A Love in 280 Characters or Less FAQ

What you need to know about my second novel!

Mar 23, 2025

As I write this, my second novel, Love in 280 Characters or Less, is 23 days away from its publication date. In honor of this momentous occasion let’s do some Q&A about this book!

Question #1: What’s your book about?

Well, here’s a blurb from my publisher:

Black college student Sydney Ciara navigates academics, love, and the online space, in this coming-of-age told through her blog posts, messages, and more!

Sydney Ciara Warren is excited as she starts her first year of college, but also nervous. Despite her interests in writing and fashion, she has no idea what path will ultimately be right for her. As she tries to figure out her place on campus and in the world, she finds solace in blogging about her life, putting together outfits with meaning, and spending time online.

It’s within the digital space that she connects with someone who goes by YoungPrinceX. She may not know “X” in real life, but that doesn’t stop her from developing a crush on him. Except she's also navigating her first romantic relationship, with a sweet boy on campus named Xavier (who maybe could be X???).

Can Sydney Ciara not only make it through her first semester, but thrive in real life, as much as she seems to be thriving online?

Perfect read for those looking for:
*New Adult
*Black love stories
*Novels told in nontraditional formats
*Main characters who love fashion
*Chronically online characters like in Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao

Question #2: Wait, what do you mean by “nontraditional formats”?

280 is a digital epistolary! The whole narrative is told through Syd’s text message exchanges, tweets, DMs, emails, blog posts and news reports. In fact, the book is designed to look like these digital messages as well. I’m obsessed with it (as the designer, Abby Granata, fully knows).

Here’s a sample of the text design from page 17

Question #3: That’s so cool! Do you have any comp titles to help me figure out if I would like your book?

My official comps are The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert. I also think that if you liked Grown-ish on Freeform and Chloe x Halle’s first album, The Kids Are Alright, then you’d probably like this book. Also, if you’ve ever read Lauren Myracle’s Internet Girls series, you’d be a fan of this book!

Speaking of Lauren Myracle, she blurbed my book and said:

"Syd's story is tender, powerful, and passionate. Prepare to be inspired! ❤️" ―Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of novels, including the Internet Girls series (ttyl; ttfn; l8r,g8; and yolo), This Boy, and Plays Well with Others

(This is a life high for me.)

Question #4: Do you have other blurbs and reviews?

Yes!

Kirkus said:

Stringfield pulls readers in through Syd’s engaging first-person voice and her interactions with the diverse supporting characters. The story is told through varied formats—including blog posts, texts, news stories, and tweets—helping to sustain readers’ interest. Syd comes across as a fully formed character with concerns, anxieties, doubts, and desires that many readers will find relatable.
A charming and romantic coming-of-age story that speaks to both contemporary and evergreen issues.

Author Camryn Garrett said:

“Reading Love in 280 Characters or Less made me feel like Ravynn K. Stringfield was there for my college experience ― or that she has a really good memory about her own. She nails everything from the awkwardness of dorm living, making friends in a new place, and discovering new parts of yourself you were never aware of. This is a must buy for anyone who has ever been to college, plans on going, or worries that they missed out.” ―Camryn Garrett, author of Full Disclosure

And author Dahlia Adler said:

"A unique and resonant ode to love, community, and activism in the digital age, Love in 280 Characters or Less is a thoroughly modern and charmingly told Coming of Age tale perfect for readers seeking comfort in new experiences. Sydney Ciara is a heroine you won't soon forget." - Dahlia Adler, award-winning author of Going Bicoastal and Cool for the Summer

Question #5: What inspired you to write a book this way?

I see stories everywhere, especially online. I’ve been chronically online since I was about 10 and the digital is where I did a lot of my self-making, as many others have done who grew up in the Internet age. But thinking about how we do things in new media plagued me to the point where I ended up in an American Studies Ph.D. program focusing on Black folks in new media generally. I intended to use a first draft of this book as a creative dissertation project, but my advisor encouraged me to seek representation for it and try to get it published.

This is very much a book for the chronically online Black girls who love a think piece and a yap.

Question #6: When’s it out again?

April 15!

Question #7: Should I preorder or wait until it’s out in stores?

Great question! A sale is a sale, however, preordering and buying in the first week is really helpful for my career. Good numbers before publication and the first week indicate to my publisher that there is demand for and excitement around my book. It also helps put me in the running for spots on bestseller lists. Both of these things help the publisher know that they should invest in my work and buy more books from me, which we can then make available for you!

I would love to keep writing, so preordering is really helpful, but in the event you are not able to do that, here are some free things you can do to support:

Request that your local library purchase 280 or talk it up at your favorite local book store!
Tell your friends, your book clubs, your classmates about this book!
Share my links on social media!

Question #8: Where’s a good place to preorder?

Thank you for your support! However you get your books is up to you!

If you’d like to support an independent book store, order it through your local indie, or select them when you purchase on Bookshop.

I love supporting Resist Booksellers in Petersburg, Virginia, which is one of the larger cities closest to the small town where both my parents grew up. It’s a Black owned store with great sellers and an even greater book selection. If you don’t have a local indie, consider getting 280 through Resist.

(And if you’re local to that part of Virginia, Resist is hosting a book festival later this year. Make sure you’re following them on socials so you don’t miss it!)

Question #9: This seems like the kind of book I might want to assign in my class or that I’d want you to come talk to my students about. Are you open to school visits?

Yes, I would love to get some school visits on the books. I can get to most places in the 757 or Richmond in person, and for all else, virtual is absolutely an option. Feel free to get in touch so we can talk rates and dates!

Question #10: Are you going to be on tour?

Kinda!

I do have some events set up in mid-April around Virginia, which you can find here on my publisher page.

In case you don’t want to click:

I’ll be at William & Mary on Thursday, April 17th at 5:30 PM ET doing a talk with the Lemon Project!
I’ll be at Resist in Petersburg on Saturday, April 19th at 12 noon in conversation with bookseller Faith Sims

Also, this is not up on the Grand Gestures IG yet, but! I’ll be doing a virtual event with Katherine D. Morgan’s Portland based romance bookstore, Grand Gestures Bookstore on Friday April 18th at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET.

I’m currently planning something virtual and low key for the week of April 21st where y’all can come kick it with me for an hour and we shoot the breeze about the book.