LOVE LIKE A SWIFTIE
PRESS KIT
LOVE LIKE A SWIFTIE PAIRS A SOFT BOY SWIFTIE WITH HIS FEARLESS MADAM PRESIDENT IN A TAYLOR LYRICS-CODED UNIVERSITY ROMANCE
A slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romcom in the debut novel by indie author Issac Tsang—a cross-cultural love story for hopeless romantics and unapologetic Swifties
21 July 2025
Hong Kong—Tired of emotionally unavailable alpha males? Love Like A Swiftie is the perfect love letter to everyone who finds healing in hopeful romance stories and Taylor Swift albums.
Set in a modern British university, this novel follows the POV of a male protagonist who is romantic, delusional, and proudly obsessed with Taylor Swift. Meet Lucas, manifesting his “Swiftie soulmate”, only to realise he falls in love with Diana—a girlboss who does not listen to Taylor Swift songs!
Debut indie author, Issac Tsang, is a hopeless romantic in real life. “I think we all have the gift to love and be loved,” he said. “With Love Like A Swiftie, I wanted to share my love story with you.” Inspired by his international student experience in England, Issac Tsang is the new voice in contemporary romance who narrates male softness as a power, alongside copious traces of his unique Swiftie love language.
Personally leading a chaotic love life himself, Issac Tsang writes delusional love stories in the hope that one day, he might just manifest a happily-ever-after of his own.
Love Like A Swiftie is available now in paperback and eBook for global distribution!
For review copies, interview requests, or feature opportunities, please contact Issac Tsang.
ADVANCE REVIEW 🌟
“A book with romcom vibes, perfect for everyone who still believes in soulmates.
Lucas and Diana are the kind of characters who sneak into your heart and stay there. Lucas is loyal, sweet, and just the right amount of hopeless romantic. I absolutely adored the way he’s head over heels for Diana. Diana is strong, thoughtful, and carries so much depth! Together, their chemistry just sparkles. I also loved that every side character had their own vibe and layers.
The Taylor Swift references in this book are Chef’s kiss. From chapter titles to little lyric references in dialogues, this book is literally a love letter to Swifties. It made me so so happy. But even if you’re not a hardcore fan, the story still holds its own. There’s just something universal about learning to open your heart again.
What surprised me was the layer of politics woven through the romance. It added so much depth and made the book feel grounded and real, without losing its lightness. Issac’s writing is fluid and full of heart.
Love Like A Swiftie is comforting, sweet, and a little bit magical. Perfect for anyone who has ever found a piece of themselves in a Taylor Swift lyric. Thank you, Issac, for letting me be a part of your ARC squad.”
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“Love Like A Swiftie by Issac Tsang, and honestly, my heart is so full right now!
This book isn’t just a love story—it’s an experience.
From the first page, you’re swept into a world of fearless, passionate, and tender romance, where loving someone wholeheartedly isn’t seen as a weakness but a strength.
The characters feel so real—vulnerable yet brave, imperfect but perfect for each other. I could genuinely feel their connection growing with every chapter, like a love song unfolding line by line.
What really stood out to me was the message: that true love requires courage—the courage to be seen, to fall, to believe. And all of it was wrapped in a sparkly, magical, Swiftie-inspired atmosphere (seriously, Taylor would be proud!).
The dreamy ballroom setting, the soft glances, the laughter between them—every scene felt like it belonged in a romantic movie.
If you’re someone who believes in fairy-tale endings, who sings loudly to love songs at midnight, or who dreams of being ‘fearless’ in love, this book is written for you.
Would 100% recommend to all romance lovers and Swifties out there!
(Also... someone please turn this into a Netflix movie ASAP!)"
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“If you’ve ever dreamed of finding your ‘Swiftie soulmate’ or just love a sweet, slow-burn romance, this book is for you! Love Like A Swiftie is a heartwarming university romcom that perfectly blends love, friendship, and self-discovery.
Lucas Wong is the most endearing Swiftie—passionate, a little delusional, and completely set on finding someone who loves Taylor Swift as much as he does. But then there’s Diana—driven, ambitious, and not a Swiftie at all (gasp!). Watching these two navigate their differences, from music preferences to political beliefs, made for such an engaging and layered romance. Their friendship-turned-love story felt realistic and slow-burning in the best way—full of misunderstandings, growth, and moments that made my heart melt.
