WASHINGTON, N.H. - s4story -- Contemporary novel Beautiful and Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens was released today in trade paperback and ebook formats by Black Rose Writing; the audiobook will be released soon. The book has earned accolades including numerous five-star reviews and two awards during its pre-publication phase.

Beautiful and Terrible Things was named one of seven finalists in the General Fiction category of the 2024 American Fiction Awards, sponsored by American Book Fest. The novel was also awarded a Literary Titan Silver Book Award. Literary Titan is an organization of professional editors, writers, and professors.

Midwest Book Review (which does not rate books in its reviews) wrote: "Beautiful & Terrible Things is a novel about social exile, awakening, and new discoveries in modern-day America. Its main character, 29-year-old Charley Byrne, is just coming out of self-imposed isolation in an unnamed city in 2018. The move from hermit to hero is immense. Libraries and readers interested in tales of connection, trauma, recovery, and social discovery will find the many currents of transformation in Beautiful & Terrible Things give much food for thought. It's highly recommended for diverse audiences interested in how social and political consciousness evolves and how self-analysis influences that process."

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The novel has earned five-star advance reviews from Reader Views, Indies Today, Reader's Favorite and Reedsy Discovery. Reader Views wrote: "Much like finding love when you're least expecting it, sometimes a book comes along and literally takes your breath away. Beautiful and Terrible Things by S. M. Stevens stole my heart from the first page. The author has successfully woven a tale of friendship, love, and identity amidst the chaos of today's dangerous climate, where there is so much hatred and intolerance. For readers who love stories about transformation, revolution, and advocacy, don't miss out on this emotional and highly inspirational reading experience."

Beautiful and Terrible Things (ISBN 978-1-68513-447-1, 389 pages, $24.95) is published by Black Rose Writing.

S.M. Stevens began writing fiction during back-to-back health crises: a shattered pelvis and ovarian cancer. Her novelette The Wallace House of Pain won a 2023 American Fiction Award and a First Place Chanticleer International Book Award. The Wallace House of Pain features the same characters as Beautiful and Terrible Things. Learn more at www.AuthorSMStevens.com.

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