Books




Scroll down for more information about each of my novels. Click on the cover or title of a book to go to a page where you can find buy links, blurbs, and read the first few chapters.

HELLFINDER (Regal House/Fitzroy Books, Aug 2023)

“Hellfinder is like the ultimate Netflix series. It’s The Amazing Race meets Supernatural, and I enjoyed every twist and turn.”
—Jude Atwood, author of Maybe there are Witches

“A fast-paced and fun adventure with cute boys, fluffy sled dogs, and maybe a couple of hostile demons along the way. I couldn’t stop reading it!”
—Tina Connolly, Nebula-nominated author of Seriously Wicked

“Hellfinder is a captivating tale of action, romance, and magic unfolding across an epic setting. Stokes captures Iceland from all angles—the charming, the majestic, the desolate, and the deadly.”
—Victoria Scott, author of Fire & Flood and founder of Scribbler

"Fans of Shadowhunters and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina will find a kindred spirit in Rory as she battles evil while also trying to navigate complex and unfamiliar emotions for the new guy in her life.”
—Philip Siegel, author of The Break-Up Artist

Winter Break turns deadly when Rory Quinn and her treasure-hunter grandmother travel to Iceland in search of an enchanted artifact. The mission: to recover a blood-infused stone that legend says will lead its possessor to a doorway to hell. Their client’s grandson, Einar, stole the stone at the request of his favorite heavy metal band. As part of a publicity stunt, the band plans to open the closest doorway, rumored to exist deep inside one of Iceland’s many volcanoes, on Christmas.

Rory, Gram, and Einar’s twin brother, Gunnar, have only three days to recover the missing artifact or else the band will unleash unspeakable evil into the Icelandic wilderness. As the team grows closer to Einar, Rory is growing closer to Gunnar, too. But she can tell he’s keeping secrets from her. Big ones, that when revealed, will cause her to question almost everything she’s ever believed in and threaten the very lives of those she loves the most.


In the unforgiving world of popular video game Project Survival, seventeen-year-old Stella takes no prisoners. Her ability to annihilate both human and computer-generated enemies with the help of her partner Betsy earns the girls a chance to compete in the national championships in Seattle. But claiming victory isn't the only reason Stella's excited to head north. It's also a chance for her to meet Noah, a Project Survival newbie she took under her wing a few months ago who's become more to her than just another player--a lot more.

When the two finally meet, Noah is even cuter in person than in the pictures he sent Stella, but for some reason the real-world chemistry doesn't match the intensity of their late-night chats. Is it possible the boy of her dreams doesn't exist IRL?

With a huge cash prize on the line, Stella must navigate the dangerous terrain of Project Survival and her own conflicting emotions, even as she discovers that the lines between real life and online are blurrier than she ever imagined.

Fun, funny, and feminist af, Stellar is a tale of first love, best friends, and self-discovery that will appeal to readers of Fangirl and Tell Me Three Things.




Mackenzie Craig is no stranger to struggling. After a childhood marred by poverty and homelessness, she's worked her way up to the number two spot in her graduating class and secured a scholarship to a great college. But then Mackenzie collapses at the state debate championships. She's rushed to the hospital where her prognosis is grave--she's having a stroke. 

Mackenzie wakes up unable to walk or speak normally. She works hard to return to school in time to graduate, but when she overhears a classmate insulting her little sister, she doesn't have the words to tell him off, so she punches him.

When her college finds out about the assault, they threaten to revoke her scholarship. Mackenzie must meet with them to defend her actions before the fall semester starts. But August is only three months away. Can she re-learn to communicate in time for her hearing? Or will her stroke steal away her entire future?

Stronger than Words is an uplifting story about perseverance, hope, and human connection.


HIDDEN PIECES (HarperTeen, August 2018)

"Hidden Pieces is the dark, twisted, amped up, I Know What You Did Last Summer-esque YA suspense of my dreams! Paula Stokes delivers a modern classic."
-Gretchen McNeil, author of Ten and #MurderTrending

"A character-driven mystery perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti.”
-School Library Journal

“Stokes offers a classic whodunit, masterfully played. Characters, even minor ones, are well developed, as are the subplots . . . All become, as the title indicates, pieces of an intricate puzzle.”
-ALA Booklist, starred review


Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past. Bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy. Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, too, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Embry thinks she’ll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk. Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry’s life is safe. And their last move ... is murder.



