Q&A: Rachel Meredith, Author of ‘Girl Next Door’

We chat with author Rachel Meredith about Girl Next Door, which is a charming debut rom-com where a young freelancer returns to her suburban hometown to uncover why her childhood next door neighbour’s bestselling book appears to be an epic love story about the two of them.

Hi, Rachel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hey! I’m the author of the debut sapphic rom-com GIRL NEXT DOOR. I was born in NYC, raised on Long Island, and now live in New Haven with my wife and our two kids. And I just ate some excellent Chinese takeout.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I don’t have a specific memory, but like most writers, I’ve always been a big reader. I imagine the decision to make up my own stories came from the early obsession with books. It helped that my parents and a few teachers encouraged my writing dreams along the way.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, by R.L. Stine
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: These Heathens, by Mia McKenzie

Your debut novel, Girl Next Door, is out September 9^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Messy, chaotic, meta rom-com. (Counting “rom-com” as two words here, despite the hyphen. You may judge me!)

What can readers expect?

My love letter to rom-coms, and sapphic rom-coms in particular—a homecoming story starring a twenty-something people-pleaser who’s figuring out how she wants to be in the world, romantically and otherwise. I hope the book makes people laugh.

Where did the inspiration for Girl Next Door come from?

I was working on a more general book about an angsty artist having to move back home, and there was a romance subplot in there between the main character and her prickly childhood neighbor. The manuscript was feeling pretty dead by the time I was halfway through it. As I was trying to troubleshoot the momentum issue, I explained the plot to my wife, who’s actually a book editor, and she encouraged me to just go full-tilt with the romance.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

This is an annoying answer, but I enjoyed writing every part of this book. The messy characters and the intricate ways they derail each other’s lives, then collectively rebuild. The suburban Long Island setting, which I based on the town where I grew up. And the physical comedy. I’m a big fan of slapstick humor, and it was fun to try my hand at it.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Absolutely. I find that working with tropes and established reader expectations is as intimidating as it is exciting. And keeping tension fresh between two characters you know will end up together is a challenge. The first place I always go when I’m having difficulty is other people’s books—I read many, many wonderful rom-coms while I was working on Girl Next Door. I also was lucky enough to get astute feedback from a handful of trusted friends and family when my first draft was done. Then there was the top-notch editorial work put in by both my agent and my editor at HarperCollins.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

The road was intense! I spent about a decade trying to write sci-fi/fantasy before switching to rom-com. In that decade, I wrote three books, and none of them sold. I experienced an “it’s not you, it’s me” moment where I thought maybe loving a certain kind of book doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the book you’re destined to write well. I also loved rom-coms, but was so much more intimidated to write in that category. Partly because I’m such an unromantic person, and partly because it’s such an emotion-forward category, if that makes sense. When I did make the switch, though, the road became remarkably smooth. The agent who now represents me responded quickly to my work, as did my now-editor. I feel very lucky about that.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on another sapphic rom-com with a summer vibe. Wish me luck!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I shouted this out in the lightning round above, but THESE HEATHENS by Mia McKenzie blew me away. I also loved REJECTION by Tony Tulathimutte, which had me laughing hysterically on multiple occasions, despite the dark content. Of course I’ve been reading lots of romance as well—a sweet one I read recently is BED AND BREAKUP by Susie Dumond! In terms of things I’m looking forward to, I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of THANK YOU, JOHN, by Michelle Gurule, an incredible memoir coming out this fall. And I’ve got Rachel Runya Katz’s ISN’T IT OBVIOUS? on preorder as well. I could go on! But I’ll leave it at that. Thank you so much for the interview!

Will you be picking up Girl Next Door? Tell us in the comments below!