First, I’m going to give a few details about this upcoming holiday anthology, and then I’ll share a glimpse of my creative process while writing my story, “Decking His Halls.”

I recently received final copies, and they’re so cute! The print edition is an advent format, which means each story is individually bound with a little sticker on the edge. Open one a day or all at once, however you like!

Or if you’re an audiobook reader like me, I got to listen to my story and I loved it! Valentina Ortiz did a fantastic job bringing Noelia and David, and their crackling chemistry, to life.

The anthology has also gotten some nice trade reviews:

By the way, there might be a NYC event at some point. Stay tuned!

Read the full blurb or preorder here

Since the anthology will be out soon, I wanted to give some insight into my contribution, Decking His Halls.

When I got the opportunity to write this story, it came with a very short deadline. Luckily, I had a bunch of ideas saved from the brainstorm session that led to Only Santas in the Building a couple years ago. I needed something I could write quickly while also keeping it brief. (About half the length of Only Santas.)

I’d been kicking around a “roommates with my brother’s best friend” idea for a while, because I love the domesticity of the roommates trope (which is itself a forced proximity device), and the tension and backstory potential in the brother’s best friend trope. And I had already added Christmas to the premise.

Here’s a portion of the original brainstorm notes from 2024:

This is how most, if not all, of my ideas start. A lot of question marks and the words “maybe” and “or.” But these two lines, “he’s a Scrooge and doesn’t want her decorating the apartment” and “the more he complains, the more decorations she gets,” became the driving force of Decking His Halls.

From there I drafted snippets of scenes to figure out the characters’ voices, along with their relationship dynamic and backstory.

Here’s an example of a brief exchange I drafted in the Notes app on my phone, and how it expanded into a full scene in the final version of the book. David has just come home to find that Noelia has put up even more decorations in his apartment.

Notes version:

More?

Why do you hate Christmas so much?

I never said I hated Christmas. I just don’t like clutter.

It’s festive.

How much more festive are you planning to get?

To quote the classic film Mean Girls, there is no limit.

Okay hold on now, we should discuss this.

Only a Scrooge would put a limit on Christmas cheer.

When I’m writing on my phone, it often ends up looking like a script, with just dialogue, and I usually don’t bother with additional formatting or punctuation, for the sake of my thumbs.

Here’s how that snippet expanded into a full scene. (Minus three paragraphs of internal narrative and description, which I cut here for space. Marked by the ellipsis.)

Final version:

He gestures wildly with his free hand. “You really needed more?”

“What do you have against Christmas?” I ask primly.

“I don’t have anything against Christmas. I just don’t like clutter.”

…

I sniff. “I think it’s festive.”

He eyes me with suspicion. “How much more festive are you planning to get?”

“To quote the cinematic masterpiece Mean Girls, the limit does not exist.”

He blinks. “Maybe we should discuss this.”

“Who are you? The Grinch? Putting restrictions on Christmas cheer?” I get up and lead the way to the kitchen. “Come on. If you stop complaining about my decorations, I’ll make us dinner.”

“I knew there was a reason I hadn’t kicked you out yet,” he grumbles, but he’s smiling when he says it.

You can see how the bones of the dialogue are still there, with the rest of the scene fleshed out around it.

Once I felt like I had a sense of who Noelia and David were and the shape of the story, I created an outline with five chapters and an epilogue.

This was the original pitch I sent, before I drafted the full story:

By the time I finished the first draft, I’d cut the friend breakup and the epilogue for word count reasons. (I could either keep the friend subplot or the steamy scene, so the ex-friend had to go!) I also dropped the “ruining Christmas” part because it was overly dramatic, and I’d only tacked it onto the end of the pitch to hint at potential conflict. Otherwise, the original five-chapter outline remained the same.

When it comes to these kinds of projects, I have three goals. First and foremost, tell a good story. Second, give a taste of what my books are like to readers who’ve never heard of me. And last but definitely not least, write something familiar and satisfying for anyone who’s read my other books. To that end, this story has a snarky FMC from a big Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, a workaholic MMC who does his own grocery shopping and takes care of his mom, and a vibe that blends steamy and silly—along with the tackiest Christmas decorations I could think of!

Here’s the final description I sent with the finished story:

I had a lot of fun writing Noelia and David’s story, and I hope you enjoy reading it, along with the other eleven stories in the collection!

I also hope it was interesting to see a peek behind the scenes into my creative process. I recently read Dear Writer by Maggie Smith, and she said that a poem is the result of all the choices and decisions that went into writing it. I feel the same way about fiction writing, and I wanted to share some of the choices that led to the final version of Decking His Halls.

Preorder The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection here! Out 9/29/26

In my last email, I was pondering what to work on during my vacation. In hindsight, it was naive of me to think I’d have anything resembling “free time” on a family trip with a sick three-year-old. I had printed the outline of my next project but I never even took it out of my bag. I did, however, play some of Murdle Vol 2 and I started listening to See You at the Sunset by Susan Lee, which is delightful. But I think the “What I’m Reading/Watching” sections are going to have to wait for their own newsletter. I’ve written a full essay about Spider-Man: Brand New Day (that I will probably spare you from) and I have thoughts about seeing Moulin Rouge on Broadway for the third and last time. (Unless I cave and buy a last minute ticket before the end of the month.)

If you’re in or around NYC, I’ll be celebrating the launch of Mutual Discord with Liana De la Rosa at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn next week. August 27th at 7pm. Tickets here!

We’re gearing up for our FIRST first day of school, so you might not hear from me again until we’re on the other side of that transition period, but I wish you a good end of summer! (There’s still technically a month left!)

All the best,
Alexis

I started this list in the summer of 2017, a few months before my debut Take the Lead was first released. I posted the signup link on my personal FB profile and my Twitter account (both of which have since been deleted), so the first subscribers here were friends and family. (I’m sorry, you all probably didn’t know what you were getting into. 😂)

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m currently off social media, so this is the only way to hear from me. And I don’t get to do nearly as much with this newsletter as I want to; in fact, I probably only send about 25% of the content I draft! (This one is no exception—I’ve cut at least 2/3 of what I originally wrote.) But it’s unbelievably rewarding when readers come up to me at events and mention these emails. 🥰 It means so much to me that you’re here!

Speaking of events, I have two coming up this month! Details below, along with a look at what I’m working on, reading, watching, and listening to.

Upcoming Events:

Adore, Amor: A Romance Festival

Saturday, August 15th @ 2pm

The Andrew Freedman Home, Bronx, NY

Tickets

Launch Event for Mutual Discord by Liana De la Rosa

Thursday, August 27th @ 7pm

The Ripped Bodice, Brooklyn, NY

Tickets

(Alexis Daria author photo credit: Chandra Wicke Photography)

What I’m Working On:

I have a family vacation coming up and even though I told myself I’m taking that time off from work, I’m of course thinking about what I could reasonably work on while we’re away. 😆 This past weekend I reviewed what’s essentially a zero draft of a book I wrote last year. I’m desperate to return to it, but that’s going to be a big project and I don’t want to dive in until I can give it my full focus. I could also just…read? That’s a thing people do on vacation, right?

What I’m Reading:

Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith

I have to admit, I’d never heard of Maggie Smith, who is a poet and memoir writer, and I’m not sure how this book got on my radar. Maybe I did a search for writing craft audiobooks on Libby? Either way, it had some good takeaways, especially since she talks about writing and creative pursuits while being a mom with young kids. And it was interesting to hear craft advice through the lens of poetry!

Heads Will Roll (Seasons 1 & 2)

This audio comedy fantasy series about an evil queen and her cursed princess-turned-crow minion was created by Kate McKinnon and her real life sister Emily Lynne. Both voice multiple roles in the story, and there’s a palpable sense of connection between them. They’re hilarious together, and they’re surrounded by a stellar cast. The story itself leans into the absurd, which is very much my thing, so I greatly enjoyed it.

What I’m Watching:

Murder on the Blackpool Express

We continue our quest for comedy-mysteries! This film is the first featuring these mystery book tour guides-turned-sleuths, and we’ll probably watch the others when we have time.

Off Campus

I’ve watched 6 episodes so far and I’m into it!

What I’m Listening To:

Writing Excuses podcast

While I was deep in the headspace of Secret Project edits, this podcast, with its short episode format, was just the thing. It gave me something to listen to while I was away from my desk but also kept my mind focused on my own book.

School doesn’t start until after Labor Day in NYC, so we’re firmly in the middle of summer vacation here. But our family is also getting ready for our FIRST first day of school, and that’s bringing up a lot of to-do list items and big feelings! (For me. She’s just excited!)

I hope you’re enjoying your summer, and good luck to everyone doing the back to school thing this month!

All the best,

Alexis

P.S. If you’re looking for signed copies of my books, Barnes & Noble Union Square and The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn currently have most of my titles!

My brain is fried and I wasn’t planning on sending a newsletter this week, but I have some time sensitive event news. See below!

TOMORROW! Barnes & Noble Union Square’s Festival of Authors

Saturday, July 25th @ 1pm
NYC

In the last letter I said this was a panel but it is in fact a signing! Tickets here

Adore, Amor: A Romance Festival (Last day for early bird tickets!)

Saturday, August 15th @ 2pm
Bronx, NY

Last day for early bird tickets! Here’s my discount code: ROMANCE10

You Had Me at Hola is still $2.99 in ebook and $3.99 in audiobook!

That’s all from me! Have a good weekend!

Alexis

Book News:

You Had Me at Hola is $3.99 in audiobook and $2.99 in ebook!

What I’m Watching:

Broadway:

Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York

The Rocky Horror Show

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody

These were all fun and silly but the Heated Rivalry parody took the cake. (Pun intended?) The cast and music were great and I laughed so much. Definitely worth seeing if you’re in or near NYC!

Movies:

The Sheep Detectives

The Thursday Murder Club

These were fine, but despite being murder mysteries, both felt like kids’ movies. (In fact, I think The Sheep Detectives would’ve worked better if it had been entirely animated.)

What I’m Reading:

All the Time in the World by Cara Bastone

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

Score by Kennedy Ryan

June was a 5-star reading month! I already know these three will make my best books of the year list.

Upcoming Events:

July 15: Cara Bastone at The Ripped Bodice Brooklyn

July 25: Barnes & Noble Union Square’s Festival of Authors - Romance panel

August 15: Adore Amor by The Bronx is Reading

August 27: Liana De la Rosa at The Ripped Bodice Brooklyn

I hope to send a longer letter at the end of the month after I turn in edits, but I wanted to send a quick update now that all of my summer events have been announced.

Hope you’re having a good summer so far, staying cool, and reading great books!

Alexis

A Lot Like Adiós is $4.99 in ebook!

These bisexual former besties haven’t spoken since the time they got hot and heavy right before Gabe left for college. So when a work project reunites them over a decade later, forget slow burn—this is an immediate inferno. And when they get caught by their families (in what is one of the best scenes I’ve ever written), they simply have no choice but to pretend that they’re dating. Except Gabe is still planning to leave Michelle again. Cue the inconvenient emotions and extremely nerdy grand gesture!

Get the ebook here

Upcoming Events

I’m doing fewer events this year but I do have some coming up in NYC this summer, such as…

B&N Union Square’s Festival of Authors

Saturday, July 25th
33 East 17th Street
Romance Authors Session: 1pm-2pm
Local Romance Authors Session with TJ Alexander, Tashie Bhuiyan, Kat Cho, Alexis Daria, Zakiya N. Jamal, Timothy Janovsky, Steven Salvatore, and A. T. Qureshi.

Tickets here

Read Solstice Dream for free!