THE KEY TO EVERYTHING (Wattpad, Jan 2018)

"This book made me want to travel abroad again. It's a perfect blend of romance and travelogue. I loved it!"
-Philip Siegel, author of The Break-Up Artist

"Paula Stokes perfectly captures what it feels like to be at that pivotal point between college and real life, showing the fear, confusion, and more importantly, hope that comes with. It's a book about taking chances, falling in love, and embracing the unknown, no matter how scary it may be." 
-Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

"This NA romance blew me away. Perfect man + adorable romance + amazing friendships + awesome adventure + wicked character growth."
-Brains, Books, and Brawn


College senior Oakland Fuller has always believed in signs and soulmates, so when both a therapist and a fortuneteller say that her repeated relationship failures are due to unresolved feelings for her high school boyfriend, Seth, Oakland tries desperately to get back in touch with him. Problem: Seth isn’t responding to her online messages.

To rescue Oakland from a pathetic Christmas break of sitting in front of the computer, her best friend Morgan books the two of them on a guided excursion of Thailand. When the girls meet a pair of American soldiers in Bangkok, Oakland takes Morgan’s advice and engages in a little harmless holiday hooking up. Sergeant Tyson Banks is the perfect mix of sexy and fun. Two weeks with him might just turn out to be the best relationship Oakland has ever had.

Until the day she spots someone familiar across a crowded temple complex—it’s Seth! Somehow the boy she’s been trying to reconnect with is in Bangkok too. If that’s not a sign, then what is?

Filled with friendship, romance, bromance, and gorgeous faraway settings, The Key to Everything is a story for anyone who’s ever dreamed of finding love when (or where) they least expected it. Recommended for ages 16+ Contains explicit material.

**2018 OREGON BOOK AWARD FINALIST**

"The ensuing tale of grief and forgiveness is smartly paced. Stokes doesn't lean too hard on the mystery element, revealing the cold truth early enough to follow through with all the baggage that comes with it...A sobering exploration of absolution."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Stokes explores the power of social media and online shaming...The book effectively demonstrates the effects of cyberbullying." 
-School Library Journal

"The supporting cast of characters is strong, from Genevieve’s no-nonsense mother to Elliott, the boy with two dads, who works at Zion National Park. Stokes builds realistic tension with the bombardment of social media, that faceless jury so quick to judge, sentence, and execute. This tragedy wrapped in a compelling mystery will entrance readers."
-ALA Booklist

When Genevieve Grace wakes up from a coma, she can’t remember the car crash that injured her and killed her boyfriend Dallas, a YouTube star who had just released his first album. Genevieve knows she was there, and that there was another driver, a man named Brad Freeman, who everyone assumes is guilty. But as she slowly pieces together the night of the accident, Genevieve is hit with a sickening sense of dread—that maybe she had something to do with what happened.

As the internet rages against Brad Freeman, condemning him in a brutal trial by social media, Genevieve escapes to her father’s house, where she can hide from reporters and spend the summer volunteering in beautiful Zion National Park. But she quickly realizes that she can’t run away from the accident, or the terrible aftermath of it all.

Incredibly thought-provoking and beautifully told, Paula Stokes’s story will compel readers to examine the consequences of making mistakes in a world where the internet is always watching…and judging.


FEROCIOUS (Tor Teen, August 2017)

"If you love kick-ass heroines with killer voices, you’re going to want to get acquainted with Winter Kim as she seeks revenge on the man who stole her childhood."
-T.A. Maclagan, author of They Call Me Alexandra Gastone

"The author excels at weaving her characters and narrative together, making each element propel the others... The rare sequel that properly expands the characters, world, and themes of its predecessor."
-Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of Vicarious will be pleased to learn Winter Kim is back and as determined as ever. This story will appeal to fans of action/adventure with a high-tech twist."
-School Library Journal

Paula Stokes returns to the world of Vicarious in this sequel, a high-action psychological thriller with a protagonist out for vengeance.

When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.

Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?


"Reading Vicarious is like tiptoeing across a field of landmines. Blindfolded. Stokes delivers enough adrenaline to make readers beg for mercy."
-Victoria Scott, author of Titans and Fire & Flood

"A mind-bending thrill ride, with a heroine who's as smart as she is strong. Readers will love Winter!"
-Lindsay Cummings, NYT bestselling author of Zenith.

