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Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day! Is This for Real?, my fake dating, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, is on sale for 99 cents! It was picked for an Apple, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble promotion!
Here’s the blurb:
Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usually, me. I admit it. I’m a relationship recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating.
Which is why fake dating my best friend, Rory, is foolproof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel. Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal.
We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.
Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold-water reality, like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage.
But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?
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When I was on a blog tour for Is This for Real?, one blogger asked who would I cast for Penelope if Is This for Real? was made into a movie. My answer was: I think Lucy Hale would make a great Penelope. If you’ve read it, who would you cast as Penelope or Rory?
Some Movies to Watch for a Happy Valentine’s Day
Love to Hate You promotional poster I really enjoyed two recent movies/TV series: LOVE TO HATE YOU (Netflix) and SHOTGUN WEDDING (Amazon). LOVE TO HATE YOU is a Korean drama about a man who thinks women just marry for money, and a woman who thinks men just use women and hates the patriarchal double standard. I completely binged the latter. It was so good. SHOTGUN WEDDING is about a couple having a destination wedding when their wedding is invaded by pirates!!
Some Book Recommendations for a Happy Valentine’s Day
For YA romantic comedies, I absolutely loved Lynn Painter’s Better than the Movies. It is a perfect YA romantic comedy.
For adult romantic comedies, I recommend ,of course, Is This for Real? or any of my other books. Lol. I plan to read my current draft WIP and Mr. Wrong Number by Lynn Painter. I’m excited!
And if you’re having a Galentine’s Day celebration, I highly recommend The Girl’s Guide to Fishing and Hunting by Melissa Banks, which is on sale for $1.99. It’s one of my favorites.
Writer Plans for a Happy Valentine’s Day?
The Romantic Novelists Association in the UK is having a FREE Mini Virtual LitFest tomorrow on Facebook (and one session on Instagram). The sessions are as follows (in UK time):
10am-11am Respect RomFic
11am-12 noon What Publishers/Editors want
12-1pm The Key to Writing Bestselling Romance
2pm-3pm Research and Writing Historical Fiction
3pm-4pm Being a Hybrid Author (Instagram @romanticnovelists)
4pm -5pm Editing Session with Hayley Milliman ( ProWritingAid)
Here’s a link to the RNA Facebook page.: https://www.facebook.com/Romantic.Novelists.Association
Thank you!
Thank you to every reader, librarian, media reviewer, blogger, literary festival, influencer and champion of love stories. As a writer of Romance, I’m proud to support the #RespectRomFic Movement. Happy Valentine’s Day!
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My Favorite Writing Craft Books
Here are my favorite writing craft books (so far). So if you’ve got a writer to gift, these make great gifts! I have another ten writing crafts books on my #tbr list so we’ll see if these change next year.
GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict
GMC by Debra Dixon GMC by Debra Dixon is an essential writing craft handbook. When I first started taking writing courses, everyone recommended this. And even now, when I revise my first draft, I ask about every scene: what is the goal, motivation and conflict?
Scene and Structure
Scene & Structure by Jack Bickham Another essential craft book. This was one of the first writing craft books I read. And it remains one of my favorites. His advice on ending scenes: “He must leave in worse shape than he was when he went in” was game-changing. If you’re having problems with pacing, check this out.
Romancing the Beat
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes is an absolutely essential book for any romance writer. I consult it often. For such a slim, easy-to-read book, it has it all. She even provides a free printable template of the various beats you need to hit as you craft a romance.
Story Genius
Story Genius by Lisa Cron I still use this book to craft the back story of my protagonist and thus her character arc. Lisa Cron talks about how important story is for people to make sense of the world so it’s also encouraging for writers to read. I trace the arc of my characters in a chart to make sure it is changing in each chapter.
Story
I just took Robert McKee’s three-day Story course and gained a further appreciation of all the knowledge in this book. McKee’s emphasis on turning each scene so that it starts on a negative and ends on a positive or vice versa is key. His scene analysis is also advice I return to over and over again.
Save the Cat
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder is a such an easy read but also has lots of wisdom. The title refers to the “Save the Cat” scene.
It’s the scene where we meet the hero and the hero does something — like saving a cat — that defines who he is and makes, us, the audience, like him.
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder at xv.Save the Cat Writes a Novel
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody lays out the plot beats for each genre and is so helpful. It also provides examples using books from that genre.
