Kiss of Death will be given a 17+ rating
It's been a while since we've had a book with a 17+ rating, and the story is about the daughter of a mob boss, so it's likely.Unsurprisingly confirmed. Being a mafia romance story, it's bound to have graphic violence and/or sexual content.
The Phantom Agent will be the last new gender of choice story for a while
Guinevere and Kiss of Death are confirmed to be female-lead only. The sequel to Surrender will be genderlocked, just like the first book. Getaway Girls, while not officially confirmed, has a 95% chance of being genderlocked from the title alone. Roommates With Benefits and First Comes Love sound heavily based on romance, therefore they are likely to be genderlocked as well (then again, Untameable sounded like a genderlocked book when it was first announced, and it was still gender-of-choice). If all this is true, the earliest we'll get a new gender-of-choice story is April 2023 (assuming the VIP release is the month after the previous one, not a sequel, and not genderlocked).- Seemingly confirmed, PB mentioned in their end-of-year blog that most of the releases in the first half of 2023 will be female-only.
- Update: GG is unsurprisingly confirmed to be female-lead only as well, so now the only question is whether RWB and FCL will be too.
- The February 2023 Insiders confirms this further. The first GOC book of 2023 is Crimes Of Passion, Book 2, which is A) not out till the summer, and B) it's a sequel. With Untameable and Cursed Heart having upcoming sequels as well, which may be released around one year after the general release of the first book ended (along with Blades 2 in the fall), the first gender of choice story that isn't a sequel may not be released until late 2023.
- The March 2023 Insiders puts a twist on this theory. There will be five GOC books released in 2023, but at least two of them (COP and BOLAS) are sequels. If the sequels to Untameable and Cursed Heart (which are also GOC) both get released in 2023, then only one new series released in the entire year will be GOC, but it's better than none. Also, Untameable may feature Austin and Mandy as the "new, but familiar, couple" (meaning it wouldn't be GOC, even though its predecessor was), while Cursed Heart's sequel may well be released in 2024, meaning that there would be more than one new GOC series in 2023. Now it's just a matter of guessing which one(s), and whether it will be any of the books announced in March 2023.
- March Update: PB confirmed on TikTok that the first new GOC series of the year is Dirty Little Secrets, which premieres in the summer.
- April Update: Alpha is confirmed to be GOC as well. So that's four out of five GOC books confirmed for 2023, meaning that one of a few things could happen:
- Untameable will be released by the end of 2023 and be GOC, The Cursed Heart would therefore not be released until 2024 (the most likely possibility).
- The Cursed Heart will be released in 2023 before Untameable releases in 2024 (unlikely, but still a possibility).
- Both sequels release in 2023, but Untameable is not GOC, due to the new couple being Austin and Mandy (who are genderlocked).
- Neither sequel releases in 2023, and the 5th and final GOC book of 2023 is a brand new one. Alternatively, Untameable releases in 2023 and is not GOC, while another book that is GOC also releases by the end of 2023.
- The May 2023 update settles it once and for all; the 5th and final GOC book of 2023 is the sequel to Untameable, which is GOC, just like its predecessor.
Guinevere will be the last new multi-LI story for a while
Since then, there have been 5 new single-LI stories in a row: Kiss of Death, Getaway Girls (which is similar to The Princess Swap, being a multi-POV single-LI story), Roommates With Benefits, First Comes Love and The Duchess Affair. If Kindred is yet another single-LI story, then the earliest we'll get a new multi-LI story is July 2023 (assuming the VIP release is the month after the previous one and not a sequel).- Kindred will likely be a multi-POV book with one love interest for each of the three playable characters (much like Getaway Girls, the main character will have a gender-customizable love interest, another will have a same-sex love interest, and the third will have an opposite-sex love interest). Given the title and assumed premise, Billionare's Baby (the July 2023 book) may well have a single love interest (the titular billionaire, presumably). If that's the case, the next multi-LI book will be Dirty Little Secrets, and it will have at least one male love interest and at least one female love interest (following in the footsteps of Murder at Homecoming from the previous year).
- Update: Kindred is the next multi-LI book, having two love interests for the main character (Rainer and Archer/ Kaine). However, Kaine could turn out to be Evil All Along, leaving Rainer as the only love interest, much like what happened with The Phantom Agent.
