19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'Please, do not read them' Scots author won't let her parents read her erotic novels
Sophie Gravia has built a career writing about the messy, complicated, and often hilarious reality of dating in the modern world.
bestselling Scots author has told how she won't let her parents read her erotic novels despite all her success.
Sophie Gravia has built a career writing about the messy, complicated, and often hilarious reality of dating in the modern world but despite her openness she draws the line in letting her family take a peak at her written work.
The nurse from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, penned her first self-published book, A Glasgow Kiss, in 2020 during the pandemic and it has sold more than half a million copies.
The novel, which follows Glasgow nurse Zara through a series of dating disasters, is set to be turned into a BBC TV series after its success. It has also prompted follow-up books, Hot Girl Summer and The Dicktionary Club.
However, the mum-of-two remains shy when it comes to her family. "I don't allow my mum and dad to read the books," she joked.
"They are so proud and they tell everyone about the books, but I am like: 'please, do not read them!'
"The dating scene has changed so much since my parents' time. They met when they were 15 at the dancing. To think now people would be with someone they met when they were 15 just sounds crazy.
"With today's dating apps people just jump straight in, and its sometimes even weird to meet someone for a coffee because they want to go straight to the bedroom."
Sophie, 32, whose real surname is Grant, used the names of her children Olivia and Grace to create pen name Gravia.
She began writing raunchy blogs between shifts, which she later self-published as a novel before securing a four-book deal with major publisher Orion Books.
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Now the writer has landed a new gig with the BBC, co-hosting a podcast all about 'situationships' – the not-quite relationships that are defining love and confusion in the era of dating apps and unread DMs.
"It's usually the phase where people are chatting before making a commitment," Sophie told the BBC.
"You are not quite dating, not going out with them, but there is something happening, usually in the DMs (direct messages) on apps.
"I feel in the dating game now there can be so many different situationships - sometimes with multiple people - which can be a big problem."
The weekly podcast will see Sophie joined by fellow mum and TV personality Christine McGuinness, who she encouraged to audition for the role after the pair hit it off through their shared management agency.
'We just clicked,' Sophie said. 'Christine is absolutely crazy fun. We get on so well."
While Sophie has spent years navigating the world of modern romance, Christine is still finding her feet after her 11-year marriage to TV host Paddy McGuinness ended in 2022.
"I feel like the two of us really get it and have so much in common, but sometimes we have a different opinion on things," Sophie added.
"I'm probably quite harsh when it comes to 'what do you think of this relationship?" I'm like 'naw, get rid', while Christine is 'oh, but wait a minute'. It's a nice dynamic. It's just like a normal girls' chat and it's nice to do it with my friend."
