Kayla Maria writes heartfelt, character-driven YA romances about growing up, falling in love, and finding yourself. Her stories blend swoon-worthy romance with gorgeous mental health representation woven throughout. Her debut novel, The Summer We Turned Thirteen, became an unexpected sensation. Despite its quiet independent release, it inspired 500K reads online, hundreds of fan art pieces, and is now carried in 30+ schools across the USA. Readers fell in love with its nostalgic, summery charm — and they've been eagerly waiting for what comes next ever since. Her next project, How To Get The Girl, is a fake dating, enemies-to-lovers duology that became a Bookstagram sensation in 2023, amassing millions of views and thousands of excited readers. After facing the devastating loss of her beloved brother and ongoing chronic illness while writing, Kayla stepped away to focus on healing and completing the series with the care it deserves. How To Get The Girl is finally back on track with Book 1 coming in 2026. ARC sign-ups, cover reveals, and release dates coming soon! Follow Kayla on Instagram @thekaylamaria for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and a cozy look into the story-driven worlds of her characters.