Ever since her debut novel, the LibraryReads pick TEN RULES FOR FAKING IT, Sophie Sullivan has written romcoms filled with witty banter, heartwarming romance, and the sweetest characters.
Her next novel, LOVE, NATURALLY is a charming opposites-attract romance perfect for fans of Schitt’s Creek and IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER, as Presley and Beckett learn that the best things can happen when you take a chance.
Sophie joins us with a letter to librarians touching on her characters, how books found their way into her books, and the safe space that libraries provided her.
Keep scrolling to read more from Sophie. LOVE, NATURALLY is available for download on Edelweiss know more. LibraryReads votes are due by December 1st.
In my newest book, LOVE, NATURALLY, my main character ends up having an unexpected adventure that sends her on a journey of self-discovery. Presley travels to a fishing lodge called Get Lost and, in a way, she actually does. She gets lost and caught up in what it feels like to be seen for who she is, to fit in and stand out, to fall in love, and to try new things. This is one of my favorite books I’ve written and maybe it’s partially because I’m not the adventurous type. Like Presley, I’m a planner and not a big fan of spontaneity or surprises. That’s the most wonderful thing about books, reading and writing them you can have any adventure you want without ever leaving the cozy comfort of your favorite chair.
In LOVE, NATURALLY, Presley reaches outside of her comfort zone and is rewarded with found family and discovering the love of her life. What she realizes is, sometimes the greatest adventures are right in front of you.
What better place to get lost and wander the world than the library? As a writer and an overthinker, there’s a lot going on in my brain. This tends to make me somewhat forgetful about the everyday things, like whether or not I turned off my straightener or actually sent that email. Despite this tendency to draw a blank on the most basic of daily activities, I can vividly picture the libraries in my elementary school, middle school, high school, and university.
An avid reader herself, with a fondness for romance books, Presley Ayers is a character who wants the kind of love she reads about the kind that is so beautifully described that the words on the page make her ache. That’s what books do for all of us: they open our eyes to the possibilities that exist. Things we can hope for and dream about. Things we can . . . get lost in.
Because I was a shy kid, the library was more than just a book haven for me; it was a safe space. It was a place to go even if I had no one to play with. A place to be. As a teacher for the last twenty-two years, I continue to see libraries this way. They’re a welcoming catch all space for readers, writers, the shy ones, the outgoing ones, the story tellers and the listeners, the game players, the wanderers, the ones who stand out, fit in, or bounce along the edges, those of any age, the curious, confused, the absolutely certain, the lost, the found, and the ones who know exactly where they want to be.
There is something incredibly soothing about the gentle quiet of a space full of books. There, among the stories that shape us, change us, and challenge us, we can find everything we’re looking for, and like Presley, maybe even what we never knew we needed.
Libraries and librarians are, no doubt, a part of what shaped me as a reader and a writer and a person. For that, I am grateful.
Sophie Sullivan
LOVE, NATURALLY by Sophie Sullivan; 9781250875839; 1/16/24
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