Hannah Brown Is Kicking Off Summer With a New Romance Novel — and Gig on ‘Bachelor in Paradise'

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3 days ago

Hannah Brown is kicking off a summer of love and new season of life.
After releasing her debut romance novel Mistakes We Never Made last year, the Bachelorette alum is back for book two with The Four Engagements Rings of Sybil Rain. The novel, publishing Tuesday from Forever, an imprint of Hachette Books, is described as a 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall meets Anyone But You' and centers on protagonist Sybil Rain. After her failed wedding a year ago, she uses the hotel vouchers for what was supposed to be her Hawaii honeymoon to get some me-time. However after seeing her then-fiancé Jamie there on a work trip, Sybil attempts to 'save face in front of the ex who broke her heart at the altar' and say she's vacationing with her boyfriend, 'but what starts as a harmless lie soon spirals into an ex-fiancé fiasco' when the second of her three failed engagements also appears. Is this runaway bride 'ready to heal' and find a final chance at love once and for all?
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The second chance romance story was more personal this time around, says Brown. 'What was hard, but also so good about this, is I was exploring that side of myself that has these deep fears and doubts about myself and about love and about what that means and how the different versions of myself and love in the past have allowed that to come and seep into my future and my present,' Brown tells The Hollywood Reporter. 'That was really the thing that I loved and enjoyed and learned as I was writing Sybil that I think people are really going to feel and see.'
In addition to a new book, the season 15 Bachelorette star is also set to debut a new role on the upcoming 10th season of Bachelor in Paradise, premiering July 7. 'Think: the concierge at The White Lotus,' she teases of her title, 'Paradise Relations,' and running the new Champagne Lounge. 'I am there to help wherever I need to help facilitate people finding love whether that's helping set up a sweet romantic moment or being a shoulder to cry on and popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate or to cry. I've got it covered,' she explains.
Ahead of her novel's release, Brown spoke with THR about writing another book after a bestseller and teases what's to come on this new season of Bachelor in Paradise, and how she feels rejoining the franchise after taking some time 'to heal and grow.'
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Having gotten your feet wet with publishing your first romance book, how did you feel going into this one?
The first book was so exciting and new and fresh. I just wanted to make the readers who really fell in love with the first book and supported me proud. I felt more internal pressure to make sure I delivered for them again. I learned so much through that first book, just as a reader myself. I really tried with my co-author, Emily Larrabbee, to stretch us when it came to this next book. Really putting more emphasis on, for example, [the] setting [so it was] more like a character that people can get lost in. I wanted to go even deeper with the main character, Sybil, and what she's struggling with and make it personal for other people to relate to. Also putting a little bit more of myself into the book. Going into this one, I wanted to make sure it was fully my best, taking everything that I've learned from my first experience to make people pleasantly surprised and feel that their anticipation would be worth it.
Looking back on your first book, what was the fan reaction that you took into consideration when working on this one, whether it be things they liked, hoped for more of, etc.?
It was really validating from the first book how people were so intrigued with the character Sybil Rain. So what I took into account is how much people already cared about her as a character, and that's what I mean by trying to make her as relatable and personable as possible. I already saw the love and intrigue people had for her, so that made me dive deeper into how Sybil would think and move and feel. Also, little things I didn't know people would ask all the time, like about dream casting or 'what's a Taylor Swift song that would go with this?' I started thinking about that a bit earlier, knowing what this fanbase wants, how they read and how they bring things together in this culture.
We first met Sybil in your first book but her character wasn't necessarily the main focus or love story. This time around, what was it you were looking forward to exploring with Sybil?
The origin story of all these books was that I really wanted to have this female friendship always be a part of this world. The essence of the book is how these women love and care for each other. I believe that some of the most beautiful love stories that we have in our lives are with our friends, and how they're so important and pivotal in these moments of our own romantic love. When I was trying to dive into these characters, I took parts of myself and exaggerated them for each. Sybil is is one of the parts of me that I'm sometimes ashamed of, and that is what her character has to work on: loving herself truly, because it's the thing that makes her sparkle. It's the thing that people can really draw onto but she's messy, and that can be fun to watch and experience her when she's the light. But what's on the other side of that? And that's kind of how I feel. I was exploring that side of myself that has these deep fears and doubts about myself and about love, and about what that means and how the different versions of myself and love in the past have allowed that to come and seep into my future and my present. That was the thing I loved and enjoyed and learned as I was writing Sybil that I think people are going to feel and see.
