Denise Williams thought a great setup for a book was "10 million dollars and a donut," so she wrote "Just Our Luck."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
A few years ago, a friend shared a meme that said something like “I don’t need men; I just need 10 million and a donut.” I immediately told them that would be a great setup for a romance and “10 million dollars and a donut” lived rent-free in my head until I was able to write this book. My friend’s name is Ambre and we met in college — she’s been a huge cheerleader my whole career and I’m so honored to call her a friend.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
I think it can mean a lot of different things, but as I was writing this book, I thought a lot about what it means to see yourself on the page and to ultimately love or appreciate the pieces of yourself reflected back. In this book, that has a lot to do with the characters’ sense of self and purpose and with figuring out one’s own neurodiversity. When I get to read a book featuring a bi Black woman living her best life or struggling to make things work (me in equal measures most days!), I get to celebrate someone like me taking and holding space in literature and I think there’s pride in that.
The other piece I believe is important as an author is being cognizant of reading and celebrating queer authors, especially queer authors of color. For me, that’s not about checking off boxes but about seeing the world through a variety of vantage points and reading really amazing books.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
I’d say it goes beyond important and is critical. I write contemporary romance and I don’t know about everyone, but my day-to-day life is filled with a colorful variety of people. I live and work in a conservative state where trans and queer people and people of color are being targeted. At my alma mater the queer student center was just shuttered — it’s terrifying and horrible and such a loss. Including people, all kinds of people, in our books shows our readers themselves and their world on the page and has the opportunity to normalize and lift up the wide variety of human experiences for those readers who maybe don’t see that for themselves.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
Sybil, the heroine, can best be described as a mess (according to her family and early reviews on Goodreads!). Kieran, the hero, planned to be a doctor his whole life and now his carefully laid plans have been blown to smithereens and he’s home, running his family’s donut shop. After a one-night stand, a winning lottery ticket, and a viral social media stunt, the two are faking a relationship to get good PR for the donut shop and convince Sybil’s family she’s making good relationship choices. It’s a book about finding our purpose while chasing what we think is expected.
I’ve had the idea for the book for a long time, but I wanted to write it now because I love fake dating — it’s one of my favorite tropes in romance. I wanted to write a low-angst book with characters who reflected people around me. I’ve written a lot of women who are like me — organized, rule-following, type A, overachiever — I wanted to write a heroine who approached life differently and Sybil fits the bill. I had so much fun putting myself in her shoes to craft this story.
What can fans expect from your book?
Donuts. So many donuts! Readers can expect some spice, a lot of banter, and a “mess” figuring out all the wonderful things about living life the way she does. I am proud of the real and found family relationships each character has in their corner — Sybil’s friend group is one of the favorite I’ve written and Kieran’s family is a delight. Most of all, I think fans can expect to fall in love with the way these two people learn to see, appreciate, and love each other.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m excited for "Just Our Luck" to hit shelves and I’m currently working on my next book — a sibling’s best friend story about starting over and getting a re-do on important firsts in one’s life. After growing up on military bases and completing my PhD research on student Veterans returning to campus following service, I am beyond excited about the Veteran love interest in this story. The book will be out in February 2026.
