Today we are chatting with Michelle Quach, author of
Not Here To Be Liked!
Read on for more about Michelle, her book, and giveaway!
Meet Michelle Quach!
Michelle Quach is a Chinese-Vietnamese-American who also spent a lot of time working for student newspapers–including The Crimson at Harvard College, where she earned a BA in history and literature. Currently a graphic designer at a brand strategy firm in Los Angeles, this is her first novel.
Meet Not Here To Be Liked!
Eliza Quan is the perfect candidate for editor in chief of her school paper. That is, until ex-jock Len DiMartile decides on a whim to run against her. Suddenly her vast qualifications mean squat because inexperienced Len—who is tall, handsome, and male—just seems more like a leader.
When Eliza’s frustration spills out in a viral essay, she finds herself inspiring a feminist movement she never meant to start, caught between those who believe she’s a gender equality champion and others who think she’s simply crying misogyny.
Amid this growing tension, the school asks Eliza and Len to work side by side to demonstrate civility. But as they get to know one another, Eliza feels increasingly trapped by a horrifying realization—she just might be falling for the face of the patriarchy himself.
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~ Author Chat ~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
I wrote Not Here to Be Liked very much for my teen self. It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance, which has long been my favorite trope, and it features an Asian American girl that I would’ve identified with on multiple levels. The feminism elements were also loosely inspired by the subtle sexism I observed in high school, especially when it came to how we picked our student leaders. Back then, however, I wasn’t really aware (or bold) enough to speak out. So I wanted to write a story about a character who does speak out—while also exploring how complicated that can get, especially when romance is involved!
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
Definitely the novel. We spent a lot of time trying to come up with a title that would convey cheekiness, romance, and also feminism—a tall order! But I think where we landed is perfect.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I think the hardest—but also most rewarding—scenes to write are emotional arguments, especially when both characters are making valid points. I don’t want to give too much away, but I think I can say that there is eventually a big fight between Len and Eliza, and that was very satisfying to write.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
That if you work at it a little bit every day, you will finish writing a book. I’m such a slow writer that I really thought I’d never be able to do it. Figuring out what worked for me was truly life-changing.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I absolutely love the illustration of the characters—they’re exactly as I pictured in my head. Fevik, the artist, really knocked it out of the park.
YABC: What was your favorite book in 2020?
I adored Anna K by Jenny Lee. It’s such a clever update of Anna Karenina, with sparkling writing and wonderfully flawed characters. I might be a little biased because I thought Tolstoy’s original was a page-turner, but I couldn’t put it down.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I just turned in my first draft of Book 2, another YA contemporary romance, which means it’s time to brainstorm ideas for Book 3!
YABC: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?
It’s a close call, but I think I’d have to say drafting. I really enjoy the challenge of creating from scratch, even though in some ways it can be more stressful. But I keep a meticulous record of daily word counts while writing, so it’s easy to feel like I’m making concrete progress. Whereas with revising, sometimes it’s hard to know how much I’ve really accomplished—or when I’m done.
Not Here To Be Liked
Author: Michelle Quach
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publish Date: September 14th, 2021
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*
I love this cover! Can’t wait to read the book 🙂
I love the cover and can’t wait to read this book.
The cover is perfect for the story. The story sounds really interesting.