Picture a close-knit group of high-school friends in Montgomery Lake, Massachusetts: chasing dreams, navigating first loves, and discovering who they truly are. But when one risky decision opens the door to temptation, secrets, and unexpected consequences, their bonds are tested in ways that feel urgent and true-to-life.
Readers call it riveting, relatable, and uplifting—because it dives deep into the messiness of growing up while shining a bright light on hope, faith, and the power of choosing better.
If you’re looking for YA fiction that’s exciting, authentic, and inspiring—stories that mirror real life while reminding you that hope always wins—Gripped is the series you’ve been waiting for. Ready for an emotional, page-turning ride full of twists, heart, and triumph? Start with Book 1 today.
Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told
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?
Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
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?
Gripped Part 3: The Fallout
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?
Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors
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?
Gripped Part 5: Taylor’s Story
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?
Gripped Part 6: The Dunkin Legacy
Foreword by TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots Running Back
One pursuit. One revelation. Unshakable faith.
In Montgomery, Massachusetts, legacies endure-and one family’s hidden past could be their only hope.
The Dunkin family is on the run, hunted by the ruthless Bilotti crime family in a high-stakes game of survival. As Taylor navigates his dangerous alliance with the FBI, brothers Jordan and Marc confront buried memories that unearth deep wounds and necessary truths. Their father, Jack, battles his own demons through haunting flashbacks, while Michelle Taylor’s tangled history with the family promises revelations that could heal old scars or sever relationships forever.
Amid the danger, faith rises as the steady anchor-offering forgiveness, hope, and the courage to confront the darkest shadows.
Danger closes in. Truths emerge. Will the Dunkins’ legacy deliver salvation or destruction?
Reviews
“A riveting read from start to finish.”
– Midwest Book Review
“A compelling and gripping novel, with an important message.”
– Readers’ Choice Book Awards, Gold Winner
“I’ve always looked for ways to affect young adults with a positive message in my work and so the opportunity to take the world Stacy created, a world showing how good kids can easily fall into life threatening drug addiction and eventually put the pieces of their lives back together, was an opportunity and challenge I was excited to bring to the small screen.”
– Mark Blutman, Emmy-Award winning producer
“I recommend this book to teens and young adults because there are so many of us who may be lost and struggling, and we’re looking for hope, but in the wrong places.”
– TreVeyon Henderson, running back for the New England Patriots
“Invigorating, engaging and a must read. The characters in the Gripped Series diligently tackle the essence of forces that can limit greatness within.”
– LaTonya Pinkard from the Netflix Original Series ‘Last Chance U’
“A must-read for young adults, parents, and educators alike, offering both a cautionary tale and a message of hope. Stacy Padula continues to deliver a series that is as impactful as it is engrossing.”
— Angelina Tzeng, Student Body President of Braintree High School
“What truly sets Gripped apart is its ability to educate without preaching. Unlike many other reads, Padula does not soften the realities of addiction, peer pressure, or mental health challenges, and instead presents them as they often appear in real life—messy, painful, and deeply impactful.“
— Ava Khouri, Class President of Hanover High School
“The characters grow richer with each passing novel, as the depth of relationships between them approaches reality.”
– Mackenzie Wells, University of Georgia
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