Podcast Summary: "Book Talk w/ HANNAH BROWN"
Podcast Information:
- Title: I'll Read What She's Reading
- Host/Authors: Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy
- Episode: Book Talk w/ HANNAH BROWN
- Release Date: June 18, 2025
Introduction to Hannah Brown
In this engaging episode of I'll Read What She's Reading, hosts Reggie, Mikayla, and Kennedy welcome Hannah Brown as their special guest. Known for her appearances on The Bachelorette and as a Dancing with the Stars mirror ball champion, Hannah Brown has also made a significant mark as a New York Times bestselling author. The trio excitedly introduces Hannah and sets the stage for an in-depth conversation about her literary journey and upcoming projects.
Reggie (00:10): "Hello, everybody. Welcome back to I'll read what she's reading. I'm Reggie."
Hannah Brown (01:58): "We're so excited to chat with you guys."
Exploring Hannah's New Book: "The Four Engagement Rings of Civil Reign"
Hannah delves into her latest work, The Four Engagement Rings of Civil Reign, scheduled for release on June 24, 2025. This novel continues the universe established in her previous book, Mistakes We Never Made, by focusing on interconnected standalone romance stories centered around a core group of four women.
Hannah Brown (03:08): "People have an attachment to this new character, or not new character, but really in my first book, Sybil is like a side character in this whole thing, and people are really just loving her story and being invested."
Hannah emphasizes the beauty of friendships as the foundation of her narratives, highlighting how these relationships offer a "front row seat to all our most beautiful relationships in our life" (03:30).
Inspiration Behind Writing Romance Novels
The hosts probe into Hannah's motivations for venturing into romance writing. Hannah reveals that her love for reading romance and her personal experiences, especially from her time on reality TV and dating shows, significantly influenced her decision to craft love stories for others.
Hannah Brown (05:18): "Coming from my background, I was on reality TV, dating, and people have really just been so invested in my love story and my personal life."
She discusses how intertwining her emotions and experiences into her characters allows her to create authentic and relatable love stories, providing both her and her readers with an avenue for reflection and growth.
Mikayla (06:53): "I think that's just so fun. And I'm sure it's, like, really fun for you to see these characters come to life and be like, I sprinkled a little bit of myself into this character and a little bit of myself into this character."
Developing Complex Characters and Themes
Hannah shares insights into her character development process, explaining how each character represents different facets of her personality and life experiences. She highlights the duality between characters like Emma and Sybil, who embody contrasting traits that complement each other.
Hannah Brown (07:29): "The core for the women in the book are all kind of like a part of me. So I feel like I expand on certain experiences or just different emotions or feelings..."
Hannah underscores the importance of personal growth and healing within her stories, ensuring that each character undergoes a meaningful journey that resonates with readers.
Hannah Brown (08:56): "What's really important to me is that there is something that you take away from every book and every character."
The Writing Process and Collaboration
The conversation shifts to Hannah's writing methodology. She identifies as a plotter who relies heavily on collaboration with her co-author, Emily Larrabee, to bring her visions to life. This partnership allows her to focus on character creation while Emily handles the structural aspects of the narrative.
Hannah Brown (24:09): "I have a great team. I'm never going to pretend, like, I did not have resources that I know that I am so lucky to have..."
She candidly discusses the challenges of maintaining character authenticity, especially when writing complex characters like Sybil, who undergo significant emotional journeys.
Hannah Brown (25:22): "Sybil was a more complicated character to write about. So with this book, it went different than the first."
Embracing Tropes and Genres
Exploring literary tropes, Hannah expresses her fondness for second chance romances, finding personal resonance and therapeutic value in stories where characters overcome past hurts to find love again.
Hannah Brown (33:46): "Look, I love the redemption story because I feel like I need. I have needed that so many times to feel like I deserved and was worthy of a second chance."
She also touches upon integrating other tropes, such as fake dating, aiming to present them in fresh and unexpected ways to keep her narratives engaging.
Hannah Brown (35:48): "I have a little bit of fake dating trope in this new book, and I love those."
Influence of Travel and Setting in Her Books
Hannah discusses how her love for travel, especially to tropical destinations, influences the settings of her novels. Personal experiences from places like Maui and California enrich the backdrops of her stories, adding authenticity and vibrancy.