The official start of summer is right around the corner and I have a free Summer Solstice story! It’s a short, sweet, and delightfully cozy romance between a witch who hosts kids’ parties and the single dad who lives next door.

Read it here

Signed Books

I recently stopped by The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn to sign copies of the Primas of Power books and Take the Lead. If you want a personalized copy, you can order here. I go there once a quarter to sign.

What I’m Working On:

It’s been a brainstorming bonanza over here!

Brainstorming new ideas is my favorite thing to do. Revisions are where the magic happens, and some deep, dark part of me adores the grueling hyperfocus of drafting, but developing an idea from scratch is the most fun part of writing for me. And I’ve gotten to do a lot of that over the past couple weeks while I wait for edits on Secret Project.

When I brainstorm, my mind races down multiple pathways, seeking and discarding ideas, mashing them together into precarious combinations the way my child plays with Mega Blocks, and seeing what kinds of scenarios and solutions I can come up with. It’s fun and low stakes, and feels the most like playtime out of all the other parts of the writing process.

I don’t know what will happen with all of the ideas and outlines I’m generating. (Which is why I don’t discuss them early!) But there’s something to be said for reconnecting with the fun of writing. Or reading, or drawing, or puzzles, or cooking—whatever creative pursuit you engage in. There’s joy in finding the part of the process that’s most fun and indulging in it. It’s summer! It’s time to play!

What I’m Reading:

Craft books!

Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleon

Kleon starts off by saying he never went to art school. Now, I did go to art school. Twice! In fact, earlier this month I went to my 25 year high school reunion, and let me tell you, it was a trip being back in the building, which HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL. (NYC public schools, am I right?)

But it was a reminder of a time when I did art for hours every single day, both at school and at home, and everyone around me was engaging in their creative crafts as well. It was also wild to be with a group of people who are all the same age, from the same place, and went through this same formative experience together.

In my books, Gina and Natasha (in Take the Lead and Dance with Me) were dance majors at a high school based on mine, and in the Primas of Power lore, Jasmine from You Had Me at Hola went there as a drama major. Maybe they all attended at the same time and knew each other?!

None of this has anything to do with Kleon’s book, but I’m only on page 16. That said, I’ve read all of his others and enjoyed them, and I’m looking forward to this one too.

The Butter Blurbs Master Class and 7 Figure Fiction by T. Taylor

I’ve been working on my blurb-writing skills every day while reading The Butter Blurbs Master Class by Theodora Taylor.

(The “blurb” is the back cover copy of a book. Confusing, because the quotes from other authors praising your book are also called blurbs!)

At first, it was kind of frustrating. It’s surprisingly hard to answer questions like, “What makes your book good?” and “Why will readers like it?” in a concise and pithy way. But the more I worked at it, the easier it got. (Funny how that happens!) It’s actually been fun having the space to devote to learning and practicing a new skill. And it’s helped me zero in on the “buttery” (aka delicious and compelling) elements in three of my WIPs (works in progress).

7 Figure Fiction: How to Use Universal Fantasy to SELL Your Books to ANYONE is a reread, but it’s been nearly five years so it was time to revisit.

Romance!

I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage

This was very funny and perfect for fans of Kimberly Lemming’s Mead Mishaps series. Great in audio! (I also enjoyed Jessica Cage’s Ink and Magic podcast interview.)

The Anaconda Downstairs by Amy Award

And I’m continuing the Cocky Kingmans series. Currently on the 4th book!

Short romance stories

I’m specifically seeking out shorter works as study assignments for 7 Figure Fiction.

Never Have I Ever by Izzy Ravas

I’m halfway through this spicy MMF Christmas novella where the heroine gets with her best friend’s DAD and her other best friend’s older brother. ¡Qué escándalo!

Breaking the Bully by Jessa Kane

Not my usual trope but it was recommended for a Universal Fantasy exercise, and I could definitely see how those fantasies played out in the story, with a satisfying payoff.

Solstice Dream and All I Want for Nochebuena by…me!

I reread Solstice Dream for the first time in years and I was actually surprised by how cozy it was. That’s not a word I typically use to describe my own writing, but since it’s what I’m going for in Secret Project, it’s nice to know I’m capable of pulling it off!

My other intentionally cozy story is All I Want for Nochebuena in the Amor Actually anthology. I even write “Stay cozy!” on the story’s half-title sheet when I sign print copies. So I reread that one as well. I’ll admit I was almost too embarrassed to read it! At the time I wrote it, I felt like it was so spicy. But looking at it now, it’s actually less spicy than I remembered, and way more sweet. I guess I’ve written much hotter things since then! 😅

What I’m Watching:

Schmigadoon! on Broadway

Falon Ballard put it well in her newsletter: “This show has an identity—it knows exactly what it is and how it wants to make the audience feel…” I’ll add that Schmigadoon commits to the bit.

This musical embraces the ridiculous with intentionality, and includes some masterful moments of timing. The audience was locked in and laughing constantly. Betsy, played by McKenzie Kurtz, was an absolute scene stealer. (Check her out in “Corn Puddin’” below.) Isabelle McCalla shines as Emma, the schoolteacher, especially in the Act 2 opener, “With All of Your Heart.” (I love a big tap number!) Alex Brightman’s line delivery as the straight man Josh (originally played by Keegan-Michael Key in the TV show) was top notch, and it’s obvious why Ana Gasteyer received a Tony nom for her role. Also? These dancers are working hard. All I could think while watching was, “Give them alllll a Tony Award!” And then it won for Best Musical!

Masters of the Universe

I want to preface this by saying that I am exactly the target audience for this film. I’m a huge She-Ra fan. (As I draft this email, I’m currently drinking tea out of a version of this mug.) And I’ve watched a fair number of He-Man iterations over the years, including the original cartoon in the 80s.

That said, I kept my expectations low and went to the He-Man movie hoping for dumb fun and to see a himbo swing a big sword around. (No pun intended.) And it absolutely delivered on those fronts!

But this was one of those cases where it feels like the actors are all in different movies. Luckily, Nicholas Galitzine (Adam/He-Man) and Idris Elba (Duncan/Man-At-Arms) are firmly in this movie. They played their roles perfectly, and between them, they very nearly manage to carry the whole thing.

Still, it was fun and flashy, and I snort-laughed multiple times. It also made me want to revisit the animated series from 2021, Masters of the Universe: Revelation.

And if you, like me, are in your forties and remember the OG cartoon fondly, this “How did it get made?” oral history of the 1987 movie was interesting and includes a lot of details about the development of the toy line. (This article reminded me of the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, which offers a fascinating in-depth analysis of the Marvel movies and shows, which also have a deep origin in toy manufacturing.)

ANYWAY, that’s probably way more than you ever wanted to hear from me on the subject of He-Man (and trust me, I was reigning it in), so I’ll stop there.

Once again, this ended up being a lot longer than planned (and I even deleted a bunch of stuff!) so I leave you with a quick farewell.

All the best,

Alexis

What I’m Working On:

Last time, I mentioned that I wanted to participate in 1000 Words of Summer, but I didn’t know what to work on. After a lot of journaling and a brief conversation with my partner (who is a completely unsentimental sounding board), I decided to focus on a holiday novella.

You’ve probably noticed by now that I’ve written a lot of short holiday romances, ranging from 6,500 words (Solstice Miracle—free to read) to 40,000 words (The Holiday Hookup List). (Here’s a handy graphic.)

Why so many? Well, they’re excellent palette cleansers between bigger projects. They can also be great learning tools, letting me test and develop different writer muscles in a shorter format and time frame.

But most of all? I just like them!

Short and steamy holiday romances tap directly into my id. (More on that below.) And I enjoy writing them. Christmas comes but once a year but I can write a holiday rom-com anytime.

Last month I also mentioned having an ~epiphany~ while working on [Secret Project], which prompted a very long “What I’m Listening To” section full of writing craft resources. I wanted that to be the focus of its own newsletter, so here we go!

What I’m Listening To:

Since I’ve been in hyperfocus mode to finish a book, I had to be careful about the content I was consuming. I needed media that wouldn’t pull me too far out of my own story world.

So while I listened to audiobooks in the [redacted] subgenre as market research, I also listened to hours of writing podcasts and presentations on craft, business, and marketing.

This ended up being vital to my writing process.

Because I was so deeply immersed in my story, listening to people talk about writing sparked lots of ideas for my own book.

Which is how I ended up having a last minute epiphany.

You see, there was a part in the story where I knew the pacing lagged, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. I condensed later scenes, deepened emotional arcs, and brainstormed a plot device to add structure.

But it still felt off.

And then, less than 48 hours before my deadline…I figured it out while brushing my teeth.

All week, I’d been listening to presentations from a free virtual conference for romance writers. Each presentation only stayed up for two days, so I was re-listening to one of them while getting ready for bed. The speaker, Bethany Hensel, said something—I can’t even remember what now—and suddenly, I knew how to fix the story.

Part of it involved throwing out the plot device I’d worked so hard on. Sometimes, if you’re trying too hard to make a story element fit and it’s just not working, that might be a sign to let it go.

But the bigger epiphany was making two of the characters switch places in a key scene. I can’t say more because then we get into spoiler territory, but it hit me in a flash of insight, and felt so simple and obvious, I knew it had to be right.

These are the moments I live for in writing. When your brain is processing the story in the background and you see or hear just the right thing that leads to a burst of inspiration.

I had smaller moments like this throughout the month, but this was the big one. And the presentation is gone now, so I can’t even share it!

However, here are some links to other resources and creators whose work and ideas were helpful as I was finishing the manuscript.

The first is always going to be Dr. Jennifer Lynn Barnes. She wrote The Inheritance Games, but she’s also well known among writers for her “Writing for Your Id” presentation at RWA 2018. I’ve listened to that one many times, but this month I also revisited her “Psychology of Fiction” workshop. And my god, she is brilliant. Unfortunately, these recordings are no longer available for purchase, but I found links to her TED Talk and an interview she did with the American Psychological Association.

Additionally, Amy Award did an interview with the SPA Girls self-publishing podcast that briefly recounts some of the main points of Dr. Barnes’s “Writing for Your Id” workshop. Hearing how Amy intentionally used this approach in her Cocky Kingmans series, not just in the story, but in the packaging and marketing, was fascinating.

After that, I listened to a bunch of other SPA Girls episodes, including Sierra Simone’s interview, which also references “Writing for Your Id.” She talks about knowing yourself as an author, and I found it pretty inspiring.

I caught up with Becca Syme’s Quitcast episodes and listened to at least twenty in a row. This one was particularly helpful in getting me to stop fighting myself and accept my writing process as it is. This acceptance reduced my frustration and introduced more ease during a stressful time. (Becca also has a newer episode about quitting social media that nailed a lot of my reasons for getting off Instagram back in December.)

I’m still off social media, btw! This newsletter is the only place you’ll find me. (Thank you for being here!)

I also looked for interviews with Theodora Taylor about her “universal fantasy” and “butter” concepts. I read 7 Figure Fiction a while back and wanted a refresher. That led me to her brand new Butter Blurb Master Class book, which I’m reading now, and it’s already been quite helpful with the projects I’m currently working on.

I listened to a few interviews with Ines Johnson, and discovered that she has a new book called Page Turner Pacing that I want to check out. She also had a podcast with L. Penelope, and I’ve been listening to some older episodes.

Monica Leonelle recently did a free email mini-course on fandom that gave me a lot to think about, so I listened to a couple of interviews with her, too. I read her Write Better, Faster book over a decade ago, and I still use a couple of the tricks I picked up in there.

