About Still Into You: Two exes reunite for a make-or-break interview that will either bring them back together … or drive them apart forever. Released February 10th 2026.

One of my favorite parts of writing a book is the brainstorming phase, where I consume anything and everything I can get my hands on that might inspire me. I want to know what’s out there already, and what I could bring to the conversation that hasn’t already been said.

My latest novel—released February 10, 2026—is a love letter to elder emos. Still Into You follows Sloane Donavan, an aspiring music journalist struggling to break into the industry. When elusive metal frontman Dax Nakamura agrees to give her his first interview in eight years, she should be jumping at the opportunity. The catch? He’s her ex. Unable to pass up a shot at making her name—and helping Dax clear the reputation that’s plagued his—Sloane agrees. It’s only a conflict of interest if anyone finds out. But the article Dax wants and the salacious tell-all Sloane’s editor is expecting are two completely different stories. And as old feelings resurface, Sloane’s journalistic integrity hangs in the balance. This is the career-making piece she’s been waiting for, but it comes with a price: the chance to rewrite the ending with her first and only love.

As an emo kid in the early 2000s, I pulled heavily from my own experiences going to shows at skate parks and random parking lots. That said, I don’t possess a single crumb of musical ability. I would prefer not to be on a stage thankyouverymuch, and being a touring musician sounds really exhausting, actually. But I had so much fun researching Still Into You, diving into movies, tv shows, podcasts, and—of course—books that centered around musicians. Here is a selection of music-focused books that I loved, as well as a peek into my TBR:

No Ordinary Love by Myah Ariel

Pop superstar Ella Simone and MLB player Miles Westbrook team up to turn their tabloid scandal into an opportunity—a PR relationship that will shore up both their reputations. But as the lines between reality and PR begin to blur, will Ella stick to the choreographed life she knows so well, or surrender to a love that could set her free?

I fell in love with Ariel’s debut, and her transportive writing quickly made her an autobuy author for me. The way her MMCs go all in for the FMC will never fail to make me swoon.

Feels like: The opening notes of Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby.

Some Kind Of Famous by Ava Wilder

In this steamy and emotional small-town romance, a disgraced ex-musician and a local handyman try to resist their growing attraction for each other—until a house renovation forces them together.

I’m obsessed with Wilder’s writing. Her ability to craft such raw, real characters with believable flaws and hurts that have you wanting to hug and shake them as you’re rooting for them, their happily ever after so well-earned and fought for.

Feels like: Alanis Morissette girlies in their lovergirl era.

August Lane by Regina Black

Luke Randall didn’t write the love song that made him famous—August Lane did. A secret that August threatens to expose unless he writes a new song with her for her mother’s concert celebrating her induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame. As the concert nears and their passion bond rekindles, August will have to choose between an overdue public reckoning with the boy who betrayed her, or trusting the man he’s become to write a different love song.

Regina Black is every author’s favorite author. If you’re not already reading her books, 1) what are you doing? And 2) know that I’m jealous you get to experience them for the first time.

Feels like: Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson

When two ex-bandmates and former best friends reunite to perform on a cruise ship, sparks fly. John has been in love with Micah since they were kids, but never said anything for the sake of the band. But when the two reunite, Micah can’t help but see John with brand new eyes. As the discordant band’s tension grows to a breaking point, they must decide if their relationship is more than a one-hit wonder.

I think about this book constantly. You can always tell when an author is writing about something they love, and Thompson’s love of music shines through in this novel. Childhood friends to lovers, second chance, angst, nostalgia, this book is everything I wanted it to be and more.

Feels like: The Twilight soundtrack.

The Girl With Stars In Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod

Antonia Bennette is not a rock star. Neither are the Lillys—not yet. But the difference between being famous and being almost famous can be a single wrong note…or the start of something that’ll change your life forever.

Axelrod is a musician herself and it really enriches so many aspects of this novel. It’s equal parts a slow burn, childhood friends-to-lovers romance and a love letter to female musicians. Bonus: The sequel, Girls With Bad Reputations, is already out, with two more books in the Lilly’s series teased on Axelrod’s website.

Feels like: An Ecca Vandal album.

For One Night Only by Jessica James

When two former bandmates—and bedmates—are thrust back into each other’s lives in a fake dating scheme for publicity, they’ll be forced to face the music.

Sometimes the blurb is so good that I don’t even know what to add. Exes forced to fake date for PR? Say less. Come for the angst and the longing and stay for the sweeping feelings, the found family, and the nuanced exploration of mental health. The second book in this series, For Our Next Song, just released January 13, and I cannot wait to dive in!

