Hannah Orenstein
Author Interview - Hannah Orenstein
Author of Head Over Heels.
Author I draw inspiration from: I love the way Casey McQuiston’s characters feel so incredibly vibrant and real! It’s been a year since I read Red, White, and Royal Blue, and even still, I’ll occasionally see something and think, “Oh, that’s so Alex.”
Author Interview - Hannah Orenstein
Favorite place to read a book: I do most of my reading in my bathtub! It’s the perfect place to relax with no distractions.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Hayes Campbell from The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. Sure, it would be terrible to be trapped in an elevator with a charming, flirtatious, world-famous musician, but somebody has to do it.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: When I was in elementary school, I wrote a series of short stories about a cow who solved various mysteries around a farm. It was put on display in the school’s library and I remember feeling so proud! I kept writing on and off over the years, but didn’t seriously experiment with writing a novel until after college.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: I’m a paperback girl. They’re lighter to travel with… and I travel with a lot of books.
The last book I read: I just finished The Idea of You, which is a romance novel about a 39-year-old single mom who falls for her daughter’s crush, a boy band star inspired by Harry Styles. It was such an all-consuming, heart-pounding, absurdly delicious read that I legitimately joined a Facebook support group after I was done. I’ve never felt compelled to even seek out such a thing in my entire life. This! Book!
Author Interview - Hannah Orenstein
Pen & paper or computer: Computer! I don’t think I’ve written long-hand since college.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: I’d have so much fun hanging out with Bea Schumacher, the heroine from Kate Stayman-London’s One to Watch. Bea is a whip-smart, entertaining, plus-size fashion blogger who becomes the star of a dating reality show like The Bachelor. We’d get drinks and she’d dish on what it’s really like behind the scenes.
Author Interview - Hannah Orenstein
If I wasn’t an author, I’d be a: Matchmaker! That really was my first job — setting up New York’s most eligible singles — and it inspired my first novel, Playing with Matches.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I’d want to time-travel back to 1974 and be dressed by an up-and-coming Diane von Furstenberg.
Place I’d most like to travel: Lake Como! Give me gorgeous lake scenery, pasta, and views of George Clooney’s house, and I’ll be all set.
My signature drink: I drank a little concoction I call Love at First Sip for all of summer 2019 when my novel Love at First Like came out. It’s vinho verde with a splash of lemon seltzer, a slice of cucumber, and a bit of basil. So refreshing.
Favorite artist: There are two cartoonists on Instagram who do hilarious work about dating and relationships: @butlikemaybe and @violetclair. Their work always brightens up my feed.
Number one on my bucket list: It would be a huge honor to have my work adapted for film or TV!
Find more from the author:
@hannahorens on Instagram and Twitter
Author Interview - Hannah Orenstein