- Update 2: Kindred just wrapped up, and it's indeed a multi-LI book (with only the MC being playable). But guess what, the book does reuse the GG combination for the three sisters: one straight, one lesbian, and not one, but two gender customizable LIs for the MC.
Guesses for potential main antagonists of upcoming (or just-released) stories
- Guinevere: Morgana - jossed, in fact there's a HUGE Plot Twist! See the book page to find out.
- Kiss Of Death: The rival gang's mother and/or father - jossed, it's Dylan Flint, Vic's adoptive brother.
- Surrender, Book 2: Either the main character's jerkass boss (who potentially got fired in Book 1) or Reagan Thorne's ex-girlfriend. It might even be the main character's ex-spouse.
- While there are several antagonists, including Reagan's father and the main characters's new boss (who also turns out to be a jerkass), we never get to settle the score with any one of them, after all the main focus of the series is the BDSM, not the relationships.
- Getaway Girls: The person responsible for leaking the messages about the main character's fiancé/e cheating on them (at the altar, no less). Who knows, the evidence might have even been faked by a jealous somebody. Turns out there's a Big Bad Ensemble; the main character's father (who wants her to go through with a marriage she doesn't want to, for selfish reasons), the main character's ex (who tries to win her back even after they cheated on her), Angela (Anita's publicist who made her a pariah when she wouldn't submit to her), and Jasmyn Puckett (Maia's main rival in the Party Animal competition).
- Roommates With Benefits: An Alpha Bitch fellow student and/or romantic rival for the main character's roommate (much like Becca in the first book of The Freshman). Turns out it's neither, it's Edwin, who set up the main character to get her in trouble because of his hatred for her love interest.
- First Comes Love: Rebecca, albeit as a possible Hero Antagonist, given the main character's Designated Hero status. Whether this comes to fruition will depend on whether she stays in the story or leaves.
- The Duchess Affair: The main character's husband. - confirmed
- Kindred: The one responsible for killing the main character's mother.
- Update: Turns out the wraiths have a king, who is most likely the big bad, but whether he was the one who killed the MC's mom remains to be seen.
- Update 2: In Chapter 13, our mom reveals in a premium scene that she was killed by the Wraith King's minions.
- Crimes of Passion, Book 2: The true person responsible for the death of Trystan's late fiancée. If the plot of "Who killed Detective Rose's father" is also covered in the same book, his killer will be the second half of the Big Bad Ensemble. Said person is likely to be the hooded figure, but who's under that hood?
- It is confirmed that the hooded figure was indeed behind Juliana's death, and it's Vasili Thorne.
- The Billionaire's Baby: Either the titular billionaire's wife, Daphne, or her mother, Estelle, (who is described in the blogpost as a "MIL from hell"). Chapter 12 suggests it's the latter, since it's clear that Daphne is unhappy in her marriage, but Estelle is forcing her to stay in the marriage for her own benefit, even threatening the main character if she intervenes.
- Dirty Little Secrets: Since Word of God confirmed this book is PB's answer to Pretty Little Liars, the Big Bad will be PB's equivalent of A. Alternatively, since the July 2023 Choices Insiders hints that the story will be going in a different direction, the Big Bad will probably be the murderer (as is the case in most murder mystery books that Choices have done). The murderer is eventually revealed to be Sadie's pool boy, Vince.
- Alpha: The, well, alpha werewolf of a rival pack. Alternatively, it could be Markus, who wants to dig up dirt on Alpha Tau at all costs, he may even be a werewolf hunter or the son of one.
- Chapter 18 confirms that Markus is indeed a werewolf hunter and the Big Bad.
- Ship of Dreams: Since Word of God confirmed this book is PB's answer to Titanic (1997), the Big Bad will be PB's equivalent of Caledon Hockley. Jossed, it's none other than Adele, the main character's own sister.
- Blades of Light and Shadow, Book 2: The leader of the Empire of Ash (Princess Valax's mother), or possibly even The Watcher themself (the former is confirmed).
- The Cursed Heart, Book 2: The one responsible for "The Eclipse" (later revealed to be Jack).