Feels like: Hayley Williams hitting the high note in All I Wanted.

Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

Karaoke is the only time Lily Fischer can step outside of her quiet shell. When there’s a mic in her hand, she’s no longer merely a receptionist harboring big dreams. At Moonie’s, Lily can pretend to be someone else: someone bold, who takes what she wants. And tonight, what Lily wants is the way Sam looks at her across the room as she sings her signature opening song, like they see her exactly as she wants to be seen. Like Moonie’s Lily is real.

Confession: I have never done karaoke, nor do I intend to. However, I yearn to be the type of person who enjoys it. Thankfully, there are three novellas in the Moonlighters series where I can live vicariously through people who do. Check out the accompanying playlists on Kelly’s website for the optimal reading experience!

Feels like: Bringing the house down with the perfect karaoke song choice.

The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest

Iris, a career-focused single mom and young widow, travels for work with popular R&B singer Angel and finds herself falling for him along the way.

A man with a long-held crush? He wrote a song about her?!? We’re into each other but we’re working together and have to keep it professional?!?!? This premise is music to my ears!

Feels like: May I Have This Dance by Francis & the Lights ft. Chance The Rapper

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort

A wildly electric romance about two musicians, Broadway star Erika Greene and German hair metal band frontman Christof Daae—who collide on the stage of a Nevada opera house.

If there were a Venn diagram of Phantom of the Opera and Jareth from Labyrinth, this book would be the overlap. You can always expect to laugh in a book by Comfort, but I especially appreciate her FMCs. They’re a little sharp, don’t always have it together, and top from the bottom (iykyk).

Feels like: The hilarity and hijinks you’d expect in a Twisted Sister music video.

Where Are Your Boys Tonight? by Chris Payne

An oral history of the rise and fall of emo from 1999 to 2008, featuring My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Panic! At the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional.

I was a chapter into this audiobook when I ran out to grab a physical copy because I needed to highlight and underline every other line. Immediately after finishing the book, I began rereading. If you were an emo kid in the early 2000s, this is required reading.

Feels like: The G note at the start of My Chemical Romance’s Welcome To The Black Parade.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

A powerful and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink. Their big break is here—if only they can survive it.

This just came out January 20, 2026, so this is a peek into my TBR. I cannot wait to dive into this one!

Encore by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang

In this music-filled queer romcom, ex-bandmates and successful solo artists Amelia and Ramona are forced to reconcile when their indie trio embarks on a reunion tour, five years after their breakout album, tour, and the one night that ruined everything.

Another peek into my TBR. This book isn’t slated to release until 2027, but this is just how seated I am for it.

The post Music-Focused Book Recommendations From Author Erin Connor appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Ten years ago this week, Norway’s public broadcasting entity, Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK), debuted SKAM—a television series about a young teen struggling to find her place at a new school. Adolescent angst isn’t groundbreaking subject matter for TV. Certainly not when shows like Skins exist. So, why are YouTube reactors still so keen to watch a Norwegian teen drama years after it went off the air? The title of the first episode, “De ser ut som en slut” (You Look Like a Slut), might be a hint.

It opens on a montage of teenagers doing what teens do: playing basketball, hanging out with friends, frolicking in a field while watching bees pollinate a flower. (It’s Scandinavia, after all.) Underneath all of the home-movie-style imagery, a gravelly voice speaks about the state of the world as it was meant to be perceived in 2015 – marching towards progress and full of opportunity.

“It sounds fantastic,” he says. “And it is fantastic.”

There’s more than a note of sarcasm, and, as the audience for his monologue, you can feel the but coming. Sure enough, as the clips continue to roll towards you at a rapid pace, the tone of the narrative changes. The kids are partying a bit too hard. Shots of alcohol-infused dancing, hookups, and conspicuous consumption play out over a scathing rant about consumerism and apathy.

“For the vast, poor majority, the capitalist system only means one thing: death and suffering.” 

It’s a dark perspective, and the footage is at once chaotic, nostalgic, and intriguing. It’s also unsettling.

This is SKAM, which also happens to be the Norwegian word for shame.

If you’ve never heard of the series, you aren’t alone. It appeared without fanfare on NRK P3 on September 24^th, 2015. Unless you spent most of your waking hours scrolling through the Norwegian side of Tumblr, you probably missed it. It was the brainchild of writer-creator Julie Andem, who managed to do what few in the genre had done to date: create a teen drama to which anyone, of any age, could relate.

A friend turned me on to the show not long after the premiere, and I became a casual viewer. SKAM looked and sounded nothing like the polished, cookie-cutter series coming out of Hollywood. The show had a way of tackling issues head-on without turning each storyline into an after-school special. But it was the way the episodes were crafted and delivered that really drew me in as a creator.

