Rebecca Podos – författare

The Mystery of Hollow Places is a gorgeously written, stunningly original novel of love, loss, and identity, from debut author Rebecca Podos.

All Imogene Scott knows of her mother is the bedtime story her father told her as a child. It’s the story of how her parents met: he, a forensic pathologist; she, a mysterious woman who came to identify a body. A woman who left Imogene and her father when she was a baby, a woman who was always possessed of a powerful loneliness, a woman who many referred to as “troubled waters.”

Now Imogene is seventeen, and her father, a famous author of medical mysteries, has struck out in the middle of the night and hasn’t come back. Neither Imogene’s stepmother nor the police know where he could’ve gone, but Imogene is convinced he’s looking for her mother. And she decides it’s up to her to put to use the skills she’s gleaned from a lifetime of reading her father’s books to track down a woman she’s only known in stories in order to find him and, perhaps, the answer to the question she’s carried with her for her entire life.

A delightful queer romantic fantasy full of friends-to-lovers chemistry, found family, rival family drama, and cozy garden magic from two acclaimed YA authors making their adult debut

Yael Clauneck is more interested in drinking and flirting than joining their powerful family's business. They're on the precipice of a predetermined life when they flee their own graduation party, galloping away in search of . . . well, they're not sure, but maybe the chance to feel like life can still be a grand adventure.

Margot Greenwillow-talented plant witch, tea lover, and greenhouse owner-has never felt further from adventure in her life. She's been desperately trying to keep what remains of her family's magic remedies business afloat. So when Yael, her childhood friend and former crush, rides back into her life, she's shocked. But perhaps this could be a good thing. After all, Margot could use an assistant in the greenhouses.

Yael has no experience or, honestly, practical skills, but they're delighted to accept the job. They can lay low for a while, flirting with Margot and figuring out what to do next. Meanwhile, Margot has plans of her own-but plans are notoriously unreliable, and unlikely to survive a swiftly blooming mutual attraction, not to mention the machinations of parents determined to get their heir back . . . no matter the cost.

Brought to you by Penguin.A delightful queer cottagecore romantasy full of friends-to-lovers romance, found family, rival family drama, and cozy garden magic.Yael is the only heir to one of the wealthiest families in the realm, destined for a life of power and privilege. But that’s not the life they want, and so, chafing at their family’s restrictions and expectations, they flee in search of a grand adventure.Margot, plant witch, tea lover and stressed greenhouse owner, has never felt further from adventure in her life. Since her grandmother died and her family fortune was stolen she’s been desperately trying to keep what remains of the family business afloat. So, when her childhood friend – and former crush – unexpectedly gallops back into her life, it makes sense to offer them a job and a place to lie low.In amongst harvesting strawberries for heartbreak jam and some totally, absolutely harmless flirting, they form a plan to take back everything that was stolen from Margot. But can their fragile arrangement survive their swiftly-blooming attraction? Not to mention the machinations of scheming parents determined to get Yael back – no matter the cost.© Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025