This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome bestselling author Sarina Bowen to talk about her suspenseful new novel, DYING TO MEET YOU. Known for her compelling characters and emotionally resonant storytelling, Sarina steps into the world of domestic thrillers with a chilling premise rooted in modern-day tech obsession. In this page-turner, architect and single mom Rowan finds herself caught in a web of secrets, suspicion, and murder—all sparked by a seemingly innocent tracking app. In our conversation, Sarina shares the inspiration behind the story, her love of Maine, and the delicate balance of trust in our most intimate relationships.
Jennifer Vido: What inspired the premise of Rowan tracking her ex through an app—and did you draw from any real-life tech or trends when creating that plot point?
Sarina Bowen: When my older son was 16 years old, I opened the location app on my phone for the first time. I just wanted to make sure he got to soccer practice safely. But then I found myself opening up this app with more frequency, even though it felt a little eerie watching his avatar biking down our dirt roads. And I started to wonder… what is the creepiest thing that could happen with this app?
Jen: Rowan is both a talented architect and a single mom. How did you balance portraying her professional strength with her personal vulnerabilities?
Sarina: That part felt easy to me, since I have a successful career…and yet I feel like I’m just winging it all the time! Wait. Is that just me?
Jen: The setting in Maine, particularly the historic mansion, adds a gothic layer to the story. Why did you choose that location, and how did it shape the tone of the novel?
Sarina: First, I love Portland, Maine so much, and I go there about four times a year. When I set a book there, it’s a perfect excuse to visit again. Portland has a lot of history for a small city, and it still breathes with that old port energy! It’s great for adding a layer of fog and mystery to the story.
Jen: This story explores how well we know the men in our lives. What message were you hoping to convey about trust, relationships, and perception?
Sarina: In this book, some of the people who seem trustworthy just aren’t, and some of the ones who seem shady turn out to be heroes. It takes time and patience to figure out who’s who, just like in real life, I guess.
Jen: Rowan becomes both a witness and a suspect in a murder. What challenges did you face in keeping readers guessing while also staying true to her character?
Sarina: I spent quite a bit of time chatting about the investigation with a retired Maine police detective, and he helped me figure out how to parry the various suspects in the minds of law enforcement. Rowan is both an insider and an outsider to this process, which I found fascinating.
Jen: How did you approach writing the psychological tension and suspense throughout the novel? Any favorite techniques or influences?
Sarina: Mistrust is a powerful drug in fiction, so I leaned pretty hard on that to sustain the tension. When someone close to you is killed, it isn’t too hard to see danger wherever you look.
Jen: What do you hope readers take away from Rowan’s journey—both in terms of solving the mystery and in reclaiming her sense of self?
Sarina: I hope readers can see themselves in Rowan. She is a typical mom in many respects who suddenly finds herself in a very difficult situation. It’s always fun to ask ourselves –“what would I do if this happened to me?” And this book delivers a lot of depth to that question.
Jen: Can you share a favorite scene or moment from the book that surprised even you during the writing process?
Sarina: Rowan’s daughter hates how often her mother uses that app to track her. But then Rowan is surprised when her daughter does the same thing later in the book. I had fun with the double-edged sword of technology.
Jen: What’s next for you—are you working on another thriller with a similar vibe, or exploring new territory?
Sarina: I'm currently working on a new novel that explores generational trauma and family secrets, but in a different setting and with an entirely new badass female character. Like DYING TO MEET YOU, it will likely blend elements of mystery, family drama, and investigation.
I’m grateful to Sarina for joining me this week and for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at her thrilling new release. Be sure to grab your copy of DYING TO MEET YOU —you won’t want to miss this chilling ride.
A Twisty Psychological Thriller About a Single Mom, a Murdered Ex, and Secrets Too Close to Home from the Author of The Five Year Lie
From the author of The Five Year Lie comes a new twisty thriller that probes how well we actually know the men in our lives.
Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.
Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
Thriller Domestic | Thriller Psychological [Harper Paperbacks, On Sale: May 13, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9780063280649 / eISBN: 9780063280656]
Suspenseful Story with Twists to the Last Page
Sarina Bowen is a 24-time USA Today bestselling author, and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.
A New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country in the 1760s, Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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