Guest Post: The Love Study by Kris Ripper

Posted September 29, 2020 by Dale

I’m excited to welcome Kris Ripper on Queer Books Unbound to share dating profiles for Declan and Sidney, the main characters of The Love Study!

Declan has commitment issues. He’s been an office temp for literally years now, and his friends delight in telling people that he left his last boyfriend at the altar.

And that’s all true. But he’s starting to think it’s time to start working on his issues. Maybe.

When Declan meets Sidney—a popular nonbinary YouTuber with an advice show—an opportunity presents itself: as part of The Love Study, Declan will go on a series of dates arranged by Sidney and report back on how the date went in the next episode.

The dates are…sort of blah. It’s not Sidney’s fault; the folks participating are (mostly) great people, but there’s no chemistry there. Maybe Declan’s just broken.

Or maybe the problem is that the only person he’s feeling chemistry with is Sidney.

What do you get when you combine a goofy, commitmentphobic office temp with a thoughtfully non-dating YouTuber? The Love Study. Declan swore off dating after he left his last boyfriend at the altar, but Sidney isn’t interested in altars. They’re interested in humans. Specifically, they’re interested in Declan, who agrees to go out with people and discuss his dates on Sidney’s YouTube channel. Awkwardness, chocolate, and giggling ensue.

Name: Declan

Pronouns: he/him

Interested in: All humans

Do you ever feel socially awkward? Maybe sometimes!

Are you generally on time? Ummm…I take the Fifth on that one.

Is jealousy healthy in a relationship? Ew, no!

How would your best friend describe you? He says, “Smart, funny, supportive, great cook, sometimes flakey so watch out for that (ask me how I know).” In my defense the, um, “flakiness” he’s talking about was years ago and I swear I’m not flakey now. Most of the time. Ish.

What’s your idea of a perfect date? So like, I know everyone loves the beach and stuff, but I just…kind of feel like the beach is dirty? But I love baking, so my perfect date would be getting together with someone I cared about and spending the whole day inventing new stuff in the kitchen, complete with hot cocoa and lots of laughter!

If you were a dessert, what would you be? Black Forest Gateau! I look like a mess, but I sure am delicious! METAPHORICALLY. Not, um, literally. Like. Um. Oh gosh. Nevermind! Awkward…

Name: Sidney

Pronouns: they/them

Interested in: All humans

Do you ever feel socially awkward? Every moment of every day 🙂

Are you generally on time? Yes.

Is jealousy healthy in a relationship? That’s a complicated question. Jealousy is not, in itself, unhealthy, but can be expressed in unhealthy ways.

How would your best friend describe you? I don’t have a “best friend.” I do have a little brother, who says he describes me as “Super duper smart, always there when you need them, warm and fuzzy when you get to know them.” I find the description “warm and fuzzy” somewhat questionable, to be honest.

What’s your idea of a perfect date? I think each relationship comes with its own qualities and experiences. Having said that, er, I’d probably not match well with anyone who values loud places full of people or anywhere set up to take Instagram pictures. I would love to wake up next to a person and know that whatever we ended up doing–even if we were just curled up on separate sides of a couch reading–we would both feel like it was quality time spent together. That sounds like the perfect day, if not quite the perfect date.

If you were a dessert, what would you be? Dark chocolate, maybe? A little bitter, a little sweet, and I can be an acquired taste, but people who love me love me forever. Wait, is that really cheesy? Oops. You’re probably not supposed to be cheesy in a dating profile. Sorry, I’m not totally clear on the rules. And now I want dark chocolate.

Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories featuring beloved romance tropes, where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.

A new Carina Adores title is available each month in trade paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.

The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover (available now!)
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron (available now!)
Just Like That by Cole McCade (available now!)
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters (available now!)
Better Than People by Roan Parrish (available now!)
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher (coming October 27)
Just Like This by Cole McCade (coming November 24)
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love by Kim Fielding (coming December 29)

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

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Genre: Contemporary Genre: Romance Identity: nonbinary Orientation: Pansexual Pairing: enby/M Publisher: Carina Press Tag: Guest Post Carina Adores Kris Ripper The Love Study