Hannah Brown (37:50): "I've been to Maui and loved it. And that's kind of where the inspiration came from in the four engagement rings. Civil reign."
She also shares her personal preference for warm climates, reflecting her desire to create beach-read vibes in her work.
Hannah Brown (39:44): "I love a good look. I love a good beach read with, you know, on the beach."
Vulnerability in Writing: Memoir vs. Romance
The hosts explore the different levels of vulnerability involved in writing a memoir compared to crafting romance novels. Hannah reflects on how her memoir required her to confront and share deeply personal aspects of her life, akin to her romance writing but distinct in its rawness.
Hannah Brown (20:20): "Putting out anything creative onto the world, like, you know, doing a TikTok dance or something can be vulnerable because you never know."
She acknowledges the intense vulnerability required when writing, especially in genres that demand emotional honesty and character depth.
Hannah Brown (21:42): "The memoir, the first book that I wrote, like, that was hard because I was, like, being vulnerable about things like I never had before."
Audience Engagement and Personal Insights
Toward the end of the episode, the hosts engage Hannah in a rapid-fire segment, where she shares her favorite tropes, recent reads, and personal life updates. Hannah reveals her latest reads, including The Tell by Amy Griffin and Rewire Your Brain, reflecting her interest in both challenging and self-improvement literature.
Hannah Brown (42:29): "The Tell is by Amy Griffin. It's really, it's a hard read because she's dealing with just like... things that have happened in our past that we completely shut out."
She also touches upon her upcoming participation in Bachelor in Paradise and her forthcoming wedding, providing fans with a glimpse into her exciting personal milestones.
Hannah Brown (45:24): "I'm going to Costa Rica for Bachelor in Paradise... And also, you're getting married soon. Congratulations."
Conclusion and Where to Connect with Hannah
As the episode wraps up, Hannah shares information on where listeners can follow her journey, purchase her books, and keep up with her book tour.
Hannah Brown (47:40): "You can find me on Instagram, TikTok at Hannah Brown... You can find that wherever books are sold."
The hosts express their support and excitement for Hannah's future endeavors, encouraging listeners to check out her new release as the perfect summer read.
Reggie (49:11): "Yes, everyone. Check it out."
Key Takeaways:
- Hannah Brown's Literary Journey: From reality TV star to bestselling romance author, Hannah shares her motivations and inspirations.
- Interconnected Storytelling: The Four Engagement Rings of Civil Reign builds upon her previous work, focusing on a core group of friends and their romantic journeys.
- Personal Experiences: Hannah integrates her own life experiences and emotions into her characters, fostering authenticity and relatability.
- Collaborative Writing: Her partnership with co-author Emily Larrabee plays a crucial role in refining her narratives and maintaining structural integrity.
- Embracing Tropes: Hannah enjoys and revitalizes classic romance tropes, such as second chances and fake dating, to create engaging and fresh stories.
- Travel Influence: Personal travels to places like Maui and California influence the vibrant settings of her novels.
- Vulnerability in Writing: Both her memoir and romance novels require deep emotional honesty, allowing her to connect profoundly with her audience.
Notable Quotes:
- Hannah Brown (07:29): "I want people to come to find these books, whichever one that they decide to start first, but then be so interested in the universe and the friendship that they want to know more about these individual women and their love stories."
- Hannah Brown (33:46): "I love a second chance romance... There's a lot of times, like, I think we're learning more as we become, like, more of a therapy culture."
- Hannah Brown (20:40): "This is what is so important to me about my books and really just anything I do in my life that, like, I'm not just a just bachelorette looking for love. Like, there's depth and there's obstacles that I'm gonna have that I need to go through."
Connect with Hannah Brown:
- Instagram & TikTok: Hannah Brown (username may vary)
- Books:
- Mistakes We Never Made
- The Four Engagement Rings of Civil Reign
- The Tell by Amy Griffin (Recommended Reading)
Join Hannah on her literary journey and stay updated on her book tours and personal milestones by following her on social media platforms. Don't miss out on her upcoming release, perfect for your summer reading list!