Romance

From left: Thara Popoola, J.D. Malle and Violet E. Scott

Introducing the winner of Modern Stories: It Must be Love 2026

Now in its second year, Modern Stories is a writing competition that runs as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf. Curtis Brown Creative are proud to be a partner for this year’s competition hosted by Headline Eternal.

Introducing the winner of Modern Stories: It Must be Love 2026

23rd Jul 2026

Lynsey McDonnell: 'I built a world in my mind that felt incredibly real'

7th Jul 2026

Introducing the shortlist for Modern Stories: It Must be Love 2026

4th Jun 2026

Edward Schmit: ‘Sports romances have built-in stakes that make for a really compelling story’

19th May 2026

Hannah Luckett: 'I strongly feel that writers should lean into their own experiences'

7th May 2026

Rachel Wood: ‘It's genuinely such a joy to write about two people falling in love’

7th Apr 2026

Soraya Bouazzaoui: 'It’s always a writer’s voice that captures my heart first'

3rd Mar 2026

Jo Lyons: 'Writing courses gave me the confidence to forge my own path'

2nd Sep 2025

Sylvia Leatham: 'I'm fascinated by humans and human relationships'

29th Jul 2025

Rowan Coleman: 'Read as much as you can, and don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of writing a whole novel'

23rd Jan 2025

Sarah Chamberlain: 'The key to a really good romance is the fascination the two characters have for each other'