Hi, Christy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure thing! I’m a beach bohemian, wife, mom to four girls, and Bebe to three little boys. I live in Florida, and I love all things that have to do with the ocean. My husband and I are both big nerds—we love sci-fi/fantasy and complicated board games with names like Terraforming Mars. Also, I recently got into backyard chickens!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve always been a reader and a writer. I was that kid who was always reading in the car, and so when it was time to get my driver’s license, I had no idea how to get anywhere. I read all kinds of stuff, from Judy Blume to Stephen King. I remember one summer in high school where I laid out on my lounge chair in the back yard and read the entire Mutiny on the Bounty series.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Lorax
• The one that made you want to become an author: Divergent
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Project Hail Mary

Your debut novel, Celebrity Crush, is out February 11^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Swoony, Nerdy, Surprising, Funny, Heartfelt

What can readers expect?

It’s like a 90s romcom movie with a bunch of pop culture references, name drops, social media interludes, and sci-fi Easter eggs. And although it’s fun and meant to make you laugh, there are deeper themes in there, too—like sacrifice, the struggles of single parenting, and forgiveness.

Thirteen years after Emmy Ellison’s Hollywood dreams were crushed, she skyrockets to fame when a viral poll reveals her debut romance novel was inspired by her real celebrity crush. As the book becomes a bestseller and a film adaptation is fast-tracked—with her crush cast as the lead—Emmy finds herself living her ultimate fantasy. Meanwhile, her crush hopes the project will rescue him from some bad press. As they grow closer on their promo tour, Emmy struggles with a secret—she included a deeply painful moment from his past in her novel. When he finds out, it’s bound to ruin their Hollywood ending.

Where did the inspiration for Celebrity Crush come from?

I actually wrote this book to entertain myself during Covid quarantine. I suggested to my husband that we should all watch the Marvel movies in the recommended order since the girls and I hadn’t seen them. Of course, he jumped on that! The girls and I all proceeded to obsess. They were sending me snippets of promo tour footage, and I think every female in our household had an age appropriate crush on Tony Stark. This was my first stab at a rom-com after doing really well with the genre during the NYC Midnight Short Story contest. I figured, I’m stuck at home with nothing better to do and a lot of sexy superheroes in my head—why not try this out?

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Everything I write is therapy, and Covid was a really stressful time, so I feel like writing this manuscript got me through it. In the opening scene, when Emmy is onstage about to meet the four hot guys from Lost Star Dance Troupe Saves the Universe, I had a choice to make. I could make her shy and anxious in the spotlight, and I think that would have been the more obvious way to go. But as a person who struggles with anxiety, I wanted to escape from it, not lean in, so instead I made Emmy a natural in front of the camera, an extrovert, a star, someone who always knew what to say. It was my way of combatting the existential dread of living through those early days of the pandemic.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Well, until this point I had only ever written YA sci-fi and fantasy, so I had to learn how to write a romance. Romance readers have different expectations, and there are a bunch of special emotional beats that have to be in there. I picked up a copy of Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes and did a lot of editing!

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Long and challenging! Ten years ago, when I first sat down to write a YA sci-fi novel, I remember thinking, “I don’t need to learn any craft! I’m a writer, and I’ll just write something that I’d like to read.” That was foolish and oh so wrong. But over the years, little nudges came to me here and there, to attend this conference, to join this group, to take this class, to network with this author. I started learning about plot, character development, and querying. I met other authors, and we lifted each other up and helped each other improve. Finally, four manuscripts and hundreds of rejections later, a fellow writer and editor, Joel Brigham, made an offhand pitch of Celebrity Crush at an agency meeting. To my surprise, two of the agents started arguing over who would get to read it, and Cathie won. I sent it over, and she read it, loved it, and made the offer. It took another year for me to get the book deal, and I’ve been so happy with my publisher, Hachette Forever. They’ve taken really good care of me so far.

What’s next for you?

I have a two-book deal, so there will be a second Celebrity Crush book coming out, probably in 2026, and if they want a third, I’d be happy to write it. I have a Florida conservation-themed romcom already in the can that I’m hoping to pitch to them as well. As for new projects, I’m working on a contemporary romcom collaborative project with bestselling author Emily Colin set in the Inner Banks of North Carolina—she’s amazing, and I’m so honored she asked me to write a series with her.

