This is the story of Gemma and me: how I lost her, I suppose. I don't usually tell it to anyone but myself; I save it for the darkest moments.

Losing Gemma is one of the hottest fiction debuts of the summer. A first novel being compared to Alex Garland's breakthrough novel, The Beach—except the backpacking heroes are girls. And it's already being translated into nine languages.

What makes Losing Gemma truly unforgettable, however, is the read itself; it's as gripping and suspenseful as it is psychologically rich. Two young women have gone looking for adventure, backpacking through India—but only one returns. The other one believes it's all her fault. And the mystery behind what really happened during their fateful visit to a secluded shrine compels the reader forward to a page-turning conclusion that's shocking, strange, and haunting.