We chat with author Jeannie Chin about The Cozy Nook Bookshop, which follows a small-town bookseller who finds that fate has taken to writing romance in this delightfully cozy love story about making your own happy ending—perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore and grumpy/sunshine love stories!
Hi, Jeannie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m a former science teacher turned small town romance author, and I’m obsessed with reading, knitting, and sometimes listening to books while knitting. I’m married to a nerdy engineer, and I have a voracious bookworm of a daughter, and our family loves hiking in New York and New England, as well as playing board games and cozy video games together
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always had my nose in a book, from reading through pretty much my entire elementary school library to maxing out those sweet summer reading program logging sheets. I’d even stay inside at recess to write and illustrate poems. It’s been a lifelong love, that I’ve been so delighted to get to pursue as an adult.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Nancy Drew!
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Wind Blows Backward, a YA novel that was the most realistic thing I’d ever read when I found it in high school.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Twilight 🙂
Your latest novel, The Cozy Nook Bookshop, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
cozy, autumnal, emotional, healing, steamy
What can readers expect?
A fun grumpy-sunshine, opposites-attract love story about a recovering people pleaser who comes to an adorable small town to manage a bookstore, only to (literally!) run into a gruff loner of a forest ranger. The town declares that they’re fated to be soulmates, but she’s recovering from an awful breakup, and his family’s experience with “fate” has left him allergic to love. I hope readers will love the chemistry, the found family, and the tiny touch of magic.
Where did the inspiration for The Cozy Nook Bookshop come from?
I had some pretty serious post-COVID burnout. To get out of my slump, I put together a book that combined all of my favorite things: books, yarn crafts, the great outdoors, and a hot grumpy loner with a beard. I was also excited to write a heroine who shares my experience as a third generation biracial Asian and white person living in America.
In addition, I’m always amused by trying to come up with new and interesting ways for newcomers to wander into tightly-knit small town communities. The idea of having our intrepid heroine be down on her luck after her ex embezzled all of their money and flew the country tickled me to no end. From there, we were off to the races!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing the romance between Emma and Hunter, with all of the healing and self-discovery it entailed, but the most fun part might have been writing the characters that make the town what it is–especially the two women who basically adopt Emma as their new best friend. They’re an odd couple, too, with a chaotic wild card named Hattie and a reserved houseplant enthusiast named Abby. Together, they convince Emma to learn to knit, try a line-dancing class, and just generally pull her out of her shell in the most delightful way.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Emma and Hunter seemed so perfect for each other that I had to pace myself. While it was tempting to just have them fall head over heels for each other, they both had a lot of stuff to work through, and they needed to take their time a bit. I was so appreciate of feedback from my editor on this – working together with her really helped make the book into the satisfying love story it eventually became!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently polishing up book 2 in the series, The Sunny Days Diner. The whirling dervish that is Hattie meets her match in a digital nomad who’s used to planning out his life with spreadsheets. Their unexpected romance has been so much fun to bring to life!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
My most recent favorite read was A Thousand Miles To Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase, which is a funny, tender family roadtrip with a side of romance that had me both crying and laughing. I’m also obsessed with the Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks. I’m only about halfway through the series, but it’s been so much fun. I’m looking forward to continuing the adventures of Princess Donut, of course, and the next physical book on my nightstand is Kiss, Marry, Kill by Cara Tanamachi.
