Books with author Jessica Tacu

"I believe in possibility. Of magic, of omens, of compasses, of love. Some of it's a little bit true."Sixteen-year-old Tal is a Wanderer—a grifter whose life is built around the sound of wheels on the road, the customs of her camp, and the artful scams that keep her fed. With her brother, Wen, by her side, it's the only life she's ever known. It's the only one she's ever needed.Then, in a sleepy Southern town, the queen of cons picks the wrong mark when she meets Spencer Sway—the clean-cut Socially Secured boy who ends up hustling her instead of the other way around. For the first time, she sees a reason to stay. As her obligations to the camp begin to feel like a prison sentence, the pull to leave tradition behind has never been so strong.But the Wanderers live by signs, and all the signs all say that Tal and Spencer will end disaster and grief. Is a chance at freedom worth almost certain destruction?Wandering Wild is an achingly romantic journey of tradition and self-discovery—a magical debut.

"A masterfully written tale of survival, sisters, and love." —Julie Murphy, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dumplin'In this twisting tale of loyalty, betrayal, and hope, two sisters must survive the wilds, if they can first survive each other—for fans of Tell Me Three Things, The One Memory of Flora Banks, and Pretty Little Liars.Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happenned that wrecked them. I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow. Now the unthinkable occurrs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped on a gorgeous hell of an island, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall further apart. To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But will Henri ever forgive Emma? Can they survive this island? Can they reclaim what they’ve lost? There is no map for this.For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore. "Emotionally eviscerating." —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval"Top-notch—readers will be riveted." —Publishers Weekly"If you enjoyed the twisty suspense of We Were Liars, you'll rip through [this]." —PopSugar"A must-read." —HelloGiggles"A heart-stopping page-turner." —Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Truth About Alice“A unique glimpse at emotional and physical struggles.” —SLJ "Harrowing." —Stacey Lee, author of Under a Painted Sky"Beautifully told." —Buzzfeed"Will suck you in from the first page." —Brightly

"A masterfully written tale of survival, sisters, and love." —Julie Murphy, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dumplin'In this twisting tale of loyalty, betrayal, and hope, two sisters must survive the wilds, if they can first survive each other—for fans of Tell Me Three Things, The One Memory of Flora Banks, and Pretty Little Liars.Emma had always orbited Henri, her fierce, magnetic older sister, and the two had always been best friends. Until something happenned that wrecked them. I'd trusted Henri more than I'd trusted myself. Wherever she told me to go, I'd follow. Now the unthinkable occurrs—a watery nightmare off the dazzling coast. The girls wash up on shore, stranded. Their only companion is Alex, a troubled boy agonizing over his own secrets. Trapped on a gorgeous hell of an island, Emma and Alex fall together as Emma and Henri fall further apart. To find their way home, the sisters must find their way back to each other. But will Henri ever forgive Emma? Can they survive this island? Can they reclaim what they’ve lost? There is no map for this.For the first time, I was afraid we'd die on this shore. "Emotionally eviscerating." —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval"Top-notch—readers will be riveted." —Publishers Weekly"If you enjoyed the twisty suspense of We Were Liars, you'll rip through [this]." —PopSugar"A must-read." —HelloGiggles"A heart-stopping page-turner." —Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Truth About Alice“A unique glimpse at emotional and physical struggles.” —SLJ "Harrowing." —Stacey Lee, author of Under a Painted Sky"Beautifully told." —Buzzfeed"Will suck you in from the first page." —Brightly

"Emotionally eviscerating. A gripping examination of the barbed-wire bonds between sisters that cut, protect, and don't let go. Prepare to feel." —Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval "A masterfully written tale of survival, sisters, and love." —Julie Murphy, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Dumplin'Emma did something terrible to her sister. Something that cannot be undone. Emma and Henri were supposed to grow old together. They were sisters and best friends. Emma always imagined them as little old ladies living together in a huge house by the sea. But that was before—before the boat accident, before Emma and Henri washed ashore, before they got mixed up with Alex, a boy they barely know. The island is beautiful, but there is no fresh water, no food, no shelter. All they have are each other. And their secrets. As nights on the island turn into days, Emma hopes the need to survive, the desperation for comfort, will drive Henri back to her. Instead they’re farther apart than ever. And Emma finds herself drifting closer to Alex—Alex, who can’t understand why Henri is so terrible to Emma. But then, he doesn’t know Emma’s secret. Will Henri ever forgive Emma? Can they survive the island? Can they reclaim what they’ve lost? There is no map for this. A twisting tale of loyalty, betrayal, and hope—for fans of Tell Me Three Things, The One Memory of Flora Banks, and Pretty Little Liars."Top-notch—readers will be riveted." —Publishers Weekly"If you enjoyed the twisty suspense of We Were Liars, you'll rip through [this]." —PopSugar"A must-read." —HelloGiggles"A heart-stopping page-turner." —Jennifer Mathieu, author of The Truth About Alice“A unique glimpse at emotional and physical struggles.” —SLJ "Harrowing." —Stacey Lee, author of Under a Painted Sky"Beautifully told." —Buzzfeed"Will suck you in from the first page." —Brightly

"I believe in possibility. Of magic, of omens, of compasses, of love. Some of it's a little bit true."Sixteen-year-old Tal is a Wanderer—a grifter whose life is built around the sound of wheels on the road, the customs of her camp, and the artful scams that keep her fed. With her brother, Wen, by her side, it's the only life she's ever known. It's the only one she's ever needed.Then in a sleepy Southern town, the queen of cons picks the wrong mark when she meets Spencer Sway—the clean-cut Socially Secured boy who ends up hustling her instead of the other way around. For the first time, she sees a reason to stay. As her obligations to the camp begin to feel like a prison sentence, the pull to leave tradition behind has never been so strong.But the Wanderers live by signs, and all the signs all say that Tal and Spencer will end only in heartache and disaster. Is a chance at freedom worth almost certain destruction?Perfect for fans of Nova Ren Suma and Sarah Dessen, Wandering Wild introduces a stunning new YA voice, weaving magical realism and romance into a story of struggle and self-discovery.

"I believe in possibility. Of magic, of omens, of compasses, of love. Some of it's a little bit true."Sixteen-year-old Tal is a Wanderer—a grifter whose life is built around the sound of wheels on the road, the customs of her camp, and the artful scams that keep her fed. With her brother, Wen, by her side, it's the only life she's ever known. It's the only one she's ever needed.Then, in a sleepy Southern town, the queen of cons picks the wrong mark when she meets Spencer Sway—the clean-cut Socially Secured boy who ends up hustling her instead of the other way around. For the first time, she sees a reason to stay. As her obligations to the camp begin to feel like a prison sentence, the pull to leave tradition behind has never been so strong.But the Wanderers live by signs, and all the signs all say that Tal and Spencer will end disaster and grief. Is a chance at freedom worth almost certain destruction?Wandering Wild is an achingly romantic journey of tradition and self-discovery—a magical debut.