The weird thing is that I almost never listen to podcasts, but when I do, I go down a rabbit hole like this.

(If you’re at all familiar with Gallup Clifton Strengths, I’m #1 Ideation, #2 Focus, and #6 Input, so I’m essentially doing focused input to spark ideas. Hence the epiphany!)

And since I couldn’t listen to podcasts while I was writing, I played LoFi Girl videos on my smaller screen when I was at my desk. (How did I not realize she was based on a still from my favorite Studio Ghibli movie, 1995’s Whisper of the Heart? Also, is anyone surprised that I identified with the one about a girl who wants to write a novel? 😅)

Finally—and this is a weird one I can’t explain—I listened to the Totem remix of “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush…on repeat…for hours. The song has NOTHING to do with the story I was writing, but I also did this back when Stranger Things season 4 came out. I can’t remember what I was working on at the time, but I did recall that it seemed to help me focus. So I tried it again. And it did! 🎉

I know this was very long and very writing-focused, but I love sharing resources, and I hope it was helpful to someone somewhere!

Oh, and one last piece of book news: Along Came Amor is on sale in audiobook for $7.99. Brilliantly narrated by Seraphine Valentine.

🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! 🌈

All the best,

Alexis

Last month, I was worried that my current project would end up being too long. And, well…I was right. 😅

But with the help of my writing coach Kate Brauning, I was able to condense the last third. I also had an eleventh hour epiphany that allowed me to cut a few chapters. (More on that next week!)

So while the first draft word count is still higher than I was aiming for, it’s not too far over, and I’ll tighten the prose in line edits.

All that to say…I finished a book this week! 🥳🎉🎈

Not only that, it’s the longest thing I’ve written since Along Came Amor. I can’t give any details yet, but it is suuuuper spicy and very sweet.

Speaking of Along Came Amor, today marks the one year anniversary of its release date!

Art by Mayharte

I can’t express how much it means to me to hear from readers who see themselves in Ava and her journey. I wrote this for the eldest daughters who give too much of themselves and struggle to hold healthy boundaries with their families. It was a tough book to write, but Ava’s story is one of resilience and hope, and it helped me grow not just as a writer, but as a person. I still can’t believe the Primas of Power series is complete!

Now, you’re probably wondering what’s coming next from me. Well, I’ve been asking myself the same question!

First, I have a steamy short story in the upcoming holiday anthology, The Twelve Loves of Christmas, out September 29th.

There’s also [secret project name redacted], which is probably a next year thing.

In the meantime, now that I’m on the other side of this deadline, I’m thinking about what to work on next.

(Okay, let’s be real, I’ve been thinking “What’s next?” all month, and have changed my mind multiple times.)

Luckily for me, 1000 Words of Summer is coming up. It’s a writing challenge run by Jami Attenberg, and the goal is to write 1000 words every day for fourteen days. It runs May 30-June 12.

But of course, me being me, I have SO MANY IDEAS, and I’m not sure which one to work on!

14,000 words would be a decent start to any of them, and this could help me maintain the writing momentum I’ve built this month while also letting me slow down the unsustainable pace I’ve been keeping. I still have a few days to decide, and I’ve been reviewing the many ideas saved in the “parking lot.” (Aka Drive and Notes.)

In other book news, The Holiday Hookup List ebook is on sale in the US, UK, and AU markets until the end of the month. (1.99 USD / 0.99 GBP / 1.49 AUD)

Art by Knightfallart

And since summer is just around the corner in this hemisphere, here’s the link for Solstice Dream, my FREE Summer Solstice short story. It’s about a witch who hosts children’s parties and the single dad who lives next door.

I’m going to cut this email short and only include the “What I’m Reading” portion. “What I’m Listening To” got very long and included details about the epiphany I mentioned above along with a ton of writing resources. I decided that should live as its own post, so I’ll be sending it next week.

What I’m Reading:

I’ve taken a fantasy detour!

This month I finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. These have both been on my TBR for a long time and let me just say: Wow. You all were right. I knew Legendborn would be good, but I didn’t realize how good. The story took me completely by surprise, and I loved it. And Crooked Kingdom was a ride. (I’m STILL mad that Netflix cancelled the Six of Crows spinoff.) I read both of these books with a preteen and the stories and characters gave us so much to talk about and analyze! Highly recommend them. We’re starting Bloodmarked this week.

I also read Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry, and it was fun! I’m curious to read the second book.

I’m currently reading Amy Award’s Cocky Kingmans series, after listening to her SPA Girls episode, which I’ll mention again next week. These really hit the rom-com spot, and each book is currently just $3.99 on Chirp!

Up next: Score by Kennedy Ryan! I loved Reel, and I’m excited to dive into this highly anticipated follow-up.

See you next month!

All the best,

Alexis

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m procrastinating, and since I’m worried about the word count of my current project, I wrote about it.

But first, some brief book news:

• Today’s the last day to get Along Came Amor for $7.99 in audiobook!

• Starting tomorrow, The Holiday Hookup List ebook will be discounted in the US, UK, and AU. (Probably. I’m not supposed to mention this in advance, in case something changes, but since I’m not planning to send another newsletter for a few weeks, I wanted to include it here.)

At the end, you’ll see a look at what I’ve been reading and watching. (Hint: More mysteries!)

On Word Count

I’ve been thinking a lot about word count, mainly because I’m worried that my latest WIP (work in progress) is going to be too long and I’ll have to cut a bunch of words from it.

That got me thinking about how this happened, because I used to write very short first drafts.

For example:

• You Had Me at Hola’s first draft was 65k words (because my agent made me promise not to turn in anything less than that) and the published version ended up somewhere over 80k words.

• Along Came Amor was maybe 62k words when I first turned it in, and it was more than double that by the end. (I got it down to 120k words for publication. Way over my contracted word count, but luckily, my publisher allowed it.)

• I don’t remember the exact numbers for A Lot Like Adiós. Maybe the first draft was around 67k? And it was missing ALL the fanfic-related interstitials, because I was still working on those until copyedits(!). I just know that the first draft and the final version were both longer than the numbers for Hola.

I used to approach writing like drawing, which is to say, I wrote in layers. My first drafts were loose sketches and read a bit like scripts, mostly just dialogue and blocking. I’d fill in the rest in later passes. But lately, I’m finding that I now have to cut tons of words instead of adding them.

It made me realize that working on improving my craft has also changed how I write.

One of the things I’ve been focusing on over the past few years is how to expand my writing. I’ve done this by reading stories in other formats and genres, and studying the prose in breakout books and those by authors whose work I adore.

Specifically, I’ve worked on:

• Noting what moments and details to linger over.

• Lengthening banter and conversation between the characters.

• Building tension through touch. (Not just those scenes, but yes, also those scenes.)

• Creating stronger story metaphors and motifs.

• Delving deeper into third level emotions.

• Being more intentional about setting and description.

I guess it’s no wonder that my drafts are turning out way longer than planned!

Back to my current WIP. In addition to spending longer on the first draft (and blowing past the projected word count for where I am in the outline), I’m also thinking about how to scale back even as I’m working to expand the things I mentioned above. It’s an interesting push/pull, creating tension as I work (not in a bad way, I think it makes me sharper), and forcing me to focus on what’s really necessary in the story.

(The lesson here is also that when there’s a hard word count limit, I need to simplify the idea from the beginning.)

On the plus side, I’ve gotten a lot of practice deleting words! Here are some recent examples:

• In The Holiday Hookup List, I cut out almost all the details about Valencia’s ex-fiancé. (Along with ruthlessly trimming every single page and scene.)

• In my upcoming short story Decking His Halls (in The Twelve Loves of Christmas, out 9/29/26), I removed a conflict with the FMC’s former roommate/best friend.

• In Along Came Amor, I deleted full chapters of Ava and Roman each spending time alone with their respective families, in favor of keeping them on the page together more often.

• In my current WIP, I’ve opted not to add a first chapter showing the FMC’s slice of life, and the spice escalates faster than it would if it were going to be a longer book. (You’re welcome.) I’m also trying to be less detailed about the story-within-a-story elements, in case I need to delete them later.

This is a good reminder that I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. And it’s okay for my process to change. After all, I’m not the same writer I was. And that’s a good thing! My goal as a creative is to always be growing, and I hope that comes across in my work.

What I’m Reading:

Mysteries!

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave and Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano

This is one of my “break glass in case of emergencies” series, meaning I save it for when I need something I know I’m going to love. I listened to these latest installments of the Finlay Donovan series while I was traveling to and from Los Angeles, and they were the perfect entertainment.

A Murder in Marylebone by Emily Sullivan

The second in the Minnie Harper series switches locations from Greece to London, but Minnie can’t get away from Mr. Dorian, her handsome and infuriating former employer (who also happens to be an enigmatic mystery writer) that easily, and she’s soon caught up in solving a murder to save her younger sister’s reputation and future. Marked by insightful characterization and nuanced character dynamics, I’m halfway through and finding it very hard to put down!

What I’m Watching:

• The Residence

• 10 Things I Hate About You

• Joyride

• The Lost Boys

Thank you to everyone who suggested mystery shows for us to watch! A few of you mentioned The Residence, so we watched that together. It was quite fun! Uzo Aduba was fantastic, and I thought the way it was edited was very clever. (I’m sad to see it won’t be continuing because I would’ve enjoyed seeing Detective Cupp solve more cases.)

On the flight home from Los Angeles, I watched 10 Things I Hate About You for the first time, if you can believe it. I don’t know how I never saw it, because I was in high school when it came out, but I just never got around to it. Definitely a nostalgia trip.

I also watched Joyride, mostly on my phone, and I was trying not to laugh while on the elliptical (before realizing I probably shouldn’t watch this movie at the gym). It also made me cry! (Not at the gym, luckily.) I’ve liked Ashley Park since I saw her in Mean Girls on Broadway, and it was nice to see her as the lead, along with such a fun cast.

And yesterday I saw The Lost Boys Musical. I’ve never seen the original movie in its entirety, so I went in with only a general sense of it as an 80s cult hit and an awareness of the cast. And the show was fun! (If you’re a regular theater-goer, I would say it lies in the intersection of Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Back to the Future: The Musical.) All the leads had great voices (obviously) and LJ Benet sounds like he’s singing from the depths of his soul.

(I don’t have time to make graphics and I feel like the newsletter looks naked without them! Please forgive me! 😆)

All right, I have a lot to write in the next few weeks so you probably won’t hear from me again until late May. I hope spring is treating you well!

All the best,

Alexis

• Along Came Amor is on sale for $7.99 in audiobook through the rest of the month! (And if you get it from Libro.fm, you can support your local indie bookstore!)

• The Twelve Loves of Christmas is on NetGalley! (Please keep in mind that I have no control over who gets an eARC. I don’t even have it!)

• I’ll be at the LA Times Festival of Books this coming weekend! Full details below.

Catch me on this panel!

Letting Off Steam with Romance Reads
Panelists: Katie Holt, Ana Holguin, Alexis Daria. Moderator: Mala Muñoz
When: Sunday, April 19th, 2:55-3:40pm (signing afterward)
Where: De Los Stage in Association with L.A. Times en Español
More info

I’ll also be signing at these two booths:

Steamy Lit (Booth #350)
Saturday, April 18th @ 3pm

Mysterious Galaxy (Booth #368)
Sunday, April 19th @ 11am

What I’m Watching

Mysteries and plays!

Ever since we finished Deadloch last month, we’ve been trying to find another show that hits the same notes: a season-long mystery that looks like a gritty drama but is chock-full of ridiculous humor, and that’s not too gruesome or dark.

