Lauren Connolly was interested in exploring how grief can intertwine with comedy and romance, and that is how "PS: I Hate You" came to be.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
In “PS: I Hate You,” my main characters Maddie and Dom go on trips across the United States in order to fulfill the final wishes of Maddie’s brother and to spread his ashes. I know this is kind of a morbid concept for a rom-com (which is why we’re calling it a bittersweet rom-com), but I think a lot of times grief and humor pair well together.
This idea of a postmortem road trip came to me because of some losses in my own life. A family friend who passed from brain cancer asked his wife to spread his ashes in the two states he never got to visit. That was the initial spark. Then my family planned a trip to Ireland to spread my grandfather’s ashes, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the acts we take after we lose a loved one.
I wanted to write a story about a woman who is grieving, but maybe not in the most traditional way. Is it okay to laugh and joke while you’re grieving? Is it okay not to cry? Is it okay for your grief to stretch on for years? How do you fall in love while you’re mourning? These questions inspired Maddie and Dom’s story.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
To me, Reading Rainbow means being thoughtful, curious, and enthusiastic about my book choices. Thoughtful regarding what books I currently consume and noticing if I’m missing out or overlooking underrepresented voices. Reading with curiosity towards life experiences different from my own, and then sharing my love for underrepresented books enthusiastically to help grow the audience so more people can read with pride!
For anyone looking for a rec: check out “That Summer Feeling” by Bridget Morrissey, a sapphic romance at an adult summer camp that is a cute, funny, heartwarming story.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Storytelling is a powerful, engaging way to learn about the world, but if the only stories people consume reflect back the same life experience they’ve lived, then there’s no room for growth. Writing and reading about a variety of people who have lives that differ from our own encourages empathy. I truly believe the more empathetic a society is, the stronger it is.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
As I mentioned before, I was interested in exploring how grief can intertwine with comedy and romance. The format of the story — Maddie and Dom traveling to locations designated by her deceased brother where they spread his ashes and read a letter from him — was inspired by a particular trope found in stories like “P.S. I Love You” (hence the play on the title of the book) and the KDrama Crash Landing on You. The trope: I don’t actually know if there is a name for it, but we’ll call it “Limited Letters from a Loved One.” Basically, a character is dying or going away forever, so they leave communication for the person left behind that will eventually run out. At first, the connection to the person who is gone is comforting. But as the end approaches, there’s this new wave — possibly stronger than the last — of grief.
That story element, paired with all the potential of the forced proximity of multiple road trips, gave me an opportunity to write an emotionally rich story. When I started plotting “PS: I Hate You,” I couldn’t stop because Maddie and Dom’s journey seemed so real and beautiful to me even before I got all the words on the page.
What can fans expect from your book?
A lot of my advance readers have recommended having a box of tissues nearby. Sorry in advance! But readers can trust that for every heartbreaking moment in this book, there is also a heartwarming one. So, if readers enjoy romance, feeling deeply, found family, quirky road trips, snarky/morbid humor, and love that lasts, I’d recommend they give “PS: I Hate You” a try.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I have another romance coming out next year with Berkley abut a flight student and her instructor, and I’m currently working on some magical projects because I like to slip away from the real world at times! We’ll just have to see if any publishers are interested in a demisexual demigod.