The Anatomy of Story
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby is excellent too. With every book I write, I map out Truby’s Seven Key Steps of Story Structure and make sure that I have all those elements. I also find his advice on the 22 step story structure also super useful, especially the discussion about opponents and revelations.
The Emotional Craft of Fiction
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass Any writing craft book list would not be complete with a Donald Maass book on it. When I want to deepen the emotion in each scene, I pull out this book and do some of the exercises in it and apply them to my story. Highly recommend.
Writing the Romantic Comedy
Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit is so much fun. It’s a great gift for lovers of romantic comedies–not just writers who are looking for writing craft books. It’s like having a great conversation with a friend about your favorite romantic comedies. I especially love his analysis of Tootsie and how each of “the supporting characters are all in some way reflections of Michael and thus force him to confront his issues.” Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Mernit at 145. He has in-depth case studies of various romantic comedies
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell
Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy This book is so helpful for explaining show, don’t tell and has lots of great examples.
Let’s Talk
What are your favorite writing craft books? I hope you are having a great December.
Happy Holidays!
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Writer Romances
If you’re looking for some writer romances or romantic comedies featuring writers, this post is for you! And if you’ve got a writer on your gifting list, hopefully this helps. If your writer friend is struggling with writer’s block or finding a publisher, this will definitely make them feel less alone.
Beach Read
Beach Read by Emily Henry Emily Henry’s books usually feature writers or editors, and Beach Read by Emily Henry has a brilliant premise. Here’s the blurb:
“Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.”
My favorite Emily Henry is Book Lovers, which features two book editors. So I recommend that one as well.
Dead Romantics
Another brilliant premise. Here’s the blurb for Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston: “Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.
When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.
For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.
Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.
Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.”This one has a strong undercurrent of grief running through it, so just be forewarned.
By Any Other Name
By Any Other Name by Lauren Kate Here’s the blurb for this one: “What she doesn’t know about love could fill a book.
With a successful career as a romance editor, and an engagement to a man who checks off all ninety-nine boxes on her carefully curated list, Lanie’s more than good. She’s killing it. Then she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime: to work with world-renowned author and her biggest inspiration in love and life—the Noa Callaway. All Lanie has to do is cure Noa’s writer’s block and she’ll get the promotion she’s always dreamed of. Simple, right?
But there’s a reason no one has ever seen or spoken to the mysterious Noa Calloway. And that reason will rock Lanie’s world. It will call into question everything she thought she knew. When she finally tosses her ninety-nine expectations to the wind, Lanie may just discover that love By Any Other Name can still be as sweet.”As a writer, my favorite line in this book was: “You know how the second draft is the point where things start to make sense? . . . It’s why I blaze through my first drafts so quickly–to get there.” Only I wish I blazed through my first drafts.
Is This for Real?
Is This for Real? by Kathy Strobos And I have to include Is This for Real?, my friends-to-lovers, fake dating romantic comedy. Take one relationship recluse writing a novel with a fake-dating trope. Add in one yummy romantic guy shanghaied to fake date for her romcom research. Layer in a history of genuine friendship on top of her recent heartbreak. Is this a recipe for true love or disaster?
Here’s the blurb for this writer romance:
Love is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Usually, me. I admit it. I’m a relationship recluse. Ironic, given that I write romantic comedies. So, I’m on a sabbatical from dating.
Which is why fake dating my best friend, Rory, is fool-proof. Rory suggested it because he needed a date for work functions. And I can use our experiences as fodder for my romcom novel.
Plus, my sister doesn’t know it’s not real, and she is thrilled that I’m not walling myself off emotionally. Her words, not mine. But I do wish she would stop saying that she always suspected there was something more between me and Rory. She should realize that we’ve been friends forever so I’m immune to his appeal.
We would never work. Rory is such a romantic; he still believes in that perfect love similar to his parents’ marriage. My parents fought bitterly. So, we are better off as friends. I can’t risk losing our friendship, even if this might be my chance—before his ex-girlfriend wins him back.
Those flickers of attraction? Easily extinguished by cold-water reality, like a two-mile hike in drenching rain over sand with wheelie luggage.
But our relationship is not sticking to the plot—or is it?
Let’s Talk Writer Romances
Do you have any writer romances to add to this list? Next up, I’ll blog about some of my favorite writing craft books, which also make great gifts for writers.
