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“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder meets Ready Player One in this riveting read!” —BookBub Editors

Capsule is a deadly phone game with one rule: beat it in 24 hours or die. Can a gamer, cyberbully, and the popular girl band together to save each other?

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Look what the tide washed in…

Another reader lost at sea? Yeah, we’ve all been there. You’re not special.

The good news? Of all the islands to get stranded on, you found the right one. We’ve got plenty of books to keep you company.

Dystopian

Enter bleak, oppressive worlds where survival is a constant struggle.

Enter Dystopian

Soft Sci-fi

Enter technological worlds without the complexities of hard science fiction.

Enter Soft Sci-Fi

Low Fantasy

Enter realistic worlds with a hint of magic, whimsy, or the unusual.

Enter Low Fantasy

Proud IBPA member

Our books have appeared on

Small publisher. Mighty stories.

We take risks on the exciting ideas traditional publishers won’t touch.

Not much to do on our island—so we write. YA speculative fiction, specifically. It’s fun to imagine worlds beyond our shores.

Currently, we only publish 3-4 books per year, each meeting specific criteria. Our careful curation means that if you enjoy one story, you’ll likely enjoy them all.

Not sure where to start? Find your perfect matches from our catalog with our short quiz!

Match me!

Latest Release

Just launched 48 days ago

While Saunti adjusts to life in the Underground with Yahshi and Vell, Pinto calls old friends into service for the Force’s most dangerous operation yet. Learn more »

Mel Torrefranca is a full-time author and founder of Lost Island Press. Her books feature morally gray characters, bold endings, and a pinch of awkward humor. Mel discovered her passion for writing at the age of seven and published her debut novel Leaving Wishville during high school. She also drinks way too many lattes.

Hi, I’m Mel Torrefranca.

My boat crashed onto this island in 2020, and I’ve been publishing books for Lost Ones like you ever since.

I founded Lost Island Press to share stories I love and to connect with readers who love them too. Every publication is either one I wrote myself or selected according to the tastes of our readers. We take risks on the exciting ideas traditional publishers won’t touch.

When I’m not filming YouTube videos or drinking one too many lattes, you’ll find me immersed in the world of storytelling and publishing. My passion for writing began at age seven and led me to launch my debut novel, Leaving Wishville, as a high schooler.

Thanks for joining us at Lost Island. We’re not sure how you got here—but we’re keeping you now.

Let’s get lost.

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