Why You Know Before Avery Does

You’ve Got Mail has always been one of my favorite romantic comedies. It’s loads of fun for the audience. The entire premise is based on dramatic irony. The viewers know from the beginning vital details the characters do not, and we all sit in anticipation of the inevitable emotional fallout. My books in this series are the same. It’s not surprising to the reader who the connection is, but (I hope) it’s fun for the reader to see the story unfold from the POV of the heroine.

It can be a risky setup for a book, especially ones that are from the point of view of a single character. Some readers may be frustrated the character doesn’t discover the truth fast enough or catch on to the obvious clues. Personally, I enjoy characters who are a little oblivious as long as there are reasons for it. In The Beta Test, Avery’s Braden-goggles and family upheaval are hard for her to shake. Jake is also someone she knew strictly as her friend’s younger brother, so the idea of him in some other category is absurd to her. These details were designed to justify why it takes her so long to see the truth the readers already know.

But don’t worry, the set up isn’t the same in every book! Connection Services will be the engine for communication, but the discovery and fallout will be unique to each couple.