I’m also looking forward to watching THE NOEL DIARY, which features a writer 🙂
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Witchy/Ghost Reads for October
If you’re looking for some witchy/ghost RomCom Reads for October, look no further. Here are some suggestions:
Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl
This one is one of my favorite Sophie Kinsella books, with some definite laugh-out-loud moments, a ghost and a mystery, so check this out.
When Great-Aunt Sadie–a feisty demanding ghost–visits Lara, she has just one request: find her missing necklace. Suddenly Lara is on the hunt, and if she also happens to meet a guy she likes, but he wonders why she keeps talking to herself. . .
The Ex Hex
The Ex Hex The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling is a second-chance witchy romance. Vivienne Woods recovers from heartbreak just like any other woman, but maybe when she curses her ex, it has a bit more power than she expects. And now he’s back. . . Super fun read.
Payback’s A Witch
In Payback’s A Witch by Lana Harper, four witchy families rule the magical town of Thistle Grove. Emmy is from the least powerful family and, as a result, has left this town and magic to make her way in the outside world. But she returns home to fulfill her family duty in a spellcasting tournament. Where she runs into the guy who broke her heart, her best friend, and Talia–the one who seemed unattainable. This was another fun one. Talia was witchy perfection (definite book girlfriend vibes), and the world-building was fantastic.
The Dead Romantics
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston involves a ghost and grief, so it has less of a romantic comedy vibe. But I love writer romances, and this one involves a ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance writers in the industry–only she doesn’t believe in love anymore and can’t write. Her way-too-attractive new editor won’t give her a deadline extension, so what is she going to do?
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
This is more romance/women’s fiction about finding a family than a romantic comedy but it’s still a very enjoyable read. And great world-building and twists 🙂 I definitely teared up at the end.
Let’s Talk
I have to say that I wanted to yell at both the heroines in Payback’s A Witch and The Dead Romantics that they shouldn’t have let so much time go by from when they left their small town. Their back stories made me so sad.
Anyway, in exciting news, Caper Crush was at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Here it is at the IBPA booth.
Have a wonderful Halloween!
I’m off to take some pictures of New York City in all its witchy/ghost Halloween glory.
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The Bad Date in Partner Pursuit
And in honor of its e-book publishing anniversary, I want to share my bad date story that inspired Audrey’s bad date in Partner Pursuit (only I made it much worse in Partner Pursuit). Evil author chuckle. Someone once asked me what expertise I brought to writing romcoms, and I said that I was single for many years in New York City and I had quite a few bad dates.
In fact, the bad date in my first book, Partner Pursuit, was inspired by a real date.
The Inspiration for the Bad Date in Partner Pursuit
After meeting via a dating site, my date and I arranged to go for a bike ride around Central Park.
I thought this was pretty romantic—to go for a leisurely bike ride in the park and maybe stop for a picnic. So I dressed in a t-shirt and a skirt, and I wheeled out my blue hybrid bicycle with its basket.
But no.
As I was standing there at the entrance to the park, a guy approaches whose face looks remarkably like the photo of my date. But he’s wearing a full-body black Speedo outfit. Tight. With little left to the imagination.
His first line, after confirming my name, was “That doesn’t look like it goes very fast.”
Not compared to the racing bike he brought.
He wanted to race around Central Park. Then he told me he liked to combine his workout with his dates to be efficient.
I wondered how successful this strategy was.
When we stopped at one point, he said he saw himself as a modern-day monk. I didn’t know what to say to this. What had I put in my profile that attracted a modern-day monk?
I went back and checked my profile to confirm that I’d written that I was social and outgoing. I had.
We did not have a second date. But I did get in my exercise for that day so there is something to be said for that.
Let’s Talk
Winnie, Eve and Audrey having brunch! Have you had any terrible first dates? And did you still have a second date?
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Partner Pursuit Publishing Highlights
Partner Pursuit Here are some more Partner Pursuit publishing highlights, in addition to those mentioned in this post. Partner Pursuit placed Third in the Orange County Romance Writers’ Book Buyers Contest for Mainstream Fiction with a Central Romance last weekend! Woo hoo!
The Book Riot!
The Book Riot included Partner Pursuit in its list of 8 Epic New York-Set Romances! How cool is that?
Partner Pursuit’s Blog Tour
Partner Pursuit had several amazing blog tours, and the lovely reviews really made me so happy. I was especially happy that it seemed to find an audience with book bloggers (and readers) around the world.
Partner Pursuit Publishing Highlight – Reviews from the UK!
“Partner Pursuit is a vibrant, fun rom-com that will leave you feeling all those wonderful good feels.”
– Romance by the Book“Partner Pursuit is a fun and cute romantic story, with well-written and strong main characters. I love that Kathy Strobos has written so passionately about the real-life struggles we can all face of managing a work/life balance, and being career-focused but still wanting to be happy in a relationship. For me, Partner Pursuit really is a must-read.”
– Beauty Addict Blog“This is the story of Audrey and Jake… From the very beginning of this story, readers will be enchanted with Audrey. She is a workaholic by nature but as you read the book, you discover her reasons for being the way she is.
This book is full of cute interactions between Audrey and Jake, these moments are things that readers will adore. This is the definition of a slow-burn romance. The reader really gets the chance to watch as these two meet and get to know each other.
This book is easy to get sucked into and readers will soon find themselves absorbed by the story and interactions. This book is intriguing which will keep the reader interested until the very end.”
Lemon Nail Fiend“A compelling and empowering women’s fiction with a rom com vibe.
Partner Pursuit is such a heartwarming and empowering read. I loved how Audrey was a strong female lead, jugging her hectic career, proving she’s just as worthy as any man, and juggling a budding romance. Audrey is such a relatable character. If you love women’s fiction entwined with a romcom feel, then Partner Pursuit is definitely the book for you!”
Dash Fan Book ReviewsPartner Pursuit Publishing Highlight – Review from Belgium!
“But this story is so much more than just a romantic, swoon-worthy tale. . . It’s about the struggles women also have to endure at work. And the author manages to show us that life isn’t always fair and some men still think they are the stronger sex. But this isn’t written in a patronizing way, but it’s also not too subtle to go unnoticed.
The most important lesson, however, is that even when we think we know what our main goal is, sometimes these goals can change direction. And that sometimes it’s meeting the right person, and also losing them, will make you understand what truly matters in life. And that falling in love and having a wonderful relationship doesn’t mean that you cannot have your successful career.
I loved reading this beautiful story about lovely people. I laughed several times, discovered a shared fear of water bugs (where is my own superhero Jake?) and I admired the courage our main characters showed when they did follow their hearts and instincts and didn’t just go with the flow.
A truly heart-warming story that left me a warm feeling inside I didn’t want to get rid of.”
– Tizi’s Book Reviews
Hudson River view from Partner Pursuit biking date Partner Pursuit Publishing Highlights – Reviews from the US
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I love a good rom com book. This one is no exception. It’s absolutely adorable. Audrey is a strong female character who is focused on her career. She’s a big shot New York lawyer and is in the running for partner. She’s made it her life mission to her partner and won’t let anything come in her way… Unfortunately that means her love life generally suffers. That is until Jake moves in next door. They become friends and the rest is history. JUST KIDDING. Audrey is forced to make a lot of life decisions. Is she willing to give up partner? Can she have both? Is this total stranger worth giving up her dream job that she’s worked so hard for? This book is a roller coaster of emotions on what’s going to happen but it’s sooo cute and so good.”
Kendra, Book Review Crew“What can I say? Aside from Sci Fi and Fantasy, I love reading rom coms. Audrey is career oriented, a lawyer and running for partner. Due to her career, her love life is non existent that is… until Jake arrives. Jake’s arrival causes Audrey to make some difficult decision especially concerning her career. So now, is she willing to risk her career for love? Definitely worth the read!”
– Book Lover Book ReviewsCoupons! and Let’s Talk
Google Play Promotion: Partner Pursuit is in a Google Play promotion for its e-book birthday. The ebook is on sale on Google Play Books for 99 cents with this code: 4C0R954K496CC for one week until October 18!
Barnes & Noble Promotion: For its ebook birthday, Barnes & Noble Nook is also providing this coupon code for 75% of Partner Pursuit from October 15 to October 19:BNPHAPPY75.What have you been reading or watching? I’m watching two Korean Dramas, Love in Contract and Love is for Suckers. I’m reading a whole bunch of witchy reads and hope to do a blog post on them soon 🙂
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Happy Book Birthday to Partner Pursuit!