Our attempts have been hit or miss, and we ended up resubscribing to BritBox. Bodkin didn’t work for me, and I gave up after three episodes. (My partner told me how it ended.) Ludwig was good, but not the same vibes, and now I’m stuck waiting for season 2. Father Brown is just a comfort watch, and we mostly leave it on in the background.

Then we watched How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, by the creator of Derry Girls, and that hit the spot. It follows a group of childhood friends who share a big secret from their teens that gets dredged up twenty years later. It’s wickedly funny, with a wild, multilayered mystery. While it all gets wrapped up by the end, there’s potential for a second season, and I really hope it gets renewed.

Aside from mystery shows, I watched A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms on my own, starting it during a sleepless night after my child woke up crying at 2am. (I got her settled within ten minutes, thankfully, but I couldn’t get back to sleep myself.)

I’ve also seen two plays this month. First, I saw Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway. Despite the heavy topic, the show itself was a fun experience. Then I went with Priscilla Oliveras to see Vanessa Cordoniu’s emotional and resonant one-woman show, Perra Puta Loca Bruja: A Latina’s Reclamation Journey, as part of NYC Fringe.

Next up, I have a ticket for The Lost Boys on Broadway, and I’m planning to see You, Me & Tuscany in theaters when I get back from LA.

If you have a recommendation for a funny and not-too-dark mystery show that I should try, let me know!

All the best,

Alexis

• First, I’ll be in Los Angeles next month for the LA Times Festival of Books! It’s April 18-19 on the USC campus. I’ll be signing at bookstore booths on Saturday and Sunday, and participating in a panel on Sunday afternoon at the De Los Stage. More info here. (I’ll send specific details in the April newsletter.)

• And FYI, if you’re looking for signed and/or personalized copies of my books, you can order via The Ripped Bodice! I stop by once a quarter to sign. Order here.

• Finally, the official announcement for The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection was posted, with a cute video of all the authors in the anthology. Out Sept 29th! Preorder here.

A bit more about my story…

This past week, I reread my contribution, “Decking His Halls.” I was reviewing page proofs, which is where the publisher sends a PDF of what the print version of the book will look like, and it’s the author’s last chance to check for errors and make changes.

I read the whole story out loud to myself, and it reminded me of how much fun I had writing it, and all the changes from the initial inception of the idea to the final version. I jotted down the idea in the summer of 2024 as part of a brainstorm of holiday novella pitches, and when I got the opportunity to join this collection, I dug through those to see if any would work in a short story format.

The first draft was originally too long (story of my life, these days). I had two options to quickly remove a thousand words: trim the spicy scene, or remove an additional source of external conflict. My friend Katelyn Doyle (author of Total Dreamboat) read it and confirmed that I should absolutely not cut the spice, and that there was already enough conflict from the brother’s best friend trope. I ended up streamlining it a bit more in edits, and now the story is a nice, tight 7,500 words. (That’s a little shorter than my Solstice Dream short story, which you can read for free here.)

In other writing news…

I’m compiling the cover document for my current WIP (work in progress), and I love seeing all the elements come together. I’m currently drafting the second half of the book, and you guys, it is HOT. Definitely hotter than all my other books, even The Holiday Hookup List. So hot, I might even need a new pen name. Brace yourselves.

Since I’ve been off social media for the past three months, I have time to actually read. And watch TV, something I really missed doing.

Here’s a deeper look at my reading highlights from this past month.

What I’m Reading

The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa

Mia’s books often start with a premise that makes me think, “How the hell is she going to pull this off?” And then she does. The Starter Ex is no exception. The protagonists, Vanessa and Jason, meet because V’s sister has a crush on Jason. Vanessa used to work as a “starter ex” in college for money—basically, she’d date your crush, be a terrible girlfriend, and then when you came along, you’d look amazing by comparison. It must be said that Vanessa has a lot of reservations about dating her sister’s crush and reviving a potentially unethical business, but V is trying to repair their sisterly bond, so she goes along with it. But of course, she and Jason start actually falling for each other. The characters are hot and messy (in an “I love mess” kind of way) and the story is fun and wild, but with deep emotional resonance. It also touches on Vanessa’s experiences of being Nuyorican and Afro-Latina, and leaving East Harlem for boarding school and an Ivy League college. I’ve read this twice and loved it even more the second time, and I had the honor of celebrating the paperback book launch with Mia this month along with Priscilla Oliveras and a wonderful group of readers.

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

These have been on my TBR since I watched the first season of Shadow and Bone. I’m halfway through Crooked Kingdom now and still sad that the Six of Crows spinoff show was canceled because the cast was amazing. If you love a good YA fantasy heist with a lovable cast of antiheroes, check this out.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

This has also been on my TBR for a while and I’m halfway through book 1, where a teenager discovers a magical Arthurian-based secret society at UNC. There’s so much being set up in this world, and I’m excited to see where it’s all going.

No Matter What by Cara Bastone

This book broke me open and made me cry, and I loved it. Fantastic, heartwrenching, funny, and poignant. It’s a marriage in trouble story (check CWs, the main characters survive a traumatic event a year before the book begins) and while their injuries have healed, everything is different now. The heroine, Roz, accidentally joins a figure drawing class in NYC and through that, begins to understand herself, her husband, and her healing journey better. I’ve taken a lot of figure drawing classes in my time so those scenes really spoke to me. And then there’s Roz’s husband, Vin, who is the “Acts of Service” love language personified. They both love each other so much, and yet, when the story begins, their marriage is falling apart. The book also includes a cast of lovable side characters, and I highly recommend it. (The audio was great.)

Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow

I only got 55% into the audiobook before my library hold ended, so I didn’t get to the “what to do about it” part, but I want to finish it, even though it was making me want to run away and live off the grid. (Not really. I’m not cut out for that life.) If you’re also feeling nostalgic for the olden days of the internet and wondering why so many things have just gotten worse, this book explains why.

And here’s an overview of what I’ve been watching.

What I’m Watching:

• Wuthering Heights

• Frankenstein

• Ragtime

• Young Sherlock

• Sherlock Holmes (1954)

• Best Medicine

• Sinners

• Wonder Man

• Deadloch

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball

I don’t have space or time to do a deep dive on all of these, but the ones I’d most recommend are Sinners and Deadloch.

I was actually scared to watch Sinners, because I’m not great with gore, but I appreciated how the movie took the time to set up the characters and the story, so when the horror element started, there was a bigger emotional impact. Great movie.

Deadloch is an Australian murder mystery show that is shot like a serious drama, but everyone is so ridiculous, you’re laughing the whole time. There are two seasons, and each mystery spans a full season.

It was a weird/interesting coincidence to watch two literary adaptations starring Jacob Elordi in one week. He’s…very tall. And watching Frankenstein, Sinners, and Wonder Man close together, along with reading No Matter What, had me thinking about creators who love their craft and take it seriously while also creating something entertaining and meaningful.

Lastly, if you’re in/near NYC, Cats: The Jellicle Ball was a PARTY. I’ve never seen Cats in any form (the ads creeped me out when I was a kid) but I imagine this adaptation set in the ballroom scene makes more sense than them being actual…cats. Anyway, it was fun and exuberant and André De Shields is a star. I actually had chills during the “Jellicle Moon” portion.

That’s all for March! Hoping to send the April newsletter mid-month. We’ll see if that actually happens.

All the best,

Alexis

I also went to a couple of fan events this month: Club 90s’ Heated Rivalry Night at Webster Hall and the Dancing with the Stars tour stop at Radio City Music Hall.

Despite how long I’ve been watching DWTS, this was my first time seeing the tour, and my first time at Radio City! The ticket was my birthday present to myself, and it was the perfect gift. The tour was just like the show: part sexy, part silly, with fast-paced routines and incredible performances by the pro dancers, who make up 90% of the stage time. I’d definitely go again.

As for the Heated Rivalry event, I have to admit that I bought the ticket without knowing what I was signing up for, and when I took a closer look, I thought, “Oh no, this sounds like an actual nightmare.” Going to a club I haven’t been to in 25 years at 9:30 at night? In the snow? No thanks. But I couldn’t get a refund, so I put on my snow boots and went anyway. (I went with fellow authors Priscilla Oliveras and Ali Rosen, who are the best companions for something like this.) It turned out to be part dance party and part viewing party, with music and lights and Heated Rivalry edits playing on a big screen. And to my surprise, I had a blast. For three hours, I danced and sang and screamed over iconic scenes from the show, all with my coat draped over my bag strap because the coat check line was outrageous. Despite needing pain meds the second I got home (at 2am!), I think I probably had more fun than I would have had twenty years ago, because I was completely sober and I didn’t give a f— about what anyone else around me was thinking or doing. (Beyond making sure none of the college-aged kids spilled a drink on me.) The perks of being over 40!

Between the Olympics, the DWTS tour, the HR event, and reading/rereading a bunch of books, I feel like I really got to indulge in being a fan this month, as opposed to my usual state of being a creator. It was lovely to just watch and experience and cheer for people who are fully committed to their craft, whatever that might be.

And in the meantime, while I wasn’t at my desk, I did a lot of thinking about my current project, which is a part of the creative process that I don’t always leave much time for. I’ve been using the Notes app on my phone to capture all the ideas, and I’m excited to get back to work soon.

Announcement and Cover Reveal:

I’ve got a new short story coming out in a holiday anthology later this year! (My story is the one in bold in the blurb below!)

The Twelve Loves of Christmas: An Advent Romance Collection

The Twelve Loves of Christmas is a swoon-worthy short story collection about finding love during the most magical time of the year. Including a playful forced proximity romance featuring a woman and her older brother’s grinchy (yet unexpectedly endearing) best friend, a tender love story of two neighbors who decide to skip Christmas together, a second-chance spark reignited between exes stranded at the airport, and many more festive love stories, there’s a little holiday magic waiting for every reader.

Open one sealed story each day in the lead-up to Christmas to unwrap a season full of love, warmth, and happily-ever-afters.

Out September 29, 2026

Preorder here

Ebook Sale:

The Holiday Hookup List is $1.99 in ebook through the end of the month! (It’s also still in KU, but this is a good time to get the ebook to keep.)

Upcoming Events:

I’m doing fewer events this year but I have one coming up in March! I’ll be celebrating the launch of The Starter Ex by Mia Sosa along with Priscilla Oliveras and Annette Chavez Macias, who is coming all the way from California to join us! If you’ve been here for a while, you might remember that the four of us shared a FB group long ago, and they are all very dear friends of mine, so I’m super excited to see them all and chat about Mia’s book!

The Starter Ex launch event
Wednesday, March 11, 7pm
The Ripped Bodice, 218 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Get tickets here

Just a reminder, I am still off Instagram, and I’m not checking notifications or DMs there. Aaaand my two-and-a-half-year-old just woke up, so I’m going to leave it at that and hit send on this newsletter. See you in March!

All the best,

Alexis

Instead of giving up on the January newsletter entirely, I scrapped everything else to get to the heart of what I wanted to say, which is simply this: you don’t have to be on social media, breaking your heart a thousand times a day, to be informed and engaged. Especially since the companies who own most of the platforms profit off our rage and benefit from making us feel of powerless.

I don’t really do new year’s resolutions, but I deleted Instagram off my phone a month ago and it’s made a huge difference in how I feel on a daily basis. Instead of sinking into a pit of despair every time I turn on my phone and losing time, energy, and all sense of hope to the endless doomscroll, I decided to be more intentional about where I get my news from, and when/how often I view it. There are the obvious outlets, of course, but I wanted to share a few of the newsletters I follow here.

• Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American (Lots of context.)

• Vox’s The Logoff (Very brief, ends with something hopeful.)

• Your Local Epidemiologist (Public health focused. I also get the NY specific one.)

• If you’re into astrology, Chani posted a pep talk/call to action this week.

Another side effect of getting off social media is more time and mental space for writing and reading. This month, I wrote a full short story (although I can’t announce the project yet), and I’ve read 15 books. (Mainlining audiobooks is how I cope with stress. I’m currently listening to Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola and loving it. It’s the sequel to Honey and Spice, which I also adored. The audio is on sale for one more day at Libro.fm and Chirp.)

That’s all for now!

Take care.

Alexis

If you’re using Substack to follow authors and other creators, what do you like to see from them? Do you have any favorite features on the app?

Before I get into the meat of this post, let me get these book links out of the way.

Book Stuff

Short holiday reads to help you reach your reading goal for the year

• The Holiday Hookup List

  • Free to read and listen in KU. Also in print and audio.

  • Here’s the deleted (and annotated) epilogue!

• Dance All Night

  • A stand-alone holiday novella set in the world of The Dance Off. The whole series is in KU.

• Only Santas in the Building

  • Free to read and listen in KU and Prime.

• Solstice Miracle

  • A free Winter Solstice-themed short story. Read it here.

• Amor Actually

  • A holiday romance anthology featuring interconnected stories from seven Latina romance authors. Available in ebook, print, and audiobook.

  • Currently $1.99 in audiobook on Chirp!

The Primas of Power series is also on sale in various digital formats.

• You Had Me at Hola is $1.99 in ebook and $3.99 in audiobook (Chirp & Libro.fm)

• A Lot Like Adiós is $4.99 in ebook and $6.99 in audiobook (Chirp & Libro.fm)

• Along Came Amor is $7.99 in ebook

End of Year Stuff

I saw some authors doing cute “2025 Wrapped” posts showing their number of pages written, number of author events attended, etc. I don’t have the energy to wrangle all that data, but I know I did over 20 in-person events this year, and I went to some cities and states I’d never visited before.

As for writing, despite adding thousands of new words while editing both The Holiday Hookup List and Dance with Me, I didn’t start drafting anything new until the day after The Holiday Hookup List came out. I wrote like a whirlwind during October and November, totaling over 62,000 words across two different projects. And you guys, it felt amazing. Being consumed in a new story idea like that is truly the best creative feeling in the world. It’s like, “Oh right, this is what I’m meant to be doing.”

December, however, has been a lot harder, and I’ve hardly logged any time at my desk. My daughter was sick at the beginning of the month, and I managed to hurt my right shoulder and my right wrist. We’re all okay now, but I’m taking it easy and I’ve given myself permission not to write this month. My main goal is to start 2026 reasonably rested. That’s it. (And it still feels like a high bar to clear!)

One stat I have counted, though, is reading. And so far, I’ve read 141 books this year! (Yes, there’s a part of me that wants to make it an even 150, but I’m not putting that pressure on myself.)

So, after limiting myself to new 2025 releases…

Here are my Top Ten Books of 2025!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

(I technically read this last year, but it came out this year, so I’m including it!) This sexy historical romance series is super timely and super entertaining, and everyone should read it.

I Think They Love You by Julian Winters

I really enjoyed this second chance fake dating romance, and the next book in the series comes out soon!

Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen

A neighbors to lovers romance with a bit of a You’ve Got Mail setup where they know/like each other but also don’t. Extremely relatable anxiety rep. And I still think about the scene where they get stuck on the roof!

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Whewwww this was hot. And angsty. College-set athlete romance is not my thing but this one really worked for me.

Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee

I’ve read this twice and loved it even more the second time. Julia is so relatable. Tae is so dreamy. Their romance is adorable but the book also offers a lovely exploration into how we define success.

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

Kennedy is a master of her craft and the culmination of this series blew my mind. Sexy and emotional, tightly plotted, and with amazing conflict. Wow.

When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa

There’s a reason why I call Mia the Queen of Rom-Coms and it’s because her books are actually funny, along with nailing all the romance beats. Javi and Mari’s enemies to friends to lovers journey has a lot of bumps in the road, but you’re rooting for them at every step.

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Cara quickly became one of my favorite authors and I will never not be impressed by the effortless way she crafts dialogue. This book was really funny but also made me cry! (The audiobook is currently on sale.)

Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi

This was probably my most anticipated book of the year and it did not disappoint! Like Lucifer by way of a Southern Gothic. I was also really hoping [redacted] would happen and then it DID.

The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

I’m in awe of this book. The writing is so lyrical, and I truly had no idea where it was going but I was completely invested in every second of the ride. It’s like if you mixed Brienne of Tarth and King Arthur with The Ministry of Time (one of my favorite books from last year) and This is How You Lose the Time War and…WandaVision? Just incredible.

Bonus series recommendation: Streams and Schemes, Tips and Trysts, Masks and Mishaps by Rebecca Kinkade

Only the third book in this series came out this year, but I found and read all three this summer, and MY GOD, WHAT A RIDE. Possibly some of the best friend groups I’ve read ever?!?! And I don’t say that lightly. These books are SO F’N HOT and SO F’N FUNNY. Three camgirls and the guys who worship the ground they walk on. The first is currently on sale for $1.99 in ebook and they’re all in KU. (Definitely read in order.)

I also read a lot of older stuff (like Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series and Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series) and even reread some old favorites for the romance book club at Book Club Bar (Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Destiny’s Surrender by Beverly Jenkins, and Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips). I read a lot of sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy this year, including multiple titles from authors like Claire Kent, Kimberly Lemming, and Beth Revis (loved the Chaotic Orbits novella series). I also did a re-read of The Hunger Games trilogy with an eleven-year-old (before I read Sunrise on the Reaping), and even I got tired of hearing myself draw parallels from the books to current events.

Here’s a quick look at what I’ve been reading since my last post.

What I’m Reading

A lot of novellas and holiday romances!

• Merry and Bright by Ali Rosen

• You Better Not Pout by Mia Sosa

• All Wrapped Up in You by Rosie Danan

• Brood by Claire Kent

• Bait by Adriana Herrera

• Trade by Cate C. Wells

• Skyn by Nikki Payne

• Catching His Eye by Emily Antoinette

• Bad Santas by Dee Garcia

• Cozy for the Holidays by Liz Maverick

• Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal

• Mistletoe Murders 4 by Ken Cuperus

• The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey

• The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

• Only for the Holidays by Abiola Bello

• Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin

• Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson & Margot Melcon

• How to Lose a Guy Before Christmas by A.J. Pine

Highlights:

• The Everlasting (One of my top books of the year! See above.)

• Merry and Bright (So cute! I loved this short novella and could totally see it as a movie.)

• Skyn (Come for the sexy cyborg romance, stay for the treatise on capitalist corruption and human nature?!)

Currently reading:

• Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (I’m reading along with the show)

• The Last Star by Rick Yancey (Reading with a twelve-year-old)

• A Pack for Winter by Eliana Lee (Audiobook from Libby)

What I’m Watching

Heated Rivalry, of course!

A lot has been said about this show over the past few weeks, and yes, Connor and Hudson are AMAZING and have incredible chemistry. (Their press tour is the gift that keeps on giving.) Yes, the story is high stakes and high tension. Yes, I appreciate the minimal focus on actual hockey. And yes, the enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance from the book is beautifully done.

BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE EDITING???

This is romance-focused editing. Every decision is made from the perspective of the ROMANCE, highlighting the YEARNING and the ATTRACTION. There’s a reason people still talk about the Darcy hand flex twenty years later, and Heated Rivalry is giving us so many similar moments to swoon over. And then there are the cuts between scenes, the camera angles and cinematography, and way music is layered and incorporated, and the lighting??? It’s all intentional, with a brilliant level of attention to detail. All while never losing sight of what this show is, which is a ROMANCE. It’s a good thing I don’t know how to make edits, because I’d be wasting a lot of time on that if I did.

I’ve said it before, but Kdramas get it, leaning into the romance beats and milking those moments for all they’re worth, while Hollywood often acts like they’re embarrassed by the very notion of romance and all it entails. Heated Rivalry is, notably, a Canadian production, and we should all be grateful they didn’t have any big studio execs in there ruining the vision. This should be the blueprint for how to adapt a spicy romance novel for screen with care and respect, and it’s also clear evidence for how important it is to cast the right leads. I don’t expect Hollywood to learn the right lessons from this, but Heated Rivalry is a textbook example of how to do it right if anyone cares to pay attention. Also, shout-out to the intimacy coordinators!

I’m also watching season 2 of Ranma 1/2 and I’m two episodes into Dynamite Kiss.

Events

I don’t currently have any in-person events on the schedule for 2026 and I will be majorly scaling back on appearances. (I did a lot of traveling this year and I’m tired!)

However, I will be participating in Ali Rosen’s virtual pajama party for her upcoming release, The Slow Burn! Join us on January 27th!

I also love talking to book clubs, so if yours has selected one of my books, please let me know! Depending on the schedule, I might be able to do a virtual drop in. (I’m working on getting a form on my website for that. For now you can contact my publicist at Leo PR.)

All right, that’s it for my first Substack post!

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season.

All the best,

Alexis Daria

Subscribe now

First of all, if you’re new here, welcome!

Here’s the link to the annotated deleted epilogue for The Holiday Hookup List. 🎁

(If that’s all you came here for, you can unsubscribe at the bottom, or feel free to follow me on BookBub instead, if all you want are new release alerts. No hard feelings!)

Speaking of The Holiday Hookup List, I got this festive illustration of Valencia and Gideon commissioned by @knightfallart. It’s from Chapter 14, when they take a photo in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center.

Here’s the scene:

We stop to take selfies in front of Rockefeller Center’s eighty-foot Christmas tree.

Gideon stands behind me, his arms wrapped around my middle and his cheek pressed to mine. Even though my arms are far shorter than his, I extend one and hold my phone out to take the photo. With my other hand, I cup the side of his face.

“Smile.”

He does.

The photo is so perfect, it hurts.

❤️

The Holiday Hookup List

(Btw, I meant to put the epilogue link in the automated welcome emails you get when signing up, but it’s been so long since I changed those, they are apparently LOCKED and I can’t update them without upgrading my Mailchimp membership! I’m holding off on that because I’m probably moving to another provider soon, so I appreciate your patience on receiving the link to the epilogue!)

Second, I have Dance Off updates!

The Dance Off series is now in Kindle Unlimited!

That’s right, if you have a KU subscription, you can read the ebooks for free!

(They are still available in libraries, but this means they aren’t on other ebook retailers while they are in KU.)

Also…

The Dance Off is now available in PRINT!

I had to brush off my graphic design skills to make the wraparound covers, but I’m SO EXCITED to hold these in my hands! Here’s a breakdown of updates by book:

Take the Lead (#1)

As I’ve mentioned before, the rights to Take the Lead reverted back to me this year, and I have now indie published my debut in ebook and print. The audiobook is available via Tantor wherever audio is sold, and through Libby. If you already have the purple cover, the text has not changed. (Although if you read the book before February 2023, you read the old version.)

The purple cover is still showing up first on Amazon so here’s the direct link to the new one. It’ll be up on bookshop.org and other retailers soon.

Take The Lead

Dance with Me (#2)

I am MOST excited to receive this one because Dance with Me has NEVER BEEN IN PRINT. That’s right, I have never held this book in my hands. (Aside from printing out the rough draft while I was writing it, and that doesn’t count.)

