We chat with author Brooke Burroughs about her latest book release The Name Curse, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!

Hi, Brooke! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure! I’m originally from a small town in Kentucky, but left after college to travel and work abroad, which took me to Prague and Bangalore, where I met my husband (this is loosely what my first book The Marriage Code is based on). Then I came back to the US and lived in Seattle for a while, and now we’re in Austin, Texas with our two dogs. We love traveling, and the past year we’ve been seeing more of the US via our airstream than doing some of the international travel we typically do.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I’ve loved writing, creating stories or writing poems ever since I can remember. When I’m home visiting, my niece likes to pull out the first book I ever wrote which was made out of construction paper and yarn and tells the story of camping with my family. I was always a fan of journaling as well. I had a Snoopy diary when I was in third grade in which I documented the trials and tribulations of a nine year old, and I loved writing in that. I still have it!

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!

• The book I first remember reading is Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends
• The books that made me want to become a romance author specifically are The Beautiful Series by Christina Lauren
• The one I can’t stop thinking about is Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston—I think the first half of that book is absolute perfection!

Your new novel The Name Curse is out August 31st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Quirky, camping, romance, banter, and adventure.

What can readers expect?

Bernie has always been plagued by the memory of her namesake, Great Aunt Bernice, an adventurous woman who lived life to the fullest, while Bernie has done the opposite—moving back into her childhood home after her father’s death, and somehow just stayed there, doing more existing than living. Everyone sees that she needs to be snapped out of her funk (except for her) and when her boss tells her to take a vacation, her mom buys her a Groupon for a weeklong trek in Alaska. This is where she meets Matthew, a struggling screenwriter and roughing it enthusiast, who takes a trip into nature every year to get inspired for his next big project, by relishing the peace and quiet that nature brings. The trip organizers assumed Bernie was a man because of her name, and they’ve paired the two of them in a tent. It’s cringe at first sight. But along the way, Bernie and Matthew find out they have more in common than they thought, which includes a growing attraction to each other.

Where did the inspiration for The Name Curse come from?

I got inspired to write the story when my husband and I were having margaritas with a friend and we were talking about camping trips. Our friend told us about a week long backpacking trip he went on, in which there were two strangers who were forced to share a tent. On the last night of the trip they voluntarily stayed in a hotel together, and had been cultivating a secret relationship along the trek. I was like, “Romance novels are real and I’m going to write this story!”

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

I am the kind of person who is always ready for a new adventure, travel, and a change of scenery, but Bernie is not. So it was a struggle to write how hard Matthew, her mom, and her best friend would push her to change. At times I felt like I was shouting at the page. “Now? Are you ready to change now?” Because as a character she was so reluctant to get out of this self-induced complacency that she’s stuck in.

I think a lot of times when we find ourselves in a situation that we need to escape, even if we’ve put ourselves in that place, we can get trapped. Change is HARD. So I had to think of what drastic measures would get Bernie to change, and how much she’d let Matthew help her change. Turns out, it took a pretty major situation that practically disables her in order to snap out of it and embrace a new and more fulfilling life she could have, with Matthew.

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I think that my best friend character, Tabitha, has a lot in common with my own best friend and the antics we got up to growing up. So while THE NAME CURSE is a romance, I loved writing the little adventures Bernie used to take with Tabitha, and exploring this wild streak that Bernie dismissed as just being a kid, when really it was this adventuress hiding inside her all along. The part about the bra-mobile might just be taken from an actual event. Ha!

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

As I was growing as a writer, I would attend a lot of workshops. The worst advice was always that there is one way to craft a novel, and “because it worked for me, it will work for you!”  Because I really wanted to get my first book, THE MARRIAGE CODE, in the best shape it could be, I would go from workshop to workshop trying all these ideas out and it was absolutely exhausting. It made me hate writing for a while.

