BooksChatter: ℚ♫ The Replacement Crush

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Lisa Brown Roberts to talk about The Replacement Crush (6 September 2016, Entangled: Teen, 400 pages), a Young Adult Contemporary Romance.

“Roberts has written another smart, charming teen romance, this one featuring plenty of amusing commentary on the genre itself, including Viv and Dallas riffing on romance hero categories….An entertaining, nicely nuanced depiction of teen relationships and challenges.” – Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Lisa Brown Roberts; thank you for joining us!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in The Replacement Crush, or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"I love playlists! Mine are always super long for my books, but here are a few of my faves for The Replacement Crush (a couple of these are referenced in the book itself ☺)"

What was the inspiration for The Replacement Crush?

"I wanted to write about a girl who makes no apologies for loving romance novels, but who struggles with romance in real life…someone who doesn’t know quite how to respond when she meets her own real-life hero, and makes some not-so-smart decisions on the road to her happily ever after. Also, I secretly wish I could be seventeen again and be a book blogger. That world didn’t exist when I was a teenager, but I would’ve been all over it if it had!"

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Well, like Viv, I love romance novels and make no apologies for what I read, and write. I also love Star Trek, like Viv and Dallas.

If I could’ve worked in a bookstore in high school like Vivian does, that would have been heaven. I worked in a chocolate store, though, so that wasn’t horrible . I mostly read and ate fudge all day long."

Why should we read The Replacement Crush and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Simply put, I like to write books that make readers laugh and swoon.

Readers tell me they turn to my books whey they want to escape with a fun “beach read book,” which makes me very happy. One of my most treasured fan emails came from someone who read one of my books while her sister was quite ill in the hospital. She said the book made her laugh again when she didn’t think she could.

In THE REPLACEMENT CRUSH, Vivian is a mixture of confidence and insecurity, someone who is loyal but accidentally hurts people, a girl who wants to be loved for who she is, but has blinders on to the great guy who’s perfect for her. I like to think most readers can relate to her.

If you’re in the mood for light, fun YA romance with a dash of angst, I hope you’ll check out my books."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I tend to write about average-looking girls with big hearts and big brains, and the amazing guys who fall for them. I don’t have much patience for gorgeous, perfect heroines. I love to write about friendship, including bromances and female BFF relationships. I also love writing about friendship turning into romantic love, so I tend to write the “friends to lovers” trope or “enemies to friends to lovers.” I prefer contemporary settings, and love to read and write humor.

My personal reading stack usually is full of contemporary YA and adult romance (particularly rom-coms), cozy mysteries, some books with a dash of light and funny paranormal, and historical romances and mysteries. I also love to collect cookbooks but hardly ever cook!"

What is in store next?

"Next up is another YA contemporary for Entangled Teen - a Pride and Prejudice retelling which I can hardly believe I’m doing, but my editor encouraged me to go for it, so I am.

I’m also writing more Crush books for Entangled. I have fun writing those shorter YA romances."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?