Check out our interview with Ava Rani, the author of "Out of Her League."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
It was inspired by being mildly triggered by watching The Pitt. It is so realistic when it comes to the pressure on resident physicians that it made me want to write that story, pulling from my own experience and the experience of many colleagues who have struggled to maintain a work life balance in a career as demanding a medicine (and surgery). This book explores choosing ambition unapologetically and grappling with whether or not a child-free happily ever after is what she wants.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
Reading Rainbow means shining a light on own voice stories by marginalized authors, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community. But on a broader scope, it means reading and embracing all the wonderful ways stories can be different and impactful.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Particularly when writing contemporary romance, I want the world I write to look like the world I live in. That includes a diversity in thought, experience and people. Without acknowledging and uplifting these stories, we run the risk of them being erased and that makes for a less vibrant world.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
Fueled by the urge to one-up her unsupportive ex, Dr. Isabelle Mercado recruits a world famous athlete to serve as a fake date to an over-the-top Parisian wedding. While the wedding events unfold, and faking it starts feeling real, she confronts what means to trust others with your ambitions and reimagine your life to fit you needs, not the other way around.
What can fans expect from your book?
They can expect a spicy, banter filled, trip to Paris! With a deeply relatable through line of choosing yourself while opening yourself up to love someone else. The main female character deals with the grief of letting go of a life she expected for herself and grapples with if she wants to have children one day.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
"Out of her League" came out May 12 after that I have a secret I can't wait to tell! But many more books on the horizon!
