Most Popular Books by Melissa De la Cruz

Book one in the #1 New York Times best-selling Descendants series--now in the wickedly fun, action-packed graphic novel! Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost--a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world. Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon''s Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She''ll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the Dragon''s Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain''t so bad.

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss''s true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver''s brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged. Young, fanged and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz''s vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth instalment of the Blue Bloods series.

The sultry sequel to Triple Moon from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Return to the land of Never After, where real life and fairy tales collide, in The Missing Sword, the fourth book of bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz''s hit fantasy series. To save her mother from Olga''s evil clutches, Filomena must travel to the legendary land of Camelot to find the legendary sword Excalibur. But Camelot is not all that it seems. Fil and the crew quickly realize that another fairy tale has taken hold in the land of Arthurian Legend . . . the Wizard of Oz! With the help (and hindrance) of the Wicked Witches of East and West, the League of Seven follow the yellow brick road to retrieve the sword and complete their most important quest yet. In a land where nothing is truly as it seems, will Fil and the League of the Seven survive the witch''s tests? Or will Olga''s perilous plans rip Fil''s mother away from her forever?

Dear Peaches, America is PERFECT! I love it here. I wish you could come visit -- we could go shopping on Market Street and you could meet all my new friends. . . . Okay, so Vicenza isn''t being totally honest with Peaches, her best friend back in Manila. But what fun is it being the new girl at snooty Grosvernor High? Or rooting through the Salvation Army for unholey cashmere sweaters? Or having culture-shocked, embarrassingly clueless parents? Maybe being Claude Caligari''s ignored geometry partner is sort of fun, but Vicenza would rather be his girlfriend . . . or at least his date to the annual fancy-schmancy Soirée d''Hiver. But Vicenza won''t be friendless, fashionless, or "fresh off the boat" for long -- it''s only a matter of time before she sees what''s right before her eyes and her luck begins to change.

Schuyler Van Alen is confused about what is happening to her. Her veins are starting to turn blue, and she''s starting to crave raw meat. Soon, her world is thrust into an intricate maze of secret societies and bitter intrigue. Schuyler has never been a part of the trendy crowd at her prestigious New York private school. Now, all of a sudden, Jack Force, the most popular guy in school, is showing an interest in her. And when one of the popular girls is found dead, Schuyler and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of it. Schuyler wants to find out the secrets of the mysterious Blue Bloods. But is she putting herself in danger? Melissa de la Cruz''s vampire mythology, set against the glitzy backdrop of New York City, is a juicy and intoxicating read.

Evil tree. Bad Apple? Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon to the Isle of the Lost--a dark and dreary place protected by a force field that makes it impossible for them to leave. Stripped of their magical powers, the villains now live in total isolation, forgotten by the world. Mal learns from her mother, Maleficent, that the key to true darkness, the Dragon''s Eye, is located inside her scepter in the forbidden fortress on the far side of the island. The eye is cursed, and whoever retrieves it will be knocked into a deep sleep for a thousand years. But Mal has a plan to capture it. She''ll just need a little help from her "friends." In their quest for the Dragon''s Eye, these four kids begin to realize that just because you come from an evil family tree, being good ain''t so bad.

Nothing''s hotter than the summer before college, and Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui are determined to make their time in the Hamptons the best yet in this third book in the sizzling Au Pairs series.

Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos may have once been the baddest of the bad, but their wicked ways are (mostly) behind them—and now graduation is almost here! But before the seniors can don their custom-designed caps and gowns, courtesy of Evie, they''ve got an epic plan to put into action. There are tons of villain kids on the Isle of the Lost who are eager for their chance to come to Auradon Prep—even Celia, Dr. Facilier''s trickster daughter, wants in on the deal!—and Mal''s crew is using their upcoming visit to the Isle to help make it happen. But Auradon''s biggest threat is still at large… Trapped on the other side of the barrier, Uma is more desperate than ever to get her long-awaited revenge against Mal. When she discovers an underground lair belonging to Hades, god of the underworld, Uma realizes she''s found the perfect partner in crime. Together, they can defeat Mal, bring down the barrier, and escape the Isle for good. Mal and Uma have a score to settle, and they''ll come face to face in an explosive underwater battle that could determine the fates of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost once and for all. Praise for The Isle of the Lost "Disney lovers and fairy-tale fans alike will need to get their hands on this book." — School Library Journal Praise for Return to the Isle of the Lost "Packed with plenty of humor and adventure, this sequel spinoff is destined to please. With a second movie in the works and a bevy of loyal readers, it certainly won''t stay on shelves for long." — Booklist

‘This is an important, powerful contemporary YA that you won’t regret reading’ - Buzzfeed When your country doesn’t want you there, how do you know where you belong?

