I’ve been looking forward to the release of Hot British Boyfriend for a few months now—I mean just look at how adorable that cover is! I’m so excited it’s finally here! To celebrate its release, debut author Kristy Boyce has stopped by the blog today to tell us a little bit more about her debut novel.
Interview with Kristy Boyce
Let’s start off with a quick teaser about your book—describe Hot British Boyfriend in five words:
Swoony travel romance about self-acceptance.
Hot British Boyfriend is your debut novel. What inspired Ellie’s story?
My original inspiration came from teaching a psychology class on “the Self.” We talk a lot about gaining self-knowledge and self-esteem in the class and that led me to write an application multiple-choice question about times when we feel comfortable sharing our “true” selves with others.
I started thinking about how someone would act if they were in a totally new situation for a few months with people they didn’t know. It might be tempting to try acting like someone else because who would know? And you wouldn’t have to keep up the charade forever. Then I decided to set it in England because I love it there! 😉
What are the must-see places you would recommend to someone visiting England for the first time?
Of course, people have to visit London. You could spend months exploring, but I think you need at least a few days minimum. Some of my favorite places are Covent Garden, Big Ben, The National Gallery, and Kensington Gardens for people-watching and tea.
There are so many amazing sites outside of London as well. I haven’t been able to explore all of England, but I recently visited York (pre-COVID) and loved it. It’s so charming. Bath is also gorgeous and a great choice for anyone who loves Jane Austen.
What types of tea are your characters’ favorites?
Ellie’s fave: Earl Grey (her mother’s favorite)
Sage’s fave: Irish breakfast
Dev’s fave: anything with lots of caffeine!
Huan’s fave: I’m thinking he’d be a Chai drinker
Will’s fave: he’d rather have a coffee if it’s all the same to you. 😉
What song would you choose as a theme song for Hot British Boyfriend?
This is a really old song, but I think I have to choose “You and Me Song” by The Wannadies. The chorus is so joyful, which reminds me of the tone of the book, and the lyrics remind me of Ellie and Dev.
What’s up next? Can you share anything about what you are currently writing?
I have a new standalone YA romance that my agent is sending to editors now. I’d also love to continue to write within this “Hot British Boyfriend universe,” but I can’t share much about that right now!
About Hot British Boyfriend
Release Date: February 9, 2021
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Bookshop
After a horrifying public rejection by her crush, Ellie Nichols does what any girl would do: she flees the country. To be more precise, she joins her high school’s study abroad trip to England. While most of her classmates are there to take honors courses and pad their college applications, Ellie is on a quest to rebuild her reputation and self-confidence. And nothing is more of a confidence booster than getting a hot British boyfriend.
When Ellie meets Will, a gorgeous and charming Brit, she vows to avoid making the same mistakes as she did with the last guy she liked. Which is why she strikes up a bargain with Dev, an overachieving classmate who she’s never clicked with, but who does seem to know a lot about the things Will is interested in—if he helps her win over her crush, then she’ll help him win over his.
But even as Ellie embarks on a whirlwind romance, one that takes her on adventures to some of England’s most beautiful places, she still needs to figure out if this is actually the answer to all her problems . . . and whether the perfect boyfriend is actually the perfect boy for her.
About Kristy Boyce
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
Kristy Boyce lives in Columbus, OH and teaches psychology as a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University. When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, putting together fairy gardens, or watching happy reality TV (The Great British Bake-Off and So You Think You Can Dance are perennial favorites).
She’s from my neck of the woods! I wonder if my daughter had her for class.
Oooh that’s awesome!
Such a great interview! This book sounds like a ton of fun, I definitely want to read it.
It’s a super cute read!