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| Photo by Lily Menon |
Lily Menon (Sandhya Menon) has always been enamored of romantic comedies and happily-ever-afters in all shapes and sizes. Her very first love story, written at age nine, was about a handsome boy who wooed the heroine with books, chocolates, and a very fat puppy. Now Lily lives with her own handsome boy (who indeed wooed her with books, chocolates, and fat puppies) in the mountains of Colorado, where she spends her days dreaming up kissing scenes and meet-cutes.
Visit Lily online:
Love, romance, second chances, fairy-tale endings…these are the things Annika Dev believes in. Her app, Make Up, has been called the “Google Translate for failing relationships.”
High efficiency break-ups, flashy start-ups, penthouses, fast cars…these are the things Hudson Craft believes in. His app, Break Up, is known as the “Uber for break-ups.” It’s wildly successful—and anathema to Annika’s life philosophy.
Which wouldn’t be a problem if they’d gone their separate ways after that summer fling in Las Vegas, never to see each other again. Unfortunately for Annika, Hudson’s moving not just into her office building, but into the office right next to hers. And he’ll be competing at the prestigious EPIC investment pitch contest: A contest Annika needs to win if she wants to keep Make Up afloat.
As if it’s not bad enough seeing his irritatingly perfect face on magazine covers when her own business is failing. As if knowing he stole her idea and twisted it into something vile—and monumentally more successful—didn’t already make her stomach churn.
As the two rival app developers clash again and again—and again—Annika finds herself drawn into Hudson Craft’s fast-paced, high velocity, utterly shallow world. Only, from up close, he doesn’t seem all that shallow. Could it be that everything she thought about Hudson is completely wrong?
Could the creator of Break Up teach her what true love’s really about?
How did you decide to switch to writing an adult novel after writing young adult novels in the past?
I’ve always wanted to be an adult romance author. After my YA novel When Dimple Met Rishi came out, my adult romance editor happened to read and enjoy it. She then approached my literary agent about the possibility of me doing an adult romance for her—and I jumped at the chance! That novel became Make Up Break Up.
I’ve always wanted to be an adult romance author. After my YA novel When Dimple Met Rishi came out, my adult romance editor happened to read and enjoy it. She then approached my literary agent about the possibility of me doing an adult romance for her—and I jumped at the chance! That novel became Make Up Break Up.
How are you similar to or different from Annika?
I’m similar in that I, too, broke with family tradition and didn’t become an engineer or a doctor or a lawyer. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart, even when things are discouraging. Annika’s journey with her app closely follows my journey with writing!
If Make Up Break Up were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I’m terrible at these questions! I would definitely want fresh and fun young people; that’s my only requirement. :)
Melissa: Challenge accepted! I'll be adding this one to my queue soon.
What is the worst breakup you've ever experienced?
It’s kind of weird, but because I met my husband in high school, I’ve never really experienced a terrible breakup! They were all breakups that I’m super glad happened because they hastened my path to my best friend, who then became my husband!
Do you have any Valentine's Day traditions or rituals?
I’m one of those people who doesn’t like the commercial aspect of Valentine’s Day. I like to think of Valentine’s Day as being year-round—always show the person you love that you love them, never take them for granted, and respect them as much as you respect yourself. Those are my tenets for a happy, healthy romantic relationship—or really, any relationship!
What is your favorite rom com movie?
It’s impossible to pick just one! I’ll go with a Meg Ryan one I recently re-watched: Sleepless in Seattle. :)
Thanks to Lily for visiting with us and to St. Martin's Press for sharing her book with our readers.
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14 comments:
Years ago, when I was in my very early 20's, I made a terrible choice of ending my relationship via text. At the time, I was not in the right place physically or emotionally and made a rash choice I still struggle with today. He didn't deserve it and if I could change it, I would have thought through my decision more and ultimately, if I chose to break up again, it would have been in person.
I don’t have a worst break up story. I did however end a 2 year relationship.
When I was young and dating I met many kind and lovely young men. I did feel badly when I decided to tell them I could no longer see them. I let them down nicely but I realize that I was immature and should have dated them longer and continued to see them.
I don’t have a worst break up story.
I don't have a worst break up story to share, sorry!
It was back in 2008 when I was in a relationship that moved too quickly in under a year. He had one too many expectations of me, and then we eventually had an argument about it all when our relationship was going on eight or nine months. Long story short, while we were on the phone because I wanted to talk things over, he said he couldn't be in the relationship anymore. Getting through the breakup was difficult, especially because I had been in denial about his controlling ways. Thank goodness time helped me to break free of a person who made me feel inferior. :)
I don’t have a worst break up story
He just would not accept that it was over.
I don't have a worst break up story.
I was left at my high school homecoming dance. He just left.
When I got divorced.
n/a
Mine would be the messy divorce I went through.
Thankfully my breakups haven’t been messy, they’re amicable.
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