There’s also the ongoing role that roses play in the book.
The roses that Amber brings to the story are always fleeting and temporary. Perfume that fades, flowers that she gives Emma that wilt and die, a painting on a wall that she never finishes. Justin gives her roses that need planting. He wants her to put roots down.
The roses in Grant House, however, never die or change. They’re on Daniel’s arms as tattoos and carved into the banister and they represent the stability and permanence of the family home. This is where Emma eventually finds herself and takes control of her life and trauma.
The changing stained-glass window of Grant House makes its third appearance in this book, and it depicts a young Emma, surrounded by roses, celebrating her return home.
I also bring back the dragonflies from Part of Your World, a symbol that change is coming.
3. Any other Easter eggs? We know how much you love them!
Yes! Of course there’s the obvious ones. Mentions of Jaxon Waters, the Sloan Monroe slow cooker cookbook that Justin and Sarah use, Josh Copeland coming up as a relative of Emma—did you catch that Easter egg in Part of Your World? Daniel Grant is cousins with Josh from The Friend Zone!
There’s a lot of foreshadowing for the Maddy-and-Doug thing. Maddy is a vegetarian. So is Doug. Her favorite song is “More Than Words” by Extreme, the only song Doug knows how to play on the guitar (badly). Maddy is also someone who deeply understands PTSD, which Doug has. Maddy would know how to love and support Doug through his own challenges with his mental health because we’ve seen her do it with Emma. Also Doug needs someone to tell him to shut up lol.
Another Easter egg/inside joke to anyone who lives in Minnesota is the subtle nod to the Kris Lindahl real estate billboards that are everywhere here. I got the idea for Justin’s studio after seeing a viral TikTok where someone showed an apartment with a Kris Lindahl billboard directly outside their window.
At first I strongly considered using actual Kris Lindahl billboards in the book. I reached out to Mr. Lindahl to ask his permission and he very generously agreed. But I decided being able to create a fictional billboard would give me more flexibility to make it funnier, and also make it more universal to the readers who won’t get the joke, so Toilet King it is.
There’s lots of other Easter eggs—including a deeply buried one that takes us back to my first book. But I’ll let you find those yourself.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
1. If you could live anywhere just for the summer, where would you live?
2. Have you ever met someone who acts like Amber? How did that relationship end up?
3. Do you think Emma leaving to work on herself was brave or selfish?
4. What do you think about Emma and Maddy’s lifestyle? Would you like traveling and changing states every three months?
5. Have you ever felt small like Emma?
6. Justin’s mom did something really out of character while dealing with her grief. What are some of the things you’ve seen grief do to someone?
7. Would you ever put a wild baby animal in your shirt?
8. Is Justin the asshole?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abby Jimenez is a Food Network winner, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, and recipient of the 2022 Minnesota Book Award for her novel Life’s Too Short. Abby founded Nadia Cakes out of her home kitchen back in 2007. The bakery has since gone on to win numerous Food Network competitions and has amassed an international following.
Abby loves a good romance, coffee, doglets, and not leaving the house.
You can learn more at:
» AuthorAbbyJimenez.com
» X @AuthorAbbyJim
» Facebook.com/AuthorAbbyJimenez
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» TikTok @AuthorAbbyJimenez
ALSO BY ABBY JIMENEZ
Yours Truly
Part of Your World
Life’s Too Short
The Happy Ever After Playlist
The Friend Zone
PRAISE FOR ABBY JIMENEZ
“I’ve loved this author since her debut… Abby Jimenez [has a] talent for layering complex, realistic themes with the sweetest of romances.”
—Ali Hazelwood
Jimenez writes “romance for the ages!”