What I really loved was how the book challenged the idea of idealised love. Lucas has this fantasy of what his perfect match should be, but real love isn’t about checklists—it’s about connection, compromise, and embracing differences. The romance was sweet, but the themes of personal growth and finding love in unexpected places made the story even more meaningful.
My one minor complaint? Some of Lucas’s Swiftie references felt a bit over-the-top at times (even for a hardcore fan), but his character was so lovable that I didn’t mind too much.
If you love opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers, and an adorable romcom set in university, Love Like A Swiftie is the book for you!”
See full review on Instagram:
“Three words to sum up my experience reading Love Like A Swiftie would be heart-warming, addictive and absolutely charming. Let’s start with the fact that the title is perfect, the cover is perfect, and the author is one of the sweetest people ever, and it has been an absolute joy and an honour to be an ARC reader for them.
Following Lucas as he started university was super fun and nostalgic, and took me back to my freshers experience over 10 years ago. I loved watching him build up relationships with not only Diana but the people who soon became his closest friends. I LOVED all the song lyrics that were sprinkled throughout the story, there is no wrong time for a Taylor quote, and I was living for it.
As a Swiftie, this book already had a head start, but the relationship between Lucas and Diana was so sweet, but at times infuriating! I think it was coming up to the 50% mark where I wanted to bang their heads together and realise what it was they needed—each other.
As someone who doesn’t read YA as much anymore, some parts were a little drawn out and a little cringey, but that didn’t take away from my reading experience. This story made me feel warm inside from beginning to end, and is the perfect book to read along to a Taylor album.
Thank you so much to the author for the chance to read this early, all thoughts are my own.”
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“When I picked up this book, I was in need of a light, fluffy romance story to counter the heartbreaking book I was also in the middle of. And, I must say, this novel did just that!
I absolutely adored Lucas and Diana, and I thought that their characters were so cute! I love how downbad Lucas was for her since the beginning and just how sweet the two of them were!
The huge friend group was also a fun thing to read about. It was a bit jarring at the start when we met everyone at the same time, but I never felt lost as each side character was so unique!
I also enjoyed the political edge to the book. Although unexpected, it was very fun to read about, along with the romance.
Lastly, OBVIOUSLY I LOVED all of the Taylor Swift references! From the song lyrics in the dialogue to the chapter titles, Taylor Swift was coded into this book through and through!
Overall, this novel is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who loves Taylor Swift or just simply wants to read about two sunshine characters finally meeting their perfect match…”
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“Love Like A Swiftie is a love story that weaves together themes of politics, friendship, and human relationships. The romance at its core is both light and complex, making the emotional journey of the characters feel deeply personal and engaging.
I have to admit that I'm not a Swiftie, so I didn’t really grasp any references :(
I think if you’re a Swiftie, you'll love those references A LOT!
The characters are well-developed and unique, each bringing something interesting to the story. The protagonists, Diana and Lucas, have a natural chemistry that makes their relationship feel authentic, and the side characters add depth and richness to the overall plot.
One of the aspects I particularly enjoyed was the writing style. The prose is soft, fluid, and easy to read, making it a perfect book to get lost in. The pacing is steady, allowing the emotional moments to land without feeling rushed. It's the kind of book you can pick up when you need a heartfelt and engaging read without it being too heavy or overwhelming. It made me laugh, but also sad, so… Perfect!
Overall, Love Like A Swiftie is a light, engaging read that mixes romance with deeper themes. If you enjoy stories about love and friendship, it's worth a look—and you can grab your copy tomorrow!”
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“Can you be Fearless enough to love someone who doesn’t believe in fairytales?
Love Like A Swiftie by Issac Tsang is a cosy, witty, and unexpectedly emotional slow-burn romance that gently tugs at your heartstrings. At the centre is Lucas Wong—a dreamy Swiftie leaving behind a broken past in Hong Kong to find love in England. But instead of a fairytale, he meets Diana Mason: grounded, focused, and completely unaware of Taylor Swift’s music.
