We had the pleasure of chatting to author Pintip Dunn about her new novel, Dating Makes Perfect, which releases on August 18th 2020. Pintip chats about the inspiration behind her novel, what she’s learned since becoming a published author, fantastic book recommendations, and more!
Hi Pintip! Tell us about yourself?
Hi! I am a Thai American who grew up in a small town in Kansas. From there, I went on to graduate from Harvard with an A.B. in English Literature and received my J.D. from Yale Law School. I’m a NYT bestselling author of YA fiction, and I write in a range of genres, from science fiction to contemporary thrillers to rom coms. DATING MAKES PERFECT is my eighth book! I now live with my husband and three children in Maryland.
Your new novel, Dating Makes Perfect, releases on August 18th. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Family-oriented #ownvoices Thai YA rom-com
We’d love to know more! What can readers expect?
Winnie and her twin sisters have never been allowed to date in high school. However, six months after her sisters get to college, their parents ask, “How come you’re not engaged yet?” The sisters are outraged, as romance is not a switch you can turn on and off. They declare that they won’t marry for at least thirty years, not until they’ve had lots of practice dating.
Realizing that their strict rules have backfired, the parents now decide that their youngest daughter, Winnie, must date in high school in order to practice necessary relationship skills. However, her parents will not only design the dates (basing them on classic rom coms), but they will also choose the boy she will date. Their first candidate? The son of their long-time family friends, Mat Songsomboon.
Mat is as gorgeous as he is infuriating. The only problem is… he just happens to be Winnie’s sworn enemy.
Where did the inspiration for Dating Makes Perfect come from?
I’ve had so many conversations with other Thai Americans and Asian Americans, whose parents seemed to change their minds in an instant about their children not dating and settling down. One moment, the parents wanted their children to focus on their studies, and the next, all the parents asked about were relationship statuses and grandbabies. That magic moment might happen during college or grad school or a first job, but all these instances were characterized an abrupt and sudden switch.
I thought it would be fun to turn this phenomenon on its head. What if the parents realized that their stringent rules about dating backfired? What if they had to completely backtrack and require their youngest to date in high school? What if they had no experience dating in America and had to rely on classic rom coms to draw inspiration for the fake dates?
Presto! DATING MAKES PERFECT was born!
Was there a certain scene, character, or perhaps some dialogue that you really enjoyed writing?
I love the twin sisters, Ari and Bunny. Writing any scene that involved them just made me smile. I also loved writing the text message that Winnie and Mat send each other. I think these messages showcase Mat’s charm and self-confidence, and I was totally giggling as I wrote those scenes.
You’ve previously written young adult sci-fi books, as well as a YA contemporary and mystery. Is there a genre that you prefer more?
I love writing in the YA age category because I love the journey that a protagonist undergoes in discovering who they are — and oftentimes, that person is stronger, more capable, and more resilient than they ever dreamed possible. I explore this same journey, no matter which genre of YA I write. So no, there’s not a particular genre that I prefer. I love them all! The reason I write in such a wide variety, however, is because I seek to challenge myself with every book that I write. In particular, if someone tells me that I can’t do something, I want to prove them wrong. Especially if that person is me.
DATING MAKES PERFECT is my first book in the rom-com genre…and I think I’m in love! (Pun intended.)
Your first novel published in 2015. What would you say is the biggest thing you have learned since then when it comes to writing and the world of publishing?
A lesson I’ve been learning all my life — but one that has been especially reinforced during these last five years — is that my self-worth has to come from an internal place, rather than from external events. I’ve had so many surreal moments since my first novel was published. My lifelong dreams came true — and then some.
At the same time, the publishing world is tough, filled with rejection and criticism at every turn, and the surreal times are simply that — fleeting, transitory moments that can’t sustain me in the long run. I learned that I have to believe in myself and my talents. I have to remember — and constantly remind myself — why I love writing. Because I’m the one who has to get up and write more books every day.
The support from my publisher and my readers has been phenomenal. I treasure every ounce of love I receive, but I’m well aware that it’s not guaranteed. So, I know that I have to value my own writing first.
What’s next for you?
I’m playing around with a couple different projects, vastly different from each other. Both challenge me in a new, exciting way, and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing what happens!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
Do I ever! Abigail Hing Wen’s LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI treads on new ground, and it was exciting for me to read, and Lyla Lee’s I’LL BE THE ONE spoke to me in a very real way. For raw, powerful YA that takes your breath away, I recommend Elizabeth Acevedo’s CLAP WHEN YOU LAND, Kacen Callender’s FELIX EVER AFTER, and Dean Atta’s THE BLACK FLAMINGO. Finally, for swoony and heartwarming romance, by writers whom I admire and respect: Farrah Rochon’s THE BOYFRIEND PROJECT; Kwana Jackson’s REAL MEN KNIT; Mis Sosa’s THE WORST BEST MAN; Vanessa Riley’s A DUKE, THE LADY, AND A BABY; and Priscilla Oliveras’s ISLAND AFFAIR.
