Nothing Bad Happens Here!
Book Tour, Prize Drawings, Light Introspection, Feminine Rage, Archival Footage, Seaside Vibes, Nautical Myths, and more...
This is a big month at Courage HQ because Rachel’s debut novel—Nothing Bad Happens Here—is finally available to buy, borrow, and read (in print and audio) on March 18th!
People say a debut is usually an author’s “book of the heart”—the book, when you’re looking at their work, that says the most about them—and I’ve always thought that had a ring of truth to it. Not because debuts are memoirs in disguise, or that they’re somehow unguarded, but because they’re what an author chose to sit down and write first, when they had a universe of possibilities to choose from.
I haven’t re-read The Loudness in about ten years, but I think that’s probably true for me. There’s one theme—the climate crisis—that gets developed in my later books… but most of the others are core interests that I couldn’t not write about: intentional artists’ communities, curdled populism, resistance in the margins, dreamy days on a skateboard. There’s a kind of self-portraiture there, in retrospect.
And I think that’s probably true for Nothing Bad Happens Here, too!
This book is 100% fiction—I feel like I should take a second and underline that, since it’s technically a thriller and there’s a blood on the cover—but it’s so very Rachel, from the joyful chaos to the foggy Nantucket bike rides . . . and I just love everything about it (including one night swimming scene that’s just an all-time favorite).
I know I’m biased (reader, she married me) but if you’re reading to this newsletter, I think you’ll love it, too… and you don’t have to take my word for it!
“A summer in Nantucket brings beauty and tragedy to the surface… Sparkling and seductive, with an eerie undercurrent.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A picture-perfect climax… Plot twists keep the wheels of Courage’s suspenseful debut spinning while the mysterious girl gang and ample romantic frivolities provide the fun.” —Publishers Weekly
“The perfect summer read! Rich teens beach-partying in glamorous Nantucket . . . and then a murder. Enough mystery, twists, secrets and surprises to keep you reading to the startling finish. Loved it!” —R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series and Fear Street
“Part mystery, part thriller, part deep dive into the heart of a grieving teen, Nothing Bad Happens Here is compelling and vivid and absolutely pitch-perfect! A summer in Nantucket you won’t forget!” —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Timesbestselling author of The Lake House
“Perfect for fans of We Were Liars. You won’t want to miss this tense, twisty, gorgeously written read!” —Kass Morgan, New York Times bestselling author of the series The 100 and The Ravens
“One part fairy tale and one part old-fashioned New England whodunit, with a twist I never saw coming!” —Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of Liar’s Beach
"[A] spellbinding blend of mystery, thrills, and drama [...] rich in character and suspense. This haunting thriller with dynamic, empathetically portrayed characters is both entertaining through its many twists and turns and filled with lessons about trusting intuition." —Booklist
“Expertly layered twists and the perfect kiss of the supernatural. Thriller fans, rejoice!” —Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child
“A serpentine sea-misted mystery as elegant and bold as a Nantucket sunset. I was fully seduced by Lucia’s dark and stormy summer and could hardly pull myself away. Rachel Ekstrom Courage’s debut is a riveting, graceful high wire act, a delectable and dynamic New England thriller that pulls no punches. It left me utterly breathless.” —Derek Milman, author of A Darker Mischief and Swipe Right for Murder
“An atmospheric thriller where darkness is just beneath the surface.” —Mindy McGinnis, Edgar Award–winning author of A Madness So Discreet and The Female of the Species
“A can’t-put-it-down mystery layered with authentic relationships, sharp class commentary, and touches of magical lore. I absolutely devoured it.” —Jacqueline West, New York Times bestselling author of Last Things and the Books of Elsewhere series
“[A] smashing suspense debut! A page-turning exploration of the way the truth gets concealed—and the all-too-human and all-too-necessary desire to find the truth at any cost. Sure to be one of the best YA thrillers of the year. Don’t miss it!” —David Bell, New York Times bestselling author of She’s Gone and Nobody Needs to Know
Because someone always asks, and it’s the best and kindest question ever:
Pre-order or pick up a copy from your bookstore of choice (any bookstore works—but it’s great to support your favorite indie, and if you pre-order from Murder by the Book in Houston, Texas or RJ Julia in Madison, Connecticut, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Nothing Bad Happens Here prize pack! Both of those stores will ship your orders to you if you’re not in the area.)
Leave 5-star reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, and/or wherever you’d normally find book reviews (pro-tip: you can leave reviews on Amazon even if you don’t buy from there!)
You don’t have to buy anything to help! Borrowing from your local library—and requesting a copy if they don’t currently have it in stock—is also super-helpful.
Word of mouth is so important: if you can tell your friends—or gift them copies!—that gets the word out faster and better than any marketing department. Rachel has super-fun, Nick-designed book plates (while supplies last!) if you're gifting copies… and if you follow her Substack, she’ll be sharing more information about how to get those there.
I think that’s all from me for now. I have about a year’s worth of big news to share—it’s been a rollercoaster of a year, and you know I love a good coaster… but I think those updates will come in a couple of months. For now, I’m just so excited to be on #TeamRachel (and I hope you’ll join me on the squad)!
Nothing bad happens here,
Your friend,
P.S. Pittsburgh friends, it’s free to RSVP to this “Nantucket Beach Party” themed book launch on Saturday, March 29th at 2:00pm—hope to see you there!