Their connection blooms from witty banter into a deep and something infinitely more intimate. Lucas brings the magic, Diana brings the reality—and together, they navigate cultural differences, emotional baggage, and what it really means to love someone as they are.
This is more than a story of opposites attracting. It’s a story about growing together, embracing flaws, and learning that being ‘fearless’ means showing up even when life feels uncertain. With sparkling writing, heartfelt moments, and characters you’ll root for, this book feels like a quiet anthem for anyone who’s ever dared to dream.
The writing sparkles with charm and emotional truth. The author captures student life with authenticity—awkward corridor hellos, clubbing firsts, instant connections, emotional overload, and all the joy and fear that comes with leaving home for a new one. It’s not just a romance; it’s a coming-of-heart story. There were moments I wanted to pause just to feel the ache settle.
If you’re a Swiftie, this book is a love letter to you.
This novel reminded me that it’s okay to feel deeply, to not know what we’re doing, to long for magic even when reality feels messy. It whispered that being ‘fearless’ isn’t the absence of fear—it’s showing up anyway. For love. For friendship. For yourself.”
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“This book has kept me hooked from the start and I absolutely adore, love it!
This book is so soft and soothing! It’s a completely fresh read! The characters, the meaning, the cute moments, everything about this is perfect!
I adore Lucas—he’s a sweet, lovable and soooooo loving guy! The story follows Lucas, who goes to Durham University, a completely new place! He loves Taylor Swift, and he needs a soulmate who’s also a Swiftie! He met Diana and fell in love with her at first sight. The only thing is that she doesn’t know anything about Taylor Swift. And then there’s the magic that happens!
I love love love how the author has expressed these two characters!! And I’m in love with the cover page of this book!! It’s a very sweet, lovable, and cute young adult college romance. Thank you so much, Issac Tsang, for giving me the chance to read this cute, fluffy romance book! I really adore you and your work! Thank you very much!”
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AUTHOR Q&A AND POTENTIAL INTERVIEW TOPICS 🧐
Q: What made you start writing Love Like A Swiftie?
A: My debut novel was born out of my heartbreak. I remember around the end of my second year in university, I was rejected by someone I was in love with. I took a short trip to Lefkada, Greece. Breathing in the salty sea breeze, sipping Freddo Espresso, I started scribbling down random musings as fictional stories. I found it very therapeutic at the time.
I didn’t know I was writing my debut novel; I was just trying to lick the wounds in my heart. I kept writing and writing, and before I knew it, it had become a coherent story. It also saved me a lot of money on therapy! So I didn’t start writing my debut novel because I had an author dream since I was a kid. Love Like A Swiftie has been a beautiful surprise to me. It is as if my heartbreak manifested itself in literary form.
Q: How much of Love Like A Swiftie is based on your real life?
A: The male protagonist—Lucas—is a Swiftie boy from Hong Kong who goes to Durham University in the United Kingdom, and that is exactly who I am. I fell in love with an English girl during my bachelor’s degree in England, and she is my Muse for my debut novel. While all the plots and characters are fictional, I did relive all the love and pain in my heart while writing it down as a novel.
Growing up in Hong Kong, I wasn’t that much of a romantic, nor was I a Swiftie before studying at Durham University. I began to appreciate the songs written by Taylor Swift as I was slowly falling in love. It was as if my Muse unlocked my delulu and soft side, and suddenly, I felt like Enchanted is describing my crush on her and You Belong With Me is echoing with my frustration of unrequited love. Ever since I started writing, the word “Swiftie” doesn’t only mean “Taylor’s fan”; it’s become my new era full of delulu love story. I am a Swiftie because Taylor’s songs really touch my heart and help me make sense of my feelings.
Q: What inspired the characters of Lucas and Diana in Love Like A Swiftie?
A: Lucas is, obviously, inspired by me. He is a hopeless romantic despite his continuously failed attempts to find the kind of love story he’s always wanted. He is obsessed with the idea of meeting his “Swiftie soulmate”. Yet it is through falling in love with Diana—a character who is the opposite of what he wants as a lover—he realises that the love story isn’t a cookie-cutter fairytale. That has been my lesson through falling in love with a girl who is my total opposite. Her kindness enchanted me, and our differences pushed me to become a better man. I didn’t fall in love with someone I wanted; I fell for someone I needed. She taught me how to have faith in love and kindness, especially when the world seems hopeless and dark. That lesson grew into the character Lucas.
