Such a Lucky Girl

Heard (We’ll Never Tell) considers the allure of self-transformation in this eerie supernatural horror novel. In Ventura, Calif., 17-year-old Bella Wright seems to have perfected the art of reinvention. As a social media influencer with millions of followers, she’s polished, popular, and academically accomplished—her curated persona summed up by the ironically self-effacing handle @imsuchaluckygirl. Bella credits her success to discipline and the power of manifestation, a philosophy that has helped her shed an awkward past. But not everyone has fallen for her put-together persona, least of all Kerry, her estranged former best friend, who has never forgiven Bella for abandoning their childhood bond. Kerry’s quiet life takes a dark turn when she discovers a cryptic self-help volume, As Within. Promising fulfillment through rituals and spells, the book offers Kerry a tantalizing shortcut to everything Bella has achieved. As Kerry delves deeper into its instructions, though, unsettling phenomena begin to ripple through both girls’ lives, including encounters with shadowy, malevolent entities. Intermittent excerpts from the ominous text and glimpses into Ruby’s past build an atmosphere of creeping dread. Skillfully balanced psychological tension and supernatural horror ground a recognizable narrative about identity and belonging. The protagonists read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Lauren Spieller, Folio Jr. (June)