Description

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This emotional debut thriller follows a teen girl being haunted by the ghost of her toxic ex-girlfriend, who gives her a chilling ultimatum—help her possess another girl or go down for her murder.

"A blistering exploration of the ugliest and tenderest parts of love, Kennedy turns the classic ghost story on its head."—Courtney Gould, author of The Dead and the Dark

Maya has always belonged to Alana. After four years of dating, and on the precipice of graduating high school, Maya has been too terrified to consider the idea of life outside of their volatile relationship. Until she finds the courage to break up with Alana while they’re hiking in Southern California.

Then Alana goes missing. As the police get involved and the media run wild with the story, everyone seems to think that Maya is lying about Alana’s disappearance. Secretly, Maya knows they’re right: if Alana’s dead, she’s the one to blame.

But that’s not Maya’s only secret. Alana isn’t gone, not really—and she isn’t going to let Maya go so easily…

About the Author

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Kara Kennedy has been telling ghost stories—and sometimes living them—since childhood. She holds a BA in Professional Writing from Penn State University, where she worked as a writing tutor for years. Kara is an Author Mentor Match alumna and a Pitch Wars '21 mentee. She lives in Pennsylvania with her partner and their two kittens, Roanoke and Renegade. I Will Never Leave You is her debut novel.

Praise For…

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"A spine-tingling ghost story from an exciting new voice. I can't wait to read what Kara A. Kennedy writes next."—Kara Thomas, author of The Cheerleaders

“Haunting, healing, and unforgettable... I absolutely adored Kennedy’s emotional, atmospheric debut—and its narrator, Maya, a girl clawing her way back to herself. I Will Never Leave You has a high-stakes plot that will have you tearing through the pages but writing so gorgeous, you’ll want to linger on every line.” —Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

“Rippling with atmosphere and edge-of-your-seat thrills.”—Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls

"A modern ghost story told with hauntingly beautiful prose."—Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge

"Both a twisty horror-thriller and an emotionally complex character study, I inhaled this in one obsessive gulp. If this is Kennedy’s debut, we are not ready for the full height of her power."—Laura Steven, author of The Society for Soulless Girls

"A blistering exploration of the ugliest and tenderest parts of love, Kennedy turns the classic ghost story on its head. Refreshing and painful all at once, this story won't be leaving my mind for a long time." —Courtney Gould, author of The Dead and the Dark

"A nuanced look at the many ways a person can be haunted by both the living and the dead. This sapphic horror-thriller debut is something special."—C.L. Herman, New York Times bestselling author of All of Us Villains

★ "A healing paranormal tale." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This gripping thriller debut, with its harrowing take on toxic queer love....nails its portrayal of emotional abuse, possessive relationships, and the pain of letting go." —Booklist

"[A] sun-drenched paranormal thriller debut." —Publishers Weekly