Ali Brady has us turning the pages...plus a book giveaway

L to R: Bradeigh and Alison

Today we have Ali Brady here to celebrate the publication of their latest novel, Battle of the Bookstores! Melissa is excited to read this soon, as she loved Until Next Summer (her intro to Ali's writing; reviewed here). Ali Brady is actually two wonderful writers: Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. However, they're answering our Q&A as their combined alter ego (except for one question, since they don't live in the same place). They have one signed copy of Battle of the Bookstores, along with a custom character print, for a lucky reader!

Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. They are the USA TODAY Bestselling authors of romantic, heartwarming, funny novels including The Beach Trap, The Comeback Summer, Until Next Summer, and Battle of the Bookstores. Their books have been “best of summer” picks by The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Parade, and Katie Couric Media. Alison lives in Chicago and works as an advertising creative director. She’s also the Founder and Co-President of The Artists Against Antisemitism, and the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives in Utah with her husband, four children, and two dogs. She works as a doctor and is the author of psychological thrillers Imposter and The Followers. (Bio courtesy of Amazon.)

Visit Ali at their website and on Facebook and Instagram. 

Synopsis:
Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer. 

Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.  

As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"Ali Brady has written the new comfort read for bookworms. Battle of the Bookstores somehow manages to be both delightfully funny and self-aware while also being deeply, unapologetically, an ode to romance. If you’re thinking of picking this one up I’d quote Joe Fox in You’ve Got Mail and say “oh how I wish you would.” 

--Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances

"A heartfelt ode to bookstores and book lovers... this goes down as one my favorite reads of 2025. I absolutely loved it!"

--Jean Meltzer, International Bestselling Author

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
The best compliment is when a reader says it made them feel so caught up in the story, they couldn’t put it down! All we want is to bring joy to our readers, so this truly feels so special.  

What is one thing you would tell the debut novelist version of yourself? 
To get comfortable with the ups and downs of publishing, because it is a rollercoaster—but having someone to ride with makes it so much more fun.

If Battle of the Bookstores was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
JOSIE: Hailee Steinfeld. (Beautiful, half-Jewish, and could definitely rock a pencil skirt, stilettos, and hair in a tight bun)

RYAN: John Reynolds (Ryan is 6’7.5” so it’s tough to find an actor that tall, but John Reynolds is 6’5” so he’s close! Plus he could totally pull off Ryan’s Nerdy-Hot vibe.)

What is your favorite independent bookstore?
Bradeigh: The King’s English and Lovebound Library in Salt Lake City

Alison: Volumes Books in Chicago, Park Books in Maryland

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 
Julia Whelan, because we would listen to her narrate anything!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see?
We’re heading out on a book tour together, so we would love to take you along to all the cities we’ve visiting, to meet readers and see the cutest independent bookstores.

Thanks to Ali for visiting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends June 8th at midnight EST. 

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