This version of Dance with Me (that was rereleased in September) is an expanded and revised version of the book. As in, I rewrote the entire ending and added more character development, romance, and spice throughout. No audiobook news yet, but fingers crossed!

Dance with Me

Dance All Night (#3)

I’ve updated the cover to match the others and I changed Dimitri’s nickname in the book due to an edit in Dance with Me. Otherwise, this holiday novella is exactly the same as it always was.

(This graphic is just a digital mockup; the spine will be thinner since this is a novella!)

Dance All Night

Third, What the Hex is also in Kindle Unlimited!

Spooky season is over, but this book actually takes place during the summer, and stories about burnout recovery and loving your family from a distance are relevant anytime.

I recently shared some character art for this novella, too! By @dazzlingjedi.

What the Hex

Last, Amor Actually is on sale in audiobook!

From what I can tell, it’s $1.99 on Chirp (a steal!) and $4.99 on Libro.fm. Possibly discounted elsewhere too.

(And if you’ve listened to The Holiday Hookup List in audio, Ramona Master voiced most of this anthology too!)

Nochebuena. One party. Nine Happily Ever Afters.

It’s Christmas Eve in New York City and anything is possible. For these couples, it’s the season to find true love. From second-chances, big leaps, missed connections, and reconnections, this charming collection celebrates the spirit of the holidays and delivers nine perfect HEAs.

From seven acclaimed and bestselling Latina authors—Zoey Castile, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, Diana Muñoz Stewart, Priscilla Oliveras, Sabrina Sol, and Mia Sosa—comes a holiday romance anthology that will warm your heart.

Amor Actually

Upcoming Events

I have one more event in November and two in December!

• Saturday, 11/22, Miami: Miami Book Fair

• Monday, 12/1, Brooklyn: Zakiya N. Jamal’s launch event for Sparks Fly

• Saturday, 12/13, NYC: Paginas y Parranda

Check my website for more details.

Final Thoughts

My toddler has already been sick twice since autumn started, so I feel extremely behind in pretty much every area of my life, but aside from that, I’ve been working on a couple new projects and I’m SO excited about both of them. Nothing I can share yet, but I’m having a blast and writing a LOT.

Speaking of, I drafted a few longer pieces about creativity that I wanted to share here, but this email is already pretty long. I’ve been thinking a lot about where to share longer thoughts and where else to connect. Instagram is the only social media platform I’m on these days and tbh, it doesn’t feel like a safe or fun place to be anymore.

I’m toying with a few ideas, like sending a newsletter twice a month instead of once, moving to Substack, starting a Patreon, or just…blogging??? I don’t know. Also, I’m trying not to lose sight of the fact that my job is not posting on any of these platforms, my job is writing books. And all the other stuff is just a distraction from that. Anyway, I’m open to suggestions!

All the best,

Alexis

Reading & Watching

Watching:

• Thunderbolts/The New Avengers

• Captain America: Brave New World

• Heathers: The Musical

I gotta say, action movies hit different now, and not in a good way. 😟 Shit feels too real. Also, I’ve never actually seen Heathers the movie so when I went to the musical I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO GO THAT FAR, JFC. Teen dark comedies(?) also hit different in 2025, also not in a good way! (Although the cast and production were very good, ofc.)

Aside from these, during my 10 minutes of TV a day, I recently started Bon Appétit, Your Majesty on Susan Lee’s recommendation, and I’m already hooked.

Reading:

I’ve listened to four of the Scared Sexy stories and they were each a lot of fun! Steamy and imaginative.

The Floating World by Axie Oh: I saw Axie comp this as “Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone” and I was immediately sold! The second in this YA fantasy duology just came out, and I have it on Libby to read this month.

Reread in audio: Good Spirits by BK Borison and Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee. I had such a great time doing events with both authors recently! Good Spirits is super cozy, and Julia Song is a delight!

Willing Prey by Allie Oleander: I’ve never read the primal play trope before, but when I heard about this book, I was intrigued. It really delivered on the TENSION, and the HEAT was turned up high!

I recently finished Writing Invisible by Claire Kent/Noelle Adams. At first, I thought, “I wish I’d had this book years ago!” But now, I think it found me at the exact right time. Lots of food for thought as I consider the next phase of my writing career.

Currently reading: Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi, where the love interest is THE LITERAL DEVIL. Try to imagine the show Lucifer as a Southern Gothic. Hooked me immediately!

OUT NOW

THE HOLIDAY HOOKUP LIST

Naughty is the new nice.

The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! Spice up the holiday season with this sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author.

Available now in Kindle Unlimited, print, and audiobook!

The Holiday Hookup List

Copyright © 2025 Alexis Daria, All rights reserved.


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Header illustration by Chloe Quinn

The Holiday Hookup List is out today!

It feels weird to promote a Christmas novella in early autumn (especially since I love Halloween), but I’m so excited for this story to be out in the world!

Here’s a quick look at what you can find in The Holiday Hookup List:

🥵 Two former school rivals indulging in cheesy holiday traditions and trying kinky sh*t together during the twelve days leading up to Christmas.

❤️ Characters exploring loneliness and grief, learning to clearly communicate their wants and needs, and learning to forgive and trust themselves.

🎄 A fast-paced read that’s super hot, extremely Christmassy, and surprisingly emotional, along with a dash of silliness.

I love writing spicy Christmas stories set in New York City, and this one was an absolute joy. I hope that comes through in the reading of it. (And if you do read it, please leave a review! Even a short one helps!)

Btw, the ebook is in KU (with audio!) and I’ve heard that passing the 10% mark can count as a full read. Just saying!

Keep going for a link to the DELETED EPILOGUE and a little backstory about the writing of this book! Plus details about my upcoming NYC reading event and a quick glimpse at what I’ve been reading and watching.

All the best,

Alexis

THE HOLIDAY HOOKUP LIST

Naughty is the new nice.

The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! Spice up the holiday season with this sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author.

Valencia

After calling it quits with my cheating fiancé, I’m definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. But when my best friend invites me to a holiday dance party, I show up ready to shake my ass.

Except I must be on Santa’s naughty list, because who do I run into? My infuriatingly sexy high school archnemesis, Gideon Noble.

The pulsing music, red and green strobe lights, and Gideon’s bitable bottom lip make me reckless, so I drag him onto the dance floor.

And then? I take him home with me.

Gideon

If this is my second chance with Valencia, I’m not wasting it.

We’re both alone this Christmas, so we create a naughty and nice list that would make Santa blush: twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer, and twelve nights decking each other’s halls.

As Christmas Eve, and the end of our list, approaches, I realize that twelve days with Valencia Torres isn’t enough.

I want forever.

But does she?

Available now in Kindle Unlimited, print, and audiobook!

The Holiday Hookup List

Here’s a little backstory about about how this novella came to be.

Let’s flashback to the summer of 2024, when I got the opportunity to write a short story for the Under the Mistletoe collection. I very quickly drafted what would become The Holiday Hookup List, but it was too long. Like, more than twice as long as it was supposed to be. Oops! 😅 My editors loved it and had good ideas for trimming it down, but I decided that would be doing a disservice to the story, so I went back to the drawing board (so to speak) and wrote Only Santas in the Building instead.

From there, I proposed expanding The Holiday Hookup List into a longer novella. Fast forward to this year, when it came time to do that…and I once again made the book too long. 😭

What followed was a whirlwind editing spree (during the hours when my toddler was sleeping). All told, I probably deleted around 6k words, which is a LOT for a novella. It became almost like a game: What can I cut without losing the essence of the story or the scene? What’s absolutely necessary and what am I being too precious about? Where am I overwriting or being repetitive? What words or phrases can go without affecting the meaning or flow of the sentences?

I had to be absolutely ruthless and methodical. At one point, I went through and cut a dozen words from every single page. If I wanted to add words, I had to find others to take away.

All of my novellas get the “I wished it were longer” reviews, which on the one hand is sort of the nature of the art form, but often there are external reasons for why those stories can’t be longer.

This process was excruciating, but it leveled up my writing craft and ultimately resulted in a tight little novella that flows smoothly.

I was also SURE my editorial team was going to make me delete Chapter 15 🍑, so when they didn’t, I had to find other words to cut instead. 😆 (I’m glad they didn’t make me delete it, though, because it’s an emotional turning point!)

That said, I DO have a deleted epilogue, which I’ve annotated with footnotes to give a glimpse of my process and show how the story changed during editing.

(It has spoilers, obviously, so wait to read it until after you finish the novella.)

Read the deleted epilogue here!

The Characters

The Vibes

Get it here

The Holiday Hookup List

Wine & Pine Reading Series

I’ll be reading from What the Hex or The Holiday Hookup List, maybe both!

Monday, October 20
Doors open at 7pm, reading begins at 7:30pm
Ten Degrees Bar, 121 St. Marks Place NY, NY 10009
RSVP here

If you’re not ready for Christmas yet, I have a witchy novella, too!

What the Hex is just 80 pages long and is available in ebook, print, and audio. It was recently included in People’s roundup of “9 Hot Witchy Books to Read for Hispanic Heritage Month” and they called it “a hell of a fun time.”

What the Hex

Reading & Watching

Reading: I recently finished (and loved) Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone, and my Libby hold of Oye by Melissa Mogollon just came in.

Watching: I finally watched the new Superman movie! And I started season 2 of Ranma ½.

Copyright © 2025 Alexis Daria, All rights reserved.


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Header illustration by Chloe Quinn

This e-mail is CHOCK FULL of info and updates, so strap in! 

We have:

• Dance Off series updates

• Along Came Amor on sale

• The Holiday Hookup List links

• Upcoming event info

• LHM book recs (and thoughts)

• Reading & Watching highlights

First up…
 

🎉 Dance with Me is heeeeere! 🎉

DANCE WITH ME
By Alexis Daria

Return to the world of The Dance Off…

From USA Today bestselling author Alexis Daria comes the sizzling follow-up to Take the Lead.

Professional dancer Natasha Díaz is broke, overworked, and in need of a place to crash. She’s just desperate enough to move in with Dimitri Kovalenko, her on-and-off hookup and the guy most likely to break her heart. Except he’s a judge on The Dance Off, and thanks to a new rule, backstage romances are strictly forbidden.

For three years, risk-averse Dimitri has longed to be more than coworkers-with-benefits with Natasha, and this is his chance to sweep her off her feet. But when a producer threatens to expose their secret living arrangement, will they find the strength to step into the spotlight together? Or will this be their last dance?

A little backstory about this book…

Dance with Me was first published in December 2017, right after Take the Lead, but no one knew about it. 😅 By that point, the imprint had been shuttered and DWM had just made the cutoff for even being published. I got the rights back in 2020 and the book went “out of print” (despite only being available in ebook). I sat on the book for a while, and last year I decided to revise it and reissue it myself. I had revised TTL before it was reissued in 2023, and I expected DWM to be a light edit, nothing more. 

Then I decided to incorporate the flashback scenes I’d written in 2017 but never published. And that “light edit” turned into a much bigger project. 

I do a lot of prewriting for my books, especially if the characters have a shared past. In Dance with Me, Natasha and Dimitri have been FWB for three years before the story begins, so there were a lot of scenes showing the development of their relationship, along with scenes from their individual pasts. 

On top of adding these scenes, I changed at least one plot point and rewrote the ending, plus I polished the prose throughout. While it is still roughly the same story, to me it feels like a different book. The backstory is more evident, the emotions deeper, and it’s steamier and more romantic. 

I finished the revision by the skin of my teeth and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my writing coach, Kate Brauning; my copyeditor, Kari Cole; and my agency, NYLA. 

