love lit fest 2025
Love Lit Fest is a new, vibrant, diverse & inclusive, online literary festival presented by Hashtag BLAK, celebrating love in all its forms—romantic, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, sibling, family, friendship, and more. Through powerful author conversations, inspiring panel discussions, and interactive workshops, we’ll explore the many ways love shapes our lives and stories. Whether you're a reader or writer, join us for a heartwarming celebration of love beyond the pages.
Date: September 20th 2025
Time: 1-5pm (BST)
Where: Online!
Tickets: Buy HERE
Early bird tickets available
Author line up!
Jennifer Niven, NY Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places, Holding Up The Universe
Katherine Webber, bestselling author of Twin Crowns and Captain of Fates
Abiola Bello, bestselling and award-winning author of Love in Winter Wonderland and The Love Dare
Danielle Jawando, award-winning author of When Our Worlds Collided which won The Diverse Book Awards, Jhalak Prize and YA Book Prize and If My Words Had Wings, shortlisted for the YA Book Prize.
Anika Hussain, author of This is How You Fall in Love which was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and Heart Breaker
Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of The ReWrite and Yinka, Where Is Your Husband? which was shortlisted for The Diverse Book Awards
Jinwoo Chong, award-winning author of I Leave It Up to You and Flux, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, and named a best book of 2023 by Apple Books
Radhika Sanghani, award-winning journalist and author of Here to Slay, shortlisted for the Spark Book Award
B Wheeler, debut author of How NOT to Kiss a Prince
Panels and workshops (timings to be confirmed)
Love Yourself First: SelfLove & Inner Romance with Danielle Jawando and Radhika Sanghani
True love begins within. From spokenword healing to forging radical self-worth, Danielle and Radhika deliver an empowering conversation on selflove. They’ll explore how self-acceptance can arise out of grief, silence negative voices, and blossom into joy—offering attendees insights into building a foundation of inner love that strengthens every relationship.
Heartfelt Journeys: Swoon and Heartbreaks with Abiola Bello & Anika Hussain
From meet-cutes to fake dates, heartbreak to healing—Abiola and Anika explore how YA romance reflects real teen emotions. With stories that centre Black and South Asian protagonists, cultural identity, and joyful self-expression, this panel celebrates why love stories for young people matter more than ever… and the importance of the ‘com’ in YA rom-com.
Enchanted Hearts: Love in Fantasy Worlds with Katherine Webber and B Wheeler
From magical kingdoms to forbidden kisses, Katherine and B. Wheeler explore the joy of writing romance in fantastical settings. This panel dives into world building with heart, queer love stories with sparkle, and why magical alternate realities can be the perfect setting to let romance run wild.
Back to You: SecondChance Sparks with Jinwoo Chong & Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
What happens when life gives you another shot at love? Jinwoo and Lizzie explore the beauty, awkwardness, and power of second chances—whether it’s rediscovering who you are or reigniting something you thought was lost forever. This panel dives into stories where old flames spark new beginnings.
Writing the Intimate Moment: YA Romance Scenes with New York Times bestselling YA author Jennifer Niven
Jennifer will guide attendees through crafting emotionally true, scene by scene, YA romance—whether it’s a sizzling first kiss or a tender confession.
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