High school LGBTQ+ club members race to solve a crime, clear their names and save the future of their group in this genre-bending debut
DALLAS – When members of a high school LGBTQ+ club are framed for the attempted murder of the head cheerleader, chaos takes center stage in “Pride or Die,” (April 15, 2025, Wednesday Books) the uproariously funny and deeply heartfelt debut from author CL Montblanc. Blending dark comedy with a twisty whodunit, this genre-defying novel follows a quirky group of 17-year-olds as they juggle crushes, anxiety and small-town prejudice — all while racing to uncover the true perpetrator behind the crime.
In this delightful dark comedy debut, when the members of an LGBTQ+ club find themselves accidentally framed for attempted murder, it’s up to them to clear their names before it’s too late. It’s kind of hard to graduate high school when you’re the prime suspect in an attempted murder. Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel just wants to finish her senior year and get the hell out of Texas. But when her LGBTQ+ club meeting inconveniently coincides with an attack on the school’s head cheerleader, she and her friends find themselves in the hot seat. In order to clear their names and ensure the survival of their club for future queer teens, they’ll have to track down the real culprit themselves. Unfortunately, Eleanora is far from a professional detective; she’s riddled with anxiety, annoyingly attracted to the case’s cute victim, and her trusty crochet hook feels insufficient for fighting off a killer. But if her chaotic friend group can’t sleuth their way out of an entire freaking murder mystery, they might just become the next targets.
“The funniest debut of the year. Exceptionally timely, and the most lovable, chaotic cast.
CL Montblanc is an author to watch.” — Page Powars, author of “The Borrow a Boyfriend Club”
“Pride or Die”
CL Montblanc | April 15, 2025 | Wednesday Books (Macmillan)
YA / Mystery | Hardcover | ISBN: 9781250340474 | $20
Early Praise for “Pride or Die”
“This dark and comedic mystery by debut author Montblanc deftly explores the gray areas between right and wrong, successfully addressing the complexity of people’s characters…the fast-paced plot and delicious mystery more than carry the narrative. A delicate queer romance that slowly blossoms throughout the story is the icing on the cake.” — Kirkus
” ‘Pride or Die’ is an entertaining mystery novel for young adults that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of murder mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels will enjoy trying to solve who attempted to kill Kenley and whether the murderer is still out there.” — YA Books Central
“Timely, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, ‘Pride or Die’ is the kind of book I wish I had as a queer teenager growing up in a conservative state. Truly, this book has everything: attempted murder, gay chaos, and some of the most charming and relatable friendship dynamics I’ve ever read about. CL Montblanc is one to watch.” — Kayla Cottingham, author of “This Delicious Death”
“With a loveable, wacky friend group, a sweet, budding sapphic romance, and an absolutely killer voice, ‘Pride or Die’ is a masterful genre blend. This suspenseful delight of a book shows the importance of identity acceptance and brings ‘be gay, solve crime’ to hilarious new heights.”
— Justine Pucella Winans, author of “Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything”
“Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. With an incredibly fresh voice, witty dialogue, and a cast of characters you’ll love, ‘Pride or Die’ is the most fun you’ll ever have reading about attempted murder!” -Elle Gonzalez Rose, author of “The Girl You Know”
“Filled with laugh-out-loud worthy prose, breathtaking plot twists, and timely social commentary, ‘Pride or Die’ is a compelling (almost) murder mystery that is at once unapologetically and delightfully queer. If you love stories about gay people solving crime, CL Montblanc’s debut is a must-read.” — Victoria Wlosok, author of “How to Find a Missing Girl”
CL Montblanc is a writer, producer, and escape room enthusiast. Despite hailing from Texas, CL is intimidated by both horses and very large hats. If you have any leads on where to acquire buried treasure, or a decent bagel, you can find CL on social media. “Pride or Die” is their debut novel.
Follow CL Montblanc on social media:
X: @clmontblanc | Instagram: @clmontblanc
TikTok: @clmontblanc | Threads: @clmontblanc
Bluesky: @clmontblanc.bsky.social
In an interview, CL Montblanc can discuss:
- Using joy and humor as tools to balance tougher realities and navigate difficult circumstances both in writing and in everyday life
- The importance of creating a space where readers — especially younger ones — can see themselves and experience both reflection and relief
- Merging genres, especially those that seem contrary like a teenage rom-com and a murder mystery
- The author’s goal to provide a story in which LGBTQ+ teens, especially those from conservative backgrounds, could see themselves reflected in a story that is both fun and meaningful, offering a heartfelt portrayal of those fighting for acceptance and a sense of belonging
- How the author explores the intersection of personal identity, friendships and high school politics in a way that feels authentic and empowering
- How the book centers LGBTQ+ teens in a way that celebrates identity, resilience and friendship while also addressing the struggles LGBTQ+ youth face, particularly in small-town or conservative environments, without losing its upbeat, empowering tone
- The author’s background in TV/screenwriting/comedy writing and transition to writing books
- Why Montblanc thinks putting characters before anything else, including plot, is most important when it comes to writing
An interview with CL Montblanc
1. Why was it important for you to include humor and joy while still addressing tough topics like anxiety and discrimination in the novel?
Humor and joy were the most important things for me with this novel. Oftentimes mental health, social issues etc. are constantly top of mind because they’re realities that people already deal with everyday. But joy can be more rare and fleeting, so I find a lot of value in nourishing it whenever you can.
2. “Pride or Die” blends two genres: teen rom-com and murder mystery. What inspired you to merge these genres?
Both were popular genres for YA (circa 2021), and I had seen them successfully combined in shows like “American Vandal” but not so much in literature. I enjoyed reading fun teen rom-coms, but a lot of them had similar stakes and were confined to “normal high schooler activities.” Adding in a mystery opened up the types of scenarios these kids might find themselves in, and there just felt like a lot of untapped comedic potential.
3. How do you approach blending genres that seem to be in opposition, like a lighthearted teen rom-com and a tense murder mystery? What does that mix add to the narrative? Did it make the writing process more difficult?
The trick is that they aren’t really in opposition. Both coming-of-age stories and murder mysteries are about facing injustices, dealing with loads of horrible crap, and just trying to make it out alive. There’s the issue of balancing tone, but teens tend to have a morbid sense of humor anyway, and they already have to be worrying about active murderers at school and everywhere else, so this type of scenario is hardly above what they are normally forced to handle. It was challenging, and sometimes unpleasant, to include some of the scarier moments in the story, but it was worth it — the wilder the plot gets, the wilder the potential hijinks.
4. How did your own experiences influence the writing of “Pride or Die”?
The book is a fictionalized version of my own teen years, with more in common that you might think (or hope). But it felt best to write something that’s true enough to my own experiences that its authenticity might balance out some of the camp and the wackier, more unbelievable elements. In general I’m a huge proponent of trying to both write and read as authentically as possible.
5. What kind of impact do you hope “Pride or Die” will have on LGBTQ+ teens?
I hope that teens will feel seen and authentically represented. While the book contains messaging about standing up for yourself, building a community and more, I also don’t really want to tell anyone what to do. I just want my readers to enjoy the book — even coming away from it with a temporary “happy and entertained” feeling would be an amazing impact in my eyes. Oftentimes, that’s really what people — especially teens who are really going through it — are needing most.
Download press kit and photos
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