Partner Pursuit in paperback Happy Book Birthday to Partner Pursuit! It’s been one year since the paperback publication of Partner Pursuit, and what a year it has been! Here are some favorite highlights from Partner Pursuit‘s launch.
Holding a Copy of My Book in My Hands
There’s nothing quite like holding the paperback copy of your book in your hands after so many years of work. I started writing Partner Pursuit years ago, after seeing a particularly bad romantic comedy and thinking I could do better. And then work and life got in the way until I finally took the Penguin Writer’s Academy “Constructing a Novel” course. My teacher, Bea Davenport, said that the dialogue between Audrey and Eve was “sparky.” That made my month. And gave me the hope that I could write commercial romantic comedy fiction. (That dialogue was from an early version of the scene between them in Chapter Six.)
Finding Readers Who Loved Partner Pursuit
Finding readers who loved Partner Pursuit was the most AMAZING feeling.
Thank you to all my readers. I can’t thank you enough. I’ve met so many people around the world now–from the United Kingdom, Norway, Croatia, South Africa, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, and the US. Feel free to drop a note below if you’ve read Partner Pursuit and let me know where you’re from. it’s exciting to know it’s on e-readers and in libraries and on bookshelves around the world.
One of my favorites was the Partner Pursuit TikTok video by JSGoldenBooks on TikTok, so I definitely recommend checking that out. It captures so much of Partner Pursuit 🙂
Readers are giving it the most lovely reviews, and that means to much to me. Thank you.
My Friends Buying PP and Pushing It Up the Amazon Ranks
I was also so touched by all my friends buying Partner Pursuit and pushing it up the Amazon ranks where it hung out with Nora Ephron!!
And one of my friends even made a mini version of Partner Pursuit for me. I was so touched.
A mini scene reading Partner Pursuit Book Club Talks
Several book clubs invited me to join their book club meetings to discuss Partner Pursuit, and that was so uplifting! I did a few in person in New York City, and one over zoom with readers in New York City, one with readers around Washington, D.C. and another over zoom with readers in Connecticut. We had great talks about work/life balance and trying to succeed as a woman in corporate America. I also even did an author event at a law firm, and I was so impressed that the partner who organized it was a fellow romcom fan! He was able to guess the name of the bad romantic comedy I saw just from a brief description.
So, a huge thank you to everyone who invited me to come to your book club and discuss Partner Pursuit.
Awards
Partner Pursuit is a finalist in the Orange County Romance Writers Book Buyers Contest. I’m still so happy about that. I cried when they announced it. The winners will be announced in October but just placing to me is winning.
Partner Pursuit is a Finalist in the Book Buyer Best 2022 Contest. Partner Pursuit was also a quarterfinalist in the Screencraft Cinematic Book Writing Competition.
I also have to give thanks to the various writers organization (the Orange County Romance Writers and the Hudson Valley RWA) who supported PP when it was unpublished and thus gave me the courage to believe that it would find readers if published.
Happy Book Birthday to Partner Pursuit!
Happy Book Birthday to Partner Pursuit! If you read it, please comment below with where you’re from 🙂 And don’t forget to see my behind-the-scenes post about PP.
It’s also been selected for a Kobo writing life promotion through September 26 where it is 40% off, so if you’re a Kobo reader, check it out.
Happy Book Birthday to Partner Pursuit!
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If You Liked The Partner Track. . .
If you liked The Partner Track (either the novel or the Netflix series), here are some other women’s fiction and romantic comedy novels with female lawyers and legal drama: Partner Pursuit, The Undomestic Goddess and Practice Makes Perfect. If you liked The Partner Track and you’re looking for more work drama romances featuring Asian-American women, I recommend Circling Back to You and So We Meet Again.
The Partner Track The Partner Track by Helen Wan is about a Chinese-American female lawyer trying to make partner in Manhattan, while dealing with micro-aggressions and discrimination and while balancing romance, friends and family. I read it in one day and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend!!
Partner Pursuit
My novel, Partner Pursuit, has some similar elements:
- a female protagonist trying to make partner and dealing with the old-boy network
- legal drama
- a love for New York City (included in the Book Riot list of 8 epic New York-set romances)
- the desire to please family
- falling in love when the focus should be on career
- a great bunch of best friends
PARTNER PURSUIT BLURB
Here’s the blurb for Partner Pursuit:
Workaholic lawyer Audrey Willems is not going to take any chances with her bid to become a partner at her New York law firm—especially with only six months until the decision.
