Even though this book is an interview, it doesn't answer the questions I wanted to ask. Why does she need to write a lesbian novel? Why does this novel have to be about a woman who has a boyfriend? Is it cheating when the main character smells the neck of her crush and then obsesses over her for 12 months? (RG claims to hate cheating in romance novels, along with many other tropes.)

Despite that, and despite all the moments when RG seemed to be trying to lose my sympathy (the architecture parts; the grandiose overthinking re. artistic process; her refusal to see why conventional romance novels can be a joy to read), I couldn't avoid relating to this book. She cannot write a romance novel. On every page, she presents her failure to do so. Perhaps unintentionally, she demonstrates how important it is to be able to describe a character opening the fridge. (Or indeed, to describe a character at all.) Maybe I just relate to this because I have also failed to write a romance novel. But she kind of makes me want to try (and fail) again.