BITE ME, ROYCE TASLIM

Lauren Ho's debut Young Adult novel - a smart, comedic contemporary pitched as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets Loveboat, Taipei.

Hot-headed, competitive track star Agnes Chan had always believed running would be her ticket to success in life - until an injury forces her indefinitely to the side-lines at the elite Dunia American International School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a school her middle-class family can only afford thanks to her teacher stepfather's steep discount.

Bereft and spiraling without direction, Agnes throws herself into helping her closest friend, headstrong socialite Zalifah "Zee" Azman, with her crush on the school's shy, reclusive jock heartthrob - Indonesian-American Royce Taslim, son of a wealthy construction magnate. He might be a match for Zee, but Agnes can't stand him; he's too rich, too privileged, too everything for his own good. But when an impulsive re-con mission to tail Royce leads Agnes and Zee to a seedy stand-up comedy club - with Royce, shockingly, on the roster of performers - Agnes is intrigued. Unlike Z, whose fickle crush fizzles instantly at the idea of Royce doing stand-up, Agnes loves comedy; listening to some classic George Carlin is her favorite way to unwind. Plus she can't wait to watch Royce totally bomb on stage.

When Agnes is pressed to do a routine of her own in order to enter the club, she agrees. How hard can it be? And when she crushes her spontaneous performance, the crowd's laughter giving her the first zip of adrenaline she's felt since her injury, she realizes maybe she's found a new thing. A new diversion, at least. Especially appealing because her presence seems to throw Royce - performing as the average, working class "Ray" - off his comedy game. Win-win.

As Agnes gets sucked further into the world of stand-up comedy - sneaking out for open mic nights all around Kuala Lumpur, afraid her parents would disapprove if they knew - and discovers there's an upcoming regional competition for young comedians, with the winner receiving a cash prize and a trip to perform in NYC, her competitive spirit kicks into high gear. But the more time she spends on the circuit with Royce, the more she realizes that his life isn't quite as idyllic as she assumed - and that maybe he's not so unappealing after all.

There can only be one comedian standing at the end, though, and Agnes is determined to take the crown. No matter what it takes. Because who is she, if not a winner?

BITE ME, ROYCE TASLIM is sharp, swoony, and laugh-out-loud funny; it's a vibrant exploration into the world of comedy, a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance, and a moving, layered story about family and identity and self-discovery. It's Lauren doing what she does best, for a YA audience - standout and relatable leads and an immersive setting, driven by her whip-smart voice and refreshing, unflinching candor.

Lauren Ho, author of adult romcoms Last Tang Standing and Lucie Yi is Not a Romantic, is a reformed legal counsel who now prefers to write for pleasure. Hailing from Malaysia, she is currently based in Singapore, where she's ostensibly working on her next novel while attempting to parent. Bite Me, Royce Taslim is her YA debut. Find her on Instagram and Twitter @HelloLaurenHo.