Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 04/14/2025 In this original paranormal horror novel by Romasco-Moore (Krazyland), a teen witnesses the live murder of her favorite online streamer. Pansexual 17-year-old Teresa-known online as Replay-idolizes streamer Brick, who inspired her to start making her own content. After surviving a fatal car crash a year ago, Teresa, feeling too afraid to interact with the outside world, began online schooling and turned to her community of fellow queer streamers, the Rainbros, for support. While she’s watching Brick stream, she notices a creepy figure in the background and records a clip. When Teresa posts the recording, Brick’s feed goes dark, setting into motion an unsettling series of events. As other streamers are attacked, seemingly by the same shadowy entity, Teresa endeavors to solve the mystery before the figure comes after those she loves-or Teresa herself. Ample streamer lingo appears throughout, setting the scene and tone of this intelligently cultivated thriller. Teresa’s grappling with the trauma of her accident adds a layer of claustrophobic tension to the insular goings-on; readers will root for Teresa as the protagonist unearths an untapped well of smarts and bravery in her bid for survival. Cover art depicts Teresa with pale skin. Ages 14-up. (Apr.) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 03/01/2025 After the traumatic death of her best friend, Teresa finds herself living in an increasingly small and suffocating world—reduced to the size of her bedroom, though she fears it might shrink even further. Her only reprieve from these dark thoughts—and her sole connection to the outside world—comes from the streaming community she’s recently joined. This safe space is suddenly shattered when a shadowy force begins to haunt people’s live streams, inexplicably leaving its victims in an eerie, unresponsive state. When a famous streamer dies shortly after one of these incidents, and the entity starts targeting Teresa and her small group of online friends, she becomes determined to stop it—even if it means facing her fears and leaving the confines of her self-imposed isolation. Romasco-Moore perfectly captures the irreverent and intentionally inscrutable spirit of today’s internet, telling a thoroughly terrifying and viscerally modern ghost story that explores themes of grief, identity, belonging, and the double-edged nature of social media. A companion to other online-savvy thrillers like Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s Such Lovely Skin (2024) and Adam Cesare’s Influencer (2024). - Copyright 2025 Booklist.