It's Spring and there's a new Beyoncé album

Well! Hello everyone!

It’s April, which means the first quarter of the year is already behind us. 2024 has had its share of ups and downs for me for sure. The year started off pretty tough after my grandmother passed away in January. I was still trying to wrap my head around that loss when I had to start promoting The Partner Plot. I won’t lie, it was very trippy and difficult to balance my grief while also trying to be excited about my next book. But then some really amazing things happened. First, The Partner Plot was chosen as a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, and I got to see myself on national television! Then I went on tour and met so many readers in person. I got to see your faces and hear about how much you’ve loved reading my books, and I got to sign your copies and I received your handwritten notes and bracelets, and I received your messages on social media about how much you’ve been loving The Partner Plot (and The Neighbor Favor!). And I got to meet some of my favorite authors in person and be in conversation with them too (and Jasmine Guillory talked about TPP on the Today Show!). And THEN The Partner Plot hit the USA Today Bestseller list! And it’s been hanging in there for three weeks!! I just want to say thank you to everyone who has bought this book or borrowed it or talked about it with a friend or online. I’m super grateful to my agent and my publishing team at Berkley for pushing this book into readers’ hands. Everything about this book has created a very bright spot in what otherwise would have been a pretty sad time in my life, and I really can’t thank everyone enough! And I know that my grandma would be very happy too.

In between events for TPP, I’ve been working on my next YA. I know, I know. You might be thinking, Kristina, isn’t this what you said around this time last year? Haha, yes. I’m trying my best, y’all. I’m really enjoying working on this particular book and digging deep into these characters, so I’m hoping this is the book that ends up on shelves. I’m also awaiting edits on The Love Lyric, which is the third adult romance novel in The Greene Sisters series. This one is about Lily and Violet’s oldest sister, Iris. I can’t wait to share more in the coming months about this one. Writing it was hard. And I’m sure the challenges will continue as I revise, but I am determined to do right by Iris. I think I’ve said this before, but of all the characters I’ve written, I think Iris deserves a HEA the most.

I’ve also been listening to Cowboy Carter, obviously. I could talk about this album and Beyoncé all day. This is a no skip album for me. I love every single song. My favorites change every day. Today my favorite song is “II Hands II Heaven.” Yesterday it was “Protector” and “Desert Eagle”. The day before that it was “Riiverdance” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin.” Her MIND. I just cannot. I fear that my fiancé is already sick of hearing me playing this album constantly. But he put up with me playing Renaissance all the time for almost two years straight, so I think he’ll be fine. (His favorite song is “Levii’s Jeans” lol).

Usually in my newsletters, I include a roundup of books I’ve read recently, but I have been doing a very, very terrible job at keeping up with my TBR. I’m behind on books I’ve bought, books I’ve borrowed from the library, books I’ve been asked to blurb, literally everything. So in lieu of talking about books I’ve read in recent weeks, I’m going to talk about books that are coming out this Spring that I am excited to read!

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton - this is a romcom about a struggling event planner who is fake dating an astronaut before his next mission in order to appease his worried family. (I actually have read this one. I received a galley last year.) And it’s such a sweet, fun story. This one publishes next Tuesday, April 9th!

When I Think of You by Myah Ariel - this is a second chance romance about a woman who is trying to work her way in the film industry and how she reconnects with her college ex, who is now a hot shot director. This one pubs on April 16th!

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - Abby Jimenez is very, very popylar so I’m sure most of you reading this newsletter are already aware of Just for the Summer, but this is one I’m super excited to read. I LOVED her 2023 book Yours, Truly. It was one of my favorites from last year!

The Rule Book by Sarah Adams - I was lucky enough to read this one early too! Sarah and I originally connected because the premises of The Rule Book and The Partner Plot are similar: college exes somehow end up married in Las Vegas. The fun thing about romance, though, is that authors can have similar tropes but execute their stories in completely different ways that are still fun and fresh! The Rule Book is a true delight, and it published on Tuesday! Sarah Adams is another super popular author, so most of you are probably already aware of TRB, but if you aren’t, you should definitely add this to your list!

I think that’s it from me. Next time I hope to have more bookish updates and maybe even a cover to share? :) In the meantime, I’ll leave you with art that I commissioned from Thea Harvery (@peixell on Instagram) of Violet and Xavier from The Partner Plot. I love it so much!

xo, Kristina