Today we are thrilled to reveal the cover for A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic by Debbie Rigaud. The cover art was illustrated by Erick Davila and the cover was designed by Yaffa Jaskoll. The book will be released on July 26, 2022 by Scholastic. Preorder the book here, here, and here.
Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Ibi Zoboi, this new YA novel from Debbie Rigaud is a swoon-worthy story of Haitian culture, first love, vodou, and finding yourself, all set against the vibrant backdrop of the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn.
Cicely Destin basically lives for the West Indian Day Parade, the joyous celebration of Caribbean culture that takes over the streets of her Brooklyn neighborhood every year. She loves waving the Haitian flag, sampling delicious foods, and dancing among the floats and costumes. And this year? The parade falls on Cicely’s birthday, AND she’ll get to hang out with her amazing aunt Mimose, a stylish Instagram influencer famous for dabbling in Haitian vodou. Oh, and maybe she’ll see her sort-of crush, Kwame, in the crowd.
But fate has other ideas. Right before the parade, Cicely tags along to her aunt’s spiritual reading, where a rogue, mischievous spirit seems to take possession of Mimose. Cicely hardly knows anything about vodou, or how to get someone un-possessed. But now it’s up to her to set things right for her aunt, and the clock is ticking. She’ll have to enlist the help of her fast-thinking best friend, and, yes. . . Kwame. (Why does he have to witness her at her messiest?).
Cicely and her friends (and the reckless rogue spirit who is now their charge) set off on a winding, thrilling scavenger hunt through Brooklyn to gather the ceremonial items they need to help her aunt. Along the way, Cicely may just learn a few surprising secrets about spirits, crushes, history, and herself. But even if Cicely secures all the items, can she truly make magic if she hasn’t realized her own powers just yet?
This adventurous rom-com with a speculative twist will challenge our perceptions and enchant us in equal measure.
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Debbie Rigaud is the coauthor of Alyssa Milano’s New York Times bestselling Hope series and the author of Simone Breaks All the Rules and Truly Madly Royally. Her next book, Kindred Spirits, is forthcoming from Scholastic in 2022. She grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and started her career writing for entertainment and teen magazines. She now lives with her husband and children in Columbus, Ohio. Find out more at debbierigaud.com.
