Love in 280 Characters or Less

Sydney Ciara Warren is excited as she starts her first semester 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.

Ravynn K. Stringfield is a writer and professor originally from Suffolk, Virginia. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in publications such as Shondaland, ZORA, and Catapult. Love Requires Chocolate is her debut novel. She can often be found haunting coffee shops in search of the perfect hazelnut latte, knee deep in art supplies, or curled up with her dog, Genghis, telling him about her Lois Lane obsession.