We chat with author Lauren Forsythe about Dealbreakers, which follows a woman with high standards, a rival coworker, and the promotion that stands between them . . .
Hi, Lauren! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m a writer, a marketer, a mama, a coffee fiend and the only thing I like more than reading stories is writing them!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’d always loved writing stories as a kid, but the main thing I remember was in year six we started doing a creative writing class on a Friday afternoon. I loved it, and it felt easy. It felt like I had a hundred ideas! My teacher back then told me she’d buy my first novel when it came out. And so I decided I wanted to write one!
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!
I distinctly remember curling up in bed reading Goodnight Mr Tom. I read that so many times as a kid! I read a lot of Sarra Manning when I was a teen (and long after!) and reading Guitar Girl, I just wanted to write stuff like that, fun and full of heartbreak and sassy one liners and falling in love. I can’t stop thinking about Happy Place by Emily Henry. Like, I know she’s amazing but that one just gut-punched me, you know?
Your latest novel, Dealbreakers, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sassy, funny, chemistry-filled, heartfelt!
What can readers expect?
A zany plot where you can review men on a dating app to help other women avoid them. A charming Northern Irish copywriter who just can’t stay away from the grumpy girl who’s making his life miserable. Lots of snappy back-and-forth dialogue, and of course, a happy ever after.
Where did the inspiration for Dealbreakers come from?
There were a few things! I wanted to write about being in a time of life where you wanted new things. Marina wants to be a mum, but her long term boyfriend changes his mind about that, and they break up. Now she’s on the back foot with the life she wanted suddenly out of reach. So she’s trying to sub someone in from the bench to fill that space, but that’s not how life works! I’ve always thought that timing is just so very interesting!
And when it came to the review app I think it’s because I work for a comparison site in my day job! We talk about the importance of reviews all day, and I just remember thinking, ‘you check reviews for everything else, right?’ Why would you waste time meeting someone if you hadn’t done your research first?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Lucas and Marina were so fun to write together because they bounce off each other with their one liners. I love old movies and I felt like the dialogue between these two was very much that old school ‘I get the last retort!’ Whereas in real life I never think of a comeback until days later!
What do you love about the romance genre?
There’s so much opportunity for personalisation! There’s historical romance, sweet, spicy, modern, any setting or any timeline you want! I love elements of romance in other things too, I want it in my adventure, my sci fi, I think it adds that human element amongst all the danger. And who doesn’t love a recognisable trope? It feels like coming home. I would read the ‘oh no, there’s only one bed’ trope until the end of time. It’s like an old friend becoming new again. You know what’s happening but you don’t know how.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a new book to do with broken hearts, community and art! And I’ve set it in New York, which is a bit of a departure for me as a Londoner!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I absolutely loved Lizzy Dent’s The Sweetest Revenge, and Helly Acton’s Begin Again.
