In this interview, I chat with Ali Brady about Battle of the Bookstores, the You've Got Mail inspiration, writing the steamy scenes, creating a guy who loves romance novels, using Beta readers and how that impacted the original ending, choosing character names, and much more.

Bradeigh's recommended reads are:

1. Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson
2. Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker
3. Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

Alison's recommended reads are:

1. The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal
2. Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley
3. The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠here⁠⁠⁠ with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.

Contribute to the podcast ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠.

Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.

Battle of the Bookstores⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.

Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month.

Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices