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

I’ve been writing long enough to have seen monumental changes in the publishing and romance industry: the rise of social media, the emergency of e-books, and the shift in the public’s respect for the size and importance of the romance market.  It’s been fascinating, but that’s not really what this question is about, is it?  In addition to writing, I’m an avid hiker and traveler.  My favorite thing in the world is being with my kids and grandkids, every one of them a joyous nutbar. My girlfriends are the best women in the world, smart and genuinely good people.  And then there are the books.  As with most writers, I’m a big reader.  I enjoy romance, cozy mysteries, non-depressing women’s fiction, and good non-fiction.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories? 

I wrote my first book in collaboration as a fun thing to do when I was home with small children.  It was an unusual beginning, and anyone interested in the whole story can read more about it right here.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: THE BOXCAR CHILDREN, by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• The one that made you want to become an author: I didn’t. I dreamed of being a movie star. Writing is my fallback career.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, by Lisa See

Simply the Best is the latest instalment in the Chicago Stars series and it’s out February 13^th! What can readers expect? 

They can expect a hard-driving (hard-headed!) sports agent… A failed (but adorable)  chocolatier… Her superstar football player brother (who goes missing)…A quirky pink and purple food truck (with a bad muffler, among other problems)… And, to really screw things up, a very unfortunate murder. (Don’t say you weren’t warned.)   The book is funny, touching, and sexy, with the kind of flawed characters we can all cheer for and a story that poses a  question¾ How far are any of us wiling to go to be SIMPLY THE BEST?

Where did the inspiration for Simply the Best come from?

I’m always looking for an idea that wll lead me back to the Chicago Stars, and my previous book, WHEN STARS COLLIDE, introduced youthful quarterback Clint Garrett, a very nice guy who was too young to be the hero of his own book but made me think about what it would be like if he were a younger brother, a guy who was great at everything he did, while you, his older sister, were kind of a screw up?

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

I absolutely love it when my heroes and heroines start butting heads, especially when they say the most outrageous things to each other. This happens a lot of SIMPLY THE BEST.  I also love the story of our heroine Rory’s relationship with her “wicked” stepmother.

What do you love about writing within the romance genre?

Easiest question in the world.  Happy endings!  Life is hard, and watching my heroes and heroines fight both themselves and each other to become better people is something I could write about forever.

What’s next for you?

Another Chicago Stars book. Other than, I’m not ready to say more. I’m mysterious that way!

Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases that you’re looking forward to?

So many!  Christina Dodd has A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA coming out in June, a book about the adventures and misadventures of Romeo and Juliet’s daughter. (Yes, you read that right.) I’m waiting for a new book from Jayne Ann Krentz, who’s always a comfort read for me, even when she’s writing about something scary.  Susan Mallery has a book out the same day as SIMPLY THE BEST, and I know it’s going to be a great read.  Anything by Kristan Higgins.  She can’t write fast enough for me. And speaking of Kristin’s. I was fortunate to receive an early copy of Kristin Hannah’s THE WOMEN.  All I can say is, “Wow!” it’s terrific.

Will you be picking up Simply The Best? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Author of ‘Simply The Best’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Releasing on November 7th 2023, The Rom Con is a modern battle of the sexes about a journalist who hatches an elaborate plan to take down her industry adversary, from the author of Meet You in the Middle.

When it comes to re-readable books and re-watchable films, I’m not sure there’s anything more captivating than a battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedy. The chemistry between the leads, that delicious push-pull of tension, the razor-sharp banter and inevitable surrender all make for a uniquely compelling, can’t-turn-away viewing and reading experience. No matter how many opposites-attract stories I consume, I’ll never get tired of (silently) screaming at the protagonists: JUST KISS ALREADY!

It was this addictive quality I tried to capture when writing my latest novel The Rom Con, about a modern woman who hatches a plan to use her grandmother’s old-fashioned courtship tips to take down her professional rival while writing a career-defining exposé in the process. My goal was to marry the feeling of a classic 1950s Doris Day-Rock Hudson rom-com with a contemporary perspective for a timeless love story that would resonate with every generation, young and old.

