It’s uncharted territory for the New York Times best-selling author behind The Lunar Chronicles.
EW has your exclusive preview.
She’s written sci-fi and graphic novels, fairy-tale retellings and superhero sagas.
Credit: Connie Riggio
And with her next book,Marissa Meyercontinues to wade into uncharted territory.
In this case: the rom-com.
TheNew York Timesbest-selling author behindThe Lunar Chroniclesand therecently wrappedRenegadestrilogy will next publishInstant Karmain the fall.
Check out the cover and excerpt below.Instant Karmapublishes Nov. 3, and isavailable for pre-order.
Excerpt from Instant Karma, by Marissa Meyer
Quint Erickson is late.
I shouldnt be surprised.
Id be more surprised if he was actually on time for once.
Today?Of all the days?
Our beaches and coastal waters are home to some remarkable species.
They are not the monsters that humans have made them out to be!
Plus, adds her lab partner, Ezra Kent, whos eating who here?
I mean, did you guys know people actuallyeatshark?
Maya glances at him, frowning.
Mostly just their fins.
They make soup out of them, says Ezra.
Wrap your head around that!
But I mean, I would totally try it.
Teachers at our school have learned not to seat him and Quint together.
Anyway, says Maya, trying to bring their talk back on point.
The whole class grimaces.
And then they turn them into soup!
Ezra adds, just in case anyone missed that part before.
Another minute goes by.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek, trying to calm the nerves twisting inside of me.
The same frustrated rant begins to repeat in my head, for the eighth millionth time this year.
I even reminded him yesterday.
Remember, Quint, big presentation tomorrow.
Youre bringing the report.
Youre supposed to help me with the introduction.
Im a busy guy, Prudence.
But Ill do my best.
Because he has so much to do before 8:30 a.m. on a Tuesday.
I know I can handle the introduction on my own.
Ive been rehearsing without him, after all.
But hes supposed to bring our papers.
The papers that the rest of the class can then stare at while we talk.
The papers that will keep their bored, disinterested eyes offme.
The class starts to applaud half-heartedly and I snap back to attention.
I bring my hands together for one, two claps, before dropping them to the table.
Maya and Ezra gather up their presentation board.
He has my sympathy.
She isMaya Livingstoneafter all.
Pretty much the whole sophomore class has a crush on her.
But I also know my brother.
He will never have the guts to actually ask her out.
But, back to poorme.
Maya and Ezra are dropping into their seats and theres still no sign of Quint.
No sign of the papers that he was supposed to bring with him.
you might do this, I tell myself.You dont need Quint.
My heart has started to warble inside my chest.
My breaths are quickening.
I tuck the tube back into my bag and snatch up my index cards.
I dont think Ill need them.
Ive practiced so many times, I talk about habitats and environmentalism in my sleep.
But having them with me will help calm my jittery nerves.
At least, I think they will.
I hope they will.
Weve delayed as long as we can.
Maybe Quint will join us before youve finished.
I force a smile.
Id planned on doing most of the talking anyway.
Allthe talking, actually.
Not that it matters now.
My hands are shaking.
you’re free to do this.
Opening my eyes, I square my shoulders and make my way to the front of the class.
Its not that Im terrible at public speaking.
I actually think Im quite good at it, once I get started.
I know how to project my voice so everyone can hear me.
Its just the moments before I begin that are dreadful.
Im always convinced that something will go wrong.
My mind will go blank and Ill forget everything.
Ill start to sweat.
Ill turn bright red.
But once I get started Im usually okay.
I just have to start .
and then, before I know it, the whole thing is over.
And Ill hear what I always hear:Wow, Prudence.
You seem so natural up there.
Youre such a great presenter.
Words to soothe my frantic soul.
At least, my teachers usually say stuff like that.
The rest of my fellow students rarely bother to pay much attention.
Which is perfectly fine with me.
I smile at my peers.
Gee whiz, Bro.
Thanks for the support.
The rest of my peers stare back at me, practically comatose with boredom.
Its only ten minutes.
I take in a breath.
I was going to have supplementary materials for you guys to look at, I start.
But Quint was supposed to bring them and .
I want to point out the unfairness of this.
Everyone elses partner showed up!
But mine simply couldnt be bothered.
Oh well, I continue, swiping the stick dramatically through the air.
Here we go anyway.
I pace in front of the presentation board and exhale a clipped breath.
Beaming, I launch into my prepared introduction.
One thing weve learned in regards to marine biology, thanks to the exceptional tutelage of Mr. Chavez.
.I pause to point enthusiastically at our teacher.
Our beaches and coastal waters are home to many remarkable species.
Fish and mammals and sea turtles and sharks
Sharksarefish!
I tense and shoot her a glare.
Nothing can throw off a well-rehearsed presentation like an unnecessary interruption.
Interruptions are the enemy.
I reaffix my smile.
Straight down to the rich ecosystems of plankton and plant-life found in Orange Bay.
Which is why, for our semester project, Quint and I decided to focus our efforts on.
.I pause for dramatic effectmarine conservation by way of ecotourism!
I cant resist glancing around to see my classmates reactions.
He catches my eye and gives a subtle yet encouraging thumbs-up.
Mr. Chavez, at least, looks intrigued as he studies the model.
I move behind the table so I can stand over the diorama and point out the most notable features.
I tap the stick against the high-rise building.
But our tourists dont just come here to sleep.
They come here to explore.
Which is why Fortuna Beach needs new electric bike rental stations positioned at both ends of the boardwalk.
Sorry, Mr. C!
comes a voice that makes the hair prickle on the back of my neck.
My surprise vanishes, replaced with barely-restrained rage.
My knuckles clench around the pointer as I slide my gaze toward Quint Erickson.
He strolls between the tables and accepts a high five from Ezra, their usual daily greeting.
It would have been a perfect opportunity to smack him with the stick.
The zipper is as loud as a jet engine.
Someone in the class coughs.
From the corner of my eye, I can see Jude beginning to fidget, uncomfortable on my behalf.
Except, for some reason, Im not uncomfortable.
But, to my endless frustration, Quint seems blissfully unaware.
Of stopping me right in the middle ofourreport.
Of the awkward silence.
Im not sure he even knows whatawkwardmeans.
he announces victoriously, pulling a neon-green folder from the bag.
Even from here I can see that one corner is bent.
He opens it and starts taking out the reports.
I cant tell how many pages.
Three or four, probably double-sided, because who wastes paper on a report about environmentalism?
At least, hed better have made it double-sided.
Quint hands out the reportsstapled pages for our classmates, and a three-ring binder to Mr. Chavez.
No, he walks up and down the aisles, handing them out one by one.
He could be a politician, wooing the masses with that casual saunter, that laid-back smile.
My knuckles have gone white around the stick.
I imagine Quint stubbing his toe on one of the table legs.
Slipping on spilled lab chemicals and twisting an ankle.
Evenhecouldnt be immune to that sort of embarrassment, could he?
Something tells me hes been bracing himself for this moment since he entered the room.
No wonder he took his sweet time handing out the papers.
I give a shot to smile, but it feels more like a snarl.
So glad you could join us.
He might even be impressed.
As he well should be.
Impressed, and also ashamed that this is the first time hes seeing it.
Nice model, he mutters, taking his place on the opposite side of my miniature Main Street.
He lets out a low groan.
He gives us both a weary look.
Two more days, guys.
You have to suffer each others company literally for just two more days.
Can we c’mon get through this presentation without any bloodshed?
Shall I continue, or do you have something to contribute?
Quint feigns a bow, flourishing one hand in my direction.
A few of our classmates in the front row hear him and snicker.
Oh yes, hes hysterical.
Next time,youtry working with him and see how funny he is.
I bare my teeth again.
But when I turn back to the presentation board, my mind goes blank.
I knew this would happen.
I knew I would forget.
And I know its all Quints fault.
Panic floods my system as I pull out the notecards and fumble with them single-handed.Resort and spa .
.A few cards slip to the floor.
My face is suddenly as hot as a stove top burner.
Quint stoops down and picks up the dropped cards.
I grab them away from him, my heart racing.
I can feel the classs eyes boring into me.
His complete disregard for anyone but himself.
His refusal to ever show up on time.
His inability to do anything useful.
I could also say something?
I snap back at him.
All right, fine.
He lifts his hands protectively.
This is my presentation, too, you know.
Because he didso muchto help us prepare for it.
Whats really going to set Fortuna Beach apart?
I go still and look at him, as grateful for him as I am irritated with Quint.
**
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