Waterstones Liverpool Launch Event for "Lover Birds" with Leanne Egan

Waterstones Liverpool are honoured and delighted to host the launch event of the swoony, queer enemies-to-lovers romance LOVER BIRDS, by Liverpool’s own Leanne Egan (they/them). Join us to hear Leanne in conversation with Margaret McDonald (Glasgow Boys) as they discuss queer identities and relationships in their YA debut novels, and explore the importance of place and the cities that made them. Chaired by journalist and author PJ Ellis (Love& Other Scams; We Could Be Heroes)

About Lover Birds - When Isabel Williams moves to Liverpool, she criticises seemingly everything in Eloise Byrne’s life – her city, her accent, her trademark boldness – so if, when she catches Isabel staring, Eloise feels her pulse race, it must be because they hate each other. It surely couldn’t be for any other reason, could it? Eloise needs to get her ADHD under control in time for A-Levels, but when she meets Isabel, school becomes the least of her concerns. What begins as outright contempt turns into an oddly satisfactory rivalry, but for their rivalry to shift further into romance, their relationship must withstand Isabel's classism, Eloise’s distrust, and whatever secrets their friends are hiding from them.

With a wonderful cast of characters, an irresistible romance, and an incredibly moving and powerful portrayal of ADHD, Lover Birds is an unmissable debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

Following the post-event signing, please join us to raise a glass and celebrate the release of LOVER BIRDS, one of 2024’s most anticipated queer YA debuts

LEANNE EGAN (they/them) grew up in Liverpool before moving to London to pursue their MA in Publishing Studies. Shortly after graduating, the world fell apart, so mostly they've just been getting a lot of writing done. In addition to their debut novel Lover Birds, Leanne is the writer and producer of the scripted fiction podcast Tell No Tales, and when not working on one of their various projects, they’re probably doing something writing-adjacent, like inventing increasingly absurd characters for their friends’ Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

MARGARET McDONALD is a Scottish author from Glasgow. She is published in the disability-focused magazine Breath and Shadow as well as the prose and poetry magazines Bandit Fiction, Bubble Lit, In Parentheses, and The Manifest Station. Margaret worked for the NHS after shielding for a year, during which time she finished her Masters in English literature from Glasgow University with Distinction. She also has a First Class BA (Hons) from Strathclyde University, where she studied writing. Glasgow Boys is her debut novel. 

PJ ELLIS is a journalist covering relationships, pop culture and LGBTQ+ issues. His writing has appeared in publications including GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller, Men’s Health and MTV. His short fiction has been longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Love & Other Scams is his first novel.

Host or Publisher Waterstones