"A twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end--I couldn't put it down!"
-Kristi Helvig, author of Burn Out and Strange Skies

"Vicarious is an ambitious and mesmerizing combination of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Just like Lisbeth Salander, Winter Kim is fierce, strong, and troubled, but you'll have no trouble rooting for her all the way."
-Ensconced in Lit


Winter Kim and her sister, Rose, work as high-tech stunt girls for Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it’s bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities at the city’s hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you—for a price.

When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter is devastated. She won’t rest until she finds her sister’s killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the neural recordings her sister made, Winter isn’t sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she’ll have to untangle what’s real from what only seems real, risking her life in the process.

Great for fans of Inception and The Girl With the Dragon TattooVicarious is an adrenaline-fueled, high-tech thriller that will keep you guessing.


GIRL AGAINST THE UNIVERSE (HarperTeen, May 2016)

"Filled with equal amounts of empathy, humor, and heart, Girl Against the Universe is an empowering story about finding the courage to piece your life back together, even when it feels irreparably broken."
-Tamara Ireland Stone, NYT bestselling author of Every Last Word and Time Between Us

"An irresistible and funny sports romance that's just a little bit heartbreaking."
-Miranda Kenneally, bestselling author of Catching Jordan

"A compelling heroine...Teens who enjoy emotionally charged stories will appreciate this novel about resilience."
-School Library Journal

“Stokes’ engaging prose and sympathetic characters serve up great lessons in acceptance for teens dealing with trauma.”
-Kirkus Reviews


Maguire is bad luck.

No matter how many charms she buys off the internet or good luck rituals she performs each morning, horrible things happen when Maguire is around. Like that time the rollercoaster jumped off its tracks. Or the time the house next door caught on fire. Or that time her brother, father, and uncle were all killed in a car crash—and Maguire walked away with barely a scratch.

It’s safest for Maguire to hide out in her room, where she can cause less damage and avoid meeting new people who she could hurt. But then she meets Jordy, an aspiring tennis star. Jordy is confident, talented, and lucky, and he’s convinced he can help Maguire break her unlucky streak. Maguire knows that the best thing she can do for Jordy is to stay away. But it turns out staying away is harder than she thought.

From author Paula Stokes comes a funny and poignant novel about accepting the past, embracing the future, and learning to make your own luck.



"Even the keenest mystery buffs will be hard-pressed to predict the book's finale, which packs quite the emotional and physical punch."
-Kirkus, starred review

"Stokes continues to masterfully plant crumbs and red herrings on the road to solving the mystery... The action is nonstop in this dark, psychological thriller."
-VOYA

"This thriller has plenty of appeal for teens looking for a book that will keep them guessing...this is one exciting ride."
-ALA Booklist

"This story twists and turns and screeches around every corner, but still manages to be a thriller with a big heart."
-Kristen Lippert-Martin, author of Tabula Rasa


For fans of Gone Girl, I Hunt Killers, and TV's How to Get Away With Murder

Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell forged permission slips and cover stories to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts Liars, Inc. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?

When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.

Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? In a story that Kirkus Reviews called "Captivating to the very end," Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.


THE ART OF LAINEY (HarperTeen, May 2014)

"Refreshingly honest, sweet and romantic...Perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins, but with an edge." 
-RT Book Reviews

"A satisfying and sweet story."
-Publishers Weekly

"A modern mashup of classic teen movies...Stokes does a good job with the sports subplots as well as the familial relationships. Lainey is a driven athlete who focuses on her passion, which is a refreshing change of pace."
-School Library Journal

"Romantic, witty, and unexpectedly deep. For anyone who has ever had their heart broken, life-plan turned on its head, and future suddenly in question, this book is for you."
-Rachel Harris, NYT bestselling author of YA and adult romance


To win back the one she loves, she’ll have to go to “war” . . . 

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—no reasons, no warning, and in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but with help from her friend Bianca, she resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, they're sure they can use the book to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. So Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few "dates", it looks like her plan is going to work! But now her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with, if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be?



VENOM, BELLADONNA, STARLING (Philomel, 2012, 2013, 2014)

My first three books--romantic mysteries set in Renaissance Venice--were written under the name Fiona Paul in collaboration with the book development team at Paper Lantern Lit (now Glasstown Entertainment). These books are quite different from the books I've written as Paula Stokes and as far as I know are out of print and currently only available through used bookstores and online marketplaces.