Love in the Time of Risk-Taking

A conversation between British novelists Curtis Garner and William Rayfet Hunter has shed light on the importance of taking emotional risks in love and relationships.

Curtis Garner is the author of Isaac (2024) and Orange (2026), while William Rayfet Hunter penned the novel Sunstruck, released in 2025.

The two authors recently worked together on Hinge's No Ordinary Love audiobook, which celebrates the risks we take in dating and reinforces the importance of saying the hard thing out loud.

The Power of Vulnerability

Garner's story, The Sound It Leaves, follows a real couple, Oden and Edward, who took a risk and said how they felt out loud. In a conversation with Hunter, Garner discussed how working with a real couple felt different from writing fictional love stories.

"It's tough because you want enough creative license that it's interesting and relatable, but you also want to be faithful to them because it's their actual lives, and the story is really personal to them," Garner said.

Hunter shared a similar experience, recalling a time when he had to admit to his parents that he wanted to leave his job as a doctor to pursue a career in writing.

"I had to sit down with my parents and communicate that choice. And I think that was a hard conversation to have with myself and a hard conversation to have with the people around me who were worried," Hunter said.

The Risk of Emotional Exposure

The conversation touched on the idea that taking emotional risks is essential in love and relationships. Hunter noted that queer relationships often involve a built-in emotional risk, as individuals may feel unsafe exploring their identities or expressing their feelings.

"I think that with turning yourself over to someone else, opening up your heart to someone, the risk feels bigger, because it's like, not only is this about my romantic life and about who I am choosing to be with, it's also this thing about me that I've been told was bad or wrong that I've learnt I should maybe be ashamed of, and I'm trying to undo that shame," Hunter said.

Garner shared a personal anecdote about taking a risk in a relationship, telling his boyfriend that he loved him on their third date.

"I wanted to marry him on our very first date. And I think on our third date, I told him I loved him. For his sins, he stayed with me, and we're still together, so it worked," Garner said.

The Beauty of Intimacy

The conversation also highlighted the importance of small, intimate moments in relationships. Hunter noted that admitting to liking someone can be a big risk, but also a beautiful transition moment.

"That always feels so big inside, even though it's a tiny moment. Because most of the time, someone's going to reciprocate anyway. But when you really feel it, and you feel it reciprocated, I think that can be such a beautiful transition moment where you're then like, 'Okay, it's safe for me to be enjoying it this much. It's safe for me to lean into this feeling a little bit more,'" Hunter said.

Garner shared a similar sentiment, noting that he loves huge gestures, but also appreciates the beauty of small, intimate moments.

"I just wish I was more capable of having them myself and not asking someone to marry me on the first night. But I can't help myself," Garner said.

The conversation between Garner and Hunter highlights the importance of taking emotional risks in love and relationships. By being vulnerable and open with our emotions, we can create deeper connections with others and build stronger relationships.

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The No Ordinary Love audiobook, which features real love stories written and read by various authors, is available to listen to on Spotify or Substack.

The conversation between Garner and Hunter serves as a reminder that love and relationships involve taking risks, but also offer opportunities for growth and connection.

As Garner noted, "real love, I've come to learn, is totally egoless. For example, the love that I have for my partner is such that I want him to be happy even if it's not with me.