meetcute book fest 2025

Welcome to our second annual meetcute book fest! This year we're coming back bigger and better from Home Farm Glamping, Aldernham.

WHAT IS MEETCUTE BOOK FEST?

It's a festival dedicated to romance books! We welcome all sub genres, indie and self published authors as well as traditionally published, all readers and book lovers whether you're a booktok/bookstagram obsessive, or you're just quietly reading for your own enjoyment.

What you get with meetcute:

• A gorgeous festival field setting
• Panels with BIG romance authors at the main stage
• Talks on romantasy, historical romance, rom com and more
• Campfire readings and discussions
• Book trope pitch battle
• Author chats at our woodland stage
• Author mastermind
• Book pub quiz (with prizes)
• Free Workshops - writing in nature, writing regency romance, using theatre skills to write great characters
• Agent and industry professionals 121s - free chats with agents and editors (pre-booked)
• Author masterclasses (not included in ticket price)
• Bookish themed cocktails
• Delicious food and drink
• Beautiful bookish stalls

And much more to be announced!

THE LINE UP

MAIN STAGE

Rom Com:

Lucy Vine, Jack Strange, Hannah Doyle, Annabelle Slator

Summer Stories:

Sarra Manning, Olivia Spring, Heidi Swain, Phillipa Ashley, Laila Rafi

Romantasy:

Laura Steven, Marvellous Michael Anson, Adi Denner, Alexandra Christo

Soumates:

Eve Ainsworth, Sarah J Harris, E S Drake, Tasneem Abdur Rashid

Historical Romance:

Lex Croucher, Lola Jaye, Amita Murray, Kerry Barrett

WOODLAND STAGE

Writing Wilderness with Anstey Harris and Chloe Ford

Hot as Hell!- menopausal MCs and love with Jane Costello and Nancy Peach

More than love stories - Holly June Smith and Hayley Dunlop

Breaking out as a non-debut - Kirsty Greenwood interviewed by Kim Nash

Grown up love stories - Helga Jensen and Ronali Collings

Comedy Women in Print panel - Kathleen Whyman presents Carrie Walker, Niloufar Lamakan, Hannah Dolby, Kristen Bailey

Much more to be announced!

BOOK NOOK STAGE

Bookish Pub Quiz with lots of prizes

Who's Meetcute is it Anyway? - an interactive panel where the audience creates the love story! Hosted by Sarah Bennett, featuring Donna Ashworth, Bella Osborne, Julie Caplin, Leonie Mack

Bad Love: Writing complicated relationships with Justin Myers, Sophie Jo, Holly McCulloch

Much more to be announced!

Author HQ

Author Mastermind from Alison May, featuring Kerry Barret, Phillipa Ashley, Alex Brown and Jennifer Page

Why I Write.... authors exploring the themes, people and places that return to them time and again when writing.

Industry Campfire

Join industry experts including publishers, editors, agents, social media gurus, marketing experts, authors and many more to hear what they think you need to hear about the publishing world.

GETTING HERE:

By car - there will be ample parking available onsite, with a team of stewards to guide you. Parking is free!

By public transport - The closest train station is Elstree and Borehamwood. We then recommend a 4 minute cab from the station for ease!

ACCESSIBILITY

We are trying our best to accommodate accessibility needs - please mention on your booking if you require blue badge parking. If you require a carer to come with you, we are happy to welcome them for free. We will ask this during your booking. There are accessible routes around the festival, and we will try to ensure there is seating dotted around everywhere. We're also happy to hear from you if there's anything else you need!

Email hello@meetcutecollective.com for more infromation.

WEATHER

It's an outdoor festival, but our main stage is under a tent, there will be many places under gazebos and our woodland stage is covered by the canopy of the trees. Still, English weather will do what it does!

We've worked hard to provide a huge lineup of amazing authors and experts, a warm and friendly community and the chance to nerd out over books, at a really affordable price for the whole day. We appreciate your feedback, and hope you'll join us!

USE CODE GALENTINES2025 for a 15% discount until end of March!