My toddler got sick the day the ebook dropped, so I’m behind in getting the print version available, but that’s on deck for this week. I’m also trying to get all my indie published titles into KU, and hopefully that’ll happen soon. 
 

Now for a few more Dance Off updates!

Take the Lead is back up in ebook with a brand new cover!

As I announced in July, I got the rights back to TTL, which means I had to quickly commission art for a new cover. Pandacapuccino came through and captured the vibes of the series in record time. 
 

Stone & Gina through the years: 2017, 2023, 2025

While I’m sad to see the previous cover go, I love this one too. 

The print edition that is currently available in some places is the old one, as I guess the retailer warehouses are still selling through their stock? I’m not sure what will happen when I make a version with this new cover available, but I guess we’ll find out!

(The text in the book has NOT changed since the 2023 reissue.)

Dance All Night has a new cover too! 

Since I needed a new cover for TTL, I gave all three a design refresh. As with the others, Dance All Night's new cover is only on the ebook for now. I’m updating the print files this week so that should be up at the same time as TTL and DWM. 

Let's take a look at all of them together!
 

Dance Off covers, 2025

While I send a ton of references for cover art, I can tell you that the movie posters for Step Up, Dirty Dancing, and La La Land were included on my inspiration boards for each book, respectively. 

Couple illustrations by Pandacapuccino (TTL) and Chloe Quinn (DWM & DAN), cover design by me.

Also!

Along Came Amor is on sale in digital formats!

The ebook is $1.99 and the audiobook is $7.99 (on Libro.fm and Chirpbooks, at least). Only for a couple more days, so don’t delay!

The Holiday Hookup List comes out NEXT WEEK!

I listened to the audiobook last week and I’m OBSESSED. It’s my first solo title to receive dual narration, which means there are two narrators instead of just one. Ramona Master (who also did Amor Actually) and Noah B. Perez both did a FANTASTIC job bringing Valencia and Gideon to life, and I love how it turned out. 

I saw a review that said, “gimme that epilogue, Daria, you coward,” and in fact, there IS a deleted epilogue! And since you’re here, you’ll already be receiving it. I’ll probably send it in November. 

(I deleted a LOTTTTTT from the book, not just the epilogue. 😭 More on that later.)

There’s a Goodreads giveaway going on now for 100 Kindle copies, and you can enter here. It's also on NetGalley in ebook and audiobook.

Events

I have six more events scheduled for the rest of this year! Here’s info about the next three:

Wine and Pine Reading Series
Monday, October 20
Doors open at 7pm, reading begins at 7:30pm
Ten Degrees Bar, 121 St. Marks Place NY, NY 10009
RSVP here

BK Borison launch event for Good Spirits
Wednesday, October 22nd @ 7pm
The Strand Bookstore, NYC
Sold out

Susan Lee launch event for Julia Song is Undateable with Ali Hazelwood
Thursday, November 6 @ 7pm
Lovestruck Books, Cambridge, MA
Waitlist

Latine Heritage Month is September 15th through October 15th!

At a time when the government is LITERALLY DISAPPEARING Latin American people, it feels hard and yet more important than ever to celebrate and shine a spotlight on our presence in this country. Carmen (@tomesandtextiles on IG) said it in a way that has stayed with me this month: "We're not going to let anyone cancel our party."

I was asked by Katie Couric Media to do a roundup of book recommendations for LHM, and I highlighted nine fairly recent romance titles that I felt told a great love story while also exploring a range of deeper themes. My original thesis touched on the publishing industry historically either ignoring Latine voices or having a narrow thematic focus. However, in light of the horrendous Supreme Court decision earlier this month, I did an eleventh hour rewrite of the article intro (in the midst of DWM edits and sleeping only 2-3 hours a night 🙃) to try to address the difficulty of retaining a spirit of celebration amidst these daily atrocities. It's hard to go from “look at all this horrible sh*t happening” to “enjoy these spicy romance novels!” but after talking to Adriana Herrera about Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico (did you watch it??), I think I found a way to connect the threads. You can read it here, and I hope you'll check out these books, because they really are excellent.
 

I also got to highlight my dear friend Priscilla Oliveras for B&N’s Instagram account, since His Perfect Partner was the first genre romance I read that depicted a Puerto Rican family that felt familiar to me. (The photo is from a few years ago because my child was sick when I had to submit the picture, and I was nowhere near camera ready. 😆)

Anyway, while I'm glad to have the opportunity to highlight all of these authors, I do wish Latine voices received this kind of energy and appreciation year round. Same goes for all the other heritage months. Reading breeds empathy, and if everyone had more of that, maybe we all wouldn't be in this mess now. (In fact, this is exactly why we have to fight book bans, and Banned Books Week is coming up, October 5-11th! Check out ways you can participate and support.)

In other news, I got to do an event with Kennedy Ryan at the National Book Festival and she’s an absolute rockstar! I’m so excited to read Score when it comes out. (Also my face was on the festival's subway ads. WILD.) And last week I attended Nikki Payne’s NYC event for The Princess and the P.I., and it sounds juicy. 

I had to skip the August newsletter because of edits, and this one got delayed while my child was sick (she’s fine now, but getting her bedtime routine back on track has been a struggle and a half), so the next email will (hopefully) come sooner rather than later. It’ll contain release info about The Holiday Hookup List, hopefully some updates about The Dance Off in print and KU, and maybe even a peek into my thought processes as I consider the big question: What am I writing next?

All the best,
Alexis 

Reading & Watching

I’ve been reading a LOT, and I’ve even watched a few movies, thanks to Alanna Bennett’s “Modern Rom-Com” seminar course. (Part 2 starts soon.) I’ve also been watching anime on my lunch breaks. This email is already long enough so here are the highlights. 

Reading: Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade and Everything She Never Knew by Annette Chavez Macias
Watching: Rye Lane and The Apothecary Diaries 

I’m currently reading From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata and slowly watching The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity. 

Out Now

I’ve been dreaming of this moment for years, and I’m happy to finally announce…
 

🎉 The rights to Take the Lead have reverted back to me! 🎉

You might be thinking, “Congrats! But what exactly does that mean?”

It means I now own the print and ebook rights to my debut novel, the first book in my Dance Off series. 
 

And THAT means all three Dance Off titles will be published under the same series heading for the first time ever!

See, Take the Lead and Dance with Me were originally sold to a traditional publisher, way back in the olden days of 2017. I self-published Dance All Night, the novella, in 2018, so it was never officially connected to the other two books on retailers. 
 

Dance Off covers, 2017-2018

I got the rights back to Dance with Me five years ago, but since I didn’t own Book 1 in the series, I wasn’t sure what to do with Book 2.

I finally decided to reposition Dance with Me and Dance All Night as a spinoff series. (That’s where the “Time to Dance” series name came from, but that’s going away, so forget you ever saw it.)
 

Dance Off/Time to Dance covers, 2023-2024

Since I’ve now regained the rights to Take the Lead, I'm thrilled to be able to publish all three books together!

What's next? Well, Take the Lead needs a new cover, so I’m going to refresh the covers for all of them. Stay tuned! 
 

Dance Off covers, 2025?

And the updated and expanded version of Dance with Me comes out on September 16th, so I've been hard at work on that. (It's somehow 105k words...)

That’s all for now! I’ll have more updates next month. 

And in other book news...

The Holiday Hookup List ARCs are here!

They’re so small and cute, I just love them! 🥰 (The eARC will probably be on NetGalley soon.)
 

And I'm giving away a copy to one newsletter subscriber! 

Click here to enter.

Ends 7/12 at 8pm EST.

This novella will be out on October 7th in ebook (KU), print, and audiobook. 

And the B&N preorder sale is going on now, so if you want it in print, members can preorder it for 25% off with code PREORDER25. Premium members receive an additional 10% off. Sale ends 7/11. Here's the direct link.
 

Events

Last month I joined book launches for Danielle Allen, Mia Sosa, and Katelyn Doyle, as well as paneling and signing at the Bronx Book Festival. I had so much fun at all of these appearances! 

I have two events in July—one in Indiana, one in Manhattan—and in September I'll be at the National Book Festival!

Wild Geese Bookshop Summer Camp for Grown Ups
Tuesday, 7/15 @ 6:30pm
Main and Madison Cafe
Franklin, IN
Tickets

HEA Romance Book Club @ Book Club Bar
Wednesday, 7/23 @ 8pm
197 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10009
Tickets

National Book Festival
September 6th, Washington DC 
Free to attend
More info here

Final Thoughts

To be honest, I’ve been feeling really doom-and-gloom about the state of the world lately, to the point where it is impacting my work. I’ve been taking Instagram breaks on the weekends, but that isn't enough, so I’ve deleted the app from my phone and intend to stay off it for most of the month. I need to give my nervous system a break from the constant barrage of terrifying and rage-inducing headlines. (I also have a lot of conflicted feelings about using a Meta-owned app in the first place.) I'm signed up for a few newsletters, so I can be informed without being inundated, but yeah. Things are bleak. If you've been feeling that way too, you're not alone! As you'll see below, I've been turning to stories instead of doomscrolling—not as a means of escape, but as a reminder to hold out hope for a happier ending for all of us.


All the best,
Alexis 

What I’m Reading:

Here's a roundup of recent reads and rereads. (Some of these were a while ago but hadn't made it into the newsletter.)

If you’re looking for an excellent summer/beach/vacation read, I would highly recommend: These Summer Storms, Curvy Girl Summer, A Death on Corfu, and Total Dreamboat. 
 

• Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen

• A Death on Corfu by Emily Sullivan

• Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle

• These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean

• A Hunger Like No Other and The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole

• Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

• The Scent of Us: Part 1 by Eliana Lee

• Well Bred by Adriana Anders

• Silver Elite by Dani Francis

• Slipstream by Madge Maril

Links for these books can be found here.

What I’m Watching:

A lot of Broadway! (Too much, if you ask BF.) Also musicals and animation.
 

• KPop Demon Hunters

• Materialists

• Ranma ½ (2024)

• Broadway Bares: Come Out, Come Out (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS) Recap

• Hell’s Kitchen

• John Proctor is the Villain

• Stranger Things: The First Shadow 

• Pirates! The Penzance Musical 

I want to highlight KPop Demon Hunters, which was sooo much fun. (It’s like Sailor Moon meets Jem and the Holograms meets Totally Spies but make it K-pop.) I’ve been loving the soundtrack and seeing all the art it’s inspired, along with the team sharing behind the scenes concept art, storyboards, and more. I studied animation in college and I have always loved this medium of storytelling, so it’s been cool to see how much love the movie and the team have been getting online. Especially with AI threatening creative jobs, it's invigorating to see evidence of the CREATIVE PROCESS and the years of work by extremely skilled creatives that went into it. 

If plays are your thing, John Proctor is the Villain and Stranger Things: The First Shadow were both incredible, although for very different reasons. 

And while I usually go to shows alone, there's something cathartic about being in a theater with hundreds of other people, all reacting when the performers make commentary that either directly addresses or hits very close to home on what's happening in the world today. To be able to cheer and clap and scream with other people for the things that matter. To see how stories can be both entertaining and carry a deeper message that parallels where we are in this moment. As a writer, this is a vital reminder. And really, there's nothing like live theater for providing inspiration and making me feel alive!

What I’m Listening To:

• Fated Mates podcast (since I’m finally revisiting the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole, I’ve gone back to listen to season 1)

• KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack (I'm obsessed)

Out Now

I’m home!

First of all, thank you to everyone who has purchased, reviewed, shared, or otherwise supported Along Came Amor since its release. Because of you, the book was an instant USA TODAY BESTSELLER and has been on the list two weeks in a row!

