Valentine’s Day is coming, and there are many ways to celebrate it. For us, one of the best ones is always with a book. Which is why we took this opportunity to talk to one of our favorite writers, Lori Goldstein, about her new book, Love, Theodosia – a historical novel with a dash of romance, because we know our brand – and what her favorite Valentine’s reads are.
Goldstein, whose book we reviewed here at Fangirlish and absolutely adored, had a not-so romantic inspiration for her first historical novel. “I’m not sure this is the most appropriate response for Valentine’s Day, but my inspiration for Love, Theodosia was Romeo and Juliet, which is certainly not an HEA story! But that’s how I first thought of this story: what would happen if the children of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr—sworn personal and political enemies—fell in love?”
Which, like – doesn’t that sound like someone you want to read? In a Hamilton obsessed world, how can this book not be something you run to pick up, like, now.
But Goldstein looked past the romance and tried to focus on her heroine, who in this case, was a real historical figure. “I wanted to approach it by telling the tale of Theodosia Burr, a woman who led a complicated and ultimately traffic life, a feminist before the term existed, and a historical figure we know little about. While a romance with Philip Hamilton was my initial hook, the more I researched the real-life Theodosia, the more I realized that the other “love of her life” was her father. They had an intensely close relationship, and she was an important part of his political life, helping to strategize and plan for his career in a way that her gender prevented her from doing for herself. The romance with Philip and the love she has for her father are dual storylines, ultimately forcing her to make a difficult choice. “
Which leads to the question – for Goldstein and for readers – of why romance. What is it about the genre that draws you in? Lori Goldstein has a clear answer, one that starts with questions.
“What will you do for love? What will you sacrifice for love? Are there any costs that are too great? Does love equal happiness? With so much competing for time and mental space in our real lives, it’s somewhat of an escape to lose ourselves in the romantic lives of fictional characters. The stakes are great on an emotional level, which helps us to relate to the characters, feel for them, root for them.”
This led us to the question of favorite tropes, and we can’t say we truly agree with Goldstein’s appreciation for love triangles. “I’ll die on this hill: I adore a good love triangle, which perhaps is no surprise considering the description of Love, Theodosia. While it’s not a romantic love triangle in all its corners, Theodosia is certainly pulled by the two great loves of her life—Philip and her father. Love triangles automatically infuse tension into a story. I also think they add deeper layers of conflict and more soul searching for the main character: What do they truly want in life? What do they value? What will bring them happiness? When a character is torn between two loves, they have no choice but to ask these hard questions of themselves.”
Faithful to her tastes, Goldstein also shared with us some of her other favorites. “I think one of the best love triangles—and perhaps my favorite—is the Elena, Stefan, Damon triangle in the television show The Vampire Diaries. Triangles can become tired or forced with unrealistic obstacles, and I think for the most part TVD succeeded all the way through. Other favorites in books include To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and One Day in December by Josie Silver. In historical fiction, I’ve always been a fan of Philippa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon, and Stephanie Dray.”
Romance has never been Goldstein’s primary genre, but we couldn’t help but notice that there’s always romance in her stories, something she seemed to realize herself as she thought about her answer. “This is such a great question, because I’d never describe myself as someone who seeks out romance stories in the books I read or the shows and movies I watch. And yet as I think about this question, I realize that in the entertainment I like the most, there is always a romance thread!”
On that, we very much agree.
“Whether it’s a subplot like in The Hunger Games or the core of the main plot in something like Daisy Jones and the Six, I do want to read about characters who are finding someone to connect with on a romantic level. So much of our lives are wrapped up in love—finding love, holding on to love, learning to live with lost love . . . humans crave companionship. And that can absolutely be found in friends and family, but I think, for me, our most truest selves tend to be revealed in our romantic relationships. We are at our most vulnerable, and we share our greatest hopes and fears. That’s the essence of a great character in fiction. So having a romance thread is an important piece of truly getting to the heart of a character, and it may be my strongest way in to understanding the fictional people I’m bringing to life.”
For Goldstein, though, romance doesn’t always look like others expect it to look, and Valentine’s Day, in particular, is just celebrated …as it comes. “My husband and I are the worst at celebrating holidays! We don’t eschew them on principal or anything, but we tend to not plan ahead enough for them! One year, we had a “Valen-Mas” celebration in March to make up for having missed both Christmas and Valentine’s Day. So perhaps a perfect Valentine’s Day for me would be a day at the beach with a good book and a bottle of rosé to close it out sometime in July. “
She does, however, hope readers can enjoy her new book, Love Theodosia, in time for Valentines. “Love, Theodosia makes a great Valentine’s Day gift because it appeals to readers on so many levels. Love the Hamilton musical? Got ya covered! Love romance? Meet Philip and Theo. Interested in politics? And how our political landscape isn’t all that different from how it was more than a hundred years ago? The election of 1800 at your service. Want a good reason to appreciate your parents? Meet Aaron Burr. And honestly, the cover’s the perfect color.”
It is. And the book, is a great read, no matter the time of the year.
To help make your Valentine’s Day special, Lori is giving away an audiobook copy of Love, Theodosia. To enter, simply follow her on Instagram or sign up for her newsletter: Instagram: @lorigoldsteinbooks; Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/helMzr
Lori Anne Goldstein is the author of Love, Theodosia, her adult historical debut called a “Romeo and Juliet for Hamilton fans”. She is also the author of four novels for young adults, which include the Becoming Jinn contemporary fantasy series, and the contemporaries Screen Queens and Sources Say. She is a manuscript consultant and teaches creative writing at Grub Street in Boston. She has a background in journalism, lives in the Boston area, and is mildly addicted to Instagram.