Until she bumps into Jake—her new neighbor. Jake is a fun-loving music marketing executive who might just be The One.
He’s funny, caring, supportive—and able to kill water bugs in the bathroom.
But Jake will never date a woman married to her job. His father was a workaholic lawyer who never had time for family.
And she’s just got the case of a lifetime—the one she needs to win to make partner. Working 24/7 at the office may not even be enough hours to pull off a victory.
If only she had not met him now.
Audrey is determined to prove that she can juggle work and romance—even if managing court cases, candlelit dinners, and bike rides around Manhattan is a lot harder than it looks. She keeps canceling dates for yet another case crisis.
But when making partner is like a game of musical chairs and the last seat is a business-class alone, which partnership will she choose?
The Undomestic Goddess
This is one of my favorite books because it is a laugh-out-loud hilarious romantic comedy. But that may be because I’m a lawyer who’s not good at housework. Here’s the blurb for The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella:
Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership. Going into an utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as a housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. But will her old life catch up to her? And if it does. . . will she want it back?
Practice Makes Perfect
Practice Makes Perfect Here’s the blurb for Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James:
WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION…
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face to face, they’re perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they’ve kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as co-workers for one reason only: to make partner at the firm.
…THERE ARE NO RULES.
But all bets are off when they’re asked to join forces on a major case. At first apprehensive, they begin to appreciate each other’s dedication to the law—and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection doesn’t last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it’s an all out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers hot under the collar…
My review: I just finished this one in one day and really enjoyed it! Both Payton and J.D. have great best friends too.
If you liked The Partner Track and are looking for more work drama romances featuring Asian-American women, I recommend:
Circling Back to You
Circling Back to You Here’s the blurb from Circling Back to You by Julie Tieu:
Cadence Lim has transformed from behind-the-scenes number cruncher to an integral part of the sales team at Prism Realty. But despite moving up the corporate ladder, her complicated relationship with her estranged elderly father weighs heavily and she can’t seem to shake the desire for a new beginning.
At least Cadence can always lean on her favorite co-worker and co-conspirator, Matt Escanilla. A top broker with an unsuccessful love life, the forever single Matt is constantly being nagged by his loving Filipino family to settle down.
Their relationship takes a turn when a business trip lands them both in their hometown and Matt enlists Cadence as a pretend girlfriend for a family gathering. The new after-hours setting forces the two friends to see each other in a new light, and their previously buried feelings rise quickly to the surface. When competing promotions threaten to separate Cadence and Matt, these office besties must work together to round up their ambitions and families to pursue their overdue romance.
My review: I was lucky enough to receive a Netgalley ARC of this book, and I really enjoyed it, especially the family dynamics and how thoughtfully and perceptively those were portrayed by Ms. Tieu. Cadence and Matt fit each other perfectly. The workplace dynamics were also spot on. And it even included some K-drama beta references like a piggyback ride and Matt picking up pharmacy supplies.
So We Meet Again
Here’s the blurb from So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park:
When investment banker Jessie Kim is laid off in a virtual meeting and then overhears why (“she’s already being overpaid anyway for a woman” and “Asians are worker bees, not someone who can drum up new deals”) she delivers an “eff you guys” speech and storms out.
After moving back home to Tennessee to live with her loving but meddling mother and father, she runs into her childhood nemesis—golden child Daniel Choi—at the local Asian grocery store. The smart, charming lawyer appears to have it all…while Jessie has nothing.
Jess begrudgingly accepts Daniel’s help to relaunch her long abandoned Korean cooking YouTube channel: HANGUK HACKS, showcasing easy meal prep for busy professionals. But just as she discovers Daniel’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems and there’s more to him than meets the eye, he shows up for a life-changing business opportunity, and their rivalry is back on . . .
Let’s Talk
So, those are just a few suggestions for your #TBR if you liked The Partner Track. Have you read or watched The Partner Track? What did you think of the Netflix adaptation? What’s on your #TBR for September?
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More K-Drama RomCom Recommendations
Here are some more K-Drama RomCom recommendations. I previously recommended these Korean dramas.
