Author Ali Roberts returns to talk about her new book, After Hours, a romcom workplace romance kicking off the Dinner Club series. We discuss her main characters: the rigid, obsessive, and completely loveable Dr. Alfie and his sunny, wickedly smart office manager, Mia. Ali and I share our favorite books and tropes of 2025 and how tropes like enemies-to-lovers, found family, terrible parents, and dark revenge helped us process big feelings. Also, Ali surprised me with an incredible love letter that had me laughing and sobbing off camera.

Here is a list of all the authors mentioned in this episode:

AJ Merlin

Ali Hazelwood

Brynne Weaver

Chelsea Curto

C.R. Jane

Eva Simmons

Holly June Smith

K.M. Moronova

Meghan Quinn

Lilith Vincent

Monty Jay

Navessa Allen

Shantel Tessier

Sloane St. James

Stephanie Archer

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Write me a love letter: lovelettersandmixtapes@gmail.com

Connect with Ali Roberts

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraliroberts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraliroberts/

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ali-Roberts/author/B0F8WVQN4M?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=11b47175-7339-4aba-83d1-20f42c0cdfa1

I spoke with author KD Cureton about her viral debut, Cracked Ice, a spicy, dark hockey romance and prequel in the F*cked Up Player series. We discuss her FMC, Sydney Sinclair, who just might be my MVP FMC of 2025 due to her unhinged stalker behavior and her secretly romantic MMC, Lucian “Morningstar” Morrow, as they embark on a wildly chaotic all-nighter that sparks obsession while detonating secrets and trust. KD teases her next book in the series, Black Ice, a why-choose tension-filled, enemies-to-lovers dark hockey romance. KD also wrote a beautiful love letter to her readers that you won’t want to miss.

Connect with Love Letters and Books

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks

Write me a love letter: lovelettersandmixtapes@gmail.com

Connect with KD Cureton

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kd.cureton

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authorkdcureton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkdcureton

Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/kdcureton

I spoke with Lydia, a content creator I crossed paths with on TikTok and Instagram, who shares some of my favorite LORDs series theories and always shares the best book recommendations. In fact, Lydia has introduced me to some of my favorite authors of 2025. Drop into our virtual living room as we chat all things Rina Kent and Shantel Tessier, including some of our favorite books (God of War) and favorite FMCs (Blakely from The Ritual and Laikyn from The Sacrifice).

Connect with Love Letters and Books

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks

Write me a love letter: lovelettersandmixtapes@gmail.com

Connect with Lydia

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lydialovesliterature

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydialovesliterature_/

Amazon: amazon.com/shop/influencer-df1369af