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Why do I love workplace romance?

July 17, 2026July 17, 2026 by Allie Samberts

Or, why is Casey so HOT???

Cross-posted to Substack.

At Writers on the River this weekend, people would come up to me and ask me what me what my books were about—as people at conventions often do. But I was sort of bemoaning the fact that I don’t have a schtick. I don’t write small town romance or billionaire romance. I just write…romance. And even though most of my books have some kind of workplace romance element, I can’t say that with my whole chest. (Even besties Lark and Lennon from Love Out Loud end up working together, so I think the only exceptions to this rule are The Write Choice, Pumpkin to Talk About, and Holly Jolly Romance, the latter of which you can now get for free just for subscribing to this newsletter of mine.)

But boy, do I LOVE a workplace romance. This came up a lot on my Not a Strong Enough Word tour, actually. I joked that, because I write characters in their 30s and 40s, where else are they going to meet someone? (Seriously, though. I’m so glad I don’t have to go back out there.)

But on my release day, Alyssa asked me about power dynamics in workplace romance, and I got so excited to talk about it because that is EXACTLY what makes Not on the Same Page so fun. (And Casey so hot.) So that’s what we’re talking about today.

But first…

You know those tasks that literally take you three minutes to complete but you put them off for three days for no good reason? Well, I need to put coffee in the cold brew maker and let it sit, but I’ve been avoiding the task. Why? I honestly don’t know. It’s probably because I’ve just forgotten about it, honestly, but every morning when I wake up and have no cold brew in my house, I kick myself for not just doing it the night before.

But do I take the three minutes to load up the cold brew?

Of course not. Why would I do that?

So anyway, I’m drinking the hot coffee my husband made. I’ve loaded it up with collagen and fiber though, so I suppose not all is lost.

I had so much fun exploring power dynamics in Not on the Same Page. Trina is an agent. And not just any agent—she struck gold with Scarlett’s bestselling novels right when she started at the agency, and she’s proven she has a knack for not only finding other bestselling gems, but negotiating the hell out of deals for her authors. Those flowing skirts and T-shirts are a ruse. Editors both love and hate to see her coming because they know she’s going to deliver a fantastic manuscript, but they also know it’s going to cost them.

But behind the scenes, she’s a little bit broken. Her mother was incarcerated when she was very young, and she had to live with her aunt and cousin who were less than kind. It made her afraid of being a burden and left her with the assumption that she wasn’t worth loving.

That’s where Casey comes in. A year ago, they started a no-strings-attached situationship at the Anastasios Press holiday party. This was, of course, before Scarlett’s comeback. Trina fell into it easily because she loves a good negotiation, and she loves feeling like she’s come out on top. There were rules, but when Scarlett and Ryan’s relationship was discovered and Ryan almost paid the ultimate career price, Trina and Casey decided to break it off before their jobs were also placed at risk.

But there was something about Casey that Trina craved. The power dynamics in the bedroom were completely different than they were at the negotiation table. She no longer needed to be in charge. In fact, Casey took complete control. And if you’ve ever felt the anxiety of feeling like you need to be perfect in order to be loved—or at the very least, to avoid being a burden—you know what it’s like to give up control in that way. It’s intoxicating.

So after a year spent avoiding him, when they end up at a conference together, she can’t stay away.

And that, my friends, is what makes Casey so hot. He’s in love with her from the beginning (even if he won’t admit it right away). He sees that she needs someone to take the responsibility and anxiety off of her for a while, and he’s happy to do it.

But their push and pull is what made writing them so fun. He wants more, but he has to tread lightly so as not to scare her away again. She craves something, but doesn’t know what she’s looking for is love. And in the midst of it, they’re negotiating a deal for an up-and-coming writer whose debut novel is sure to top the charts. They negotiate in the bedroom, the negotiate in the office, and it’s a constant give and take where they both come out on top and, eventually, meet in the middle for their happily ever after.

(I just re-read that paragraph and heard how sexy it sounded, but you know what? I’m going to leave it because…yeah, this is actually the spiciest book I’ve ever written. IT HAD TO BE! It’s a slow burn, except what’s slow burning is their feelings.)

One month from tomorrow, this book will be in your hands, and I absolutely cannot wait for you to dive into Casey and Trina’s love story. It ended up being maybe the most powerful story I’ve ever written, because we’re all Trina in a way—trying to keep it together while everything falls apart around us, and hoping for someone to help us shoulder some of that weight.

Have you preordered Not on the Same Page yet? What are you waiting for??

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Not a Strong Enough Word – June 2, 2026 * Not on the Same Page – August 18, 2026 * Not the Way it Ends – November 10, 2026

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DID YOU HEAR??? If you preorder Not on the Same Page in any format from any retailer, you can come to my virtual release party with Hannah Bird AND get some exclusive preorder goodies! So go preorder the book, and then upload your proof of purchase to get your art print, stickers, bookplate, AND invite to the event! It’s going to be so awesome.

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