1--What is the title of your latest release?
YOU, WITH A VIEW
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A grieving woman seeks answers about her late grandmother’s long-lost, secret ex-fiancé via TikTok, and when the video goes viral, finds herself on a road trip with the mystery man—and his grandson, who happens to be her old high school rival.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I always knew I wanted my main character Noelle’s home base to be in the Bay Area, because that’s the place I know and live in and love! But since You, with a View is also a road trip romance, I thought about some of my favorite places in the western United States, places I’ve visited often or have emotional attachments to, because those elements tend to make my writing more immersive. I knew I wanted to include Yosemite National Park, because it’s a frequent destination for my family and one of my favorite places on Earth, and also that I wanted to include a stop at Zion National Park, because I grew up going there. Once I had those two decided, I sketched out other destinations that made sense along the way!
4--Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I would LOVE to hang out with Noelle Shepard in real life—she’s got this wry sense of humor I know would keep me cackling the whole time. In the book, she’s kind of going through it, so I’d treat her to a mani/pedi or a good lunch and we’d chat about life and love and our grandmas.
5--What are three words that describe your hero?
Observant, playful, driven.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned that I’m capable of writing a first draft semi-quickly! I tend to take 6-7 months to write a first draft, mainly because I like to draft super cleanly, but with You, with a View, I was able to finish it in four months. It showed me that when I have a very clear picture of the story in my head, I can let it unfold in a speedier way. It’s led me to do more planning and outlining and fleshing out before I draft one word.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I draft, mainly because I often go back and reread what I’ve written so I can really put myself in the middle of the world I’m building. When I start a writing session, I’ll usually go back and reread the previous chapter, and in those moments, I’m always tweaking words, sentences, etc. And then at least two or three times during the course of drafting, I’ll read over everything I’ve written thus far, usually on my Kindle app so it feels like a real book-reading experience, and that will inevitably come with edits as well.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Anything sweet! Literally anything. I have to have at minimum a piece of chocolate after every meal, but if you put a pastry or cake or any kind of dessert/sweet treat in front of my face, you can bet I’m going to eat it.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
My computer is tucked into a sunshiney corner in my bedroom right underneath a window so I can stare out it when I’m stuck with writer’s block or thinking “what the hell is that word I’m thinking of?” I have book carts on either side stuffed with some of my favorite romances, and cute little green plants that bring in a little bit of the outdoors. Oh, and I always have several tarot decks lying (laying?) around when I need advice!
10--Who is an author you admire?
I really admire Laura Dave. I discovered her writing when she debuted with London is the Best City in America back in 2006 and have read everything she’s written since. Her style is so clean, almost spare, but also super evocative. I tend to go on and on (look no further than these answers) and I’m inspired by how she can describe a place or feeling or person so wholly with so few words.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed, which is a collection of her Dear Sugar advice columns. Not only is her writing absolutely breathtaking and inspiring, but the advice she doles out to people about loss and love and career and success and just…what it means to exist as a human on the earth resonated so deeply from the very first pages. I find myself turning to it when something is happening in my life and I need words of wisdom or, honestly, just validation that sometimes life is wonderful and sometimes it absolutely sucks. No other book has ever made me feel so seen.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
When I was about to go on sub, I remember my agent and I discussing which publishers/imprints were at the top of my list. My immediate response was Berkley; so many of my very favorite romance novels are published by them, and I just knew I would be in the best hands if by some miracle they were interested in You, with a View. They showed interest pretty early on in the process and I chatted with the interested editor and felt so connected to her vision and enthusiasm for the story, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up about it being a sure thing. So when I got the email from my agent that Berkley had submitted an offer, it was incredibly surreal! It was one of those pinch-me moments, where I wished I could go back to the me from a year or two ago who was still dreaming about what it would be like to be published and say “look! We did it!”
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I absolutely love, love, love romance. For me, there’s such a comfort in it—I know that there’ll be a happily-ever-after—but at the same time it’s always exciting and compelling. And I think romance books aren’t just about the character(s) falling in love with someone else, it’s also about them re-centering their own love and acceptance for themselves. There’s something so life-affirming in that for me, and it really is the foundation of the genre.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I was going to say this is an impossible question, but in reality, my answer is the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice. Nothing has ever thrown me into a tailspin the way The Hand Flex did the first time I saw it (and, to be quite honest, every time since).
15--What is your favorite season?
I love fall. It feels like fresh beginnings to me—the soggy, sweaty mess of summer is over, the air is cooling down but it’s still sunny and beautiful, and the best stretch of holidays is on the horizon.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
It’s all about self-care. I’m getting something done on that day every year, whether it’s a nice long massage or a mani/pedi (with a massage) or getting my hair done (with a massage). Basically, a massage has to be involved somehow. And then I love to go out to a nice dinner with my family, and indulge in some sort of delicious dessert after!
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just finished Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter, an absolute delight of a YA romance book. I’m a very late adapter, because I’ve seen people talking about it here, there, and everywhere, but wow, once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Deadlines were missed, my family was neglected (kidding) (kinda)…I just fell face-first into Liz Buxbaum’s world. It’s kind of a two-for-one deal, too, because Liz is obsessed with rom com movies, and some of her favorites are mine, too, so it felt like I was indulging in a rom com movie marathon while I read about Liz and Wes Bennett (the ultimate swoony boy) falling in love. Highly, highly recommend if you like YA romance or romance or books or joy of any kind.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Korean food! My husband is Korean and my mother-in-law quite literally cooks the best Korean food out there, so I’m incredibly spoiled.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I love to read, explore the Bay Area with my family, go hiking (easy hikes!!! I’m not trying to take down a six-miler like Noelle), find new bookstores, and eat. But often you can find me scrolling TikTok and crying over strangers.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
More romance books! I’m currently working my second book with Berkley, which will be out next summer. I can’t wait to share more about it!
Two high school enemies must reunite for a road trip inspired by their grandparents’ broken engagement in this electric debut romance.
Noelle Shepherd is unemployed, living with her parents, and grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother when she discovers decades-old photos of Gram and a smitten man, tucked alongside a love letter. She creates a TikTok to search for the mystery man, which goes viral, and she’s shocked when his grandson responds—a man who happens to be her high school nemesis, Theo Spencer.
Noelle refuses to let Theo’s annoying accomplishments in adulthood—or his sexy smirk—stand in the way of meeting his grandfather and unlocking the secrets he knew about her gram as a young woman. When she learns that their plans to elope were thwarted, Noelle decides to take the honeymoon road trip they planned but never got to carry out. There’s a catch, though: Paul, Theo's grandfather, asks to come with her, and he insists that Theo join them.
It’ll be a miracle if they make it through the trip without Noelle throwing Theo out of the moving car—or the bed they end up sharing. As the miles tick by, the tension simmers hotter between them...until she discovers that Theo’s hiding a secret that could cause their tenuous relationship to end before it can restart.
Women's Fiction Contemporary | Romance Comedy [Berkley, On Sale: July 11, 2023, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593548400 / eISBN: 9780593548417]
Jessica Joyce lives happily-ever-ongoing with her husband and son in the Bay Area. When she’s not writing character-driven, realistic and relatable tales of millennials who are just Doing Their Best while falling in love, you can find her listening to one of her dozens of chaotically curated Spotify playlists, trying out a new skincare face mask, crying over cute animal TikToks, or watching the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice.
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