Episode Details

If you've been listening to We Read Smut for any amount of time, you know I love grumpy female main characters! Today, I'm joined by author Jen Trinh to discuss why flawed, nuanced characters make for the most compelling stories, using her popular book Coming Clean as an example.

We dive into the importance of authentic storytelling and why strong Asian American representation is vital in romance. Jen shares her journey from burnout to publishing before turning 30, and why her experience with Hollywood and public personas inspired her to write a delicious secret relationship. No boring characters over here—these characters have depth, nuance, and, quite frankly, some flaws that make them so relatable.

Jen Trinh is an award-winning novelist who writes sexy books for nerds and weirdos. Previously a physicist/tech worker on the West Coast, Jen now lives in a pile of blankets near a pretty nice Wawa, along with her husband, his mini-him, and a medley of very sad plants. 

Key Takeaways

• Flaws Make Better Characters: Jen intentionally writes characters who are not bland ("toast characters"), arguing that flaws, trauma, and rich cultural lives create genuine depth and authenticity that keep readers engaged.
• Writing the Grumpy Heroine Fantasy: Jen reveals that her grumpy female main character in Coming Clean is a fantasy of who she wishes she could be: someone who can set boundaries and say "no" without having to smile or apologize.
• The Hollywood Paradox: We discuss how the setting of Hollywood allowed Jen to explore themes of authenticity versus public persona, drawing parallels to the parasocial relationships authors face online.
• The Author Peer Problem: We tackle the tough bookish hot take on reviewing fellow indie authors, agreeing that maintaining a boundary (like not reviewing/rating every book) is crucial to protect your peers and avoid backlash.

If you're ready for romance with rich cultural representation and grumpy heroines you can root for, start with Jen Trinh's Coming Clean!

CONNECT WITH JEN TRINH:

Website

Instagram

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links. If you make a purchase or borrow a book through these links, I may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.

Connect with Alesia:
Storygraph

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Running list of books mentioned (Doc)

This podcast was produced by Galati Media.
Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.