The two-time New York Times best-selling author talks about her latest novel, Reasons To Be Loved By You, how she’s navigating love as a married woman, and what’s next.

A few years ago, former Miss USA contestant Hannah Brown stood on the Bachelorette set during the finale, perplexed and anxious about what transpired. Never did she imagine that, on that day, she would have a highly publicized breakup viewed by millions around the world. Since then, a lot has changed— For one thing, she is no longer navigating the pangs of reality television and messy relationships.

Instead, we find Brown in a much happier state. Today, she is channeling those lived experiences into a thriving literary career. With the latest release of her third novel in the Mistake We Never Made Series titled Reasons To Be Loved by You, the two-time New York Times best-selling author is stepping away from the drama and letting those stories breathe on paper. As of today, when this interview was conducted, Brown is now introducing us to a more grounded chapter of her life as a first-time homeowner and one part of a newly married couple. 

“ This new phase I’m in now has honestly shifted my perspective on romance, and I am all here for it.”

“Writing a book is always a huge undertaking,” she says. “This is my third romance novel and fourth book overall, and every time I start a project, I begin from my own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Even though I’m writing fiction and romance, I process my emotions through these characters. I think readers come back to books because they see themselves in the characters, and that truth has to come from somewhere real.”

It’s a philosophy she has refined over the course of her career, one that has grown more confident with each book.

“With my first romance novel, I really wanted to ‘get it right’ for the genre,” she admits. “I wanted all the expected tropes and beats. Over time, I’ve allowed myself to challenge those expectations and lean more into what feels authentic to me. Each book has pushed me further toward writing stories that feel emotionally true to the human experience while still existing within romance.”

In Reasons to be Loved By You, Nikki Bennet comes home only to find that certain things there are not what they seem. When it came to creating the storyline, Brown found herself balancing the truth with the need to draw the line on specific details while still using her experiences as the primary source of inspiration.

 “A lot of Nikki’s emotional journey came from my own experiences, questioning why things didn’t go according to plan and feeling crippled by that,” she notes. She embraces this creative process, adding, “It’s fun to blend truth and fiction together to create something uniquely mine”.

“Even though I’m writing fiction and romance, I process my emotions through these characters.”

As Brown has grown as an individual, her approach to the romance genre has evolved. With her first novel, she focused heavily on hitting all the expected tropes and beats of the genre. Now, she allows herself to challenge those expectations. “Each book has pushed me further toward writing stories that feel emotionally true to the human experience while still existing within romance,” she says.

This authenticity stems from her changing understanding of love. Brown admits that her earlier relationships were toxic, giving her the wrong idea of what love should feel like and causing her to chase dramatic, “shiny” things. Today, she understands that real love is entirely different.

“Love isn’t the grand gestures or dramatic moments anymore,” Brown reflects. “It’s the small, quiet, everyday moments where you feel valued, appreciated, and safe”. She hopes her longtime followers, who have watched her navigate these different phases publicly, will grow alongside her and realize that true love is steady and safe, and that it requires inner work.

Brown’s life is a mix of ordinary adult milestones and exciting professional ventures. Behind the scenes, she is focused on her domestic life, pouring her energy into everyday tasks like renovating her new home and learning to build a life in her marriage.

 Professionally, she is eager to embark on a book tour and meet the readers who have connected with her new characters. She is also actively writing another book set in the same universe, as it is important to her to tell the stories of all four women in the core friend group.

Throughout her career and personal life, Brown’s ultimate takeaway is clear: “You don’t have to become a perfect version of yourself to earn validation or affection.” She emphasizes that readers should realize they do not have to perform to deserve happiness, concluding, “Real love accepts you exactly as you are, flaws, quirks, and all”.

Purchase your own copy of Hannah Brown’s latest book Reasons To Be Loved by You HERE. To keep up with Hannah, you can follow her @hannahbrown on Instagram 

Editorial Credits: Talent: Hannah Brown @hannahbrown | Photographer: Hannah Rozelle hannahrozelle_ | EIC: Natalie Tran Steger @natalietsteger | Managing Editor: Cyan Dacasin @xmissperegrinex | Stylist: Paula Gomez @paulagstylist | MUA: Emily Adams @emilyadams.makeup rep by @theonly.agency | Hair: Luisa Soler @thisisluisasoler | Talent PR: @alignpr