My third book, REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING, is now available everywhere books are sold!

Here’s a letter I wrote for my publisher about why I wrote this book and what it means to me:

Dear Reader,

From 2006-2010, I spent my weekends singing in a punk band in venues across Los Angeles and Orange County. This was very out of character (I got hives just giving presentations in front of my high school classes), but my friends asked me to do it. And, wanting so badly to be the cool girl who would do something like that—I agreed. It was absolutely terrifying (and there were still a lot of hives), but it was also exhilarating and freeing. I loved the permission that being on stage gave me, the person I got to be for that twenty-minute set.

As much joy as these shows brought me, though, I was also hyperaware that I was often the only Black person in the room. And because of this, I couldn’t help but feel like I was on display—but not in the way I was choosing. Was I just a novelty or a token to them? And what about the Black people who said I wasn’t Black at all because of my punk rock alter ego? Or because of the way I dressed or talked or all the other things I liked?

I wanted to explore all those complicated feelings in REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING: What it’s like to love something that doesn’t always love you back and make a space for yourself anyway. How difficult it can be to push past the fear of rejection and others’ preconceived notions of you to be boldly and authentically yourself.

(And of course, if you’ve read HAPPILY EVER AFTERS and ONE TRUE LOVES, you know it’s all wrapped up in a sweet love story—this time anchored by holidays as a nod to my obsession with Lifetime and Netflix Christmas movies!)

REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING is a celebration of the Black kids who, like my teenage self, feel like they don’t belong—as if there’s only one way to be Black. But as Reggie tells Delilah in the book: “I’m Black. Period. So anything I like, anything I do, is something that Black people do.”

I hope this book makes Black readers feel seen—whether they’re leading D&D campaigns or picking up their weekly comics on Wednesdays, at the center of the mosh pit or crying along to a Taylor Swift song. Black kids belong anywhere they want to be.

Love, Elise

I’m so grateful that I get to continue writing stories for you, and I really feel like this one is my best work yet. Thank you for going on this journey with me!

I’m so excited to show you the cover of my third book, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling! Out January 31, 2023!! ⁣

Aren’t these two just perfect??

This magic was designed by Catherine Lee, with art direction by Jessie Gang. And Michelle Rosella D’Urbano has illustrated all of my beautiful covers. She plucks my characters right out of my brain and treats them with such care. I am just so so lucky to have these incredible artists on my team. ⁣
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Here’s the official synopsis of REGGIE AND DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING:

From the NAACP Image Award–nominated author of Happily Ever Afters comes a dual POV rom-com about Reggie and Delilah, who fall in love through missed connections and chance meetings on holidays over the course of a year.

Delilah always keeps her messy, gooey insides hidden behind a wall of shrugs and yeah, whatevers. She goes with the flow—which is how she ends up singing in her friends’ punk band as a favor, even though she’d prefer to hide at the merch table.

Reggie is a D&D Dungeon Master and self-declared Blerd. He spends his free time leading quests and writing essays critiquing the game under a pseudonym, keeping it all under wraps from his disapproving family.

These two, who have practically nothing in common, meet for the first time on New Year’s Eve. And then again on Valentine’s Day. And then again on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s almost like the universe is pushing them together for a reason.

Delilah wishes she were more like Reggie—open about what she likes and who she is, even if it’s not cool. Except . . . it’s all a front. Reggie is just role-playing someone confident. The kind of guy who could be with a girl like Delilah.

As their holiday meetings continue, the two begin to fall for each other. But what happens once they realize they’ve each fallen for a version of the other that doesn’t really exist?

And I can tell you it’s got: ⁣
– Black love⁣
– Holiday magic ⁣
– Dual-POV mutual pining ⁣
– A cloud giant NPC named Slarog ⁣
– There’s only one bed⁣
– Swifties! ⁣
– Chronic migraine and dyslexia representation ⁣
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I’m so proud of this book and I can’t wait to share it with you in January. Until then you can preorder Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling wherever books are sold, request it at your library, or add it on Goodreads!⁣
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Book 3…man, I really can’t believe it. Thank you for helping me get here. I love you ❤️⁣

Jaysha Patel at our local ABC station did a story on my books, my reason for writing, and my NAACP Image Award nomination, and it aired on TV last week! I’m so honored to be featured, and my kids think we’re famous now. You can watch the whole video on their website now!

You have to watch it if only for this perfect little sister moment.

I got the news this morning and I’ve been smiling all day. Happily Ever Afters was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the “Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens” category!! I am so grateful to see my book about a Black girl learning to love herself recognized in this way. And as you can see, I’m in incredible company!

This is an author bucket list moment, and I am going to be pinching myself for a long time. What an honor!