As featured on People, AOL, and MSN!

A teen girl’s attempt at social reinvention takes a deadly turn when a co-worker disappears—and she learns she may have been the last person to see the missing girl—in this razor-sharp, murderously funny thriller debut.

After the incident last year, Greta Riley Green is looking for reinvention—a fresh start—and a job at Hyper Kid Magic Land, the local amusement park, seems like the perfect way to forge a new path . . . no matter what it takes.

So when fate pulls Greta into Mercy Goodwin’s orbit, it feels like things are looking up. Beautiful and confident, Mercy dazzles audiences daily. And at the first party of the summer, she picks Greta to confide in. Mercy has a secret to share, if Greta will just meet her the next day. It’s a sign that Greta’s truly fitting in.

Only, when the time comes, Mercy is a no-show—as she is everyday after that—and Greta knows something’s wrong. She can’t help thinking back to the night of the party. Did Mercy seem upset? Terrified, even? Could she be in trouble? It wouldn’t be the first time a talented young performer came to a sinister end at Hyper Kid. . . .

Of course, Greta has her own issues with the past, and the more she uncovers Hyper Kid’s secrets, the more her own threaten to surface. This job was meant to be a reboot, a summer without trouble. But trouble, it seems, finds Greta, and her past—and the bloody past of Hyper Kid—is about to catch up with her.

Praise for Difficult Girls

“A thrilling debut. I dare you not to read it in one sitting.” —Cynthia Murphy, author of Win Lose Kill Die

“Sharp, witty, and oh so compelling, Difficult Girls cements Veronica Bane as an author to watch.” —Jessica Goodman, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Meadowbrook Murders and The Legacies

“Deeply heartfelt, laugh-out-loud funny, and filled with unexpected twists. Perfect for fans of Jessica Goodman and Karen M. McManus!” —Liz Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of the Agathas series and Murder Between Friends

“Twisty, bitingly funny, and fresh. Veronica Bane masterfully keeps you guessing as the bodies begin to drop.” —Trish Lundy, author of The One That Got Away with Murder

“Expertly weaves past and present mysteries in a humorous YA thriller.” —Megan Davidhizar, author of Silent Sister

“Veronica Bane has a rare gift.” —Amber Benson, actress and author of the Echo Park Coven series

“An engaging, plot-driven debut with a heart.” —Kirkus Reviews

Coming July 8, 2025 from Delacorte Press!