In honor of The Rom Con, here are a few of my favorite battle-of-the-sexes books & films, both past and present.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (film)

Any battle-of-the-sexes list would be incomplete without this comedic tour-de-force starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The incredible chemistry between the leads turned what could have been a too-bonkers premise into one of the best rom-coms of all time, as hilarious and relatable today as it was twenty years ago.

Love the One You’re With by Lauren Layne (book)

If you’ve just finished reading The Rom Con and want books with similar energy, pick up this tale of rival magazine writers who find love amid a war of words from the queen of romance herself. It’s filled with her signature banter and wit—and no one writes New York City better than Lauren Layne.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (book & TV show)

Okay, so this isn’t technically a full-fledged romance, but do yourself a favor and read this superb novel about a female chemist fighting to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of 1950s science. I couldn’t put it down. Bonus: the TV adaptation is brilliantly done.

Down With Love (film)

Too many people missed this gem when it came out in 2003! Starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan Macgregor (plus an additional all-star cast of side characters), it’s a delicious send-up of the classic Doris Day-Rock Hudson rom-com romps like Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back. Come for the whip-smart, in-on-the-joke cultural commentary, stay for the iconic fashion moments.

The Thing About Love by Julie James (book)

I love this story about ultra-competitive FBI agents who clash during their Quantico training, then are forced to pair up again six years later as part of a sting operation. Julie James always nails the tension between her protagonists, seamlessly balancing banter and heat (and if you like this one, pick up Practice Makes Perfect, a tale of two lawyers competing to make partner, next!)

The Ugly Truth (film)

Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl go head-to-head in this bawdy, riotously funny 2009 rom-com. Heigl perfectly embodies the adorably uptight heroine, while Butler nails her misogynistic-turned-lovesick nemesis. Watching their attitudes evolve as they fall in love against their will is a pure delight.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips (books)

I tried, but I couldn’t pick a favorite—and that’s because no one does battle-of-the-sexes better than Susan Elizabeth Phillips! Close your eyes and choose any one of her backlist titles; you can’t go wrong.

Heartbreakers (film)

This campy cult-classic is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt play a mother-daughter con artist team whose wild antics and cynical observations on relationships and gender politics are endlessly entertaining.

Still want more recommendations? Hunker down for a weekend movie marathon, starting with 50s classics like Pillow Talk, His Girl Friday, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, then move on to more recent hits like When Harry Met Sally, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Something’s Gotta Give.

The post Devon Daniels’ Favourite “Battle of the Sexes” Romances appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Acting like she’s in love with her handsome nightmare of a co-star—in a movie directed and produced by her complicated Hollywood royalty family—is Sloane’s job. But what happens when the lines between script and reality get blurred?

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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.

The Checklist by Addie Woolridge
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In an energetic debut novel about personal and professional chaos, author Addie Woolridge introduces a multicultural cast whose exploits are redefining the modern rom-com.

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The insightful, audacious, and deeply romantic story of a woman whose life turns upside down after she meets an enigmatic chef on vacation in Italy–perfect for fans of Beautiful Ruins or Under the Tuscan Sun .

The Layover by Lacie Waldon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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.

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

For fans of Casey McQuiston and Abby Jimenez comes a bold, hilarious, and out-of-the-box novel about mixing business with battery-operated pleasure . . .

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Poignant, hopeful, and full of emotional power, an unforgettable story in the vein of P.S. I Love You about two people learning to love again after great loss, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Josie Silver.

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

#1 New York Times bestseller Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns to her beloved Chicago Stars series with a romance between a Chicago Stars quarterback and one of the world’s greatest opera singers—and a major diva.

A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor.

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Love Is Blind meets You’ve Got Mail in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy following two thirty-somethings who meet on a blind dating app—only to realize that their online chemistry is nothing compared to their offline rivalry.

Pug Actually by Matt Dunn
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A Dog’s Purpose meets The Happy Ever After Playlist in this charming, pitch-perfect take on relationships as seen through the eyes of a wise pug named Doug, who is determined to play cupid to fix his owner’s love life with his own four paws.

What June romance books are you looking forward to reading? Tell us in the comments below!

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