Becca Kinzer’s romantic comedy novels are filled with quirky townspeople, wacky hijinks, witty banter, and swoon-worthy love stories. Not What We Pictured is no exception!
McKenna and Nate are forced to spend the summer together waiting for Nate’s luggage, which accidentally has McKenna’s sister’s heirloom engagement ring in it. While they wait, the two help fix up Nate’s mother’s dilapidated bed and breakfast in small-town Tennessee. And the summer they never expected could be McKenna and Nate’s chance at a love neither could have pictured.
Becca talks about what inspired the characters in this forced-proximity romance and the deeper themes behind the comedy. Read more about what went into writing Not What We Pictured!
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What will fans of romance love about this story?
I’m hoping fans of romance will love the chemistry and banter McKenna and Nate have from the moment they meet. Their love story was so fun to write! I think romance readers will find plenty of reasons to laugh and swoon while cheering McKenna and Nate on to their happily ever after.
What do you enjoy about forced-proximity romances?
I love how a forced-proximity romance can bring two characters with clashing personalities together, but more than anything, I just love seeing the two characters together as much as possible—whether they like it or not.
What inspired the town of Bugle?
A lovely bookstore in Cookeville, Tennessee, reached out to me after my debut novel released to see if I would do an author event with them. My husband and I had a great time visiting the area. Since my first few stories took place in Illinois, I was ready for a change of scenery while keeping the small-town vibes. So I thought of this area around Cookeville and created the town of Bugle.
How did you develop McKenna and Nate’s personalities, and what do you love about these characters?
This is the first story I’ve written where I’ve tried using the Enneagram (a personality typology system) to discover what makes my characters tick. For Nate, I explored Enneagram Fours, which are known as “The Individualist” or “The Romantic.” For McKenna, seeing how she was so determined to take care of her little sister long past the point her little sister actually needed her help made me think McKenna must be an Enneagram Two, which is known as “The Helper.” But of course, just like real people, my characters refused to be put inside a box. They kept finding ways to surprise me, which is why I love them.
What themes do you focus on in this book?
This story, like most of my previous stories, is essentially a comedy of errors. But interwoven in the chaos are themes of forgiveness and learning where our true sense of identity comes from, especially when complicated family dynamics are involved.
Your story weaves in career changes, adoption, and family challenges. What inspired you to explore these aspects of life in the novel?
I’d say these aspects were all more of a discovery than an inspiration. When I’m working my way through a new story, especially that first draft, I’m mostly asking my characters “Why?” Why are you living in New York, Nate? Why are you on your way to Tennessee now? Why are you so desperate to see your little sister get engaged, McKenna? Why haven’t you moved out of your tiny hometown in Nebraska if you find it so boring? As I get to know my characters better, that’s when those aspects like career changes, adoption, and family challenges start revealing themselves.
Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer
McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best-laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?
Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.
With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.
Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not busy taking care of sick patients or using up all the storage on her phone with pictures of her dog, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel. Not What We Pictured is her fourth novel. Visit Becca online at beccakinzer.com.