Annie Cathryn has a delicious new story...plus a book giveaway

We're so excited to have Annie Cathryn back at CLC today to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, Eat the Cake. Melissa loved it and can't wait for you all to read it. (Check out her review on Goodreads and Storygraph.) We enjoyed chatting with her again and hope you will have fun reading our interview. She has one copy to share with a lucky reader!

Annie Cathryn has always dreamed of becoming an author and lives by the motto, “Creating is Living.” After a career in marketing communications and launching her own consulting agency, she returned to her first love—writing. Her debut novel, The Friendship Breakup, was a Zibby’s 2023 pick, reached #15 on Amazon’s New Releases in Friendship Fiction, and received multiple literary awards. 

An avid reader of more than 100 books a year, Annie is also a Bookstagrammer, podcast host, and published essayist. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, daughter, and two fur babies, and when she’s not writing or reading, she’s organizing her personal library by color or planning her next adventure. (Bio adapted from Annie's website.)

Visit Annie online:

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok

Synopsis:

Leah Wright spends her days advising thousands of podcast listeners on how to live their best lives. But since her husband Elliot died, she has been running on autopilot—until a very public on-air meltdown forces her into a mandatory leave of absence. With her career at stake and her sponsors wavering, Leah is finally compelled to confront the silence of her empty home.

Then, the impossible happens.

A bouquet of flowers arrives at her door with a note from Elliot. Hidden among his belongings, Leah discovers an itinerary for the surprise trip to Florence that he never had the chance to give her. Urged by her sister-in-law to find closure, Leah flies to Italy, only to uncover that Elliot has left her one final gift: a scavenger hunt through the winding, sun-drenched streets of the city.

As the clues become more personal, the mystery deepens. How could he have known what she would need to hear months after his death? To find the final message, Leah must stop hiding behind her podcast persona and confront the secret guilt she has been carrying—or risk remaining broken forever. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

"It's a beautiful, soul-stirring journey about love and loss and resiliency, with enough plot twists to keep even the most self-assured reader guessing." 

—Heidi Shertok, author of Match Me If You Can

"Annie Cathryn's luminous exploration of grief affirms that healing doesn't happen in isolation—friends can be a salve for the soul. A heartrending, hopeful, and unforgettable story." 

—Dara Levan, author of Shaken to the Core

"Annie Cathryn's latest is a warm, perceptive novel highlighting her true gift for storytelling." 

—Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Dog Person

What is a favorite compliment you received on your writing? 
My favorite compliment is when a reader tells me they both laughed and cried while reading my book. That is always my ultimate goal. I want the story to truly move people and take them on an emotional journey.

What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing Eat the Cake?
The middle of a book is usually the hardest part for me. I often get caught up in what writers call a "saggy middle." To fix it this time, I had to add more scenes in Florence to keep the momentum going and help the book flow better.

The most rewarding part of fixing that middle section was the research process. It allowed me to take a wonderful trip down memory lane! Florence is one of my absolute favorite travel destinations, and I was thrilled to bring its magic to life in Eat the Cake.

If Eat the Cake was made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
This is such a fun question to think about! Here is my dream cast for the book:

Leah: Emma Roberts. She fits the role completely!
Elliot: Austin Butler. He has those perfect, bright blue eyes to pull it off.
Megan: Maya Hawke. I absolutely adored her in Stranger Things and know she'd be incredible.
Marco: Leo Howard. He has the exact right look, plus he actually plays the guitar!
Frank: Ethan Hawke. How amazing would it be to see him share the screen and play a role with his real-life daughter, Maya?

Which book made you fall in love with reading?
For me, the spark ignited when I discovered the Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High series. I was captivated by the dramatic world of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Following the twins as they navigated everything from middle school friendship shifts in Sweet Valley Twins to the high school drama of Sweet Valley High made me keep turning the pages. 

I used to rush to the bookstore or library to grab the next one just to see what the Wakefield twins would do next. It was the fast-paced storytelling that hooked me—and it ultimately shaped my own love for writing stories filled with deep friendships, relatable awkward moments, and plenty of heart.

If your life was a TV series, which celebrity would you want to narrate it? 

Personally, I would choose Anna Kendrick. I’ve always loved her dry humor and the way she delivers the punchline to her own jokes. Plus, she is incredibly relatable with her straight talk about anxiety and being awkward. Honestly, I think she and I would be friends IRL!

If we were to visit you right now, what are some places you would take us to see? 

I live in Geneva, Illinois, and it’s so charming. If I were taking you on a tour of my favorite hometown spots, our first stop would be Graham’s—the best local chocolate shop, which you might recognize because I featured it in Eat the Cake. It is a must-visit! 

Next, we would wander over to Evernia, a gorgeous boutique housed in a stunning Victorian building. This exact property inspired the chocolate shop in The Friendship Breakup, and I am thrilled to be hosting my Eat the Cake book launch there! 

Finally, we would head to The Little Traveler for some incredible shopping. Built in 1862, this historic 36-room Victorian mansion is filled with unique treasures curated from all across the globe.

Thanks to Annie for chatting with us and sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use KingSumo to enter the giveaway. If you have trouble using KingSumo on our blog, enter the giveaway here. If you are still having issues, please contact us.

Giveaway ends July 26th at midnight EST.

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Listen to this book on Speechify!