Heartless by Marissa Meyer

The Setup: Long before she became the infamous Queen of Hearts, Catherine "Cath" Pinkerton is just a young noblewoman in the kingdom of Hearts with a dream that has nothing to do with royalty. A talented baker, all she truly wants is to open a bakery with her best friend, Mary Ann, and fill Wonderland with delectable pastries. But her parents have other plans: they expect her to accept the marriage proposal of the bumbling, childish King of Hearts .

The Inciting Incident: At a royal ball where she is expected to become officially betrothed, a desperate Cath flees the festivities and meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious new court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. Despite the risk of offending the King and enraging her parents, Cath and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship .

The Conflict: Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But Wonderland is a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters. As Cath and Jest grow closer, they uncover dark secrets, including the terrifying return of the Jabberwock. Cath must fight for her dreams and her love, but in a world where fate has other plans, her choices will ultimately lead her down a tragic path toward becoming the cruel, heartless monarch who famously orders, "Off with their heads!"