- Unbridled: The main character's ex, whom they are going to the Martinez ranch specifically to escape from. - confirmed
- Immortal Desires, Book 2: Either Lewyn or Astoria (possibly both as a Big Bad Ensemble). Since the June 2023 blogpost mentions having to pledge our allegiance to one of the covens, the Big Bad will likely be the leader of the other coven. Likely jossed with a sneak peek showing a new enemy who's heavily implied to be a Vampire Hunter wielding a silver chain.
- Book 2 Chapter 10, confirms that Lennox is the leader of the Forest Bureau which is a front for it being full of vampire hunters.
- Hot Shot: The leader of the opposing sports team (likely an Alpha Bitch or Jerk Jock), or maybe even a villainous sports coach. Alternatively, it could be the journalist responsible for making Casey lose the previous year's tournament and causing them to hate journalists from that point onwards. Also, with the description of the final chapter mentioning that Casey is injured and that theirs and Blake's relationship is at stake, it's possible that one of the players will expose the relationship out of spite and/or injure Casey. It would likely be A) the captain of the opposing team, or B) Brent, who is still bitter about being traded away and being rejected by Blake.
- The Deadliest Game: Whoever the killer turns out to be.
- Guarded: Given that the November 2023 Choices Insiders mentions "being prepared to shine in the spotlight" and that "Stardom doesn’t come without danger", the Big Bad may well be a crazed Stalker with a Crush obsessed with the main character who is a celebrity (much like Martin from Book 3 of Red Carpet Diaries).
- Chapter 17 confirms that the stalker is Shannon Beck, the P.A. you bump into in Chapter 1.
- Crimes of Passion, Book 3: Assuming the plot is about who killed the main character's father, either the person who killed him or the person who masterminded the killing.
- Blades of Light and Shadow, Book 3: Nifara, the Top God and Greater-Scope Villain of the first two books.
- Along Came Treble: Either Cai's ex Veronique, or Estrella's Jerkass boss Gene, who at the end of Chapter 2, threatens to ruin Estrella's career if Cai causes any scandals or problems.
- The Ghost of Us: Whoever was the person who murdered Grey.
- Terror Fest: Whoever the slasher villain is.
Ship of Dreams will be the first book in a long time where the main character can die in the end
Only four Choices stories out of several dozen can end with the main character dying, either being murdered by the Big Bad (both It Lives books) or performing a Heroic Sacrifice (Across The Void, Endless Summer, and It Lives In The Woods, assuming they don't get killed beforehand). The TikTok sneak peek in July 2023
mentioned that Ship of Dreams is based on the story of the Titanic with "new twists and turns", and asks "Do you survive until the end? Who knows, I guess?" Based on this question, it may be entirely possible for the main character's fate to be determinant based on her choices throughout the story (or even during the climax, with previous choices helping to increase the chances of her survival).- Sadly, the story turned out to be mostly a normal smut story and both the MC and LI make it out alive in the end.
Is Kindred the only new multi-LI book in the 2023 VIP schedule?
Aside from Blades of Light and Shadow (which is being released for everyone in September), every book releasing for VIP early access in the second half of 2023 will have only one love interest (as is the case with most books nowadays):- The Billionare's Baby: The "sexy billionaire" mentioned in the Chapter 1 description (most likely introduced to us by the couple the main character agreed to be a surrogate for). - confirmed
- Dirty Little Secrets: The "charming next door neighbor" mentioned in sneak previews and the July 2023 Choices Insiders. - confirmed.
- Alpha: The alpha werewolf in the pack we join. - confirmed
- Ship of Dreams: PB's equivalent of Jack Dawson (with the main character as Rose). - confirmed
- Unbridled: Hard to say yet, but given that Untameable had only one love interest, this book will probably only have one as well.
- Guarded: Since PB have all but confirmed that it's another bodyguard-themed book like Witness, our bodyguard. - confirmed
- Update: Turns out Unbridled is the second multi-LI book this year, with 2 LIs, Mandy and Ryder.
Future story ideas
- A Saw-esque story that brings back the Nerve score system from It Lives where the main character and their friends can live or die based on their choices and final Nerve score.
- Update: This one may become a reality after all, given that PB announced a slasher book in Choices Insiders February 2024.
- A (potentially) sci-fi story inspired by Black Mirror that takes the score system from Most Wanted and other Choices books and applies it to the main character in a Socially Scored Society, with a higher score making it easier, along with Multiple Endings based on the main character's score.
