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Erin La Rosa is the author of For Butter or Worse, which is available on July 26.
Erin La Rosa has written many highly engaging…tweets, as a social media manager. But on her way to writing romance, she’s also published two humorous non-fiction books, Womanskills and The Big Redhead Book. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three daughters (one human, two felines).
Her romance novel, For Butter or Worse, features a deeply flawed chef and a smarmy restaurateur who begrudgingly fake their relationship to save their cooking show but will find themselves growing together in ways they didn’t expect. Here’s the full synopsis:
All chef Nina Lyon wants is to make a name for herself in the culinary world and inspire young women everywhere to do the same. For too long, she’s been held back and underestimated by the male-dominated sphere of professional kitchens, and she’s had enough. Now, as co-host of the competitive reality TV series The Next Cooking Champ!, she finally has a real shot at being top tier in the foodie scene.
Too bad her co-host happens to be Hollywood’s smarmiest jerk.
Restaurateur Leo O’Donnell never means to get under Nina’s skin. It just seems to happen, especially when the cameras are rolling. It’s part of the anxiety and stress he has come to know all too well in this line of work. So nothing prepares him for the fallout after he takes one joke a smidge too far and Nina up and quits—on live TV.
To make matters worse, the two are caught in what looks like a compromising situation by the paparazzi…and fans of the show go absolutely nuts. Turns out, a “secret romance” between Nina and Leo may just be what their careers need most.
Now all they have to do is play along, without killing each other…and without catching feelings. Easy as artisanal shepherd’s pie. Right?
Let’s get to know Erin as she talks favorite novels, writing for the romance genre, her TBR and more!
What are some of your favorite novels?
Growing up, I really loved reading family drama books, like Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler and Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald when I was in high school (a family drama that ends in a very dark way). More recently, the book I’ve listened to multiple times would be Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall—I really love anything Alexis writes. And within the last year I loved The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, both of which were beautifully written and so sexy.
When did you know you wanted to become an author?
I didn’t really know that becoming a writer was an option until a teacher in high school told me I was a good writer and should do more of it! My whole family is in medicine and, while I wasn’t interested in going that route, I had just never really thought that I could write for a living. I decided in high school that I would go into writing, with the goal of making a living from it. I’ve had a few writing careers—writing online, doing social copy, marketing copy, even writing made-for-TV movies, along with books.
What initially drew you to the romance genre?
There’s something so lovely about the romance genre, and that guaranteed happily ever after! I’ve loved knowing that there will be a happy ending, despite the twists and turns within a book. And being able to write within that genre has been really fulfilling as a result.
What inspired you to write For Butter or Worse?
So many things went into the ingredients list of this book! For starters, I love cooking and always have. And watching reality shows like The Great British Baking Show, Chef’s Table, and Top Chef, is a side hobby of mine. But more than anything, I wanted to tell a story about a woman succeeding in a male-dominated field and showing what she has to deal with along the way. I was surprised to learn that only 7% of kitchens in America are run by women, and sexism is still quite rampant there. So I wanted to follow that story of a successful female chef and see where it took me!
The enemies-to-lovers trope is so fun and quite popular. Why do you think this trope is everlasting and seems to resonate with audiences?
It’s so funny, because I’ve never personally experienced this trope—confrontation is not my thing! But I absolutely love the tension of watching an enemies to lovers romance unfold. And I think readers do too—there’s a slower burn, and the characters have to make dramatic changes to find each other. Enemies to lovers makes for great page-turning content!
Are you available to meet with book clubs?
Absolutely, I would love to! Send me to all of the book clubs! I am part of a book club, too, and just love the discussions that happen there.
What are you currently reading and what’s on your TBR (to be read) list?
I’m currently reading A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings, and my poor TBR has so many titles, but I’m looking forward to Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake!
Click here to order For Butter or Worse on Amazon.
