Riss Neilson Release Bash for The Bridge Back to You

Join Lovestruck Books & Cafe for a heartfelt release celebration with USA Today bestselling author Riss M. Neilson as she launches , a swoony second-chance romance where love, legacy, and lingering feelings collide. When former lovers Olivia and Carmello unexpectedly inherit the restaurant that shaped both their pasts, they’re forced back into each other’s orbit—and into the kitchen where their first love began.

Alongside Boston’s own bookish online creator, Azanta, Riss will discuss the complexities of second-chance love, the role food plays in healing hearts, and the way her writing weaves authentic representation into stories that feel deeply personal and universally relatable.

Event tickets include your very own signed copy of The Bridge Back to You.  For our signature and salutations portion of the evening, guests are welcome to bring books from home as well. 

Join us in celebrating a chest-aching romance exploring what it means to come home, to forgive, and to decide whether the love you left behind deserves another chance. We can’t wait to see you there! 

EVENT DETAILS

• 6:30 PM: Doors Open – Settle in, grab a drink from our cafe and wine bar, and get ready for a great discussion!
• 7:00 PM: Discussion Begins – Riss and Azanta will dive into The Bridge Back to You.
• 7:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask the author anything!
• 8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations – Meet the author, get your book signed, and snap a photo.
• 8:30 PM: Last call - Grab your final pour from the wine bar.
• 9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up – Thanks for joining us!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the Eventbrite waitlist by selecting “Reserve a spot” followed by “Join Waitlist”. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer it to the next person.

ACCESSIBILITY

Check-in will take place at our front entrance on Brattle Street. If you have any accessibility needs, you're welcome to use our side entrance (located on the right side of the building), which is wheelchair accessible and has a ramp.

Guests who would benefit from priority seating or any additional assistance are encouraged to reach out in advance — just email us at [email protected]. We're more than happy to make arrangements to ensure you feel comfortable and supported.

We’re always learning and looking for ways to make our events more accessible. If you have suggestions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!

BOOK PICKUP POLICY

If you purchased a book with your event ticket but can’t make it to the event—and don’t request a refund—we’ll happily hold your book for pickup for up to 30 days after the event date.

We’ll be in touch via the email you provided at checkout to help coordinate pickup. After 30 days, if we haven’t heard from you or made other arrangements, we’ll consider the book abandoned property and may donate it or return it to inventory so it can find a new home.

Thanks so much for your understanding and for supporting our events—we love doing this with you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Riss M. Neilson is a magna cum laude graduate of Rhode Island College, where she won the English department's Jean Garrigue Award for creative writing. Her debut young adult novel, Deep in Providence, was a 2022 finalist for the New England Book Awards. She lives in Rhode Island with her two daughters and four fur babies, including a bunny named Michael Myers. A Love Like the Sun was her debut adult novel.

ABOUT BRIDGE BACK TO YOU

Exes discover they’ve both inherited the restaurant they love in this sparkling, emotional new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Love Like the Sun.

Olivia owes everything to Celia's Place. It’s where she learned how to be a great chef. It’s also where she first fell in love. But at nineteen, Olivia had a wanderlust she couldn’t deny. And Carmello, whose mother owned the restaurant, couldn’t leave Celia's Place behind any more than he could force Olivia to stay.

Now, ten years later, Olivia is a successful personal chef. Her job allows her to travel the world, and she has never stayed in the same place for too long. When Carmello learns that his mother left shares of her beloved restaurant to both him and Olivia, he plans to buy her portion of the shares back quickly and painlessly.

That is until Olivia shows up at the restaurant, ready to help run it. Carmello sees an opportunity: drive Olivia away from his restaurant so that she will want to sign over her shares. But Olivia sees things a bit differently. She finally has the chance to stay in one place and build a home after years on the move, and perhaps now is the right time to explore whether that home can be with the one who got away.

Soon enough, sparks begin to fly, but can Olivia and Carmello avoid the mistakes of the past?

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Azanta is a content creator on Instagram and TikTok. For six years, she's been creating funny and engaging content focused on diverse voices and great stories. She co-runs Barakah Book Club, a Muslim book club focused on uplifting Muslim stories and authors. Her favorite genres are fantasy, romance, and anything young adult. You can find her at @azantareads on socials for more books to add to your TBR. 

is a Romance Bookstore and cafe in Harvard Square. to sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about events and other news.

Our bookstore is home to , open seven days a week!

Start your day with expertly crafted espresso drinks, artisanal pastries, and more. In the evening, the bar comes alive with wine, cocktails, sweet treats, charcuterie plates, and more. Enjoy seating indoors or on our covered patio.

To stay in the loop, visit the and look for events listed under “George Howell Coffee & Wine Bar” at our Lovestruck Books & Cafe location!

Cafe Hours | 8:00am – 4:00pm

Bar Hours | Sunday – Wednesday: 4:00pm– 8:00pm, Thursday – Friday: 4:00pm – 10:00pm

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

Your presence at the Lovestruck Books & Cafe event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Lovestruck Books