It feels great, but the truth is, it’s also fleeting. Because as much as I love external markers of success, something like this doesn’t actually change anything about why or how I do my work. And my work is writing books that fulfill me on a personal level and that hopefully also resonate with readers. This book tour really drove that home for me, so I want to do a little recap and share some thoughts. 

 

This was not just my first tour, but my first time EVER doing in-person launch events for a Primas of Power book. (This surprises a lot of people, but You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós came out in 2020 and 2021 respectively, so all of those events were virtual.)

It wasn’t a given that I’d be going on tour, so I’m grateful to the readers who showed up in each city, to the booksellers and bookstores who hosted my events (The Ripped Bodice, East City Bookshop, Novel Neighbor, Bookmarks, Books-A-Million, and Steamy Lit), to my conversation partners (Adriana Herrera, Zoraida Córdova, Tracey Livesay, Stephanie Skees, Juliana Reyes, Suzanne Tierney, and JJ Arias), and to my publisher for sending me on tour. 

(By the way, all the stores I visited have signed copies of my books. Links here.)
 

The tour itself gave new meaning to the word WHIRLWIND—and I say this as the parent of a two-year-old!  

  Whether there was a large crowd or a small, intimate group, every tour stop was special in its own way.

The absolute best thing about in-person events is meeting readers, and one of the things I enjoy most is hearing which scenes stood out to people. I'm always surprised when it's the smaller, quieter moments., but it's a good reminder that those scenes have impact, too.

I also love talking about the creative process, and while I often worry this will bore people, four years of my life are wrapped up in this book, so I can't help but talk about it! At a time when AI is replicating (i.e. stealing) artists’ work, and after recently finding out that ALL of my books were included in the illegal database Meta knowingly used to train its AI (there’s a class action lawsuit underway), I’ve come to believe that talking about process is more important than ever. This is the thing that AI can’t replicate: It can’t mimic my lived experiences while creating this book or the emotional journey I went on with these characters and within myself that informed their happily-ever-after. 

But the most meaningful thing was hearing from readers who said mine were the first books they’d come across that had Latine characters. Some said that You Had Me at Hola was the first time they’d seen themselves and their families reflected back to them in a book, and that my books opened the door for them to find other Latine romance authors. Hearing that brings me a sense of peace, because it means I did what I set out to do with this series. But at a time when Latine communities are being targeted by the federal government and families are being ripped apart, even that is fleeting. 

I’d originally included something more personal here about the satisfaction of having written the series I wish had existed in the world when I was younger and how, much like Ava and Roman, I’m currently in a mental space of “What’s next?” But the fact is, I've been too consumed by the news to indulge in that level of naval-gazing, and this email is already too long. 

So, how about a cover reveal instead?

The Holiday Hookup List Cover Reveal

The twelve days of Christmas have never been hotter! Spice up the holiday season with this sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author.

Valencia

After calling it quits with my cheating fiancé, I’m definitely not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. But when my best friend invites me to a holiday dance party, I show up ready to shake my ass.

Except I must be on Santa’s naughty list, because who do I run into? My infuriatingly sexy high school archnemesis, Gideon Noble.

The pulsing music, red and green strobe lights, and Gideon’s bitable bottom lip make me reckless, so I drag him onto the dance floor.

And then? I take him home with me.
 

Gideon

If this is my second chance with Valencia, I’m not wasting it.

We’re both alone this Christmas, so we create a naughty and nice list that would make Santa blush: twelve days of wholesome yuletide cheer, and twelve nights decking each other’s halls.

As Christmas Eve, and the end of our list, approaches, I realize that twelve days with Valencia Torres isn’t enough.

I want forever.

But does she?
 

Out 10/7/25

This cover is very different from my others, but I wanted something typography-focused that said “sexy Christmas romance” but still felt like an Alexis Daria book. It looks simple, but we went through multiple rounds and many different design styles to get here, and I love how it turned out.

(However, I can't believe they let me put “shake my ass” in the back cover copy. Wtf was I thinking.

 And yes, the story is also written in first person present tense, like the blurb.)

The Holiday Hookup List revolves around two former school rivals who reunite and agree to a sex pact for the twelve days leading up to Christmas. It’s extremely hot and very silly but also surprisingly emotional. Writing this novella was an absolute joy and I had so much fun with it. I wrote the first draft almost a year ago, and I’m so excited for it to soon be in readers’ hands. It’ll be out October 7th in print, ebook, and audiobook. 
 

Book News

I’ll wrap this up with some good book news. As I said at the beginning, Along Came Amor is a USA Today bestseller!

It has also been mentioned by the New York Times FIVE TIMES?! 
 

First as the only romance in their May roundup, then with a glowing review, then on their Editor’s Choice list, and again on their "Find Your Next Book" feature, and finally as one of the "Best Romance Novels of the Year So Far." Honestly, I'm blown away! And so grateful to see it marked as "Popular with Times Readers." 🥰 

When you release a book, nothing is guaranteed, so I'm extremely thankful for the reception Along Came Amor has received, and to everyone who has taken the time to read and review!


One good thing about being in so many airports was that I had lots of opportunities to look for the issue of Woman’s World that highlighted Along Came Amor. (The cashier was like, "Did you mean to buy three copies?" Yes. Yes, I did.)

 

I’ve also done a few interviews so I’m linking some here in case anyone is interested in reading or listening to them.

• Writer's Digest

• Nerd Daily

• Undercurrents of Romance podcast

• The Well-Read Podcast

• eleven thirteen pm

While my tour is over, I have more upcoming events this summer, including four NYC events in June (two are this week!), one in July, and an event outside Indianapolis on July 15th. More info here.


I'm hoping to have Dance Off updates to share next month, so stay tuned! 👀 


And if you’ve read Along Came Amor already (or any of my books, really), I’d love it if you left a review!


Wishing you all the best,
Alexis 


P.S. If you signed up to receive the deleted prologue from Along Came Amor, I'll be sending that out this week! 

Final Thoughts

I’d originally included a more specific call to action here but there's too much going on, so just consider this your regular reminder to call your reps. Let them know how you want them to vote on bills, and how you do and don't want your tax dollars spent. 5Calls makes it easy. Call every day, or at night—then you can leave a voicemail. Keep the pressure on. There is so much at stake. Thank you. 

And if you’re in NYC, early voting in the mayoral primary is going on now. Tell your friends and family: Rank every spot but DON’T RANK ANDREW CUOMO AT ALL. 

Here’s a handy video that explains how ranked choice voting works. And here's an Instagram Reel that explains it using Legos.

What I’m Reading:

I’ve been reading a lot since I last included a roundup, and these were the highlights! 
 

• This Could Be Us and Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

• How to Steal a Galaxy and Last Chance to Save the World by Beth Revis

• Like First Love, Again by JJ Arias

• Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

• Julia Song is Undateable by Susan Lee (out 10/28/25)

• Last First Kiss by Julian Winters (out 1/27/26)

Links for these books can be found here.

What I’m Watching:

I saw Boop! the Musical last week and not only was it fun, it was also much deeper than I expected! It included commentary on billionaires, corruption, poverty, the wage gap, and sexual harassment, along with an emotional journey about connecting with who you are deep down, and a side storyline about the mayoral election in NYC. 

Out Now

Along Came Amor is out today.

::pauses to take a deep breath:: 

I’ve waited three years to say that. So I hope you’ll indulge me as I overshare a bit. 

There were many times where I thought this day would never come. I even questioned whether I would ever publish another book again. (And now I have three releases coming out this year!)

On set at CBS New York last week! Watch here or here

Along Came Amor was the most difficult book I’ve ever written, but ultimately the most rewarding. It required me to level up as a writer and meet the challenge of everything I was trying to do with this story and these characters. It made me ask hard questions, and forced me to find the answers to those questions within myself. 

Ava and Roman have the most mature relationship of all my books. And while Ava was initially the hardest character to connect with, I now know her inside and out, and I feel such compassion, protectiveness, and love for her and everything she’s endured. The Primas of Power feel as real to me as my own cousins. I'm sad to say goodbye to them, but I did everything I could to make this a satisfying end to the series as a whole. 
 

Buy Along Came Amor here

Now comes the oversharing part.

I will always remember Along Came Amor as the book I wrote during the most difficult period of my life. I am lucky and grateful to still be here, still with my family, still writing. This book will always be special to me, a reminder of survival and resilience. This story gave my work-life structure and purpose during the first year of parenthood. And now, my two-year-old immediately recognizes the cover as “Mommy’s book.” (As I’m formatting this email, she’s sitting on my lap, flipping through the copy I’ve filled with sticky tabs, and saying, “I’m reading Mommy’s book.”)

So while this book is three years late, I hope that when you read it, you feel it was time well spent and worth the wait, or better yet, that you forget you had to wait for it at all, because you are so completely swept away by Ava and Roman’s journey to happily-ever-after. 

Thank you for being here. ❤️

All the best,
Alexis

(If you read an advanced copy, please remember to leave a review this week. It can be short, but reviews on retailer sites during release week are a huge help to authors!)

Want to read the deleted prologue?

If you preordered Along Came Amor or if you purchase it in any format from anywhere during release week or if you requested/borrowed it from your local library or if you read an ARC...

Then upload a screenshot with the proof of purchase/request/whatever at this form. When I get back from book tour, I’ll send you the deleted prologue featuring the Primas of Power.

(If you’re questioning whether what you did counts, assume it does and go ahead and fill out the form.)

Upcoming Events

TODAY! I’ll be on Instagram Live with Ali Hazelwood at 1pm EST/12pm CST. 

TOMORROW! I’ll be at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn for my NYC launch event!

After that, I hit the road, and I’ll be visiting FIVE bookstores in DC, St. Louis, Winston-Salem, Jacksonville, and Miami!

(I would LOVE to make more stops, but alas, it’s not up to me. I’m also not sure I can handle much more travel all at once, plus I’ll miss my toddler!)

In June, you can also find me at the Bronx Book Festival, and I’ll be participating in launch events for three stellar romance authors: Danielle Allen, Mia Sosa, and Katelyn Doyle. 

All event info can be found HERE. 

Looking for signed copies?

I sent signed bookplates to all the stores listed HERE. I'll also be signing additional stock at all of my tour stops.

Out Now

“[A] sensational final installment.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

“A steamy, emotional story of love after heartbreak.”
—The New York Times

“[A]n emotional roller coaster of a finale that will leave readers exhilarated.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)



From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós, the exciting third and final book in Alexis Daria’s bestselling Primas of Power series

No strings

After Ava Rodriguez’s now-ex-husband declares he wants to “follow his dreams”—which no longer include her—she’s left questioning everything she thought she wanted. So when a handsome hotelier flirts with her, Ava vows to stop overthinking and embrace the opportunity for an epic one-night-stand.
 

No feelings

Roman Vázquez’s sole focus is the empire he built from the ground up. He lives and dies by his schedule, but the gorgeous stranger grimacing into her cocktail inspires him to change his plans for the evening. At first, it’s easy for Roman to agree to Ava’s rules: no strings, no feelings. But one night isn’t enough, and the more they meet, the more he wants.
 

No falling in love

Roman is the perfect fling, until Ava sees him at her cousin’s engagement party—as the groom’s best man, no less! Maintaining her boundaries becomes a lot more complicated as she tries to hide their relationship from her family, but Roman isn’t content being her dirty little secret. With her future uncertain and her family pressuring her from all sides, Ava will have to decide if love is worth the risk—again.
 

Character art by LilyTea