It should come as no surprise, readers, that romance novels made up the bulk of my Emotional Support Books during the pandemic. That goes double for romantic comedies that lightened my heart and made me feel like the world wasn’t always a dark place. One of these Emotional Support Books was N.G. Peliter’s Sweethand, which was not only a feast for the senses but a study in BIPOC and queer joy. I am so excited to teach this book, the first in the Island Bites Series (and devour the second book in the series soon!). It likewise made my year when this fantastic author agreed to let me interview her for my course, “I’ll Have What She’s Having: The Legacy of the Romantic Comedy.” One thing we both agree on when it comes to representation in romantic comedies? WE WANT IT ALLLLLLLLLLLLL!
1. In my classes we talk about the yucks and the yums of various genres. What do you love or think is yummy about romantic comedies?
I absolutely love the awkwardness between MCs in rom-coms. The person could either be sooo awkward that they’re trip up their words or are just downright clumsy so it adds a hilarious element to it. And awkward tension to me is so fun to read/watch and write!
2. What parts of the genre feel yucky to you? Anything you would change about them?
Some things I don’t like about rom-coms and feel really yucky, be it both books or movies, is that sometimes people lean into using bigotry to add the so called funny element. For instance, making fat people the butt of a joke or using a racist take etc. You can make something funny without that. So I would for sure change that about it.
3. I have to ask: What’s your favorite romantic comedy? Why?
My favorite rom-com movie is HITCH! I can watch it over and over, and I have lol. I know the movie has its issues, of course, but I just love how we have Albert Brennaman, who is set up as this not-very-suave guy who’s juxtaposed with Hitch, who is supposed to be Mr. Expert at this love thing but really when Hitch goes on his dates just he can’t seem to catch a break/get it together while Albert is absolutely killing it in his own messy way. Lol. I just find it so cute and funny.
My favorite rom-com book is I Think I Love You by Christina C Jones. This is a rom-com book where you will actually be cackling. Some rom-com books aren’t actually funny but CCJ never disappoints!
4. What inspired you to write Sweethand?
Sweethand actually started off as a YA contemp fantasy romance thing LOL. There were magical elements and everything (maybe I’ll write that story someday with different characters). But I realized it just wasn’t working as I wanted it to so I decided…hmmm why not age everyone up and keep the enemies-to-lovers angle and go from there? I also wanted to have a fun romance set in my island with Trinidadian characters who could remind me of my friends and family. I really also wanted to have a baker heroine and randomly decided to make Keiran in the music biz as I felt their jobs gave them opportunities to interact/clash 😊
5. Tell us a little more about the inspiration behind Sweethand. What romcom tropes and themes did you want to play with and why?
As mentioned above I definitely wanted to have fun with the annoyance to lovers tropes. Because I looove reading about people who just can’t stand each other for whatever reason but oh noooo they’re attracted to each other. The potential for sexy, fun banter is so great in these scenarios. I also decided to sweeten the pot by adding in another trope I love: forced proximity. These two, their blood already don’t take to each other, as we say here, and now they have to plan a joint wedding party?? Together?? Chaos and disasterrrr.
6. Your story is set on your home island of Trinidad. You’ve also said in other interviews that you rarely see romances set in the Caribbean centering on Caribbean characters. What was it like to write that romance?
It was an interesting experience. Of course, as I wrote it I was enjoying including all the very trini centric things, like local places, our food, dialect, aspects of the culture but on the flipside was the worry that hmmmm is this too Caribbean?? Is it not Caribbean enough?? But then I said you know what??? I’m writing this for me and hopefully readers will love it because in my mind regardless of where it’s set that shouldn’t hinder the enjoyment yeah? Also there are things that confuse me when I read romances set in America and I still manage…like I still don’t understand the education system. Like how old is a junior or senior or sophomore??? I just don’t knowww lol.
7. Similarly, you also center your stories on BIPOC and queer characters who aren’t featured enough in romance stories or romantic comedies. In fact, many of our stories in media are a kind of trauma porn, as I tell my students. What was it like to write a joyful story that centered on these communities?
The population of Trinidad is mainly made up of people who are afro-trini and indo-trini. Why would I not centre us? It was just a natural thing. These are my friends and family members. The Caribbean is still so sadly anti-queer ☹ but for me I wanted to showcase that love isn’t for one group of people alone. Making Keiran bi and not have that be a whole thing during the story was also a very natural and conscious decision for me. There are joyful romances featuring queer characters who are just living and loving that already exist so I just wanted to add those. And I feel so glad when readers say my book cheered them up or made them happy because that’s really all I want 😊
8. As you already know, there are A LOT of stigmas associated with the romance genre in genre and the romantic comedy specifically. Why do you think that is?
Hmmm, I think people have this notion that it’s a “feminine thing” so it’s girly and cringy to admit that hey I love/read romance. Which side eye to everyone who thinks so. There are so many different kinds of romance that okay, if rom-coms specifically aren’t your vibe cool, but there’s romantic suspense if you’re looking for something with some action! I love rom coms but I also enjoy action, thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, animations etc. There are even manga romances out there! Just give it a chance, at least.
There’s also this notion that romance is not anything of substance or real literature but who gets to even define what real lit is??? Romances can be just fun, fluffy reads or be that as well as delve into deeper, “serious” topics. Just because we’re exploring love and relationships here doesn’t mean it’s not going to be a quality read or won’t be something of substance.
9. What do you think romantic comedies can teach people about life, love, and relationships (you can discuss both the good and bad here)?
Oh, rom-coms for sure let you know that love can happen anywhere and anytime. On the job, at the grocery, at a wedding. With someone you’ve known your whole life. I’ve been in a friends-to-lovers and office romance thing so…it is real hehe.
One thing some rom coms seem to push over and over is the big grand gesture which while I love in movies and to read please don’t ever do some over-the-top thing to win my back I will be super annoyed lol. I prefer a small private gesture. So here’s where I think we should realize that relationships are so different. You can’t just reuse a move that may have worked on someone before with a new person. Tailor your gestures and actions to who the individual is.
For instance, for me, I know people think oh for Valentine’s Day I just get my partner the usual flowers and candy cuz that’s what people do. Nope. Get me some books on my wishlist or that very specific thing I’ve been wanting to get foreverrr and I’d appreciate that more. I will always recall when one of my exes just randomly got me this duck puppet thing where when you put your hand in the back and make the mouth move, it quacked “Old MacDonald,” lol. It was so out of the blue??? but I love funny things like that so much. 😉
10. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I do want add that I want to see more and more rom-coms with underrepresented communities written by persons from these communities. I need roms set in various Caribbean islands. Give us the interracial roms where no one is white. The trans characters being cute and awkward where I’m over here like just kiss already??? Fat leads living their best sexy lives etc. I want it alll.
1. Where can people find you to learn more about your work?
Thanks so much for having me. I’m on Twitter, IG and now Threads as @trinielf. And if you want to learn more about my books check out my website.
Guest Contributor Bio
N.G. Peltier is an anime watching, book reading, video-game playing, story writing kinda girl.
A devourer of words and books from a young age, she enjoys writing romance and creeping people out with the Caribbean folklore stories she grew up hearing.
A Trinidadian born and raised, she currently lives in Trinidad with her mountain of ideas and characters battling each other for whose story get told next.
She is represented by Lauren Abramo of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC
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