty face, but a wealthy powerhouse. A true catch in every sense. Three months later, James called her in the dead of night, his voice thick with regret, "Sarah, I made a huge mistake..." All he heard was her drowsy voice, “Zac, who's calling?" The man beside her ended the call with a smile, pulling her closer for a kiss, "Just another spam call, babe."

He’s loved her since the 5th grade. She beat up his bullies, slapped his fears, and owned his heart—but never seemed to notice. Or did she? Punit Soni, a sensitive, lanky teen with big dreams and stage fright, has been hopelessly in love with his fierce, guitar-wielding best friend, Ankita Agarwal, for years. She's bold, brilliant, and has no clue how deeply she means to him—or so he thinks. From school fests to slapstick disasters, broken guitars to broken hearts, their bond survives every misunderstanding. But can friendship survive unspoken love?

Fate most times fate plays a joke on us. We don't decide whom to love, and we sure don't decide when to fall in love. It all happens when we least expected. Being the most popular cheerleader in the school, Kira never expects to fall in love with the new guy in school. At first they clashed, but later on became friends. From being friends, she gradually started developing feelings for her best friend, feelings that weren't reciprocated as Edin doesn't feel anything for her, or so she thought. When she got betrayed by her female best from, Kira decides to leave the country in pursuit of her career while Edin stayed back to take over his family's business. Three years later, Kira is back. A chance meeting will bring the two best friends back to each other. But things can't be all that smooth for the two young lovers.

You are entering an alternate world, where the Philippines didn't achieve its independence but remained a US colony. You will meet four people living in Neo Manila, where the government is repressive, prohibited drugs are legal, and crime is rampant. Undesirables are abducted and imprisoned in the Valley, which is a hidden prison island. A secret society called the Sons of Lapu-Lapu is working to undermine the government and has spies within the Valley and the governmental ranks. A young man and a woman are victims of circumstance and caught between two sides. She initially betrays him but made amends later and became lovers. The government leader (and main villain) have thought of a bold plan to use witchcraft in creating a perfect Utopian society for him and the one-percenters in the colony: the New Gods. The remaining unworthy would not be included and thus eliminated. The soul of Neo Manila and the whole colony is at stake. Will the Sons of Lapu-Lapu or the New Gods prevail in the end? Who will you pledge your allegiance to?

Seven years ago, Aria was left shattered when Liam Brooks, the golden heir, denied her after spending the night with her and made her the center of ruthless humiliation. Once the broken nerd girl, she disappeared from that world—only to rise again, stronger, sharper, and untouchable. Now she's a celebrated fashion icon, Aria stands on the cusp of defending her crown at the Haute Couture Awards. But fate twists cruelly when Liam returns, no longer just her past tormentor but a powerful figure entangled in her present. What begins as a battle of ambition soon sparks a dangerous game of attraction and revenge. Aria is determined to win, to never bow again, even if it means turning Liam’s own fire against him. This time, the clash is personal—and only one of them might walk away unscathed.