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Kristina Forest is the author of romance books for young adults, including I Wanna Be Where You Are; Now That I've Found You; and Zyla & Kai. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the New School, and she can often be found rearranging her bookshelf. The Partner Plot (Berkley, February 27, 2024) is a second-chance rom-com that follows a secondary character from Forest's first novel for adults, The Neighbor Favor.
Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:
Two former high school sweethearts unexpectedly reunite in Las Vegas and, after a night of partying, wake up with wedding rings on their fingers.
On your nightstand now:
The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert. This is a story about a woman who becomes fake-engaged to a prince. I'm a huge fan of Talia Hibbert and have been for years, and I realized that I hadn't read this one yet.
A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon. This is the last book in Weatherspoon's Cowboys of California series. I love a good story about a Black cowboy.
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton. This is a debut romance about a woman who fake-dates an astronaut before he takes a trip to space, and it promises to give all the rom-com feels, which is exactly what I'm always in the mood for.
Favorite book when you were a child:
Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry G. Allard. I was so afraid of Miss Viola Swamp. I can still picture her dark hair and black dress and long black nails so clearly.
Your top five authors:
Lisa Kleypas, Brit Bennett, Sarah Dessen, Tia Williams, Helen Hoang.
Book you've faked reading:
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. This was a summer reading assignment in high school. (I essentially fake-read every summer reading assignment in high school.)
Book you're an evangelist for:
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. The first time that I read this book, I was so engrossed in the plot that I brought the book with me to a Super Bowl party. I sat in a corner and read all evening.
Book you've bought for the cover:
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (the original hardcover cover). I love the cover art, and I was particularly intrigued by Bridge's cat ears.
Book you hid from your parents:
I didn't hide any!
Book that changed your life:
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, because it was the book that made me want to be a writer.
Favorite line from a book:
"There was nothing magical about being in love with someone. It didn't cure every ill or solve every problem. It was simply a feeling. An infinitely precious feeling. Deeper than friendship. More meaningful than mere attraction. But it wasn't a panacea. Real relationships were built on more than love. They were constructed with hard work, dedication, and patience. With honesty and mutual respect." --A Convenient Fiction by Mimi Matthews
Five books you'll never part with:
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I can't tell you why I love this book so much or why it's stuck with me since I read it in high school. I only know that I feel very attached to Jane Eyre and will watch every and any movie/television show adaptation.
On Beauty by Zadie Smith. This novel is so hilarious and brilliant. It was the first book that ever made me miss my subway stop because I was so busy reading.
Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. I've learned so much from reading Lisa Kleypas's novels, and I think that Devil in Winter is my favorite of hers. And it's the novel that I reread the most.
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. This is the kind of story that I'm always looking for and always want to be reading.
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Reading this book was a huge inspiration for why I wanted to write YA romance early on in my career.
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. This book took me on a journey.