What kind of love story appealed to you to tell?
This is a second chance romance, similar to the first book, with an emphasis on miscommunication. There's also fun fake dating going on, but miscommunication is sometimes really hard and frustrating for readers, because it's like, why don't they just have this conversation that would end all this? But it's two people who have deeply hurt each other. And there's so many times in life when we've been deeply hurt. There's the conversation that needs to be had, but there's too much tension and there needs to be space. But then in this book, they end up being on the same beach together, trying to distance themselves, but still being there so you feel that that tension. Even though this is an exaggerated story that has so much chaos, [and] I would hope nobody would find themselves [in], there is this relatable feeling of, 'I just want to be able to tell you this one thing, that we get past this and we can get to our happily ever after, and yet we can't. There's still too much hurt and a barrier between us.' Sometimes romance novels can feel [like] what they're supposed to do. [They] can take you [on an] escape and it always ends up as this happily ever after. But I really wanted to capture the tension of that in between [place] that I think is true for a lot of people in their love stories.
Can you talk about creating Jamie?
Jamie is like a Darcy-type main character. All the good parts of him are parts of my fiancé. There are parts of Sybil that are definitely me, and the patience and support that Jamie has with Sybil, truly in the way that he loves her, I definitely drew some inspiration from my own love story. He has his own stuff that he needs to work on as well (laughs). He's dashing and charming, but also doesn't always get it right. And isn't that most of us and the people that we love?
Has your fiancé read this?
He has not. I don't think he's typically a romance reader himself, but, knowing him, he'll read it in support of me just like he did the first one.
You had a two-book deal, but is there a possibility for more books that you're going to write in your future?
I definitely have ideas to be able to tell more stories of these characters that I love, so we'll see! I think it would be incredible. This is something I've always wanted to do, and that I was able to see so much support with my very first book. Then being able to have the Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain out there, I would love to be able to continue the process, so we'll see. It would definitely be a dream.
Last time I spoke with you I promised I would ask this question again since it stumped you the first time: Which Taylor Swift song would best apply to this book?
I think a fun one is 'Getaway Car' but an absolute perfect, perfect [song] is 'The Bolter.'
In addition to returning to the romance novel world, you're also returning to the world by joining . You're engaged so obviously aren't part of the cast looking for love. What can you tease about your upcoming role?
I am so excited to be back with Bachelor Nation, especially after some time in between and some growth as a person, and all the things that I've learned about love to be able to be there. My role is like Paradise Relations. I've been telling people, 'Think: the concierge at The White Lotus, where he just shows up and is doing random things.' I'm not performing karaoke. I am there to help wherever I need to help facilitate people finding love, whether that's helping set up a sweet romantic moment or being a shoulder to cry on and popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate or to cry. I've got it covered!
This role is new. It's not something they've ever done before. We were just feeling our way through of how I could be best utilized and helpful. But one thing the show needed, and I was glad to be the person to fill the shoes, is having that female presence for the women. [Host] Jesse [Palmer] and [bartender] Wells [Adams] are amazing, and are probably more emotionally intelligent than most men, and have been able to help so much, but there's just nothing like being able to talk to someone who's been in your shoes. I'm truly there to help facilitate and to comfort or to encourage them, and I think sometimes it's really great for some of the men to be able to talk to a woman about how to treat women.
This timeis welcoming for the first time from the and . Can you talk about how the grouping is going to work? Are the older contestants are going to mix in with the younger? Are they going to be divided to date among their ages?
The Goldens are all over Bachelor in Paradise this time. So you are going to be in love with them. I know a lot of people have been worried, like, how is this gonna work? Trust me, it just works. They bring this life and energy with the younger cast. They're the stars to me (laughs). They're the ones doing this right. Them being there with the young men and women searching for love, you could feel their energy help those that maybe are more insecure. There's more pressure when you are in your 20s and 30s for being able to find the person to do life with. The Goldens have so much experience. But then are also like, 'Y'all, we're getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Soak this in!' They were such a breath of fresh air and really brought something new and different to mingle with the typical casting for Paradise. I think people should just be excited and know that it just works. It's the best of both worlds coming together.
It's refreshing given they probably have the maturity and wisdom …
And they can drink! (Laughs.) Definitely the maturity, but they had a lot of fun! It's a good time.
Do you feel like the drama is more lively with them involved?
It's just like how it is watching the Goldens on Bachelor and Bachelorette. It's that fun drama where they just say what they think and are having the time of their lives.
