About this Event
New release alert! Be the first to get your hands on by debut novelist Mary Berman at a celebration that’s equal parts swoony, sinister, and wildly entertaining.
In conversation with romance podcast host Amanda Diehl, Mary will dish on crafting Ophelia Cohen’s journey from marriage skeptic to reluctant bride-to-be, tangled in a wedding planning process that feels like a slow descent into something unsettling. Between a too-perfect fiancé, a vineyard chapel with secrets, and in-laws who take “family traditions” a little too seriously, this is one love story where saying “I do” might come with a terrifying catch. Expect a conversation full of dark humor, sharp insights, and just a hint of romance lurking beneath the horror.
After the chat, stick around to meet Mary, get your book signed, and maybe rethink everything you thought you knew about happily ever after.
To purchase your very own copy of Until Death be sure to select the ticket option which includes that title at Eventbrite checkout.
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 – Mary and Amanda will dive into Until Death.
- 7:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask the author anything!
- 8:00 PM: Signatures, Snapping Pics, and Salutations – Meet the author, 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 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 [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
Mary Berman is a Philadelphia-based writer. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Mississippi, where she was a Graduate Excellence Fellow, and she also holds a BA in writing seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Her short works have been published in Cicada, PseudoPod, Fireside Magazine, and elsewhere. Until Death is her debut novel.
ABOUT UNTIL DEATH
“Say Yes to the Dress meets Rosemary’s Baby” (Margie Sarsfield) in this fresh, darkly funny horror novel in which a woman finally agrees to marry the man of her mother’s dreams. . . only to discover that wedding planning will eat you alive.
If Ophelia Cohen learned one thing from her parents, it’s that getting married is a bad idea. But if she’s learning anything from her widowed mother’s dementia, it’s that dying alone is worse. So when she meets Luke—the man of her mother’s dreams—marriage suddenly doesn’t seem so crazy.
But none of Ophelia’s obsessive scrolling on wedding forums can prepare her for the nightmare of planning her own. Why is her mother-in-law going crazy over every detail? Why is Luke’s family so eager to host the wedding in their vineyard’s ancient chapel? And what exactly will Ophelia have to sacrifice if she and her mother both hope to survive her special day?
Shot through with wicked humor, pitch-black horror, and unexpected romance, Until Death is a deliciously dark and funny send-up of the wedding industrial complex—and a mother-daughter story unlike any you’ve read before.
ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER
A romance fan and passionate reader, Amanda Diehl has had many iterations of bookish jobs from an author publicist to a bookseller and bookstore event coordinator. She's been writing about romance and helping manage the daily stream of editorial content at the website Smart Bitches, Trashy Books for over a decade. In her free time, she enjoys collecting taxidermy, playing video games with smooching mechanics, and making the best damn gluten-free lasagna.
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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 27.45
