You & Me at the End of the World is an addictive, smart, and swoony love story! This high-concept YA romance follows two teenagers as they discover that they are the last people left on Earth. It’s perfect for fans of John Green, Andrew Smith, Stephanie Perkins, A. S. King, Gayle Forman, and Adam Silvera.
We chat with author Brianna Bourne about her debut novel, You & Me At The End of the World, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Brianna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Sure! I’m from Houston, which is where You & Me at the End of the World is set, but I’ve been living in England for the past 12 years. When I was little, I daydreamed about being a published author, but it seemed like an impossible goal—so I spent the last 15 years working backstage, stage managing for ballet companies. It was a BLAST, and I got to work with lots of awesome technicians and many extremely talented dancers, but finally having a book on the shelves is a total dream come true.
How has the first half of 2021 been for you?
It’s been quiet, but definitely not as difficult as 2020. I spent the first five months of the year drafting my next book, and it was wonderful to just sink into that world and be with those characters.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
First books I remember reading: The Boxcar Kids and Cam Jansen.
First book that made me want to become an author: Probably something by Tamora Pierce—maybe specifically The Realms of the Gods. That was my first fictional love story, and I was seriously hooked. I highlighted every passage that included longing looks (or kissing!) between Daine and Numair.
The book I can’t stop thinking about: Circe by Madeline Miller.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
In second grade, I remember getting really into my first ever creative writing project, and then being upset when my teacher told me my character’s name was spelled wrong! Seven-year old me was baffled; I was the author, surely I could spell it however I wanted?
I wrote snippets of stories in notebooks all through school; sometimes I even drew tiny illustrations in the margins and, during one particularly glittery phase, I’d use a different color pen for each chapter.
Your debut novel, You and Me at the End of the World, is out July 20th, 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
- Slow-Burn
- Emotional
- Eerie
- Surprising
- Tense
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect to be immersed in Hannah and Leo’s surreal situation, and to be swept up in a dizzyingly real, slow-burn love story.
You should definitely give it a try if you liked the speculative concepts and the heart-stopping feels of Gayle Forman’s If I Stay and Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Querying agents was the biggest challenge, by far. I racked up over 80 rejections on this book, and my self-esteem hit rock bottom. It was a total shock to me that, after finally signing with an agent, the same manuscript went to auction within four weeks, and was recently listed in The New York Times on a list of 10 YA Books to Add to Your Reading List this Summer. This industry is mind-blowing.
Were there any favorite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love writing kissing scenes—and almost-kissing scenes! I could write five chapters about a single kiss, honestly.
Character-wise, Leo was so fun to write—he’s so full of energy he just jumps off the page.
Is there anything you hope your readers take away from reading You and Me at the End of the World?
I hope that after seeing Hannah and Leo’s unlikely friendship bloom, readers will take a chance on someone they were drawn to but thought they’d never click with for surface reasons.
What can readers expect from your upcoming virtual tour?
I’m so excited about my upcoming tour, because I’m talking to some INCREDIBLE authors: Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games), Kelly McWilliams (Agnes at the End of the World), and my real-life writing friend Holly Green, author of In the Same Boat!
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
This is probably the standard answer, but long. Getting a debut novel across the finish line takes years of obsessive focus and determination.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best advice: Grab a copy of Save the Cat Writes a Novel and Lisa Cron’s Story Genius.
Worst advice: Maybe you should wait until your life is less busy / your kids are grown up before you sink any more time into this project.
What’s next for you?
My second novel is slated for release Fall 2022, also from Scholastic. I can’t wait to start sharing details! It’s romantic and angsty and features a quirky Pennsylvania town, a STEM genius girl, and cinnamon roll boy that I’ve already fallen head over heels for.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I’ve met so many lovely writers this year, and the debut novels I’ve read have absolutely blown me away.
The Wide Starlight by Nicole Lesperance, American Betiya by Anuradha Rajurkar, and The Hollow Inside by Brooke Lauren Davis in particular are all incredible!
