When I was sent the invitation to interview Ashley Herring Blake for Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date, I couldn’t reply fast enough. I love love love the Bright Falls series and after getting to ask Ashley questions for Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail, I was beyond excited to jump in again.
Before we get to Ashley’s answers, let’s check out the book.
Title: Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date (Bright Falls #3)
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Pages: 400
Pub Date: October 24, 2023
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Find it: PRH | Bookshop | GoodreadsSynopsis: Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, her parents are still in marital bliss. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. So what if she usually cries in her Lyft on the way home. So what if she misses her friends, who are so busy with their own wonderful love lives, they don’t really notice Iris is spiraling. At least she has a brand-new career writing romance novels (yes, she realizes the irony of it). She is now working on her second book but has one problem: she is completely out of ideas after having spent all of her romantic energy on her debut.
Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life (vomit and crying are regretfully involved). To get her mind off everything and overcome her writer’s block, Iris tries out for a local play, but comes face-to-face with Stefania—or, Stevie, her real name. When Stevie desperately asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend, Iris is shocked, but goes along with it because maybe this fake relationship will actually get her creative juices flowing and she can get her book written. As the two women play the part of a couple, they turn into a constant state of hot-and-bothered and soon it just comes down to who will make the real first move…
Sounds good, right?
1. Please give the elevator pitch for Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date.
After a horrible one night stand, Iris and Stevie collide once again during an audition for a queer community play. When Stevie begs Iris to fake date her in front of her friends, Iris sees the opportunity to get some romantic content for her romance novel, with which she is severely struggling. Feelings will not be a problem…
2. While setting up the story line for Iris, were there any plot points you immediately knew you wanted to include?
I was definitely leaning toward fake dating, but knew it needed to be a twist, as Iris would never willingly fake date anyone, nor would anyone buy that she was actually dating someone! I was also intrigued by sex lessons, as well as how struggling with anxiety can play into relationships, both romantic and friendship.
3. Why do you love Iris and Stevie and why should readers root for them?
Iris is that ride or die best friend—she’ll do anything for you. She’s tough on the outside, but she’s definitely got a soft middle she doesn’t let a lot of people see, things she’s scared of admitting or trying. Stevie is just a sweetheart and wants to make everyone happy, but also needs to learn how to lean on her own strength along with that of her friends, which I think is very relatable.
4. Were there any weird things you googled while drafting?
I can’t think of any, no!
5. Without spoilers, which scene was your favorite to write?
I always love writing the “we’ve finally figured out our mess and are now together” scene near the end. Sex scenes are also very very fun to write. I also really enjoyed the sex lessons scenes in this book—figuring out what to include, what not to, how they’d be feeling, their thoughts. It was very intense!
Speed {ish} round:
1. What was your last five star read?
Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland. Just so lovely—magical and romantic and suspenseful all at once!
2. What are your favorite and least favorite tropes?
I love grumpy/sunshine and enemies to lovers. Really anything where you’ve got a character who’s a bit prickly. I love snowed in, forced proximity. Not such a fan of the surprise baby, but I’m open to all tropes in the right hands!
3. Do you have a favorite snack to eat while drafting?
I don’t, really, though I always like baked good and coffee. But nothing I need to have or have a routine of snacking on.
4. Which of the Bright Falls characters is your favorite?
I truly adore them all, but if I have to pick one, Astrid is my favorite Just love a prickly, emotionally bereft, disaster character who finally figures out how to be loved and give love back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ashley herring blake is an award-winning author and teacher. she holds a master’s degree in teaching and loves coffee, arranging her books by color, and cold weather. she is the author of six novels for young adults and middle grade readers, as well as the adult romance novel delilah green doesn’t care. she lives on a very tiny island off the coast of georgia with her family. website | instagram
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
huge thanks to berkley for the opportunity and to ashley for taking the time. Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date releases tomorrow and buy links are above.
have you read ashley’s books? which one is your favorite?
I’ve been wanting to read this author, and this one definitely sounds good! Thanks for sharing!
hooray!! I hope you love her words. I’ve been a fan of Ashley’s since her YA days. Thanks for reading and commenting!