Erin A. Craig’s Our Strange Duet Debuts at Number 1 on the New York Times Bestseller List

The young adult reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera earns Number 1 bestseller status following its first week of US sales.

‘...dive deeper into the iconic musical as Christine’s tale comes to life in a new and brilliant story.’ Cosmopolitan.com  

Whether you love Phantom of the Opera or you’ve never seen the production, Our Strange Duet is an absolute must.' Parade.com  

LW Entertainment today announced that Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig has debuted at Number 1 on The New York Times, Young Adult bestseller list following its first week on sale in the United States.

Published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, Our Strange Duet reimagines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera through the eyes of Christine Daaé. The novel places Christine’s emotional journey at the centre of the story, exploring her rise to fame and the choices she faces amid love, ambition and the haunting secrets of the Opéra Populaire.  

Our Strange Duet is part of the 40^th anniversary celebrations for Phantom of the Opera, which marks 40 years in London’s West End this October. Since 1986, Phantom of the Opera has become a global phenomenon, winning over 70 major awards all over the world with productions playing to 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories and in 23 languages.

The achievement marks another major success for Number 1 New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, whose novels include House of Salt and Sorrows, Small Favors, House of Roots and Ruin and The Thirteenth Child. A lifelong Phantom fan, Craig’s love of the musical helped inspire her career in theatre, including work as a stage manager at Opera Memphis before becoming an author.  

James McKnight, CEO of LW Entertainment, said:

“Our Strange Duet is a true love letter to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless masterpiece and to generations of Phantom of the Opera fans. To see readers embrace Christine’s story so passionately and carry this wonderful book to Number 1 on The New York Times bestseller list in its first week is a joy to see. Erin has brought such insight, emotion and imagination to this world, and we couldn’t be prouder of what she and our partners at Penguin Random House have achieved.

Wendy Loggia, Vice President and Publisher of Delacorte Press and editor of Our Strange Duet, said:  

“From the beginning, we knew Erin had found a powerful new way into this iconic story. By giving Christine the space to tell her own story, she has created a sweeping gothic romance that feels familiar, fresh and emotionally resonant. Seeing Our Strange Duet reach The New York Times bestseller list after only one week is a wonderful testament to Erin, the enduring power of Phantom and the enthusiasm of readers everywhere.”

In Our Strange Duet, rising soprano Christine Daaé finds herself caught between Raoul, her childhood friend and devoted admirer, and the Phantom, a mysterious masked figure beneath the opera house whose brilliance, obsession and dangerous devotion ignite a complicated passion. As Christine’s star ascends, she must decide who she is when the curtain falls and what she’s willing to risk for the life she wants.  

The book was developed in collaboration with those close to the production and forms part of the worldwide multi-format publishing partnership between Penguin Random House and LW Entertainment celebrating 40 years of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.  

An immersive companion audiobook from Penguin Random House Audio features a full cast, light dramatisation and music from the Phantom of the Opera musical suite. The audiobook features several cast members who are performing as part of Phantom of the Opera’s 40^th anniversary production on London’s West End including Jordan Donica (The Phantom), Beatrice Penny Touré (Christine) and Sierra Boggess (Carlotta).

Our Strange Duet is available in the United States and the UK in print, e-book and audio formats. It is recommended for ages 12 and over.