Desperate to escape the dangers of the ruins of New Kandy, Nat and Wes must put their love to the ultimate test by chancing even more perilous surroundings in hopes of seeing their world reborn by saving the source of magic.

As featured in People Magazine, Seventeen, Tiger Beat and Glitter! Vine superstar Lele Pons—“one of the coolest girls on the web” (Teen Vogue)—teams up with #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz (The Isle of the Lost) in this charming debut novel about the ups and downs of high school that’s as laugh-out-loud addictive as Lele’s popular videos. Ten million followers and I still sit alone at lunch. Lele is a bullseye target at her new school in Miami until, overnight, her digital fame catapults the girl with cheerleader looks, a seriously silly personality, and a self-deprecating funny bone into the popular crowd. Now she’s facing a whole new set of challenges—the relentless drama, the ruthless cliques, the unexpected internet celebrity—all while trying to keep her grades up and make her parents proud. Filled with the zany enthusiasm that has made Lele into Vine’s most viewed star, this charming novel is proof that high school is a trip. From crushing your crushes (what’s up with that hot transfer student Alexei??) to throwing Insta-fake parties with your BFFs and moaning over homework (GAH) with your frenemies, high school is a rollercoaster of exhilarating highs and totally embarrassing lows. Leave it to Lele to reassure us that falling flat on your face is definitely not the end of the world. Fans of Mean Girls will love this fun and heartwarming fish-out-of-water story.

A silly, laugh-out-loud read-aloud picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz! Once upon a time, in the middle of a group of seven thousand happy islands named after King Philip of Spain, there lived a lady named Dona Esmeralda. She had a big bouffant hairdo and was much smaller than you. And she was always hungry... And so begins the wickedly hilarious tale of one very old, but very stylish little lady who loves to eat, but can only find the ooey, gooey, mushy, smelly leftovers of naughty children to nosh on. But what happens when Dona Esmeralda finds out about all the tasty treats that children do eat? Hold on to your hairdos as Esmeralda eats everything in sight in a cumulative read-aloud inspired by stories from author Melissa de la Cruz''s childhood in the Philippines!

The New York Times bestselling author of The Isle of the Lost and the co-founder of the Sloomoo Institute chronicle their slightly devious and wholly entertaining path to achieving celebrity—in just two weeks! “A hilarious guide to becoming ‘It’ in an age where the line between fame and infamy is as fine as a Manolo Blahnik stiletto heel.”—Bonnie Fuller, editor-in-chief, US Magazine Two women. Fourteen days. The goal? Achieve bold face status. Sightings: Spotted last night at a giant bash at Nobu: fashionista cuties Karen Robinovitz and Melissa de la Cruz. Karen was heard saying she’s “still exhausted” from her recent Bungalow 8 birthday party. Apparently, she was wearing two million dollars’ worth of Harry Winston diamonds (including the 22-carat ring Whoopi Goldberg wore to the Oscars) and was constantly shadowed by a bodyguard named Lou who was straight out of a Scorsese film. Melissa, also fatigued from the fast track, just hosted an intimate dinner party at a swanky Upper East Side restaurant attended by trend-setting journos from New York magazine, The Observer, Allure, “Page Six” as well as the indefatigable Michael Musto—and as part of the gift bag giveaway, the whole crew is being flown to Miami to stay at a five-star resort favored by the likes of Will Smith. Asked how they managed to go from barely-known freelance writers to A-list celebrities in just fourteen days, they coyly spilled the beans: Marie Claire called with the assignment, and they simply begged, clawed, cried, borrowed, cheated, lied, stole, and bribed their way to fame. Their how-to tips to stardom include “Pick an M&M color to hate, and stick to it.” And they’re writing a book, daaahlings, so whether you live in New York or Nebraska, you too can have the goods to claim your own fame and become legendary.

