From Judy I. Lin, the best-selling author of The Book of Tea duology, comes The Dark Becomes Her, on sale now. The first YA horror title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, The Dark Becomes Her follows Ruby, a 16-year-old aspiring pianist and second-generation Taiwanese immigrant living in Vancouver, British Columbia.

And, not to bury the lede here, but Ruby has been going through a lot. Not just the academic pressure placed on her by her parents. Not just the strained relationship that has developed between her and her younger sister, Tina. Not just the strange, unexplainable visions she’s encountered all her life.

If you feel like your own schedule has become a bit overwhelming as you try to balance school, work, family time, extracurriculars, and some semblance of a social life, you might be able to relate to the pressure cooker that is Ruby’s daily life.

And if you look at Ruby’s to-do list for tomorrow, you may feel significantly better about yours.

Wake Up, Eat Breakfast with the Family, and Prepare for School

-Westview uniform: gray blazer over red shirt and gray skirt or pants

-Remember, you would’ve had no chance of getting into Westview if it weren’t for Ma’s new job there. (Not that she’d ever let you forget).

Focus and Pay Attention in Class

-Tall order with everything that’s been going on.

-It doesn’t matter if the curriculum is boring. Westview promises a high university acceptance rate for all its graduates.

-Note from Ma: “Look to Westview alumni like Hope Wu as an example. If you only achieve a fraction of what she was able to do, I would be happy.”

Break for Lunch

-Glass noodles with cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and dried shrimp

-Tina will probably prefer to eat lunch with her new friends, so find some other girls from class

-Try to ignore the smiling spirit who lives in that courtyard beside our school. The one with the mangled face like a smashed pomegranate. No one else notices…

Find That Mysterious Boy

-The one who disappeared after saving me from that spirit with the gross tongue the other night. He might have answers about what’s been going on with me. And Tina.

-I’m almost positive he attends Westview.

-I’m absolutely positive he works at Bubble Madness (good excuse to stop by for a jasmine milk tea with grass jelly).

Meet with Your Group for the History Project

-Remember, Westview encourages group projects for students to better learn “collaboration” and “personal engagement.” AKA, my own personal hell.

Piano Lessons with Mrs. Nguyen

-Work on the Bach piece. Perfect the details–ensure that one section sounds brighter and clearer, and maintain the tempo on those challenging runs.

-Don’t answer when Mrs. Nguyen asks if I’ve given any thought to whether I’m going to play at any festivals next year.

-Work on the stage fright. How can I even hope to become a professional musician if the thought of performing grips me with so much fear?

Cover for Tina

-Ma and Baba still think Tina is going to math club after school. I don’t know what she’s actually doing, but she’s made it abundantly clear that it’s none of my business.

-Don’t count on her wanting to take the bus back home together.

Survive Another Dinner with Family

-Reassure Ma that you’re working on the ARCT certificate.

-Ignore Tina’s continuing strange behavior and make sure she doesn’t say anything she shouldn’t to Ma and Baba.

Work on Your Essay for English Class

-Put on some Debussy. “La fille aux cheveux de lin” or “Clair de lune” might help with focus.

-Try to ignore the strange scents and haunting chants coming from Tina’s room the past few nights.

-Oh, who am I kidding? Something louder than Debussy might be the answer . . .

Finally Relax and Take a Bath

-But not before checking in on Denny in case he’s been as freaked out about Tina as I have. Also, make sure he’s flossing correctly.

-It’s definitely the part of the day I’m most looking forward to most. A moment away from the stress of parents and teachers. From what’s going on with Tina. From worrying about the mysterious mark that the tongue spirit left on my ankle.

-Maybe, if I close my eyes and try really hard, I can pretend I didn’t see that floating face in the bathroom window. The eyes filled with darkness, only red pinpricks in the center. A mouth that seems to stretch wider and wider before my eyes, open in a cavernous, silent scream.

Go to Bed and Pray That Tomorrow Morning, This Will Have All Been a Terrible Dream

-Yeah, right.

See more of what Ruby has to endure daily in Rick Riordan Presents: The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin, on sale now.