Corvus launches 'groundbreaking' novel-writing project with BookTok creator Lamia Zain

Corvus has announced an "innovative novel-writing project" with BookTok creator Lamia Zain, who is known as lamia.reads on the platform.

Editor Rachel Imrie acquired world all-language rights to Zain’s as-yet-untitled debut novel, working in close collaboration with senior marketing executive Sophie Walker, directly from the author. Corvus will publish the book in autumn 2025, and people can sign up to the official mailing list to get further details when they are revealed.

As part of the "BookTok Made Me Write It" project, readers will be able to watch along as the author writes a rom-com that will be "by and for the BookTok community". Through polls on Zain’s TikTok, readers will be encouraged to contribute to the novel by voting on their favourite title, cover and plot details within the book.

Imrie said: "I’m so excited to participate in this project, the likes of which has never been seen before. In the past few years, BookTok has revitalised the reading community and there’s so many creative avenues that publishers are yet to explore. Lamia’s writing is so warm and funny, and whatever direction the audience take us, this book will be a gorgeous love letter to the BookTok community."

Walker added: "I am delighted to be working with Lamia and Rachel on this groundbreaking project – I’ve long admired the incredible creativity and passion of the BookTok community when it comes to championing their favourite reads, so it’s a true honour to be able to work on a rom-com written by and for them."

Zain said: "I’ve never seen anything like this done before and I have always enjoyed being creative and writing. Getting stuck into this has been so fun already and I cannot wait for people to read it."