- A story where the main character is a proper Villain Protagonist, with one side of the story revolving around their daily activities masquerading as a normal person while gaining skills and attributes (ala Blades of Light and Shadow), and the other side revolving around them using said skills and attributes to take down people they dislike for their own selfish desires.
- A story inspired by You (2018), featuring an potential Anti-Hero or even Villain Protagonist who falls for someone and is willing to do whatever it takes to be with them. There would be multiple routes that would unfold based on how you go about doing this, some of which would involve the main character succeeding in getting the man/woman of their dreams without running afoul of the law, while others would have them as a full-on unfettered villain protagonist. There would be at least one ending where the main character doesn't end up with their crush because of their own actions, and another ending where the crush turns out to be just as bad as (or even worse than) the main character, resulting in either the main character dumping them for the sake of their own sanity or the two of them living together as a villainous power couple.
Guarded will be given a 17+ rating
Given that the story is about a bodyguard romance, this could be PB's attempt to do Witness right. Also, since most of this year's books, especially those in the second half, are rated 17+ for sexual content, it would not be surprising if this one is mature rated too.Yet again, unsurprisingly confirmed.
There will be an April Fools Day VIP-exclusive book (if not in 2024, then in 2025 or later) that is an intentional piss-take of the Choices diamond system and cliches found within Choices books
Valentine's Day 2024 saw the reveal of Villainous Valentine, an out-of-canon VIP special that will allow players to "sate their dark desires". This suggests that Pixelberry know the fanbase well enough by now that they would be aware of many player's thoughts about the diamond system and the concept of premium choices. They were aware enough of how hated the Chapters: Interactive Stories model was in Witness that they never used it again. But what if they engaged in a bit of fun Self-Deprecation for April Fools Day and made a short one-off book that pokes fun at this system, as well as the other Choices cliches that they may also be aware of? The book would have (very frequent) premium choices for the most stupid things, and not taking the premium choice would result in the main character acting like their brain was created on Opposite Day, but in keeping in line with the whole thing being an April Fools joke, these premium choices would only cost a tenth of the usual amount (so one to three diamonds). Besides that, the main character would be Always Female and have an inner monologue about how her parents Wanted a Son Instead (a playful jab at players who complain about genderlocked books), her love interest would make her heart flutter instantly and her token best friend would comment on how they've literally just met (referencing the "insta-lust" found in later stories), phrases like "darken with desire" and "let out a breath [the character] didn't know [they were] holding" would pop up repeatedly, the main character would declare a potential romantic rival for the love interest to be the worst person to ever exist (referencing the commonplace "other woman" storylines in Choices stories), and the story would end with either the main character and love interest inexplicably married (or at least engaged) or the main character breaking up with the love interest, followed by her eating ice cream and playing with herself, depending on how many premium choices were takennote All of this would provide for an intentionally So Bad, It's Good experience that fans will find hilarious, a perfect way to celebrate the holiday.- Partly confirmed with Make That Date!, released on April Fools Day 2024. Though it's a book released on April Fools Day and centers on romance, it takes the form of a dating show where two of the three love interests are creatures from previous Choices books (it's also gender-customizable).
The Ghost of Us will be the first non-mature genderlocked book since Kindred
Given that it's about romance between a ghost and a medium, there may not be much room for smut, but who knows, PB somehow manages to make any topic into a smutty romance story nowadays.Confirmed.
Hearts on Fire will feature the main character's boss as the main love interest, or even the only one
It's another book with a profession based premise, and who knows, maybe the same boss-employee romance loving writer who worked on Open Heart and Laws of Attraction will be working on this book too. Terror Fest will bring back the Nerve score system from It Lives
Now that the It Lives series has been over for some time, there's nothing stopping PB from using it in their upcoming slasher book; both books are in the Horror genre, and it's likely that the slasher book will release for everyone in October, just in time for Halloween (which is the month when both It Lives books were released in). All Of Us will feature a non-binary love interest
Given that it's been explicitly confirmed as a Queer Romance with a heavier focus on same-sex relationships by Word of God, assuming there's more than one love interest, there's a good chance that one of them will be non-binary. Even if there's only one love interest and they're gender-customizble, maybe Pixelberry will break the trend of having gender-customizable love interests being only male or female and allow them to be customized as NB as well.