You had mentioned that you're coming back after having been removed from the franchise for some time and had a growth period. How would you say your thoughts and feelings about the franchise and your past experience with it have evolved? What did that feel like for you coming back?
Honestly, a lot of the production is completely different than it has been for years. So it felt like going to the first day of school at a new school. My place was so different than it has been in the past and that was nice, but it was a totally different experience. I had to keep reminding myself that too, because I would think I knew how things went, and it was not that. I think that was really great for me at this new season of life. It was great to be a part of it.
It also felt really redemptive for me because that was a harder season of life for me when I was going through being on the Bachelorette. Being a contestant is the best. Once you are the lead, there's so much pressure. I was one of the youngest [or] maybe the youngest lead they've had. Just realizing I'm the same age as most of the people who were on the beach looking for love gave me a lot of compassion for myself going through that experience. A lot of the girls at my time, we were so young going through that. I was just doing the best with the information I had, and now I have been able to heal and grow and now come back in this role that I have, and be what I wish I would have had when I was there: That voice truly caring for people and wanting the best for them. So it was really special and sweet, and, like I said, just honored to be back a part of this in a new way.
Do you believe that love is attainable in this format?
I do think it can happen. There are different challenges and struggles than most couples have to deal with. But there's also something so special especially with Paradise, being able to have no distractions. All you're doing is getting to know somebody so quickly and so intimately. But that is the main focus of your life. You're not worried about your job, your family… There's some advantages to the whole opportunity being in Bachelor world, but obviously there's some things that make it really challenging. I think it takes a very special couple for it to be able to to work on the outside.
I've worked with my therapist and I've gone through different seasons of how I felt about the show, and if I would have known everything I know now, I do believe I would have found love with someone on the show, because I would have had so many more tools. And there's no perfect person, but there are people out there that share the same values and goals and have the same type of growth mindset, and are wanting to truly find a lasting love. I would have done the whole experience differently.
So I think that it's possible, but that's why I felt like my role being on the show can be so valuable, because you have to be able to take a moment and not get [in the mindset] of 'oh my gosh, I'm on a TV show. But, how am I going to build a strong base for relationship coming out of here?' It just takes a little bit of maturity and work and growth on the outside and doing a little bit more than just like drinking drinks at the bar. (Laughs.) [But] that's fun too!
The franchise was a first of its kind when it premiered but now there are so many dating shows with the varied streamers which results in competition. As a veteran and alumni of that world, how do you think the franchise is evolving with these changes and what else would you like to see try out in order to keep things fresh?
The Bachelor franchise is iconic for a reason. I think this next season of Bachelor will be its 30th season? That is insane. I'm so honored to be a part of what has become like a pillar. When it comes to a dating show, it is like the Founding Father. I think what makes it special is its real emphasis on finding love at the end. It's not just we're hanging out. It's about finding that happily ever after and that fairy tale. And I think we all want to see that, even though we all know it's a lot harder than that. You got to have that strong foundation then go out into the outside world.
You have to continue to grow and evolve and change, and I'm really proud of what this Bachelor in Paradise season is doing to just bring new life to the show. It's gonna look totally different. People are entertaining, if you just let them do their thing. I think you'll feel that in this season. Also just being in a new location. Don't get me wrong, I love Bachelor in Paradise in Mexico. It was iconic. But Costa Rica is going to feel a little bit more elevated. There's definitely some fun things that people are going to be shocked and surprised by. That you'll see that the Bachelor franchise is evolving and changing in big ways that people can be really excited to tune in for.
Do you envision yourself joining again?
We'll see! I was so honored to be a part of it, and feel like I found my way more and more day after [each] day. So if people are just loving the show and the changes, I would love to be a part of that new corner that I feel like Bachelor Nation is turning to be able to keep what makes Bachelor in Paradise what it is: fun, [have] that comedy, but also having success of people really finding love and being able to be new and different.
I didn't know any of the cast when I first got on there, because of just being removed [from the show.] Of course, I'd like watched them a little bit, but I never interacted with any of the cast before, so it was fun to get to meet them for them, which I think is so important — I didn't have any preconceived ideas of who these people were. Everyone's so amazing. It was so cool, and they were all pumped about me feel like [I was] a freaking icon. I was like, 'I'm gonna hang out with y'all!'
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The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain releases on June 24 and Bachelor in Paradise premieres July 7 on ABC, streaming on Hulu the next day.Best of The Hollywood Reporter
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