Business Proposal Poster Business Proposal (Netflix)
This one is so good! If you love fake dating, definitely watch this K-drama! It is also very good at making fun of certain K-drama beats. I discussed one of the brilliant set scenes in this post. Shin Ha-ri has a best friend whose wealthy father keeps setting her up on blind dates with other wealthy prospects so that she can marry someone who will help the family business, but her best friend wants to marry for love. So Shin Ha-ri agrees to go on the blind date instead and scare the guy off by acting crazy. But after acting crazy, she finds out that her date is actually her boss! And unfortunately the acting crazy didn’t work, and he wants to marry her…
I also recommend checking out Dramabeans and participating in the K-drama discussion.
Marriage, not Dating (Viki)
Marriage, not Dating Poster Another really funny one with a fake dating plot. Wealthy plastic surgeon Gong Gi-tae has no interest in getting married. He meets the protagonist and asks her to be his fake girlfriend and to behave terribly so his mom will stop pushing him to get married. It’s a great set-up. It’s similar to my favorite movie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, only in this case, they’re both in on the plan.
Gogh, the Starry Night (Viki)
Gogh, The Starry Night Poster If you like grumpy/sunshine romance, this one is for you! He’s a smoldering grumpy and a sweetheart underneath.
Go Ho, our protagonist, works very hard at an advertising company for a very difficult-to-please boss (the male protagonist, Kim Young-Kwang), and the series starts with an older woman mentor whom she admired dying after being hit by a car. And people at the funeral question whether this woman gave too much to work because she didn’t have any other life. And so Go Ho defends her mentor but also questions what she herself is doing. Meanwhile she is haunted by the fact that her perfect boyfriend just dumped her out of the blue and she doesn’t understand why.
Suddenly, her difficult-to-please boss agrees to her request to transfer to a new boss. Unfortunately, it’s her ex who has just joined the company. And thus you have the triangle between her ex-boyfriend and her grumpy, sexy work colleague.
And I will say that I think Kim Young-Kwang is a very talented actor because he plays a completely different character (an optimistic man-child heir) in THE SECRET LIFE OF MY SECRETARY, and it’s incredible that it’s the same actor.
1% of Something/Something about 1% (Viki)
1% of Something Another fake dating one! I do love the fake dating trope. In this one, the wealthy grandfather tells his workaholic, completely-committed-to-the-company heir that he has to contract-date this woman for 6 months in order to inherit the company. The woman in question is an elementary school teacher that the grandfather met when he collapsed and she rescued him. She doesn’t want to date the heir because she thinks he’s crazy and arrogant. But eventually she agrees . . .
Run On (Netflix)
Run On Series Poster The female protagonist is a film translator, and since I’m now watching all these translated subtitled films, I love this insight into the process. It follows the romance between the subtitle translator and a former sprinter who is working to become a sports agent. (It does have some violent bullying scenes when he is on the Track and Field team.)
Let’s Talk – Do you have any more K-drama RomCom Recommendations?
What are you reading or watching? Do you have any K-drama recommendations? I’ve been reading a lot this summer. I just finished Book Lovers, and it definitely lived up to the hype for me. Loved the banter and the New York City love. Hoping you enjoy the rest of your summer!
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Meet Author Jeevani Charika
I’m so excited for you to meet author Jeevani Charika.
Jeev is a fellow author in the U.K. Romantic Novelists Association with me, and I really enjoyed her book, Playing for Love, available here .
Playing for Love Playing for Love Blurb
When Sam’s not working on her fledgling business, she spends her time secretly video-gaming. Her crush is famous gamer Blaze, and she’s thrilled when she’s teamed up with him in a virtual tournament.
But what Sam doesn’t know is that Blaze is the alter ego of Luke, her shy colleague – and he has a secret crush too.
Luke has a crush on Sam.
Sam has a crush on Blaze.
How will this game of love play out?
My Review of Playing for Love
Loved this book! It was so good. The interplay between the game play between Bravura and Blaze and the deeply supportive, developing relationship at work between Luke and Sam was brilliantly done. And I also think someone needs to make Sam’s inserts idea a reality. I almost missed my subway stop because I was so engrossed in Playing for Love! My favorite read of 2022 so far! Highly recommend!
Meet Author Jeevani Charika and Let’s Talk about Playing for Love
Kathy: How did you come up with the idea of two gamers meeting each other in a game and also at work?