Then someone suggested I take Becca Symes’ “Write Better Faster” workshop. I thought, “Oh no, ANOTHER workshop???” It turned out to be the best decision I made. In her workshop, I discovered that because writers are so different, with various strengths, personalities, etc. we all have very different approaches that work for us. I took a series of personality-type tests and found out that I work better in the morning when my mind is clear, and that I don’t need to plot, which I kept trying to force myself to do. It took me a while to figure out what my best approach was, rather than trying to fit into a box.

What’s next for you?

The project I just finished is a romcom inspired by the small town I grew up in. I’m originally from eastern Kentucky (AKA Appalachia) and it was an opportunity to highlight some of my favorite (and not so favorite parts) about growing up there. This story is about a woman who always wanted to escape the place she’s from, and when she returns to strengthen the bond with her family and stop her sister from marrying into the family who’s wronged her own, she gets roped into actually planning it with the groom’s son who happens to be her high school nemesis.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Oh yes! Here are some recent books that I finished that I really loved.

Float Plan by Trish Doller was a great read that made me want to pack up all my things and set off on a boat to the Caribbean. In fact, I kept thinking about it for months and was obsessed on taking a beach vacation (which I’m still waiting to take!)

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams is such a fantastic read and premise—I just loved everything about it. And the opening scene is absolute, hilarious perfection!

I recently read two Pride and Prejudice retellings that were very different but both had very fresh takes and were very fun! One was The Bennett Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi, which takes place on a college campus with a diverse set of women, and Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal, which is a Pakistani take on the classic.

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Brooke Burroughs can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok, as well as at her website.

Will you be picking up The Name Curse? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Brooke Burroughs, Author of ‘The Name Curse’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Shipped by Angie Hockman
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With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to her competition Graeme, Henley Evans begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

The Marriage Code by Brooke Burroughs
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In Brooke Burroughs’s endearing debut novel set in vibrant India, enemies turned allies encounter obstacles in an unexpected multicultural romance only to discover that in the end, love is love.

Love Songs for Skeptics by Christina Pishiris
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For fans of Josie Silver and Emily Henry, this charming and quirky debut has it all: childhood friends, love triangles, enemies-to-lovers, and a My Big Fat Greek Wedding subplot.

Enjoy the View by Sarah Morgenthaler
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A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet. And miles of untamed wilderness… What could possibly go wrong?

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese
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Buckle up for an emotional journey of hijinks, heartache, and a hot slow-burn in this marriage-in-crisis romance about going the distance to make love last.

Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida
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A Millennial with amnesia uses her Instagram account to piece together her identity in this hilarious and whip-smart comedy about the ups and downs of influencer culture.

The Ballad of Hattie Taylor by Susan Andersen
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A daring young woman pushes back against societal constraints in a feminist, coming-of-age Western romance from New York Times bestselling author Susan Andersen.

The Meet-Cute Project by Rhiannon Richardson
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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Save the Date in this sweet and hijinks-filled rom-com about a teen girl who will do whatever it takes to find a date for her sister’s wedding.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
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Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz
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Two psychics plunge into a dark world of deadly secrets in this second instalment of the Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

Mr Right Across the Street by Kathryn Freeman
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Mia Abbott’s move to Manchester was supposed to give her time and space from all the disastrous romantic choices she’s made in her past. But then the hot guy who lives opposite – the one who works out every day at exactly 10 a.m., not that Mia has noticed thank-you-very-much – starts leaving notes in his window…for her.

Happy Singles Day by Ann Marie Walker
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As a Certified Professional Organizer, everything in Paige Parker’s world is as it should be. Perfect apartment, perfect office, perfect life. And now, the perfect vacation planned to honor Singles Day. As the owner of a now-dormant bed & breakfast, Lucas Croft’s life is simple and quiet. It’s only him and his five-year-old daughter, which is just the way he likes it. But when Paige books a room that Lucas’ well-intentioned sister listed without his knowledge, their two worlds collide.

What January romance books have you been loving? Tell us in the comments below!