Set and filmed at Hartvig Nissen Skole, a secondary school in an affluent suburb of Oslo, the show capitalized on the rising popularity of social media among teens, creating a true transmedia experience for the viewer. Each season was presented in a series of clips, published to the network’s website in real-time, that often took place during school hours. Anywhere from two to ten minutes long, they would drop at random times throughout the week. If a conversation between two characters happened at 8:32 on a Tuesday morning, that’s when the clip was released on the show’s website.

Text messages between the characters, most of whom maintained their own social media accounts, and Instagram posts would fill in the moments between drops. It added a note of voyeurism to the experience. You never knew when an update would occur, keeping us viewers on a very tight leash. (One clever fan developed an app that would notify you when there was new content.)

All of the clips from the week, and one new one, were then compiled into a single episode that aired on Friday. Episodes could run anywhere from fifteen to forty-five minutes, and there was no pre-ordained timeslot. SKAM didn’t break the fourth wall as much as put up sheer curtains in every window and invite you to peek inside.

The cast, some of whom were actually enrolled at Hartvig Nissen at the time, was age-appropriate and full of raw talent. The dialogue was clever and grounded, and the characters reacted to difficult situations in real, very human, often frustrating ways. No one on SKAM was perfect – especially the protagonists. And there was rarely a clear antagonist, except for season two.

Andem painted tough topics [everything from sexual assault to Islamophobia] with a gray brush, something that worked well on a show that was unabashedly full of color; from the H&M-inspired wardrobe, to the contemporary music, to the language the kids used. SKAM felt like a slice of real life, whether you were living through your teen years or reminiscing about them.

In a unique approach at the time, each season focused on a single character and their relationships —familial, romantic, and platonic, all told from their point of view. It was fascinating to see a beloved character’s personality shift each season through the lens of the new lead character.

It was season three that brought many of the show’s international fans into the fold and solidified it as a cultural touchstone and a personal favorite. Isak (Tarjei Sandvik Moe) —a recurring character from the first two seasons who had been struggling with his sexuality since it was revealed (spoiler alert) that he had a crush on his best friend, Jonas (Marlon Langeland), in season one—takes center stage.

For two seasons, Isak had lived in terror behind a carefully constructed persona of gangster rap, snapbacks, and a series of disastrous relationships with girls. In season three, his mask began to slip as he fell hard for a mysterious new student, Even, and embarked upon a painful yet beautiful journey of self-acceptance. SKAM explored Isak’s internalized homophobia, which was at times cringeworthy, while also exposing the hypocrisy of homophobia and the idea of using religion to justify hate. Mental illness also featured prominently in this season and was handled with the kind of care we rarely see even now.

The final clip of Episode Nine, O Helga Natt (O, Holy Night), is six minutes and fifteen seconds of pure show and no tell. There is only a single line of dialogue at the end, and yet it is my favorite segment in any TV show. Ever.

It is SKAM’s willingness to push the envelope, along with its deft handling of complex topics, that sets it apart from its peers. The series has become somewhat of a blueprint, proving that the issues teens face can be addressed with the same care and respect as those of adults. More than that, the problems we encounter as we get older aren’t as different from high school as we like to think.

The series was a big hit in its homeland. Averaging 1.2 million streams per episode in a country with a population of roughly 5 million people is pretty impressive. It was the show’s global reach that came as a surprise. Fans from around the world translated episodes into over a dozen languages and shared them across the Internet. This led to adaptations in eight other countries, including France, Germany, and Spain. It was enough to convince American television producer Simon Fuller (American Idol) to buy the rights from NRK and make an ill-fated American version, SKAM Austin. It ran for two seasons on the short-lived Facebook Live platform.

As someone who consumes a lot of media, I began to notice bits of SKAM popping up in places beyond the adaptations.

In season three, episode three of the original series, Isak sits alone in his room searching the Internet for “how to be attracted to girls when you’re gay,” and inevitably stumbles upon the Gay Test. If you’ve read the Heartstopper webcomic or seen the fantastic Netflix series, that will sound a little familiar. Author Alice Oseman’s novels, Solitaire and Nick and Charlie, both predate SKAM. So, the influence is probably a two-way street. Young Royals (Netflix) is sometimes referred to as SKAM’s successor, and you can certainly see the influence. “SKAM walked so Young Royals could run” is a common phrase amongst fans of both shows.