Jeevani: The story was inspired by a children’s TV show called Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir, which has a love square with only two people in it. I loved that dynamic, but I don’t write superhero stories, so I thought I’d move into online gamers who don’t talk about their gaming.
Kathy: I also love the purse insert idea. How did you come up with that?
Jeevani: There are people who sell purse inserts on Etsy! I was thinking about the amount of hassle it is to change purses and went poking around on Etsy to buy one. At the time, I was thinking about something for Sam to do as a business. Suddenly the puzzle pieces fell into place.
Kathy: The backstory of Samadhi with her mother and her current relationship with her father is so emotionally powerful. Do you have any advice on creating back stories?
Jeevani: My characters tend to just show up and start saying things, so I don’t often have elaborate characterisation sheets (some writers do, and I’m always impressed with how organised they are!). I mostly get the backstory by asking why. Why was Sam interested in handbag inserts? Because she has a lot of bags. Why does she have a lot of bags? Inherited them from her mum … etc. Once you find one aspect, you expand on it and see if you can tie it to some other aspect of her character. For example, why is her relationship with her father so strained? How can I link that to the death of her mother?
Kathy: I loved how you did the in-game interaction. It felt so real. Do you game?
Jeevani: I absolutely loved writing the in-game parts. I don’t get to write fantasy/adventure very often, so it was great fun for me. I haven’t played any computer games since Tombraider in the 90s. But I have a teenager, so I know a bit about gaming. I watched a lot of YouTube playthroughs as research and I spoke to my friend’s son who is studying the psychology of gaming about how online relationships feel real to people in generations who’ve grown up with the internet. (I’m Gen X. I remember when life was analog).
Kathy: Do you have any pets? What’s your favorite habit of your current pet?
Jeevani: I don’t personally, but my daughter has pet rats. They’re very cute and very friendly. I have an old jumper that I wear when I play with them – one of them likes to climb into the pocket and just hang out in there. The other one likes to sit in the hood.
Meet the Author Jeevani Charika and Her Thoughts on Writing
Kathy: Do you have a writing routine? If so, what is it?
Jeevani: I don’t really have a proper routine. Between the day job, eldercare and childcare my days are all over the place. I do try to do something to do with writing every day, though. I do my best work sitting in bed at night.
Kathy: Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Jeevani: I used to be a pantser. Then I had to write Christmas At The Palace in 8 weeks, so I HAD to plot. I didn’t like plotting, but it did make the whole thing more efficient. So now I do a half baked plot – just one side of A4 before I start. If I plot in too much detail, I end up losing the enthusiasm to write it. I’ve told myself what happens, so … why bother?
Jeevani Charika’s Tips on Comedy Writing
Kathy: You’ve also written a book on Writing the Romantic Comedy with Jane Lovering. Can you explain the “juxtaposition of thingy”?
Jeevani: It all started with a talk that we did for an RNA conference. We were trying to find the thing that all these funny techniques had in common. It turned out to be the juxtaposition of expected outcome vs comedy outcome. Except, it was wider than that. So we started referring to it as juxtaposing your thingies … which sounds a bit rude, so we changed it to juxtaposition of thingy instead.
Kathy: You also talk about the rule of threes in that book. What is that?
Jeevani: The rule of three is a well known thing in comedy. Things are funnier in threes. The first sets the scene, the second sets up a pattern and so an expectation of what comes next, the third subverts the expectation and makes you laugh. An awful lot of jokes are structured like this.
Three is a number we’re naturally drawn to, so having a list of three is more satisfying than having a list of four or more.
My Favorite Question: If you could choose five writers to join you for a dinner party, who would you invite?
Kathy: And my favorite question: if you could choose five authors to join you for a dinner, who would you choose?
Jeevani: Aah, I hate this question. I’m quite shy (I know I don’t seem it!) so I’d be properly tongue tied and sit there quietly if I met my heroes. But … Terry Pratchett (obvs), PG Wodehouse, Julie Cohen, Agatha Christie, the guys who wrote Asterix, Renee Goscinny (I assume I will magically be able to speak French at this party).
Kathy: That would be an amazing dinner party! And of course, you can magically speak French.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I’m looking forward to reading your next book too, called Picture Perfect, available October 2022, and you can preorder here. Sign up for her newsletter and get a free book at jeevanicharika.com. And you can also follow Jeevani on Twitter @rhodabaxter (her other pen name).
Picture Perfect