About this Event
Let’s celebrate the launch of , the newest novel by acclaimed author Crystal King, in conversation with Julie Carrick Dalton. King, known for her lush historical fiction, makes a thrilling turn into contemporary fantasy with this spellbinding tale set in Italy, where a historian’s dream job becomes a perilous descent into a world ruled by gods and secrets. Immerse yourself in a discussion about myth, magic, and the mysteries of human joy as Crystal and Julie delve into the inspirations behind the book, the craft of storytelling, and the blurred lines between history and imagination. Don’t miss this chance to meet two powerhouse voices in modern fiction, get your copy signed, and celebrate the beauty, and danger, of chasing happiness.
Copies of Julie’s recent release, , will be available for purchase in store at the event!
EVENT DETAILS
- 6:30 PM: Doors Open – Settle in, grab a drink from our cafe and wine bar, and get ready for a great discussion!
- 7:00 PM: Discussion Begins – Crystal and Julie will dive into The Happiness Collector.
- 7:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask the authors anything!
- 8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations – Meet the authors, get your book signed, and snap a photo.
- 8:30 PM: Last call - Grab your final pour from the wine bar.
- 9:00 PM: Event Wraps Up – Thanks for joining us!
Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the waitlist. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer them 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 [email protected]. 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 up to 30 days 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 abandoned property 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!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CRYSTAL KING is the author of three critically acclaimed works of historical fiction. Her most recent, In the Garden of Monsters, was longlisted for a MassBook Award and her debut, Feast of Sorrow, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize and named a “Must Read” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Crystal’s writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. You can find her at crystalking.com.
ABOUT THE HAPPINESS COLLECTOR
In this stunning contemporary fantasy novel for fans of V. E. Schwab and Kaliane Bradley, a historian’s dream job in Italy takes a dark turn when she discovers her employers aren’t exactly human…
After losing her book deal and her academic position, historian Aida Reale needs a new career, and fast. After all, she and her fiancé, Graham, have a wedding to pay for. So when a friend recommends her for an extremely high-paying position at a company called MODA, it feels like the perfect stroke of luck. And with a move to Italy and a breathtaking palazzo included, how could she say no?
Aside from a snooty assistant, a daunting NDA and some very stringent rules about the use of personal technology, working for MODA is a dream come true—at least at first. But the more research Aida conducts for this elusive company, the more things feel off. Not only does her relationship with Graham suffer, but it seems like every site she visits either vanishes or is struck by tragedy soon after she’s been there.
It’s only after a mysterious woman approaches Aida and Luciano, her devastatingly handsome and equally concerned MODA colleague, that they learn the truth—they are just mortal pawns in a game between gods. Now Aida must find answers to the question she's been avoiding: What's really happening to all the happiness she's been collecting…and can she stop the gods’ plans before it’s too late?
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER
Julie Carrick Dalton is the Boston-based author of The Last Beekeeper, a finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award, and Waiting for the Night Song, winner of the New Hampshire Book Award's People's Choice award for best novel. Her books have been noted on 'Most Anticipated' lists from Newsweek, USA Today, Parade, CNN, and others. Her writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, BusinessWeek, The Hollywood Reporter, Orion Magazine, Terrain, Lit Hub, Electric Literature, and other publications. A former organic farmer and beekeeper, Julie is a frequent speaker on the topic of fiction in the age of climate crisis at universities, museums, and conferences, nationally and internationally. She is a member of the core faculty at Drexel University's MFA program. Her third novel, The Forest Becomes Her, will be published by St. Martin's Press in 2026 and is available for pre-order now.
ABOUT THE LAST BEEKEEPER
A celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair.
It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind—find the mythic research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated. There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as their own. While she initially feels threatened, the group soon becomes her newfound family, offering what she hasn't felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope. Maybe it's time to forget the family secrets buried on the farm and focus on her future.
But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honey bee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn't understand, but she can't shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father's missing research. Fighting to uncover the truth could shatter Sasha's fragile security and threaten the lives of her newfound family—or it could save them all.
Julie Carrick Dalton's The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair. It is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world.
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Start your day with expertly crafted espresso drinks, artisanal pastries, and more. In the evening, the bar comes alive with wine, cocktails, sweet treats, charcuterie plates, and more. Enjoy seating indoors or on our covered patio.
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PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Your presence at the Lovestruck Books & Cafe event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Lovestruck Books & Cafe, 44 Brattle Street, Cambridge, United States
USD 7.18 to USD 39.19
