I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Decory Girlfriend Blog Tour hosted by Turn the Page Tours!
Check out my interview below!
About the Book
Title: The Decoy Girlfriend
Author: Lillie Vale
Publication Date: September 6, 2022
Publisher: Putnam Books
Synopsis
A laugh-out-loud funny and whip-smart romantic comedy from the author of The Shaadi Set-Up, about a young woman who takes the place of her celebrity doppelgänger, and must fake-date the actress’s sexy costar boyfriend.
Writer Freya Lal has a huge secret: she’s a dead ringer for It-girl actress Mandi Roy. Her second novel is due in a month, but inspiration is nowhere to be found. Desperate to shake off her writer’s block, Freya leans into her look-alike abilities and indulges in some mistaken identity for simple perks, like scoring a free mimosa or getting into a trendy nightclub.
Actor Taft Bamber appears to have it all: gorgeous, talented, and Mandi’s love interest both on- and off-screen. But what nobody knows is that their relationship is a PR stunt, and after years of playing make-believe, he’s yearning for something real.
When Freya’s latest impersonation of Mandi goes viral thanks to Taft’s accidental interference, rumors of a breakup threaten Hollywood’s golden couple. To make amends, Freya is forced to give Mandi a little time off: she’ll pretend to be the actress for a month, move in with Taft, and squash the rumors by acting completely in love. But as Freya and Taft play house, it becomes impossible to ignore that their instant chemistry isn’t just for the cameras.
While faking it, they might have just found the real thing.
Interview
What do you love about writing romance?
I find the ways in which the love interests play off each other so fascinating. My previous book, which was YA, had a rivals-to-lovers romance, which meant almost all my scenes were combative in some way. Hostile at first, and then, as awareness of feelings grew, what I like to call “cutely combative.”
In The Decoy Girlfriend, Taft and Freya get off on the wrong foot and they’re opposites in some ways, but at their core they are what I refer to as “simpatico soft nerds.” I love exploring how characters are different, and how that might be an obstacle to their happiness, but also how they’re similar, and how those commonalities bridge the gap.
What is your writing process like?
In a word, chaotic LOL. I’ve approached every book in a different way. I’m a reformed pantser, which means that I no longer just dive right into writing every book the second I feel a story spark. The degree varies, but pre-writing planning has become my best friend.
Which of your books was your favorite to write?
My latest Adult novel, The Decoy Girlfriend, and my latest YA, Beauty and the Besharam. Both are really fun and bingeworthy, populated with inclusive characters, big emotions, familiar tropes made fresh, and swoony banter.
Out of the books you’ve written, which of your love interests is your favorite?
Hands down, it’s gotta be Taft. Love that man.
Have you written anything outside of romance?
Oh yes! When I began writing, I started in the genres I enjoyed reading: fantasy, thriller, historical romance, and that super specific and tremendously fun flavor of rich kids behaving badly, à la the Gossip Girl novels. During the pandemic, however, it was reading and writing romance that brought me joy, and it was at this time that I entered the Adult Romance world. In the not-too-distant future, however…more on this soon! 😉
What are you working on now?
I’ve got a few secret projects in the works, but my focus is writing my next Adult novel, a small-town Christmas rom-com! When I started writing it, I wasn’t sure anyone could top Taft and Freya, but oh my gosh, I love these new characters so much and I can’t wait to share more about them.
About the Author
Lillie Vale is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Decoy Girlfriend, Beauty and the Besharam, The Shaadi Set-Up and Small Town Hearts, an American Library Association’s 2020 Rainbow Books List selection. She writes about secrets and yearning, complicated and ambitious girls who know what they want, the places we call home and people we find our way back to, and the magic we make. Born in Mumbai, she grew up in Mississippi, Texas, and North Dakota, and now lives in an Indiana college town. Find her on Twitter @LillieLabyrinth and Instagram @labyrinthspine, or visit her website lillielabyrinth.com.
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