There is no doubt that SKAM’s greatest legacy is its refusal to talk down to its intended audience. The show’s ability to capture the voice of youth culture with authentic, sometimes painfully relatable characters has had an undeniable impact on shows like Euphoria (HBO). However, no one could have guessed what a phenomenon SKAM would become. In the 2017 E! Online poll of TV’s top couples, Isak and Even beat out Hollywood-produced juggernauts like The Walking Dead, Teen Wolf, and Shadowhunters.

Sadly, it was the show’s popularity that prompted its premature cancellation. As the fandom grew larger and more passionate, so, too, came the pressure on the production team to deliver amidst the chaos. Some misguided admirers even made pilgrimages to Oslo to catch a glimpse of the young actors at the school. Despite the show’s high ratings, Andem and NRK decided to pull the plug.

Only four of the planned nine seasons for the series, shot over two years, were produced. Indeed, many of the international adaptations outlived the run of the original show. Most recently, a Croatian team premiered their version, SRAM, in 2024. They’re currently filming the pivotal third season, which has received the most attention from fans and critics alike. The series broke new ground in its portrayal of Isak and Even’s relationship, prompting a groundswell of support from the LGBTQIA+ community. Season four focused on fan-favorite Sana (Iman Meskini), a snarky, hijab-wearing teen. Fans and critics praised the nuanced portrayal of her struggle growing up as a practicing Muslim in a secular country.

Whether you were experiencing your teen years for the first time or waxing nostalgic about what could or should have been, SKAM managed to tap into the zeitgeist and strike a chord with viewers of all ages and backgrounds.

The actors, many of whom are now in their mid-to-late twenties, have moved on from talking about the show. But in a 2017 issue of Interview Magazine, Henrik Holm, who portrayed Even in season three, was asked how it felt to be part of something that made viewers want to emulate the characters.

“SKAM has actually changed people’s lives for the better,” Holm replied. “…Julie [Andem] made a series that was possible for everyone to understand, even if you were 14 or 90 years old. That’s what I think was so special about SKAM.”

I couldn’t agree more. Happy 10^th, SKAM!

Takk for alt.

About Xio’s latest book, Girls with Bad Reputations

All her life, Kayla heard the same refrain: Don’t be so loud. Don’t act so wild. Don’t take up so much space. Now she’s the beating heart of an up-and-coming rock band…and the whole world is going to know her name.

The post SKAM: The Little-Known Cult Classic That Cast a Long Shadow appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

SYNOPSIS
Blake Dillon isn’t exactly living the dream. She longs to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and make a difference in the world as a journalist. Unfortunately, her current job has her paying-off hotel staff for celebrity gossip. Tasked with shadowing a film star for an in-depth profile, Blake sees it as a chance to finally prove her worth. She never expected the interview to reconnect her with her old college crush.

Oliver Benjamin agrees to move to Los Angeles to work as the executive assistant to his best friend, a rising star. He hopes it will give him some direction. However, he soon discovers the only difference between being a frat boy and a Hollywood heartthrob is the amount of free stuff and the level of media attention. Ollie spends most of his time putting out fires, leaving little time for anything else. When Blake is sent to chronicle their lives, he finds himself face-to-face with the one that got away.

Blake and Ollie are smart enough to recognize the signs—there are enough sparks between them to melt glass—but they agree to put a lid on it until the article is finished. Much easier said than done when they’re forced to spend more time together than apart. There’s more going on than a simple interview, but they’re both professionals. They must resist temptation or risk unraveling both their lives.

EXCERPT

“It’s impossible.” Blake Dillon sat back in her chair, dark eyes flashing with irritation as she stared down Professor Crosby. “And, to me, it seems to be rooted in privilege.”

Ollie’s heart beat hard with unnamed emotion, as it always did when he was near her, especially when she was fired up about something she believed in.

At the front of the room, Professor Crosby leaned against his desk, his arms folded, and regarded Blake with his steely gaze. “Ms. Dillon, a true journalist will remain impartial because it is impossible to convey a story fairly and accurately when operating under bias.”

“I see,” Blake said, sounding not at all convinced. “You’re saying reporters need to dehumanize themselves.”

Crosby’s laugh conveyed his disbelief and his dismissal. He ran a hand through his graying hair. “Of course, not.”

“Desensitize, then.”

This brought their professor up short, and Ollie found he was deeply invested in the answer. Journalism wasn’t his major, but he was glad to have chosen the elective. And not only because it had brought Blake into his life.

“I’m not trying to be challenging for the sake of nuisance,” she said. “I only want to understand your position. You assert that journalists cannot and should not become emotionally involved in the story. Yes?”

“Absolutely correct.”

