You’ve probably heard me talking a lot about this book the last few weeks! I have author Erin Lyon on the blog today. She’s here to talk about her debut, I Love You Subject to the Following Conditions, which is out in stores today!
- Read my Review (4 stars)
And…I’m giving away a paperback copy to a lucky reader! Read my interview with Erin Lyon and then be sure to enter!
Megan: Erin, I am so freaking excited to have you on Reading Books Like a Boss today! I Love You Subject to the Following Conditions (ILYSttFTaC – haha that’s quite the acronym) was such a fun and unique twist on the “playboy who doesn’t want to commit “ storyline. I stayed up late reading this, which I rarely do. I really like my sleep. I’ve been telling everyone to read this fun and sexy book!
Can you tell us a little bit about the book? I’d love to hear how you describe it!
Erin: Thanks, Megan! So excited to be here! I describe the book as a romantic comedy with a twist. It’s set in a world where there is no marriage, no divorce, and all relationships are instead based on seven-year contracts. So, every seven years, a couple gets to decide if they want to renew the contract or let it expire (provided you don’t breach the contract first, of course).
Megan: That unique element added such a fun dynamic to the story and the characters. How in the world did you come up with the whole concept of signing law and contracts?
Erin: Years ago, I was talking with a co-worker and I think the conversation started by talking about animals that they say “mate for life.” Then I said maybe not humans…they seem to have a shelf life of about seven years. Then I went to law school (because my friends and family let me down by not trying to talk me out of it) and I learned about contract law. After finishing law school, the two ideas sort of merged and voila: seven-year contracts.
Megan: Haha! A 7-year shelf life! As a lawyer myself, I definitely gravitated to and enjoyed how contract law entered into the family law arena. It’s sort of crazy to think of!
I loved how Kate was very self-aware and called herself out on some of her own crap. I wanted to slap her a few times myself! What were some of your favorite things about her?
Erin: I like that Kate can laugh at herself. She tries to do the right thing, but definitely falls short sometimes. But she still shrugs it off rather than beating herself up over her mistakes.
Megan: Did you have a particular scene (or scenes) that you just loved writing?
Erin: I loved the scene at the bar where she sees the mermaid in the tank! I think because that whole scene sort of played in my head like a movie and I was just writing away and didn’t even know exactly what was going to happen next. And of course, the kiss that follows. Kate was just goofy and fearless in the best way.
Megan: I LOVED that scene so much, too. When I was reading that scene, I could totally see Kate being carefree and totally adorable. And Adam…well…looking at her all amused. Speaking of Adam…
I would describe Adam as very charismatic, kind, and mysterious. I loved how he was so attuned to Kate and how to help her out of a tough situation. How would you describe Adam? And why is he so freaking stubborn?
Erin: Adam is the unicorn. Well, he starts out as the letch who’s just trying to get a girl in bed. But once they get to be friends? He has a depth Kate never anticipated (which is why he’s so good at tangling up her brain). But he’s also – as you said – stubborn and determined that relationships are not for him. He’s gotten used to giving people only the surface of who he is and they seem okay with that, which has made him more cynical about opening up to anyone.
Megan: I’m dying to know if we’ll learn more about him (and what’s going on in his brain) in the next book.
Erin: Much more! It’s so hard because this story was always an arc for me and it’s one continuous storyline! Adam is more confused about his feelings for Kate in Book 2 but she definitely continues chipping away at his marble façade.
Megan: I’m going to ask you the question that EVERYONE will want to know upon finishing this one: When can we expect book two?
Erin: It’s in editing but I don’t have a release date yet! So sorry! I will shout it from the rooftops once it’s got a release date. 🙂
Megan: As a follow-up, why must you torture us so?
Erin: Hahaha. I know, I know. Like I said, I have this whole story laid out and Book 2 starts *the moment* Book 1 ends!
Megan: My emotions were all over the place at the end of ILYSttFTaC. Can you give us any hints or tease us a bit about the next book? I may or may not resort to begging.
Erin: Kate starts to find her footing as a lawyer and – spoiler alert – realizes that people are generally nuts. She struggles with making practical decisions about her future, but Adam manages to continue to make a mess of that. But I can tell you that she does narrow her playing field by the end of Book 2!
Lightning Round:
Favorite movie?
As Good As It Gets. Not a wasted line in the entire movie.
Coolest place you want to go, but haven’t yet?
New York City! Never been, but I’m finally going in March! So excited!
Your least favorite word?
“Bae.” Because it’s not a word, people! Oh, and “adorbs.” Please. Just stop.
Haha! Favorite romance novel?
Wuthering Heights. Yeah, I know. Stalker alert. Can’t help it. It’s a twisted love story, but I have entire passages memorized.
Favorite junk food?
Cookies. All kinds as long as they don’t have raisins.
What are your guilty pleasures?
The Vampire Diaries. Yes, I am a grown woman entirely obsessed with a CW show. Oh, and I’ve been known to occasionally marathon the Twilight movies. (Shocking, I know!)
More about Erin Lyon:
- I LOVE YOU SUBJECT TO…: Amazon: US • UK • CAN | iBooks | GR
- If you want a laugh, you MUST read the article Erin wrote here on “Why Lawyers Should Not Write Romance.” She explains why her method of marriage would have saved these couples in classic literature a lot of grief. So funny!
GIVEAWAY:
Winner will receive a paperback copy of I Love You Subject to the Following Terms and Conditions courtesy of Tor Books.
Open to U.S. residents only.
Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 years old to enter.
By entering you agree to these terms & conditions.
Good luck!
