Charisma

Aislyn Hollings is gorgeous and brilliant, but she's also burdened by intense anxieties that leave her barely able to function in social settings. Then a genetic scientist offers Aislyn an untested gene therapy called Charisma. The effects are immediate: despite a few headaches, a newly outgoing Aislyn is soon dating her longtime crush and attending parties, to the shock of everyone who knows her. As Aislyn learns she wasn't Charisma's only recipient, her side effects grow more severe, people start to die, and news gets out that a renowned geneticist was experimenting on vulnerable teens. Ryan (Nerve) offers a cautionary tale about the perils of designer genetics and what happens when scientists' aspirations get ahead of ethics. Her take on the topic is fresh and intriguing, and Aislyn's struggles to overcome her social anxieties and adjust to her newfound popularity drive the first half of the novel. Midway through, the story pivots, shifting into thriller territory as Aislyn and her friend Shane try to navigate the media and stay alive long enough to find a cure. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Mar.)