Best New Novels 2018

"Let's be clear. While I stay here, no kissing, no hugging," Aiden Anderson said without breaking his gaze at Jessamine, his best friend since third grade. "You're my best friend... You're like a sister to me and my only family. I don't want to be reckless and lose you in the end." "I was only teasing you, Aiden. I'm not losing you as well. You're the only man I trust besides my father," Jessamine assured him. Jessamine turned her back on him, fighting the tears, unsure why her heart was disappointed. A part of her brain said she would rather die with heartache than admit to him that she wished there was more to their friendship, but her heart screamed something else. She wanted to be reckless with him and gave her heart the freedom to love him more than best friend, but how could she admit to him she loved him when Aiden assured her he would disappear from her forever if they crossed the boundary of their friendship?

At twenty, she had one reckless night with the Beta who always looked at her like she was trouble. By morning, he was gone. He left more than silence behind. Two years later, she’s raising their daughter alone — strong, proud, and over him. Then he comes back. Not as Beta. As Alpha. And he wants what he didn’t stay for.

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?

Alphonsus Series 2: Jannah Leigh Alcantara She has been in love with her best friend and successfully kept her feelings from him ever since they were young. But when he got drunk, something happened between them. He brought her to his bed, and it happens over and over again every time he got drunk. Now, what will happen once she gets pregnant? ----- Jannah Leigh Alcantara has been in love with Jeremy, her best friend. She successfully kept her feelings from him ever since they were young. But one night, Jeremy got drunk. Confident that Jeremy wouldn't remember a single thing once he woke up, Jannah confessed her feelings, only to be taken advantage of by him. Something always happened between them, and Jannah couldn't help but surrender to the man she loved the most. But then, she got pregnant and was presented with the biggest betrayal she had ever experienced in her entire life: Jeremy revealed something that broke her heart. Now, she was torn between letting Jeremy take responsibility or hide their child. But upon choosing the former for she was left with no choice, his parents found out about her pregnancy and did something that both turn their worlds upside down. And that is, setting them up for marriage.

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."

Power is always associated with trouble. Sometimes it is great enough to save us from trouble, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it is so great that trouble can't get close and sometimes its greatness is the reason why trouble comes. Sometimes it's not about how you use it, sometimes it's about the power itself. The mere existence of a certain power could stir up fear, awe, hatred and envy depending on who percieved it and how they do.

Soon-to-be Alpha, Bobby, was more than just a regular shifter. On top of leading a powerful pack, his family had a powerful influence as one of Italy's most dangerous mafia leaders. Days before taking the title, Bobby's father finally comes clean with a secret he had tried to hide for way too long- Bobby had a daughter, and she was in danger. Bobby dropped everything and flew across the world to find her, but first, he had to locate the infamous woman he met for a one-night-stand. Little did Bobby know that he wasn't the only Alpha, from an influential family, that set out to find the girl. When he finally finds his daughter, Bobby has to face the most terrifying thing he had ever seen, on top of that- dealing with repulsive forces of law and a mysterious woman.

Amelia was always the outcast, mocked for her size and ignored by everyone but Dylan Thane, the only light in her dark school life. She fell for him, of course. Who wouldn’t? But her heart shattered when Dylan, her best friend, seemed to fall for the very bully who made her life miserable. Desperate to be seen, Amelia struck a deal with a mysterious old woman for the perfect body. The new Amelia turned heads but not Dylan’s. Because he had always loved her as she was… and had never betrayed her. Now, the true cost of beauty is coming due and it’s more than she bargained for.

I built them up. I gave them everything. And they destroyed me. I thought love meant sacrifice. I thought friendship meant loyalty. But I was wrong. I bankrolled my boyfriend, helping him rise from nothing, believing in his dreams. I took my best friend under my wing, giving her everything she never had. But while I was away, enjoying a much-needed girls' trip—the one she conveniently backed out of—they were busy betraying me in the worst way possible. I found out by accident. A simple call from his phone, meant to tell my best friend I was back, turned into the moment that shattered my world. "My baby." Those words on the screen made my stomach drop. And then I read more. "I’m just after her money. Once I get enough, I’ll leave her. I’m collecting from her and her father. I’ll use her and dump her." Every message felt like a dagger to my heart. The man I loved, the friend I trusted—they had been plotting against me all along. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. What do I do? Do I confront them? Do I scream? Do I fall apart? I want to wake up. I want this to be a nightmare. But it’s not. This is my reality. And I don’t know what happens next.

Mumbai. The city of dreams. Shining bright with impressive skyscrapers, glamorous filmstars, and glittering malls. Standing tall on the shimmering coast of the Arabian Sea. Everywhere Sun hits here, this city dazzles. But beneath this warm dazzle, there is another Mumbai. The cold Mumbai. The dark Mumbai. The stronghold of the mafia. Where narrow alleys are splattered with gun-powder and blood. Where lives are discarded like tissue papers. Where an obscene amount of money circulates unaudited. And since years now, this formidable underworld is under Lala Amarnath Vaghela's thumb. The powerful mafia kingpin who started his ascent from the slums of Dharavi years back, today he controls most of the Indian subcontinent's illegal dealings and organized crime with an iron fist. But not without help. Kunal Ranjan Vaghela. Lalaji's grandson and his heir apparent. Apple of his grandfather's eyes, he is calculative, sly, and cold-blooded. Samar Jagtap. Lalaji's ruthless and cunning protege. Indispensable, he is as unapologetic as they come in this business. Everything is working smoothly in Lalaji's world. Like a well-oiled machine. Or is it? Because apart from sharing Lalaji's trust, apparently these two capable young men also share an undisguised hatred for each other. Not above playing dirty in this high-stakes arena, both are merely bidding their time to tear one another down. But no matter who emerges the winner out of the two, there is someone who will only lose. A torn heart that refuses to take sides. A girl who dared to love them both. Stubborn and loyal-to-a-fault Maahi. Full name Maahi Ranjan Vaghela. Kunal Vaghela's beloved baby sister. And the beautiful confusion of Samar Jagtap's life.