Celeste Dador: Stars, Stripes, & Summer Nights
This free, public event is presented in partnership with Frederick County Public Libraries. For accessibility requests, email info@curiousiguana.com at least two (2) weeks prior to the event.
About the book: A swoony, patriotic romance with Gilmore Girls charm—follow First Daughter Abby as she dives into a summer of surprises, small-town magic, and sparks with the boy who shakes up her world.
What if the person who turns your world upside down is exactly who you’re meant to find?
All First Daughter Abby Alzona wanted was one normal night. But one impulsive pizza order later, she’s front-page news—and officially exiled to a Wi-Fi-free country inn for the summer, along with her little sister Elle.
The inn belongs to Gabriel Calabrese’s family: he’s sarcastic, camera-obsessed, and definitely not dazzled by presidential perks (also, kind of the reason for the whole pizza fiasco). But Abby’s determined to make the most of her time away from the White House—with a summer bucket list full of things real teens get to do. Pool parties. Picnics. Maybe even a first kiss.
As she and Elle dive into small-town life, Abby starts to see what makes Gabriel tick. And maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. . . .
About the author: Celeste Dador writes cozy rom-coms with festive flair. A former reality TV show finalist on America’s Next Great Author, Celeste lives in the D.C.-area, where she blends her love of romance and public service into her stories. Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is her Young Adult debut. Celeste also serves as an advisor with SCBWI, a children’s literature community dedicated to helping writers and illustrators bring their stories to the young readers who need them. Like many of her characters, she’s proudly Filipino American and passionate about inclusive, joy-filled love stories. When writing adult romance, which includes a dash of spice, she uses the pen name C.C. Dador, including her New Adult romance debut Merry Ex-mas (Requited, 09/29/26). She can be found in coffee shops and Instagram: @celestedador
About the moderator: Charlene Thomas is a critically acclaimed author and writing coach with a passion for helping writers find their voice and create the stories they were meant to tell. Her books have been published by Penguin Random House and Scholastic Press (with more novels forthcoming), and have been featured in Parade Magazine, Book Riot, Buzz Feed, Pop Sugar, Bustle, The Root, Kirkus Reviews, and more. Her work has also received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. She frequently leads writing workshops, offers author-talks, and provides mentorship for aspiring authors. She’s an advocate for democratizing publishing knowledge and is passionate about helping underrepresented perspectives see themselves on bookshelves. IT’S YOU EVERY TIME, a young adult romance, is her latest novel.
