We chat with author Becky Dean about her latest release Picture-Perfect Boyfriend, a funny beach romance with two strangers, one tropical island, and lots of lies.
Hi, Becky! Welcome back! How has the last 12 months been for you?
Thank you! The last year has been exciting and a little wild. My debut year was amazing, with meeting readers, hearing from them, seeing my first book in stores. I loved joining a local book club and visiting schools. And in the meantime, I’ve been writing lots more books! In addition to the young adult contemporary novels, I also write science fiction, and my first series came out this year. That means I’m releasing five books in 2023, so writing those and getting ready has kept me very busy. Mostly, I’ve been grateful that I get to keep writing, telling stories I love, and grateful for every person who reads my books and continues to support my journey!
Your latest novel, Picture-Perfect Boyfriend, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Travel, adventure, quirky, romantic, immersive
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect lots of banter, gorgeous settings, and all kinds of Maui adventures. The dialogue was so much fun to write, and hopefully readers will laugh as much as I did while writing it. There’s also complicated sibling and family relationships, and hopefully good encouragement from Kenzie’s inner journey to be yourself and not let others dictate who you are. And, of course, romance!
Where did the inspiration for Picture-Perfect Boyfriend come from?
Inspiration for the basic premise came from an old TV show I used to watch with my mom called Remington Steele, where a female PI makes up a fictional male boss so people will take her more seriously, and then a con man shows up pretending to be that boss (hello, baby-faced Pierce Brosnan!). I wanted to use that concept in a story for a while, with an impostor pretending to be a made-up person, and it came together for this book.
Then I pulled inspiration from lots of places for other aspects of the story. Maui is a place I love and also one that I thought readers would enjoy visiting, with the beauty and the potential for romance. Kenzie’s love for nature and photography came from my own love for the outdoors and my husband’s interest in photography. The walls of our house are covered in photos of our travels, which I think Kenzie would like. The theme of embracing who you are developed naturally from writing about a girl who was trying to be someone she’s not.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Gran! Kenzie’s grandmother is the wise and supportive family member who loves Kenzie just as she is and wants her to be happy. Gran also never passes up the chance to eat dessert first, dispenses good advice, and causes a bit of havoc when she gets behind the wheel. Everyone needs someone like Gran in their life.
I also just enjoyed writing all the fun things Kenzie and Jake do in Maui, from hiking to kayaking to snorkelling, and more. It was fun to relive many of my own adventures on the island!
If Picture-Perfect Boyfriend were to be adapted into a movie, what three songs would have to be on the soundtrack?
“Did I Make You Up” by half*alive, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, and “Sittin’ in the Backseat” by NEEDTOBREATHE
With this being your second book, were there any ‘key lessons’ learned between writing the two?
I think the biggest change for this book was that it was the first one I wrote on an official deadline. It was a challenge not thinking too much about publication and what readers might think, and just focusing on the story. And knowing that if I got stuck, I couldn’t move on to something else like I could before! Love & Other Great Expectations went through lots of revisions over several years, and that wasn’t an option this time. But my editor is amazing, so I was able to take things I learned from her on the first book and apply them to this one. The main thing I took away from it was, just to write the best book I can that’s something I would love to read, and trust that eventually the book will find other readers too.
What’s next for you?
My third YA rom-com with Delacorte Press is coming in the summer of 2024. Hearts Overboard is about rivals stuck on an Alaskan cruise together and will be much like the first two—full of adventures, romance, banter, and amazing settings. The final book in my science fiction series releases this summer. And I’m currently writing the first draft of my fourth travel rom-com, details coming soon!
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
For charming and feel-good contemporary reads, I really liked What Happens After Midnight by K.L. Walther, Borrow My Heart by Kasie West, and Not Here to Stay Friends by Kaitlyn Hill. I’m also excited for some upcoming fantasy sequels to a couple of my fellow 22 Debuts authors, Never a Hero by Vanessa Len and This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede.
Definitely will get a copy of Becky’s book!