Ashley Spencer’s birthday is an occasion for serious scheming in the third book in The Ashley Project series from bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Ashley Spencer, Ashley “Lili” Li, Ashley “A. A.” Alioto, and the honorary Ashley—Lauren Page—are preparing to set a social scene: Ashley Spencer considers her birthday to be the most important event next to…well, actually the most important event ever, period. So when the invite list is drawn up and the custom embossed invitations are sent, the guest list is a who’s-who of San Francisco’s elite. If people don’t yet know whether they are in or out, this party is sure to draw the lines of coolness in the most permanent of inks. Ashley intends to prove that there’s a reason she’s been at the top of the social food chain her entire life, and she’s not about to be unseated by some lame website ranking. She’d also like to solve that pesky problem of losing her boyfriend. Will all her birthday wishes come true? Or is her party going to be totally vicious?

Star-crossed lovers, meddling immortals, feigned identities, battles of wits, and dire warnings: these are the stuff of fairy tale, myth, and folklore that have drawn us in for centuries. Fifteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia in short stories that are by turns enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate. Compiled by We Need Diverse Books’s Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman, the authors included in this exquisite collection are: Renée Ahdieh, Sona Charaipotra, Preeti Chhibber, Roshani Chokshi, Aliette de Bodard, Melissa de la Cruz, Julie Kagawa, Rahul Kanakia, Lori M. Lee, E. C. Myers, Cindy Pon, Aisha Saeed, Shveta Thakrar, and Alyssa Wong. A mountain loses her heart. Two sisters transform into birds to escape captivity. A young man learns the true meaning of sacrifice. A young woman takes up her mother’s mantle and leads the dead to their final resting place. From fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge, these stories will beguile readers from start to finish. For fans of Neil Gaiman’s Unnatural Creatures and Ameriie’s New York Times–bestselling Because You Love to Hate Me.

A New York Times and Indie Bestseller--now in paperback! Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Red Queen, this is the first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy-romance duet about a deadly assassin, his mysterious apprentice, and the country they are sworn to protect from #1 NYT bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Caledon Holt is the kingdom''s deadliest weapon. No one alive can best him in speed, strength, or brains, which is why he''s the Hearthstone Guild''s most dangerous member. Cal is also the Queen''s Assassin, bound to her by magic and unable to leave her service until the task she''s set for him is fulfilled. Shadow of the Honey Glade has been training all her life to join the Guild, hoping that one day she''ll become an assassin as feared and revered as Cal. But Shadow''s mother and aunts expect her to serve the crown as a lady of the Renovian Court. When a surprise attack brings Shadow and Cal together, they''re forced to team up as assassin and apprentice. Even though Shadow''s life belongs to the court and Cal''s belongs to the queen, they cannot deny their attraction to each other. But now, with war on the horizon and true love at risk, Shadow and Cal will uncover a shocking web of lies that will change their paths forever.

Part three of the hot new four-part eBook companion to Melissa de la Cruz''''''''s Blue Bloods series! Lawson lures Bliss into a trap that entangles them in a seemingly impossible situation. Bliss seeks the hounds of hell and Lawson is running from them. But they find common ground and a mutual attraction that both of them must fight. They have loved deeply once and the loss hurts more than they are willing to risk again. What will happen when Lucifer''''''''s daughter teams up with Romulus''''''''s prized possession?

Bestselling authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz bring us a romantic retelling of Little Women starring Jo March and her best friend, the boy next door, Theodore "Laurie" Laurence. 1869, Concord, Massachusetts: After the publication of her first novel, Jo March is shocked to discover her book of scribbles has become a bestseller, and her publisher and fans demand a sequel. While pressured into coming up with a story, she goes to New York with her dear friend Laurie for a week of inspiration--museums, operas, and even a once-in-a-lifetime reading by Charles Dickens himself! But Laurie has romance on his mind, and despite her growing feelings, Jo''s desire to remain independent leads her to turn down his heartfelt marriage proposal and sends the poor boy off to college heartbroken. When Laurie returns to Concord with a sophisticated new girlfriend, will Jo finally communicate her true heart''s desire or lose the love of her life forever?

