Why authors are quitting RARE London 2027
What the two organizers actually stated and why the response turned into a boycott
More and more romance authors are saying they will not be going to RARE London 2027. I’ve been seeing the notices go up all day in my social feeds. The immediate concern is not the London event itself, but RARE’s public response to Crave: Chapter One, a new LGBTQIA+ romance signing for Melbourne in 2028.
The posts are still fresh, some are no longer available, and the online conversation is moving swiftly. So it is particularly vital to stick to what can be verified. Here’s what we know so far…
The beginning of the dispute
On October 2, Crave Book Events announced Crave: Chapter One at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre on April 1, 2028. The event refers to itself as a one-day signing focused on queer romance.
RARE has also separately advertised a Melbourne event for April 2028. However, the public documents list the month rather than a verified day.
Crave did not identify RARE in its announcement. It added in its FAQ that it was committed to avoiding clashes with other significant events, but that it would make accommodations if there was an overlap. The About page also said that the event existed because readers and authors sought a space dedicated to queer romance in Australia.
What Crave said
“Join us April 1, 2028 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre for Crave: Chapter One. A one-day signing event celebrating real love, real romance and real voices.”
“We are committed to making sure Crave: Chapter One doesn’t overlap with other major events, so both local and international authors can attend without double bookings.”
Crave’s public response was brief once the response escalated:
“I’m okay! Thank you for all the kind messages. I just needed a moment to collect my thoughts and process everything that has happened.”
It has not given a detailed point-by-point reply.
What RARE stated
RARE took to its official Threads account to criticize the new organizer. Its main post was written quickly and has a mangled phrase, but the meaning appears to be that RARE believed Crave had aligned its dates with RARE Melbourne, told authors they could go to both events, had not contacted RARE directly, and indicated it was Australia’s only queer book event.
“First time event organizer aligns dates with our we’ve r , tells authors this way they can do both, never messages us,has on the website a specific point re clashing, and they are the only queer book event ever in Aus?”
RARE also shared:
“Did you know GLO was one of the first Queer author events in Australia? Back in 2023!”
Why writers are leaving London
Authors are reacting to more than two big events occurring close together. They are reacting to the way RARE made its complaint public, and to the way that a first-time organizer’s queer-focused event was framed as an attempt to exploit RARE’s existing convention.
To many writers and readers, the public challenge to Crave’s queer-event terminology felt harsh and unnecessarily contentious.
That is why the reaction has spread outside of Australia. The RARE London conference is not until July 17, 2027, but authors are already using their participation as leverage. Ilona Andrews has confirmed their withdrawal from RARE London and said Alyssa Day and other authors have also dropped out. Individual authors are still making their own announcements.
What is known and what is not known
Confirmed: Crave is scheduled for April 1, 2028; RARE has promoted a Melbourne event for April 2028; RARE’s public Threads posts criticized Crave; and several authors have openly stated they are withdrawing from RARE London 2027.
RARE has yet to announce in a full public statement a final author-withdrawal count, whether RARE London will change format or be canceled, or a complete resolution between the organizers. Unless claims concerning actual withdrawal totals originate directly from the event or the writers themselves, they should be taken with a grain of salt when they are circulated on social media.
What readers should do next
If you purchased a RARE London ticket for a particular author, check that author’s official social channels or newsletter before making preparations. RARE’s own event information states that lineups are subject to change and that ticket sales are final.
What matters now is not whether the controversy is “drama.” It is whether the conduct of the event organizers reflects the kind of romance community authors and readers want to support.
As for me, a queer reader and author, I know what kind of romance community I want to be a part of.