Riss Neilson Release Bash for The Bridge Back to You

Riss sits down with Azanta to discuss the deeply personal and universally relatable release. Join Lovestruck Books &amp; Cafe for a heartfelt release celebration with&nbsp;USA Today&nbsp;bestselling author&nbsp;Riss M. Neilson&nbsp;as she launches&nbsp;<a href="https://lovestruckbooks.com/item/zb7C99cVE0zFtPF3vl-HPg">The Bridge Back to You</a>, 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,&nbsp;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&nbsp;The Bridge Back to You.&nbsp;For our signature and salutations portion of the evening, guests are welcome to bring books from home as well.&nbsp; 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!&nbsp; EVENT DETAILS<ul><li>6:30 PM: Doors Open&nbsp;– Settle in, grab a drink from our cafe and wine bar, and get ready for a great discussion!</li><li>7:00 PM: Discussion Begins&nbsp;–&nbsp;Riss&nbsp;and&nbsp;Azanta&nbsp;will dive into&nbsp;The Bridge Back to You.</li><li>7:45 PM: Q&amp;A Session&nbsp;– Your chance to ask the author anything!</li><li>8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations&nbsp;– Meet the author,&nbsp;get your book signed, and snap a photo.</li><li>8:30 PM:&nbsp;Last call&nbsp;- Grab your final pour from the wine bar.</li><li>9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up&nbsp;– Thanks for joining us!</li></ul>Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon!&nbsp;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 events@lovestruckbooks.com. 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&nbsp;up to 30 days&nbsp;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&nbsp;abandoned property&nbsp;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! <img src="https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1176566602%2F2312721413293%2F1%2Foriginal.20260203-152137?h=740&amp;w=1200&amp;auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;q=75&amp;sharp=10&amp;s=9a5e15972c66563326b548e0b80195e2"> 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&nbsp;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? <img src="https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1176566653%2F2312721413293%2F1%2Foriginal.20260203-152208?h=740&amp;w=1200&amp;auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;q=75&amp;sharp=10&amp;s=414458ab705e2d70cf01706aa0f55cdb"> ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER <a href="https://www.instagram.com/azantareads/">Azanta&nbsp;</a>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.

Lovestruck Books 

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

Riss Neilson Release Bash for The Bridge Back to You

Website

Where?