As my team and I continue to pour our hearts into developing the highly anticipated TV adaptation of the Gripped series, I’m thrilled beyond words to announce the re-release of Parts 1 through 5 with new covers and synopses.
Just a couple of weeks ago, after an inspiring meeting with producers, I dove straight into redesigning the covers myself. The goal? To capture the true essence of this young adult series, showcasing that it’s about so much more than substance abuse or football—though, those powerful themes are woven throughout.
The Gripped series delves deeply into the complexities of young adult relationships, mental health struggles, crime, the journey of recovery, faith, and the unbreakable bonds of family. It’s a multifaceted story of resilience, hope, and real-life challenges faced by teens today. And no, it’s not simply a comp to Euphoria or All American—it’s its own unique voice, blending suspense, emotion, and inspiration in a way that’s all its own.
These new editions are now available, ready to grip a new generation of readers. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the series for the first time, I can’t wait for you to experience it with this update.
Thank you for your continued support—stay tuned for more exciting news on the TV front!
— Stacy A. Padula, Author of the Gripped Series
Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told
The Gold Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards
One choice. One secret. No way back.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, everyone’s connected—friends, families, secrets.
Taylor Dunkin had it all: star athlete, hometown legend, future NFL prospect. But one devastating injury changes everything, pulling him into a hidden battle that threatens to destroy him … and everyone around him.
As pills spread through high school parties and close-knit circles, lives unravel. His brother Marc fights to uncover the truth. Cousins and friends like charismatic Chris, brilliant Jason, charming Luke, and anxious Cathy get caught in the web—where one experiment can spiral into disaster.
How far will the damage go before someone breaks?
Raw and unflinching, Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told dives into the opioid crisis gripping America’s teens.
Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
A Finalist for “Best Teen Book” in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Book Awards!
One party. One blackout. No escape.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, the shadows of secrets grow longer—and one wild night could shatter everything.
Chris Dunkin, the ultimate party king, wakes up with no memory of the chaos he unleashed. As fragments of a horrifying truth surface, he’s forced to confront the monster he’s become … and the lives he’s dragged into the abyss.
Meanwhile, Taylor Dunkin claws his way toward redemption, but a tangled web of crime and cops pulls him deeper. His brother Marc races to intervene, while friends like reckless Jason, tormented Cathy, and loyal Luke teeter on the edge—where loyalty crumbles and addictions strike without warning.
Who will survive the fallout when the blinders come off?
Raw and relentless, Gripped Part 2: Blindsided exposes the deadly grip of drugs on America’s youth.
Gripped Part 3: The Fallout
A Gold Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Book Awards!
One choice. One betrayal. Total chaos.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, redemption hangs by a thread—and one reckless party could snap it for good.
After a brush with death, Chris Dunkin vows to turn his life around, ditching the drugs and chaos for positive vibes and sobriety. But when his best friend Jason talks him into hosting an epic bash the night before school starts, Chris uncovers truths about himself that hit harder than any high.
Meanwhile, Taylor Dunkin fights to rebuild from his opioid nightmare, only to get tangled in a deadly game with cops and criminals. His brother Marc steps in as the go-between, but the “help” offered could cost their family everything—putting lives on the line in a web of danger and deception.
As addictions resurface and loyalties fracture, who will escape the wreckage?
Raw and unflinching, Gripped Part 3: The Fallout lays bare the brutal consequences of America’s teen drug crisis.
Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors
Currently Nominated for a 2026 Readers’ Choice Book Award
One deal. One clue. Eternal reckoning.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, illusions shatter—and one desperate deal could cost everything.
Taylor Dunkin, ex-star quarterback, battles to escape his opioid-fueled nightmare, but a shadowy pact puts his life and his family’s safety on the brink. As cryptic clues surface, feuding brothers Jordan and Marc must unite to unravel the mystery of Taylor’s disappearance—uncovering secrets that could redefine their bonds forever.
Meanwhile, Cathy Kagelli, fresh off grounding, dives into her boyfriend Jason’s hidden world of drugs, hatching a risky plan to pull him back … at the potential cost of her own soul.
Who will emerge from the deception unscathed?
Raw and riveting, Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors unmasks the perilous illusions of addiction and loyalty in America’s youth.
Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story
The Silver Winner for “Best Teen Book” in the 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards
One clue. One lie. No return.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, vanishings strike without warning—and one hidden truth could unravel it all.
Taylor Dunkin is gone. His brothers Jordan and Marc race to piece together cryptic clues from his abandoned Jeep, awakening to a nightmare that might cost them their brother forever.
Meanwhile, Missy Kent vanishes after a night out, her boyfriend Luke’s last glimpse of her lost in the club’s chaos. As friends dig deeper, innocence shatters, drawing them perilously close to a deadly secret.
Everything connects. Trust fractures. Who will pay the ultimate price?
Raw and heart-wrenching, Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story uncovers the shattering fallout of addiction’s grip on America’s teens.
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