Marie Lu is BACK with a thriller you won’t want to miss. Stars and Smoke is a smoldering enemies-to-lovers novel about a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger—and Cupid’s arrow. Need some extra incentive to pick this one up? Be sure to check out this interview with the author! What makes Winter and Sydney fierce? Both Winter and Sydney refuse to let their individual traumas derail their passions in life. Winter took his pain and made himself into a superstar; Sydney let her past hone her into a secret agent badass. They both work extremely hard at what they love, and neither one allows the world to write them off. I admire them for that. They just need to let themselves rest now and then! If you could give Winter and Sydney one piece of advice, what would it be? Take a break! Self-care, self-care! What's the most interesting thing you learned while researching Stars and Smoke? How the CIA trains their recruits. I read a memoir by a young former CIA agent named Amaryllis Fox who described how the CIA has a place called "The Farm"—a huge training ground somewhere in Virginia. Recruits are sent for six months to live in this immersive alternate world in order to train for spyhood. They aren't allowed to tell anyone in their lives where they're going; they just disappear for six months, with no phones or contact. Any mistakes made during this training gets them axed from the program. She said being in there for so long distorted her view of reality, so that sometimes she forgot she was in a fantasy world. It sounds so surreal and Hollywood-like. What's your favorite part of being an author? Honestly? Getting to meet readers in person, especially right after a new book comes out. When in the writing cave, it can be easy for me to forget why I'm doing this or who I'm writing stories for. Seeing readers reminds me of the joy in sharing something creative. There's nothing quite like that connection. What's the most challenging part of being an author? Writing the first draft. It's been so many years since I first became a full-time writer, but I'm still intimidated and awed by the process, and I have to remind myself that first drafts don't need to be perfect. They just need to exist, so that I can fix it. Easier said than done, though! What 3 words would you use to describe Stars and Smoke? Star-turns-spy. ABOUT THE BOOK This smoldering enemies-to-lovers novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu puts a superstar global phenomenon and a hotshot young spy on a collision course with danger—and Cupid’s arrow—in an electric new series perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Nicola Yoon. Meet Winter Young—International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him—just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling. Meet Sydney Cossette—Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She's fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance—especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders. When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter's lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter's bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter's charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there's more to Winter Young than just a handsome face. . .