Beloved By the Bay: A Romance Panel

Join Bay Area romance authors Taleen Voskuni, Sophie Wan, and Mara Williams, in collaboration with the Bay Area Book Festival, for a volcanic, vivacious (pre) Valentine’s panel, moderated by bestselling author Jasmine Guillory! From the splendor of high society weddings to the sparks of something new in a long forgotten hometown, Voskuni, Wan, and Williams capture how love grows in the most unexpected places, and sends shockwaves through their protagonists’ families, friendships, cultures, and hopes for a better future. Join the panelists in the holy grail of meet-cute destinations - the library! - and enjoy themed drinks, literary speed dating, and book sales and signing after the talk.

About the Books

Our Ex’s Wedding

Ani Avakian was supposed to be the Bay Area’s premier Armenian wedding planner by now, and she’s determined to redeem herself by taking on a wedding for an indie movie star—but the actress’s fiancée is none other than her ex-girlfriend, Kami. Taking over the family winery should be Raffi Garabedian’s dream come true—but its first major event is off to a rocky start, thanks to a wedding planner who challenges him at every turn. They have one thing in common, however: their mutual ex, Kami. They’ll have to work together to make sure this wedding goes perfectly, but first, they’ll have to deal with the tension sizzling between them.

Women of Good Fortune

Bride-to-be Lulu is set to marry Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor, but her two best friends know the truth: she’s only marrying him to fix her family’s financial issues. So With the help of a mysterious luxury goods counterfeiter and a snarky getaway driver, the women set in motion a brilliant scheme to lift all the red envelopes on the big day. But as their plot grows increasingly complicated and relationships are caught in the cross fire, they're forced to decide what they're willing to give up to get their way.

The Epicenter of Forever

Eden Hawthorne spent idyllic childhood summers in Grand Trees, but her family and future were shattered there, and she vowed never to return―until news of her estranged mother’s illness forces her back twenty years later. Single father Caleb Connell blames Eden for the seismic rift that drove her away, but as they move beyond a battle of wills, Eden and Caleb discover shared wounds and intertwined histories―and succumb to an attraction that feels fated. Eden faces an impossible choice between the man she’s falling for and the mother she’s just beginning to forgive, and with time running out, Eden fears her decision will doom her to relive the aftershocks of past heartbreak.

About the Speakers

Taleen Voskuni is an award-winning writer who grew up in the Bay Area Armenian diaspora. Other than a newfound obsession with writing rom-coms, she spends her free time cultivating her kids, her garden, and her dark chocolate addiction. Her first novel, Sorry, Bro, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, was named an Amazon editor's pick, and was favorably reviewed in The New York Times. Sorry, Bro is also winner of the 2023 Golden Poppy award for best romance. Lavash at First Sight is her second published novel.

Sophie Wan is the author of Women of Good Fortune. She graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives in San Francisco. Before she became an author, she was very good at writing emails. Find her on Instagram, @thesophiewan.

Mara Williams drafted her first novel in third grade on a spiral notebook—a love story about a golden retriever and the stray dog who admired her from beyond the picket fence. Now she writes about strong, messy women finding their way in the world. Mara is the author of The Truth Is in the Detours and The Epicenter of Forever. When not writing or reading, Mara can be found enjoying California’s beaches, redwoods, and trails with her husband, three kids, and disobedient dog.

About the Moderator

Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels including The Wedding Date, the Reese's Book Club selection The Proposal, and Flirting Lessons. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appetit, and Time, and she is a frequent book contributor on The Today Show. She lives in Oakland, California.

Members: $10, Non-members: $20

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