The post January 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn, and we’re feeling good about all the romance books releasing in the first half of 2021! In this list, you’ll find household names like Christina Lauren and Taylor Jenkins Reid as well as the author debuts that we cannot wait to dive into once they release.

Want more 2021 releases? Check out our lists for Most Anticipated 2021 Books, 2021 Queer Book Releases, 2021 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases, and 2021 Queer SFF Book Releases.

Read on to find out what romance books you might soon be swooning over from January to June 2021!

JANUARY

Ever After Always by Chloe Liese
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Buckle up for an emotional journey of hijinks, heartache, and a hot slow-burn in this marriage-in-crisis romance about going the distance to make love last.

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Public radio co-hosts navigate mixed signals in Rachel Lynn Solomon’s sparkling romantic comedy debut.

Shipped by Angie Hockman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to her competition Graeme, Henley Evans begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

The Marriage Code by Brooke Burroughs
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In Brooke Burroughs’s endearing debut novel set in vibrant India, enemies turned allies encounter obstacles in an unexpected multicultural romance only to discover that in the end, love is love.

FEBRUARY

Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
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The cozy comforts of an English village bookstore open up a world of new possibilities for Evie Starling in this charming new romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young.

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
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The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes…

Make Up, Break Up by Lily Menon
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In Menon’s adult debut, two app developers and former flings butt heads as they find their offices right next to each other. 

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
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A refreshingly timely and relatable debut novel about a young woman whose life plans fall apart when she meets her wife.

MARCH

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
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In Act Your Age, Eve Brown the flightiest Brown sister crashes into the life of an uptight B&B owner and has him falling hard – literally.

Float Plan by Trish Doller
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Critically acclaimed author Trish Doller’s unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself…

Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
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In this romcom, a Muslim woman fakes an engagement to the boy next door in the hopes of winning a couples cooking contest – but the real prize might be even tastier.

Sweethand by N.G. Peltier
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After a messy public breakup, pastry chef Cherisse has sworn off dating. But after she’s named her sister’s maid of honor, she’s forced to spend time with the best man, Keiran, who she’s never gotten along with. Until now…

APRIL

Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle
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From the author of You Deserve Each Other comes a charming and unconventional romantic comedy about a woman who inherits a sprawling estate with a groundskeeper whose stoic exterior masks a surprising vulnerability.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
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A hilariously quirky novel that is equal parts murder mystery, rom-com, and a celebration of mothers and daughters as well as a deep dive into Chinese-Indonesian culture.

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne
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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine comes the clever, funny, and unforgettable story of a muscular, tattooed man hired as an assistant to two old women under the watchful eye of a beautiful retirement home manager.

To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters
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 The author of the hilarious To Have and to Hoax returns with an effervescent, charming, and swoon-worthy novel about a man and woman who never agree on anything until they agree to a no-strings-attached affair in this Regency-era romp.

MAY

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
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With one week to win back the best friend she might just be in love with, a travel writer plans the trip of a lifetime in this sparkling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read.

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren
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Funny, warm, and full of heart, The Soulmate Equation proves that the delicate balance between fate and choice can never be calculated.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole
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New York Times and USA Today bestseller Alyssa Coles second Runaway Royals novel is a queer Anastasia retelling, featuring a long-lost princess who finds love with the female investigator tasked with tracking her down.

JUNE

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes the long anticipated romantic comedy that puts a queer spin on Kate & Leopold.

The Layover by Lacie Waldon
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An unexpected tropical layover with her nemesis turns a flight attendant’s life upside down in this witty, breezy debut romantic comedy about life–and love–30,000 feet above the ground.

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
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Pitched as a modern-day, grown-up retelling of L.M. Montgomery’s classic Anne of Green Gables, Anne and Gilbert collide in their final year at NYU.

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
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A charming and heartwarming new romantic comedy by the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks, Kerry Winfrey. 

What 2021 romance releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Swoon Over These 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.