Are the Ashleys finished forever, or can their enemy-turned-ally find a way to save them? Find out in the fourth and final book in The Ashley Project series from bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Lauren Page thought her plan was pretty simple: Get a fabulous makeover, become one of the Ashleys, and once she was securely in their good graces, completely destroy them from the inside. There’s only one little problem: Now that Lauren is seventh-grade royalty she isn’t so sure she wants to follow through—especially because Sadie, her former best friend and current best frenemy, has a new scheme to bring down the Ashleys. So Lauren comes up with a different plan: save the Ashleys. But with Ashley Spencer dating a penniless boy, Lili shunning makeup and fashion, and A.A. questioning everyone’s loyalty, can it be done? Or will the Ashleys actually go down for good?

From the bestselling author of Blue Bloods and Witches of East End comes a new novel that explores the battle between good and evil, in the city that never sleeps . . . Vamprires of Manhattan: The New Blue Bloods Coven You''ll devour Melissa de la Cruz''s hot new adult novel, in which her Blue Bloods immortals have matured and are now exposed to new challenges, new loves, new threats, and a haute, hot hipster lifestyle. It is ten years after the great War with Lucifer, and the Coven has rebuilt. Leader of the Fallen, Oliver Hazard-Perry, plans to celebrate this prosperity by throwing a 400 Year Ball-and all Blue Blood society will be there. And then, all hell breaks loose . . .

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Witches of East End and the Descendants series comes the love story of young Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler. 1777. Albany, New York. As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival those of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball. Still, Eliza can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history. In the pages of Alex and Eliza, #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz brings to life the romance of young Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.

In the thrilling, suspenseful new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, all of Ellie de Florent-Stinson’s secrets come to light in one eventful evening full of twists, turns, and surprises. Before she became a glamorous fashion designer, Ellie de Florent-Stinson was a trailer-park teen about to turn sixteen. But a night of birthday celebration doesn’t go exactly as planned and descends into a night she’ll never be able to forget. Now, on the cusp of her fortieth birthday, it appears Ellie has everything she ever wanted: a handsome husband; an accomplished, college-age stepdaughter; a beautiful ten-year-old girl; adorable and rambunctious six-year-old twin boys; lush, well-appointed homes in Los Angeles, Park City, and Palm Springs; a thriving career; and a dazzling circle of friends. Except everything is not quite as perfect as it looks on the outside—Ellie is keeping many secrets. But hiding those skeletons has a cost, and it all comes to a head the night of her fabulous birthday party in the desert—where everyone who matters in her life shows up, invited or not. Old and new friends and frenemies, stepdaughters and business partners, ex-wives and ex-husbands congregate, and the glittering facade of Ellie’s life begins to crumble. Beautifully paced and full of surprises, The Birthday Girl is an enthralling tale of a life lived in shadow and its unavoidable consequences.

Lauren Page is well on her way to becoming an Ashley in the second book in The Ashley Project series from bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz. Meet the Ashleys: Ashley Spencer—the queen bee; Ashley “Lili” Li—the smart one; and Ashley “A. A.” Alioto—the sports star. And now there’s also Lauren. After Lauren Page’s unexpected and brilliant maneuver at the fall VIP dance, she is in so tight with Ashley Spencer, the number one Ashley, that she might as well be Ashley’s favorite pair of designer jeans…although everyone knows how quickly those can go out of style. When a new website, AshleyRank.com, starts to take off, it seems like for the first time since kindergarten it’s open season in the popularity race. The website pits the Ashleys against one another and turns the school’s social order upside down. Lauren sees an opportunity to truly belong to the in-crowd, Lili and A.A. see a way up and out from under the queen bee’s shadow, and Ashley Spencer sees a chance to prove there’s only room for one Ashley at the top. [Social Order was originally published as Jealous? and now features a new cover and title.]

From #1 bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz comes the heart-pounding follow-up to The Queen''s Assassin, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Holly Black. Lilac''s birthright makes her the Queen of Renovia, and a forced marriage made her the Queen of Montrice. But being a ruler does not mean making the rules. For Lilac, taking the throne means giving up the opportunity to be with love of her life, the kingdom''s assassin, Caledon Holt. Worse, Cal is forced to leave the castle when a horrific set of magical attacks threatens Lilac''s sovereignty. Now Cal and Lilac will have to battle dark forces separately, even though being together is the only thing that''s ever saved them. In the riveting conclusion to Melissa De La Cruz''s fantasy duet, love and magic are at war, and victory rests on a knife''s edge.