I also write sci-fi and fantasy under the name C.P. Swift. I have a space opera love story on submission right now, and I’d like to make that into a 3-book series. I also wrote an epic adventure fantasy called Shards of Power: A Story from the World of Rolling Empires based on a board game that my nephew published. It’s available to read on a serialized platform called Royal Road, but I’d like to get that out in book form as well.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?

I want to support my fellow debut authors, so I’ll be picking up a lot of their books, including Playing Flirty by Shameez Patel, Unromance by Erin Connor, and Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid. I also want to return the favor of the authors who did blurbs for me, so I’m buying at least one book from each of them. Also, don’t judge me, but I’m way late to the Fourth Wing party and will be catching up this year—this isn’t unusual because so much of the reading I do is manuscripts for writer friends! And I’m a huge Amie Kaufman fan, so I’ll be reading her duology, Heart of the World and Isle of the Gods.

Will you be picking up Celebrity Crush? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Christy Swift, Author of ‘Celebrity Crush’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Read on to discover some of our picks and let us know if you’ll be picking up any!

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera

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Aurora Montalban, an ambitious doctor breaking societal norms to help women in 19^th century Paris, and Apollo Sinclair Robles, the reluctant Duke willing to risk everything for her.

Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift

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A romance writer’s wildest dreams—the bestseller list, a movie deal, and a date with the real-life inspiration for her Hollywood hero—are all within her grasp if only she can hold it all together.    

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey

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A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped In A Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

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A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan

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A second chance at love, small-town romance that’s all sweet with just a hint of heat from the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan.

Big Name Fan by Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

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When two A-list celebrities famous for their on-screen chemistry as TV detectives (think: sapphic Mulder and Scully, or queer Rizzoli and Isles) are reunited to investigate a real-life Hollywood murder, fans who have been ‘shipping the leading ladies for years might just get the ending they’ve always wanted…

Never Planned On You by Lindsay Hameroff

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A glittering, laugh-out-loud second chance romance that reminds us true love is sometimes the one thing you never planned on.

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon

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In this “brilliant, poignant love story perfect for fans of Emily Henry,” a former sorority girl starts a prestigious poetry MFA program only to discover that one of her classmates is her high school crush-turned-nemesis—​and he can’t stop writing about her. 

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison

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A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Love and Other Hollywood Endings by Susannah Erwin

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An upbeat production exec is tasked with reining in the cynical director who was her forbidden college heartbreak in this sparkling, sexy contemporary romance.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

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An R&B singer and a corporate executive find love that hits the right notes in this romance by Kristina Forest, USA Today bestselling author of The Partner Plot.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard

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From the beloved author of Right on Cue and Lease on Love comes a whimsical new rom-com about a workaholic forced to aim for a goal she never thought she’d love.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

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A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.

Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

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In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

The Launch Date by Annabelle Slator

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In this witty and fun rom-com debut from Annabelle Slator, rival coworkers become reluctant daters after they’re forced to work together on a brand-new dating app in hopes of winning a promotion—perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.

Can’t Help Faking in Love by Swati Hegde

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A young woman with Bollywood roots hires a barista to act as her boyfriend for her cousin’s wedding—only to learn you can’t fake chemistry like theirs—in this desi romance from the author of Match Me If You Can.

On Her Terms by Amy Spalding

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For fans of Casey McQuiston, Alexis Hall, and Meryl Wilsner, an actually hilarious, sweetly sexy, gloriously relatable sapphic rom-com about a fake relationship, very real emotions, and writing your own Hollywood love story – from the acclaimed author of For Her Consideration.

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy

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The third in the steamy, hilarious Campus Diaries series by New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy, set in the same world as Off Campus and Briar U.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu

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A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening, almost entirely at a high school reunion….

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

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Preslaysa Williams, author of the “emotionally stirring debut” A Lowcountry Bride (Oprah Daily), returns to the Lowcountry with a heartwarming friends to lovers story about the courage to fall in love again.

Back After This by Linda Holmes

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over and Flying Solo, a podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?

Break Point by Yahrah St. John

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Falling in love cost Teagan her heart and a pro tennis career. But when her rival returns, they’ve got one last chance for a rematch…if they can keep the game on the court!

Cupid on the Loose by John. J. Jacobson

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From the author of All the Cowboys Ain’t Gone and California Fever comes a romantic comedy about the exuberant intoxication of amore and its often hilarious antics.

Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

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Devoted fangirl meets hesitant fanboy in this swoony contemporary love letter to readers who adore fantasy worlds, from the beloved authors of The Breakup Tour.

What February romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 Swoonworthy Romance Reads Hitting Bookshelves In February 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.