Blake let out a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “I’m sorry Professor but, unless the reporter is a chatbot, their emotions are going to be involved. If I’m doing a story on, let’s say, systemic injustice or reproductive health, it’s impossible for me to remain detached from those subjects.”

“Then you recuse yourself from those stories.”

“I’m sorry?” She squared her shoulders, the movement drawing Ollie’s attention to the curve of her neck and the way her hair curled against the shell of her ear.

Then Crosby’s words filtered through his distracted brain.

Ollie raised his hand.

“Mr. Benjamin, you have thoughts on this?”

“I wanted to clarify,” Ollie said. “You believe a journalist shouldn’t cover a story that will emotionally compromise them?”

“That’s an excellent way of putting it.” Crosby smiled as if he’d found an ally.

Ollie could feel Blake’s eyes on him. He turned to look at her, hating the frown that creased her brow, and turned back to the professor.

“Forgive me, but I’m not sure that’s wise or even possible.

Everything affects everyone, even if it’s indirectly,” Ollie said. “Whether it’s the weather, a stray cat in a tree, or war in a foreign country, it’s all connected to all of us. I agree with Blake. It’s impossible to be completely unbiased, especially if the bias is subconscious.”

“Exactly,” Blake agreed. Her soft, full lips, which had been pressed into a hard line, pursed. “I would argue that it is a journalist’s duty to become emotionally involved in certain stories. How else would you get to the heart of a thing? The connection is needed.”

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Love on the Byline’ by Xio Axelrod appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hello, my name is Xio, and I am a fangirl. I’m pretty unapologetic about it. It even says so in my bio. I love tripping into the rabbit hole of a newly discovered passion and following it all the way down. Unearthing all those little details about characters, bandmembers – whatever the case may be – that’s my catnip.

My favorite TV series is one you’ve probably never heard of, and you’d be forgiven for that, even though SKAM was a global phenomenon. It aired on NRK, Norway’s version of public television, and took Tumblr (arguably the home of fandom) by storm. Typical of any fandom, GIF sets, in-depth scene analyses, (relation)shipping wars, and plenty of swooning and angst over the characters and storylines abounded. But what set the show apart was the way it delivered content to its viewers.

SKAM was released in clips throughout the week in “real-time,” which made it feel real. This, along with the social media posts from the characters and the text conversations between them, carried the storyline forward. The show made those people as flesh-and-blood as possible for its viewers – immersing us all in their family drama, their school woes, and their social lives – thus ensuring our total investment in their well-being.

As a viewer, I found it enthralling.

As a writer-slash-person-in-the-business-of-selling-books, I thought it was an ingenious way of creating an ecosystem for a fictional world. I wondered how I could give a similar experience to my readers.

So, when the idea for the Lillys series came to me, it was multi-dimensional.

There are four books planned, one for each member of my fictional band, the Lillys. The series begins with The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes. It follows the band’s rise to fame, as well as their interpersonal connections with each other and the people around them. The story is the most crucial aspect, of course!

But see, I also wanted to incorporate music to support the books. As the idea began to coalesce, I thought about all the ways I, as a reader, might want to interact with the Lillys universe. The possibilities seemed endless. SKAM had taught me to think outside the box when it came to viewer engagement, and I saw no reason why I couldn’t translate that into a book series.

A fictional band required a fictional record label, fictional music venues, fictional recording studios, and maybe even a fictional fan club. I thought, why not make those things as authentic as possible? After all, if I was already planning to record music, why shouldn’t I record as the band itself? And wouldn’t they have a social media presence? Wouldn’t they have merch to sell? Music videos? I can do that! And more.

Therefore, you’ll find them on Spotify, where any other band would be. You can watch their YouTube channel. You can buy a t-shirt with their logo or pick up one from their favorite venue. Ultimately, my goal is to make the band as real to the non-reader as it is to the reader. Except the Lillys won’t be playing at a venue near you anytime soon. (Or will they?)

I realize this an extreme example of an immersive reading experience, but the concept lends itself well to other applications. I’m not telling anyone to open a bakery but, if your character owns one, nothing is stopping you from including a recipe for a signature cupcake that readers can try, or the house cocktail from your fictional bar. Do you have a musician or DJ in your book? Create a playlist that readers can follow. Quite a few authors already have logos to go along with the fictional businesses in their books, some even designing merchandise.

It’s one more method to help a reader feel like they inhabit the same universe as their favorite characters. And it’s a fabulous way to let them be part of the stories they love.

The post Verisimilitude: How A TV Show Inspired Me To Create An Immersive Reader Experience appeared first on The Nerd Daily.