HarperFiction plans major campaign for Kelks' 'deliciously romantic' 20th novel

Lindsey Kelk’s 20th novel, Love Story, pays homage to Hollywood screwball comedies and will be published by HarperFiction in 2024, backed by a "major" campaign.  

Publisher Lynne Drew acquired world English language rights from Rowan Lawton at The Soho Agency for two books. Love Story is scheduled for July 2024, and the second is scheduled as a festive romcom for Christmas 2025.

Love Story is billed by HarperCollins as “a rom-com that celebrates writers and readers of romance novels and was inspired by Kelk’s love of Hollywood screwball comedies”.

The publisher added: “It tells the story of Sophie Adams, who has published an extremely spicy romance novel under a pseudonym. Her debut is a huge hit – but, with an ex who’s an award-winning literary author, she’s keeping her success strictly confidential.

“When her publishing house’s annoying and handsome creative director, Joe, puts two and two together, he delights in trying to get Sophie to confess the truth as they both head to a tiny English village to celebrate her Dad’s 70th birthday. As their frustration turns into something else, Sophie and Joe are forced to confront both their secret – and their undeniable attraction to each other.

“A British-set, enemies-to-lovers, small-town summer romance, Love Story reminds us all that, whatever else you might be in life, the most important thing you can be is yourself.”

The book is Kelk’s 20th novel  and the campaign will encompass a series of “special events” to celebrate her milestone, according to HarperCollins.

She launched her writing career with the bestselling I Heart series, and is also sold in translation throughout Europe. She is currently attached to multiple adaptations of her rom-coms in development.

She also co-hosts “Tights and Fights”, a pro-wrestling podcast and hosts and produces the award-winning beauty podcast “Full Coverage".

Raised in south Yorkshire, Kelk worked in London as a children’s editor before writing her first book and moving to Brooklyn. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Kelk said: “Fifteen years is a long time to do anything with anyone but, as wise man Ben Affleck once said, (shortly before he got divorced), ’It is work but it’s the best kind of work and there’s no one I’d rather work with’. This is such an exciting time in the rom-com world and it’s a privilege to be able to write books that make people happy.”

Her longtime editor, Drew, said: “Lindsey is at the very top of her game as one of the funniest rom-com writers working today.”