Diana is inspired by this friend, who is the kindest, bravest soul I have known in my life. Our story was not a romance tale, and we were never together, yet she has always shown me all the care and kindness I never deserved. Diana in Love Like A Swiftie is a character who is tolerant and kind to other people. She has faith that everyone deserves love and kindness, and that faith is what is rooted in her relationship with Lucas and her quest to become president of a student climate society. She does not like every person around her and is frustrated with Lucas’s stubborn, cynical side in multiple scenes. However, she is fearless enough not to quit treating people with love, regardless of how difficult the people around her may be. That is the kind of fearlessness I see in my Muse of Love Like A Swiftie, and it grew into the character Diana.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from Love Like A Swiftie?
A: The tagline of my debut novel is “You are fearless in your love story!” It has been Lucas’s love philosophy throughout the story. To me, this is not just a tagline; this is a message I hope the readers will have faith in after finishing my book. I want to tell everyone that our differences are not here to divide us, but to complete each of our love stories.
I am personally perplexed by the modern dating culture of matching people up with the right kind of income level, politics, religion, MBTI, and even horoscope. I am not saying one can’t fall in love with the “right match”, but that ideal shouldn’t stop anyone from falling in love with someone from a different world! That’s one of the reasons why I crafted Lucas as a Swiftie boy and Diana as a non-Swiftie girl. In the story, Lucas has this requirement of finding a Swiftie girl as his lover. My editor found it preposterous that an aligned music taste is a dating requirement, and that’s kind of my point—it is preposterous to include an aligned “whatever” as a prerequisite for a love story. I fell in love with my total opposite, and through the fictional story of Lucas and Diana, I hope that the readers will realise that with love, one is fearless enough to overcome whatever differences and challenges stand in the way.
Q: What do you hope to achieve the most as an indie author?
A: I want to share the message of love. I don’t mean romance; I mean love. I think love is the best gift we have received, and love is the best gift we can offer each other. Granted, my debut novel is in the romance genre, but I think this story goes deeper than some candlelight dinners, dances in the rain and endless Taylor Swift references.
Diana is a character who shows love to Lucas both when he is adorable and annoying, powerful and vulnerable, tender and hurtful. I want to tell my readers that you don’t need to be perfect to be loved, and you don’t need perfect people to fall in love with. I have been blessed with my very own love story, and I am dying to show its sacred beauty to the world. It is a realisation I had when I finished the whole draft. I didn’t want my story to remain random musings in my laptop; I wanted to publish a love story that helps people believe in love.
This author’s mission has now become my prayer to my readers—“I wish you a love story!” I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Through my novel, I want people to feel the kind of love I have been blessed with.
Q: Why have you decided to publish Love Like A Swiftie independently, rather than doing it through traditional publishing houses?
A: Love Like A Swiftie is a deeply personal story. I don’t feel comfortable selling my book baby off to a publishing house that would treat it just like any other marketable product. Despite the tremendous time and effort I have to put into self-publishing my debut novel, I think it’s all worth it because everything I do is a silent prayer for the love story to spread. Don’t get me wrong—I want to be famous and I want my book to make me lots of money too, and I can be a very materialistic shopaholic! However, Love Like A Swiftie is not just about fame and money; it is my quest to share the love story, and I want to do it myself.
Potential Interview Topics
💟 The heartbreak & healing behind my writing process
💟 Moving away from my hometown and falling in love abroad
💟 My faith in the healing power of love
💟 My love philosophy as a Swiftie boy
💟 The reality behind my path of self-publishing
AUTHOR PHOTOS 📸
AUTHOR BIO
ISSAC TSANG is a hopeless romantic and the author of his debut novel Love Like A Swiftie. He enjoys reading romance novels, watching romance shows, and listening to love songs. He was born and raised in Hong Kong, went to university in Durham, UK and Tokyo, Japan. When he is not drowned by essay and presentation deadlines, he enjoys travelling around the world and making new friends. He certainly hopes that if he keeps writing delusional love stories, his life will one day become one as well.