Author Interview: Sophie Sullivan

Sophie, I’m so excited to talk to you today about A Guide to Being Just Friends. Thank you for joining me for this Q & A.

Thank you for having me. I’m very excited.

A Guide to Being Just Friends is described as “When Harry Met Sally meets 500 Days of Summer.” Can you tell readers what tropes and/or themes to expect from your newest book?

First, those are such complimentary comp titles. That’s very cool. I think, at this point, readers know they can expect family relationship dynamics, the idea of found family, figuring out who you are and being okay with that, and also finding someone who accepts you as you are. With Hailey and Wes, there’s also the friend to lover aspect. They truly become the best of friends. They’re each others’ person and it’s scary to mess with that.

Can you tell me a little about the inspiration behind A Guide to Being Just Friends?

Funnily enough, When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorite movies. I love friends to lovers as a reader and a writer. With this one though, it was a bit different because Wes was a character from previous books so his personality was already somewhat established. The inspiration, really, was to set this book, set Wes, apart from his brothers and the other stories.

Hailey is focused on her restaurant, and living her best life. Can you tell us more about Hailey?

Hailey is fiercely independent. She’s had to be but she’s also learned the hard way that people can change. They can let you down even when they’re the person who isn’t supposed to. So, it matters to her that she stands on her own two feet. But she wants it all. When she finds it, she’s at a point in her life, with her experiences, that she knows it’s only really real if you both are all in. She’s not willing to settle for less.

Wes is looking for companionship, not passion. Can you tell us more about him?

Wes has anxiety. He’s a fixer and that’s a common thing, for me personally, with some forms of anxiety. The idea that he can control and navigate his life and feelings gives him a sense of peace. He’s incredibly smart, surprisingly funny, deeply loyal and a little scared of losing himself by going with his heart over his head.

Do you have any favorite scenes in A Guide to Being Just Friends?

I truly love their grocery shopping trip. It’s such a simple, normal activity but it shows their differences, the way they can balance each other and their easy rapport. My other favorite scene is the text messages they send about using acronyms.

All About Writing

I would love to know if you’re a plotter or a pantser. What seems to work best when you’re working on a new manuscript?

It’s funny because my instinct is to say hardcore pantser. With my romance/romcoms, I tend to see a “moment” in my head (like Everly blurting out her misery on air) then run with it. However, the more I write, especially in other genres like cozy mysteries, the more I’ve learned that putting the work in up front, knowing where I’m going and how I want to get there, makes it a lot easier in the long run. Having said that, even when I’ve mapped out a plan, I let myself wander where the story takes me.

Do you have any favorite snacks, music or rituals for your writing? For instance, are you blasting music or need complete silence?

I love music. All the time. Constantly. I’m very good at writing while other things are going on around me and I feel like music adds emotion to my writing without me even being aware of it. I don’t tend to eat while I write but my favorite treat overall is cookies. Chocolate chip cookies. I do, however, usually have a diet Pepsi beside me as I work.

Do you have any advice for fellow writers?

Know that however you’re feeling, at whatever point you’re at in your journey, someone else has been there and felt the way you do. Don’t stop. There are so many ways to achieve this dream, no one way is right. Keep going.

Books, TV Recs & More

What started your foray into reading and loving the romance genre?

VC Andrews, Sweet Valley High, and True Story Magazines when I was about ten or eleven. I don’t remember not loving books. My mom was always an avid reader growing up. My hardcore love of romance, however, started when I was having a garage sale and I had a few books out. An older woman asked me if I’d read Nora Roberts and said I needed to. So, I did. And fell in love.

What are some romances on your TBR and/or must read romances?

I can’t wait to read Sarah Hogle’s Just Like Magic, I love Tessa Bailey, Jasmine Guillory, Lyssa Kay Adams. There are so many books. It’s a never ending list.

I always love talking about TV and movies. If you were to cast an adaptation for A Guide to Being Just Friends, do you have anyone in mind for your characters?

On my Pinterest board, I have Emma Stone or Mandy Moore as Hailey and Josh Henderson as Wes. When I think about it, I imagine this huge cast because really, all three books are about family and that’s what made the third book so fun to write…them all being together. Kate Hudson would be an ideal Stacey. Now that I’m thinking about it, there’s enough Hemsworth brothers to play the Jansens.

Do you have any favorite TV shows or movie franchises?

Yes, yes I do. I love Friends. It’s my comfort watch. I also loved Schitt’s Creek. I love The Rookie and recently watched Yellowstone. I love good writing and get so captivated by characters who take you through all of the emotions.

Hailey runs a salad shop called By the Cup. Do you have a favorite salad? I love a really good Caesar salad.

A good Caesar with crisp lettuce is delicious but I also really love a mixed salad with butter and romaine lettuce. I love adding salad toppers and toasted almonds. I love Greek and pasta salad too.

Who is the ideal reader for A Guide to Being Just Friends?

Someone who reads just to feel good. There’s conflict and drama layered in but in the end, I write to make my heart happy. Someone who wants to close the book with a smile.

Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me, Sophie! How can readers best connect with you?

Thank you for so many great questions. I’m on Instagram—it seems to be where people most often reach out to me. My website connects to my email so that’s always an easy route but currently, Instagram seems to be the easiest and I always try to respond to everything.

A Guide to Being Just Friends Synopsis:

A playful and emotional romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It

Hailey Sharp has a one-track mind. Get By the Cup salad shop off the ground. Do literally everything possible to make it a success. Repeat. With a head full of entrepreneurial ideas and a bad ex in her rearview, her one and only focus is living life the way she wants to. No distractions.

Wes Jansen never did understand the fuss about relationships. With a string of lackluster first dates and the pain from his parents’ angry divorce following him around, he’d much rather find someone who he likes, but won’t love. Companionship, not passion, is the name of the game.

When Hailey and Wes find each other in a disastrous meet cute that wasn’t even intended for them, they embarrassingly go their separate ways. But when Wes finds Hailey to apologize for his behavior, they strike a friendship. Because that’s all this can be. Hailey doesn’t want any distractions. Wes doesn’t want to fall in love.

What could possibly go wrong?