Do digital lives and loves translate IRL? Inquiring minds—especially college freshman Sydney Ciara—want to know.
And you’ll find out in your next favorite YA contemporary read! Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield releases on April 15, 2025 from Feiwel & Friends, and we’re revealing the cover TODAY here and on our Instagram!
About the Book
Black college student Sydney Ciara navigates academics, love, and the online realm, in this Young Adult coming-of-age romance told through her blog posts, messages, social media posts, and more!
Sydney Ciara Warren is excited as she starts her first year of college, but also nervous. Her best friend Malcolm will be at a different university, so she’ll have to make new friends. And despite her interests in writing and fashion, she has no idea what path will ultimately be right for her—though they probably don’t involve law school, regardless of her parents’ wishes.
As Sydney Ciara 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 on Twitter. 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 things get complicated, as she also navigates 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?
Told through blog posts, tweets, messages, emails, and more, here is a love letter to Twitter, to Black girls who think they won’t get chosen, and to those who take too long finding the perfect words.
Art: Kgabo Mametja (@iamsaintrose)
Design: Abby Granata (@abby.granata)
About the Author
Ravynn K. Stringfield is a Virginia author and academic. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and her research centers Black girls, fantasy, and new media. Ravynn’s debut YA contemporary novel Love in 280 Characters or Less is anticipated from Feiwel & Friends in Spring 2024. In addition to her novel, Ravynn has written and published short fiction, personal essays and blogs, particular on her 6 year blog project, Black Girl Does Grad School. Her fiction can be found in Voyage YA Journal and midnight & indigo, and her personal essays can be found in Catapult Magazine. At Catapult, Ravynn wrote the column “Superhero Girlfriends Anonymous.” Follow her on Goodreads, Instagram, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
And now the moment you’ve been waiting for!
