On Friday, April 26th, 2024, Lost City Books in Washington D.C. will host author Mariah Stovall for a reading, book signing, and Q&A celebrating the release of her debut novel "I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both." This highly anticipated book is a captivating coming-of-age story that blends elements of Susan Choi's "Trust Exercise" with the music fandom themes of Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity," all through the lens of a Black woman's experience. Set in Los Angeles and New York City, the novel immerses readers in the life of Khaki Oliver, a young woman perpetually trying to lose herself in codependent relationships, ill-advised romances, the punk scene, or simply fading into the background. After a decade-long estrangement, Khaki receives a letter from her former inseparable best friend Fiona, inviting her to a party for Fiona's newly adopted daughter. Khaki is torn between terror and temptation to reconnect with the intense, all-consuming friendship that once fueled their worst impulses. As she stalls on her RSVP, Khaki begins meticulously crafting the perfect mixtape, revisiting formative musical memories while weighing the risks and rewards of letting Fiona back into her life. Through an evocative soundtrack spanning 1980s hardcore to 2010s emo, the inner lives of Khaki and Fiona unfurl in achingly real detail. Attendees will be captivated by Stovall's exploration of how music shapes identity, the slipperiness of sanity, and whether confronting the past can pave a healthier path forward. Stovall's writing has appeared in the Black Punk Now anthology, literary journals like Ninth Letter, and publications like The Paris Review. The reading will be followed by a conversation with Chantal James, author of the novel "None but the Righteous." This unmissable event is a must for fans of incisive fiction, and powerful storytelling, and anyone who has ever poured their soul into a carefully curated mixtape.