"As addictive as it is unpredictable."―Natasha Preston, New York Times bestselling author of The Twin and The Cellar From Natalie D. Richards, the New York Times bestselling author of YA psychological thriller books, comes a romance suspense story about a girl who helps the boy next door―but he might be dangerous, perfect for fans of Megan Miranda and Karen McManus. Emerson May is "the good girl." She's the perfect daughter, the caring friend, the animal shelter volunteer. But when her best friend's brother breaks into her room, his hands covered in blood, she doesn't scream or call the cops. Because when Deacon smiles at her, Emmie doesn't want to be good… The whole town believes notorious troublemaker Deacon is guilty of assaulting his father. Only Emmie knows a secret that could set him free. But if she follows her heart, she could be trusting a killer… You can't always trust the boy next door. Perfect for readers who want: Teenage mystery books - Page-turning romance - Edge-of-your-seat twists Also by Natalie D. Richards: Five Total Strangers Six Months Later Gone Too Far One Was Lost We All Fall Down What You Hide Praise for My Secret to Tell : "Brimming with suspense and intrigue."―Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls "[R]eaders who enjoy heavy doses of psychological and romantic tension will not be disappointed."― VOYA "Plenty of fun and plenty to relate to in this coming-of-age romance with an adrenaline rush."― Kirkus Reviews Gr 7 Up—Set during a lurid South Carolina summer, this mystery opens as picture-perfect Emmie receives a frantic call from her best friend, Chelsea. Chel's father has been brutally assaulted in their home, and it appears that her brother, along with resident bad boy Deacon, is the culprit. While everyone in town is busy pointing fingers at Deacon, Emmie must decide for herself whether she should trust and defend the boy she's loved from afar or if she should do what everyone expects of a good girl and give him up to the authorities. This romantic whodunit might be best for early teen and reluctant readers with its swift pace, accessible plotlines, and somewhat predictable twists. In addition, reluctant readers will enjoy piecing the clues together to solve the mystery. For the sensitive reader, it is worth mentioning that there are references to death and drug addiction throughout. Richards does a beautiful job painting scenes of Southern life in a boating town and incorporating some diverse characters. However, she also makes some confusing leaps in the plot, leaving out critical details. For instance, in the first part of the novel, there is no mention of any character asking the beaten man to identify his assailant; rather, the townsfolk make their own assumptions and go on a witch hunt from there. The result is that the premise feels a bit flimsy and the characters' decisions are overly dramatic and premature. VERDICT Despite some flaws, this is a good choice for younger teens who want a bit of PG romance and a modern Nancy Drew-esque mystery.—Leighanne Law, Scriber Lake High School, WA " My Secret to Tell is as addictive as it is unpredictable. Natalie will keep you second guessing until the nail-biting end." ― Natasha Preston "Teen readers will find plenty of fun and plenty to relate to in this coming-of-age romance with an adrenaline rush." ― Kirkus Reviews "[R]eaders who enjoy heavy doses of psychological and romantic tension will not be disappointed" ― VOYA "If you like a good suspenseful story with great characters and a dash of darkness, you'll really enjoy this new book. I'm so glad I waited to read it." ― The Book Nut " My Secret to Tell is a clever whodunit with a fabulous cast of characters and an alluring romance that will appeal to teens. The mystery element is interesting and full of unexpected twists and turns. The motive for the crime remains elusive and Natalie B. Richards skillfully utilizes numerous red herrings to keep readers guessing the perpetrator’s identity right up until the novel’s rather dramatic and pulse pounding conclusion." ― Book Reviews and More by Kathy Natalie D. Richards writes books that will keep you up way past your bedtime. She lives with her family in Columbus, Ohio and when she’s not writing or reading, you can probably find her wrangling Wookiee, her enormous dustmop of a dog. Visit her on Instagram @natdrichards or at nataliedrichards.com. Prologue "Emmie?" My name lands somewhere between a hiccup and a sob, and my feet stall out on the sidewalk in front of my house. I adjust my grip on the phone, hoping I misheard her tone. This doesn't sound like Chelsea. This voice is breathless. Frightened. "I'm here," I say. "What's up? You don't sound right." "I'm not." She takes a shuddery breath. My shirt's sticking to my back and cicadas are click-buzzing the end of another blistering day, but I go cold. Something's wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. "It's my dad, Emmie," she says.