Are you looking for your next amazing YA read that really packs a punch? Well, we've got just the book for you! Join us for a super special author event with former Atlantan, Sierra Isley, Mara Davis, and our bookish bestie, Julian Winters, in celebration of Sierra's debut novel: In the Ring! This book is absolutely AMAZING, and Sierra, Mara, and Julian are LOVELY, so be sure to save your seat for an evening of romance, boxing, laughs, and Little Shop! See below for more deets:
Admission: $0 That's right, this event is free to attend! However, you still need to "purchase" a ticket for every person who plans to attend. Please reserve your spot here!
You must purchase a copy of the book from Little Shop in order to enter the signing line. Pre-order a copy below!
Venue:
Little Shop of Stories - Upstairs Event Space
About the Book:
When high school queer teen Rose enrolls in boxing classes to alleviate her crippling anxiety exacerbated by a recent sexual assault, she instead finds herself sucked into an underground fight club and the charms of Elliott King, its ringleader. Will the fight world unravel her already fragile mental state or will it unearth a strength she never knew she had.
Rose Berman is losing her mind. At least, that’s what everyone at school seems to think. Plagued by panic attacks that started after her mother’s death, Rose is the target of frequent teasing and rumors. But when the star quarterback takes it too far, the school’s tattooed, cigarette-smoking time bomb — Elliott King — steps in and punches him in the face. Rose’s therapist recommends she try out a sport to manage her anxiety. She can’t help but think of Elliott – maybe if she could punch like him, she’d feel safer and stronger.
She sticks out like a sore thumb at the boxing gym, but she soon finds power in the sport and a reprieve from her panic attacks. As their worlds intertwine, Rose and Elliott are forced to face their most daunting opponent outside the Ring: their growing feelings for each other.
But Midtown Ring isn’t just a gym. As Rose falls deeper into the world of boxing, she learns Midtown is a front for a late-night, underground fight club where Elliott King is the headliner. Surrounded by violence and destruction, Rose’s anxiety begins to spiral. She starts hallucinating, just like her mother did before her death, leaving her to wonder if everyone at school might be right. If her newfound physical strength can’t keep her grounded in reality, she may be doomed to walk the same path as her mom.
About the Author and Moderator:
Sierra Isley is a young adult author originally from Atlanta, Georgia, but currently based in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with a degree in Editing, Writing and Media. Outside of writing, her passions include filmmaking, social media communications and drinking chai lattes. IN THE RING is her debut novel.
Julian Winters is a bestselling and award-winning author of contemporary young adult fiction. His novels Running with Lions, How to Be Remy Cameron, and The Summer of Everything (Duet, 2018, 2019, 2020, respectively) received accolades for their positive depictions of diverse, relatable characters. A former management trainer, Julian currently lives outside of Atlanta, where he can be found reading, being a self-proclaimed comic book geek, or watching the only two sports he can follow--volleyball and soccer.
"In the Ring gets that sometimes learning a new sport can look a lot like falling in love. If you like ride-or-die besties, bad boys with heart, and girls who can throw a punch, you'll enjoy this debut." - Emma Kress, author of Dangerous Play