Ali Hazelwood has become a household name in contemporary romance, thanks to her knack for crafting electric chemistry and love stories that feel both swoony and grounded. From The Love Hypothesis to Deep End, her books have won over legions of fans. But her latest project, an Audible original called Bad in Bed, takes a refreshingly different approach—one that's less about finding the perfect partner and more about figuring out what makes you happy on your own terms.
In an exclusive interview with Collider, Hazelwood opened up about the inspiration behind this new audio-first romance, which we're thrilled to debut a sneak peek of. The author revealed that she wanted to explore female pleasure through a familiar trope—the sex lesson—but with a crucial twist. Instead of a character learning to wow someone else, the focus is on self-discovery and self-satisfaction.
"I really wanted to write a story centered around sex lessons, but with the twist that the character who's trying to get better at sex is doing it with a focus on herself, as opposed to the goal of pleasing a future partner," Hazelwood explained. "Less 'how to blow his mind' and more 'how to blow her own mind.'"
The story follows Max and his romantic counterpart as their relationship deepens through an increasingly intimate journey of self-exploration. Hazelwood notes that this book is a departure from her previous works, placing much more emphasis on the characters themselves rather than an elaborate plot. It's a more introspective, character-driven narrative that still delivers the emotional payoff her readers crave.
One of the most exciting aspects of Bad in Bed is that it was developed as an audio-first experience, featuring a full-cast performance. This format is having a major moment in the romance world, and Hazelwood is thrilled to be part of it. "I had done it before for some of the stories I published with Spotify, so it wasn't completely new," she said. "In general [I] LOVE listening to full cast narrations, they are so engaging and fun!"
Hazelwood also shared her thoughts on what she wants to tackle next. While she's already explored contemporary and paranormal romance, she's increasingly drawn to characters who are deeply flawed and make big mistakes. "It's not necessarily a different subgenre, but recently I realized that I'd really like to write about characters who are flawed and mess up in big ways," she admitted. "Not sure what that says about me!"
Beyond her own work, Hazelwood is a passionate advocate for more romance adaptations on screen. She's particularly enthusiastic about Games by Anna Maria Volkova, which she believes deserves a full TV series. "I would literally give my firstborn (cat, I'm so sorry Bernie) to see an adaptation of Games," she joked. "Frankly, I want a miniseries. I DEMAND IT."
She also highlighted other books she'd love to see adapted, including Die for Me by Shirlene Obuobi as a gothic movie, Once in a Timeline by Iman Hariri-Kia as a time-loop rom-com, and The Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne. She also mentioned The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, the Ninth House series, and As Long As You're Mine by Nekesa Afia as dream projects.
With Bad in Bed, Hazelwood is proving that romance can be as much about self-love as it is about finding love with someone else. The audio format adds an immersive layer that's perfect for this intimate story. Fans of her previous work will find a fresh, bold new side to her storytelling—and newcomers will discover why she's become such a beloved voice in the genre.
For more on the latest in romance and entertainment, check out our Glee reboot coverage and Titus Welliver's Bosch audiobook news.