Perfect for fans of Let It Snow, this irresistible collection of wintry love stories is guaranteed to bring on the warm fuzzies. What''s better than one deliciously cozy, swoon-worthy holiday story?Four of them, from some of today''s bestselling authors.From KASIE WEST, a snowy road trip takes an unexpected detour when secrets and crushes are revealed.From AIMEE FRIEDMAN, a Hanukkah miracle may just happen when a Jewish girl working as a department store elf finds love.From MELISSA DE LA CRUZ, Christmas Eve gets a plot twist when a high school couple exchange surprising presents.From NIC STONE, a scavenger hunt amid the holiday crowds at an airport turns totally romantic.So grab a mug of hot cocoa, snuggle up, and get ready to fall in love...

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe from New York Times bestselling author, Melissa de la Cruz, is a sweet, sexy and hilarious gender-swapping, genre-satisfying re-telling, set in contemporary America and featuring one snooty Miss Darcy. The basis for the Hallmark TV Movie of the same name available on streaming. Darcy Fitzwilliam is 29, beautiful, successful, and brilliant. She dates hedge funders and basketball stars and is never without her three cellphones—one for work, one for play, and one to throw at her assistant (just kidding). Darcy’s never fallen in love, never has time for anyone else’s drama, and never goes home for Christmas if she can help it. But when her mother falls ill, she comes home to Pemberley, Ohio, to spend the season with her family. Her parents throw their annual Christmas bash, where she meets one Luke Bennet, the smart, sardonic slacker son of their neighbor. Luke is 32-years-old and has never left home. He’s a carpenter and makes beautiful furniture, and is content with his simple life. He comes from a family of five brothers, each one less ambitious than the other. When Darcy and Luke fall into bed after too many eggnogs, Darcy thinks it’s just another one night stand. But why can’t she stop thinking of Luke? What is it about him? And can she fall in love, or will her pride and his prejudice against big-city girls stand in their way?

Searching for the truth surrounding the mysterious deaths of young Blue Bloods, Schuyler Van Alen journeys to Venice, Italy, to get help, while back in New York, a young vampire discovers his true destiny at an after-party masquerade where danger lur

Your favorite bikini-clad au pairs, Mara, Eliza, and Jacqui, are back. But this summer, if it''s even possible, they will have more fun, more sun, and more romance than they know how to handle.

Lauren Page''s plan was simple: get a fabulous makeover, secure herself a place in the Ashleys and then bring them down from the inside. The only problem is that now she''s actually made it into the inner circle she''s having some serious second thoughts… But things are about to be taken out of Lauren''s hands. Sadie, Lauren''s former best friend, has started a rival group and plans to destroy the Ashleys herself. Can Lauren stop Sadie or is theAshelys reign finally over?

Because I Was a Girl is an inspiring collection of true stories by women and girls about the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities they''ve faced...because of their gender. Edited by #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, the book is the perfect gift for girls of all ages to celebrate the accomplishments of these women and girls who overcame adversity with their limitless potential. The collection includes writings from an impressive array of girls and women who are trailblazers in their fields, including bestselling authors Victoria Aveyard, Libba Bray, and Margaret Stohl; industry pioneers like Dolores Huerta, Trish McEvoy, and Holly Knight; renowned chef Katie Button; aerospace and mechanical engineer Emily Calandrelli; and many more. Because I Was a Girl features powerful stories from: Elizabeth Acevedo Katrina Adams Victoria Aveyard Bonnie Bartlett Brenda Bowen Libba Bray Katie Button Emily Calandrelli Babette Davis Williabell Jones Davis Melissa de la Cruz Abby Falik Jena Friedman Joan Hanawi Jane Hawley Tina Hay Jody Houser Dolores Huerta Zareen Jaffery Anjanette Johnston Mattie Johnston Holly Knight Jill Lorie Zoey Luna Trish McEvoy Loretta Miranda Gloria Molina Susan Morrison Anna Ponder Margaret Semrud-Clikeman Rebecca Soffer Cheri Steinkellner Margaret Stohl Noor Tagouri Tillie Walden Quvenzhane Wallis Francesca Zambello Lenore Zion

Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland.