Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown - ISBN: 9780063338326
Hardcover
Desperate for safety, a teen assumes a missing boy’s life, uncovering murder.
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Better the Devil

$30.40

  • Hardcover

    400 pages

  • Release Date

    20 January 2026

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Summary

A harrowing, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a queer homeless teen who, in a bid for safety, assumes the identity of a boy who went missing ten years ago…only to find that his new home is anything but a safe haven–from All That’s Left in the World author Erik J. Brown!

Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.

When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he’s desperate not to be sent back t…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780063338326
ISBN-10:0063338327
Author:Erik J. Brown
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Imprint:Collins
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:400
Release Date:20 January 2026
Weight:426g
Dimensions:31mm x 150mm x 216mm
Audience Age:13
A-Format
B-Format
Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown - ISBN: 9780063338326
150 × 216 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

“Readers won’t be able to look away. A grisly, unflinching, and twisty page-turner that takes an honest look at human nature.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“This addictively engrossing mystery blends unrelenting suspense with a genuinely heartfelt found family story. [A] brillliant thriller.” - Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“A compelling thriller that is not for the faint of heart” - The Horn Book

“A chilling domestic thriller. This novel blends intrigue and suspense with a surprisingly tender queer coming-of-age story about searching for belonging and acceptance.” - School Library Journal

“Fuses survival thriller and suspenseful mystery to deliver a resonant psychological roller coaster.” - Publishers Weekly

“An engrossing mystery.” - Booklist

“With a charming, whip-smart hero and a palpable evil lurking beneath a thin veneer of the suburban dream, BETTER THE DEVIL is a propulsive, engaging page-turner you’ll tear through in one sitting.” - Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and #murdertrending

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “A haunting story that’s sure to delight (and terrify). ” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “Both Andrew and Jamie are fully realized, empathetic characters whom readers will take to heart. Superb.” - Booklist (starred review)

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “In allowing the protagonists moments of laughter and warmth amid so much loss, he gets to the terrifying heart of societal collapse: the loneliness and guilt of outliving friends and family–and the resulting hope in connection.” - Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “It’s difficult to say Andrew and Jamie are lucky, as each lost everyone they knew, but love like this–a small ember carefully tended until it erupts into a sustaining flame–is rare even when there are millions of people around you.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “Brown has somehow achieved a book that is romantic, hilarious, warm-hearted, hopeful, and page-turningly thrilling all at once. I was hooked from beginning to end.” - Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “Tense, exciting, sometimes heartbreaking and always romantic, All That’s Left in the World explores what it means to hold onto hope and humanity when the worst case scenario becomes reality. With characters you’ll adore, and a fast-paced, mysterious plot that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can devour them, this book is not to be missed.” - Sophie Gonzales, author of Only Mostly Devastated

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “A timeless love story that could not be more appropriate for this moment, All That’s Left in the World is a thrilling, heartfelt, and beautifully written debut.” - Tom Ryan, Lambda Award winning author of I HOPE YOU’RE LISTENING

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “Survival is core to the queer experience, and in All That’s Left In the World, Brown takes that to apocalyptic extremes with the story of Andrew and Jamie. This is quintessentially brave, dangerous-in-the-best-way queer storytelling!”– - Adam Sass, award-winning author of Surrender Your Sons

PRAISE FOR ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD: “All That’s Left in the World is unfailingly riveting and hopeful. A timely exploration of survival, trauma, and love stitched together with sharp wit and bone-deep emotion. Erik J. Brown is an invigorating voice to watch out for.” - Julian Winters, award-winning author of Running With Lions

PRAISE FOR LOSE YOU TO FIND ME: “A charming read about finding who and what really matters in life.” - Kirkus Reviews

About The Author

Erik J. Brown

Erik J. Brown is the internationally-bestselling author of All That’s Left in the World and the sequel The Only Light Left Burning. His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books, and ALA Booklist. His second novel, Lose You to Find Me, became a USA Today Bestseller.

Erik is also the co-host of the YA Book Podcast YA-OK, where he and Alyssa Ljub of Netflix’s The Circle talk with new and established YA authors about writing, publishing, and all things YA! He lives in Philadelphia with his family.

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