Penguin lands YA queer first-love story from debut author St Jude

Penguin has landed a “heart-breaking and wise” queer first-love story from debut YA writer Jen St Jude in a four-way auction.

Publisher Anthea Townsend acquired UK and commonwealth rights to If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come from Jennifer Choi, Bloomsbury US associate rights director. It will publish in May 2023 in paperback as a simultaneous publication with Bloomsbury USA.  

The publisher said: “Told through an own-voice lens with unflinching and heart-breaking honesty, Jen St Jude’s debut YA novel is an emotional yet celebratory LGBTQ+ romance that will make you cry and be a powerful conversation starter.” 

The book, which contains the depiction of suicidal thoughts and reference to suicide, follows Avery Byrne, who is queer, in love with her best friend Cass and suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to live: an asteroid is headed for Earth and no one can stop it. 

Its synopsis says: "Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left." 

St Jude said: “My debut YA novel, If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come, is about the fragility of mental health, finding hope even when it feels impossible, and so many kinds of love. I’m absolutely thrilled to work with the brilliant team at Penguin Random House UK, and It means the world to me to share this story with UK readers (and beyond). I know it would mean the world to my main character, Avery, too.” 

Townsend added: “If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come hooked me from its very first pages. I was transfixed by Jen’s beautiful writing and this powerful story, finding myself weeping at its heart-breaking, but hopeful, conclusion. Jen has written a book that is romantic, emotional, and page-turningly thrilling all at once. It perfectly captures our ability to hold onto love, hope and humanity even in the darkest of days, with an important message for readers — that even if feels like the world is ending, you are always worth saving. I’m so excited to launch Jen as a major new voice in YA fiction.”