We chat with author Noelle Douglas about her debut novel The Christmas Crush, which sees a small-town baker and a career woman working for a cookie conglomerate get all mixed up in this Christmas rom-com.
Hi, Noelle! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
First and foremost, I’m an avid reader, and most of what I do stems from my love of books. For my day job I work at a library, which is just as amazing as it sounds. At my job, I’m surrounded by books and I get to see all the new releases early!
I started my working life as a pastry chef, but I’d rather write about sweets than bake them for a living. This brought me to my debut novel, The Christmas Crush, which is set in rival bakeries.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was very little, my mom would make me blank books out of construction paper. I’d fill them with stories and illustrations. Having bound “books” made me feel very official and professional. So, I guess I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, or, as I like to call it, dark academia for beginners. It has a moody boarding school, fair-whether friends, and a heroine who loses everything but still comes out on top.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I connected deeply with that book as a teen and was awed that she’d written it in high school. It made being an author seem possible.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Pride and Prejudice, which is foundational to my favorite romance trope of all time, enemies to lovers.
Your debut novel, The Christmas Crush, is out October 8th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
New love and fresh cookies.
What can readers expect?
They can expect a book that feels like a warm cup of tea at the end of a long day. It’s gentle and hopeful but it has the strength of a good tea too. Our main characters, Elena and Lawrence, have to tap into their inner resources to fight for their happily ever after.
My goal was to write something that would remind readers of a festive TV movie, a book they could turn to as a comfort read. Readers will get lots of banter and desire from Elena and Lawrence as they discover they last person they want to fall for might be the only one for them.
Where did the inspiration for The Christmas Crush come from?
I wanted to write a book that used my baking knowledge from pastry school and that tapped into classic rom-com vibes. Professional cooking can be very intense, so bakeries make the perfect setting for an enemies-to-lovers tale. My main goal, though, was to share a happy, hopeful story with readers.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had so much fun writing the whole thing, it’s hard to choose! I really enjoyed slipping in all the festive and nostalgic moments you’d want from a book centered around Christmas. I also loved crafting Sugar, Lawrence’s dog, aka my favorite side character I’ve ever written. Sugar was fun because dogs have a remarkable ability to express themselves without language. Capturing that on page gave me lots of space to be creative. I’m pleased to say early readers have declared Sugar a fan favorite.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Difficult, which I think is the case more often than not! I joined many of my favorite writers in having to overcome repeated rejection. Their stories of perseverance really inspired me on my journey. I queried a novel, shelved it, and then queried another at the height of the pandemic. I found my excellent agent through her slush pile, and then it took us two years to find an editor and publisher who connected with my voice.
What’s next for you?
I always say I have too many ideas, so my agent and I just spent time narrowing them down to the best one. It’s in the early stages, but it’s a second chance romance set on a lavender farm. Researching Midwestern lavender farms is my new obsession.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Some of the books I’ve really enjoyed this year are Prime Time Romance (Kate Robb), The Blonde Identity (Ally Carter), and Bride (Ali Hazelwood). All three of those books show how innovative and fun rom-coms can be. We have characters transported to a 90s teen soap, spies, and a vampire bride. What’s not to love? Most of all, in addition to humor, these books all have serious heart, which makes for the perfect story.
Books I can’t wait to get my hands on are Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan and Single Player by Tara Tai. Her Knight at the Museum is set at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of my favorite places on the planet. It’s another high-concept rom-com like the ones I’ve loved so far, and it’s out in November. Single Player comes out in 2025 and it’s a queer, enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance set in the video game industry.
