Chicken House scoops Welliver’s ‘high-octane’ dystopian romance

Chicken House has acquired the second book from Melissa Welliver, Soulmates and Other Ways to Die.

Publisher Barry Cunningham acquired world rights from agent Lucy Irvine at PFD. The novel follows Welliver’s debut, My Love Life and the Apocalypse, which was published by Chicken House earlier this year.

A high-concept enemies-to-lovers romance story with a speculative twist, Soulmates and Other Ways to Die is described as the story of two teens bonded together through an app which connects you to your ‘KinTwin’ – your soulmate.

The synopsis says: “Control-freak Zoe is determined to stay single in a society where soulmates are real. KinTwins. When your KinTwin hurts, you hurt. If they die, you die. When she matches with Milo Spencer, a boy who lives for recreational danger, Zoe strives to break their bond.”

The publisher describes it as “a sure-fire BookTok hit” and perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End (S&S Children’s Books), Soulmates and Other Ways to Die will be published in April 2024. Chicken House will be selling rights at Frankfurt 2023 with a cover from Micaela Alcaino, British Book Awards Designer of the Year 2022.

Welliver studied Creative Writing at the University of Manchester, after which she went on to complete Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing for Children course. She commented: “Soulmates and Other Ways to Die is a high-octane dystopian thrill ride with a dash of enemies-to-lovers romance, but it also asks the question: should we give up our choice for total control? I’m so happy to be working on another speculative romance novel with the Chicken House team and can’t wait for readers to fall in love with Milo and Zoe.”
Cunningham said: "Melissa is a brilliant writer about ‘almost’ futures – which feel heady and real because the characters are so strong, and the situations are so emotionally true-to-life. I’m pleased to continue to publish her unique books and reach even more readers.”

Irvine added: “Like with Melissa’s debut novel My Love Life and the Apocalypse, Soulmates and Other Ways to Die is a wacky, genre-bending romp of an adventure. I’m very happy Melissa’s found a home with the wonderful Chicken House team.”