We chat with author Breea Keenan about The Breakup Bookshop, which is a gorgeous, bookish Scottish small-town romance for fans of Emily Henry and Catherine Walsh.
Hi, Breea! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi everyone! I’m a contemporary romantic fiction author and my latest novel The Breakup Bookshop is out now, published with Atlantic.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always loved to read. When I was younger, I spent my weekends and summers in Pollokshaws and Langside Library in Glasgow’s southside, desperate to get my hands on the next Sweet Valley Twins/High, Babysitters’ Club and Point Horror books. I started to write at a young age, too. I’d fill pages of notebooks with stories, draw the characters in sketch books and create character profiles for them. I guess I’ve never really grown up!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: First Term at Mallory Towers
- The one that made you want to become an author: Sweet Valley Twins series
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Me Before You.
Your latest novel, The Breakup Bookshop, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Highlands, heartache, romance, friendship, renewal.
What can readers expect?
The Breakup Bookshop is a small town, enemies to lovers Highlands romance with lots of heart!
When her love and work life falls apart, Ava decides to move to Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands, where she spent summers as a child, to open a bookshop. There, she discovers she’s not the only one who’s hurting – and maybe the bookshop can help. Ava starts the village’s breakup support group, which turns out to be a hit with lonely locals.
But not everyone embraces Ava’s new venture. Rory MacGregor, the annoyingly handsome owner of the next-door DIY store, doesn’t see Ava – or her bookshop – lasting the season. Ava’s determined to prove him wrong, but she has books to balance and hearts to help mend – her own would be a good start…
Where did the inspiration for The Breakup Bookshop come from?
Who doesn’t dream of moving to the Scottish Highlands to open your own bookshop and build a whole new life?! The Breakup Bookshop is a lifeline for Ava, but it also brings locals together. They have lived side by side in a small village for a long time but never really connected with one another. I love the idea of bringing people together to chat, reconnect, develop friendships and relationships.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
As well as Ava’s relationship with Rory, I loved seeing Ava reconnecting with her childhood friend, Donna, and forming a friendship with Eilidh. Female friendships are so important to me and I love exploring and building them in my novels.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Balancing real life while writing fiction is always a challenge. I work part-time in a communications role, have three children who keep me on my toes and enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends.
When it comes to writing, I used to be a ‘pantser’, but I’m much more of a ‘plotter’ now. Or maybe I’m a ‘plantser’, actually. Anyway, the moral of the story is, it helps me when I know what I’m doing. Kind of.
What’s next for you?
I’m writing a super cosy Christmas book at the moment, which will be published next year with Atlantic. I’ve also written another adult romcom and penned a young adult novel. I’m hoping they’ll both make their way out into the world soon!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I loved Kat MacKenzie’s Experiments in Offline Dating. Like her first novel Work in Progress it is a real laugh-out-loud cackle fest. Nicola Knight’s Washed Up is a gorgeous summer romance, while Kristina Thornton’s Forty Going on Nineteen is a refreshing read with lots of nostalgia.
I’m currently reading two novels (oops!) Flora Dunn’s A Gala Ball at Tillingford Hall and Tropesick by Lauren Okie. I can’t wait to read Poppy Alexander’s How to Find a Romance and Shelley Wilson’s Floating Solo, before I take on a dark dystopian Until I Die by Deidra Duncan.
I also devoured several Frieda McFadden books over the summer. I love a good twisty psychological thriller!
