The Friendship Fling with Author Georgia Stone

Sometimes you need a good romantic novel, and Georgia Stone’s latest delivers just that. When Ava Monroe, a barista in a busy London coffee shop, meets Finn O’Callaghan for the first time, she has no idea what she’s in for when she agrees to help him complete his London bucket list. His contract job only lasts a few months, and Ava, who keeps herself closed off to the rest of the world except her best friend Josie (who tells her she needs to get out and enjoy life more), finds herself opening up bit by bit to Finn.

The book goes back and forth between Ava’s and Finn’s POV, giving us all an inside look into the very moment when they go from being just a ‘friendship fling’ to something deeper… if they can both manage to get out of their own heads.

Check out this Q&A with author Georgia Stone and pick up your copy today!

When did you first get inspired to write your latest novel, The Friendship Fling?

One day in 2022, back when I was a bookstagrammer, I decided to share a list I keep on my phone called ‘Obscure Reasons I’ve Swiped Left on Men on Dating Apps’ on my close friend’s story on Instagram, which is exactly as it sounds. It’s ridiculous and a little tongue-in-cheek, and when I realized people thought it was funny, I thought to myself, ‘Hmm, what if I wrote a story about a woman who goes on dates with these kinds of men?’

The novel ended up moving away from that concept (the original version of The Friendship Fling actually included a lot more of these weird/terrible dates), but that’s one moment where I can distinctly remember the idea forming.  

What drew you to the romance genre?

I’ve always been a romance reader, and it felt like a given that any book I wrote would be a romance, too. Both as a reader and writer, I love how the genre works as a character study, as a vehicle to dive into heavy and important topics, and a safe way to explore the entire spectrum of human emotion, all with a guaranteed happy ending.

I am, at my core, an extremely cynical person, but I love the hopefulness that romance brings – proof that anyone can have a happily ever after, whatever that looks like for them.

How has living in London influenced your writing?

The Friendship Fling wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t moved to London 12 years ago for university. I love this city, especially in the summer, and I wanted to write about it in a way that was equally romanticized as it was realistic. I would say that London both inspired TFF and became its own character within it.

But I think on a more general note, living in the UK as a whole has influenced my writing and voice, not just London itself. The humor, the words we use, the references we make – it all informs how I speak, and therefore how I write. Lots of British and other non-American authors choose to write in American English to appeal to a wider market, but I think some of the distinctness of my voice would’ve been lost if I had.

How did you choose which parts of London to share in the book? 

 I tried to maintain a balance between including famous places that would be familiar to anyone not from London, and specific locations that you probably wouldn’t know unless you’ve spent time here.

I focused mostly on central and South London, as those are the two areas I’ve spent the most time in, and went from there. Some spots in the novel are local to where Ava and Finn live, others have a special place in my heart, and I wanted to include them, and some I just thought would be the perfect location for specific scenes. A picnic in the park? A boat bar at sunset? A swimming pool? They all fit the summery vibe I was going for.

But also… is now the time to confess that a few of the locations are completely fake and I made them up just to fit the book? SORRY!

The chemistry between Ava and Finn just leaps off the page. What did you enjoy most about writing each of their storylines?

Thank you! I had the best time writing their dynamic – the way they banter and spar and understand each other’s humor perfectly right from the start. Their entire romantic relationship is built on a really solid foundation of friendship, and I just loved building that friendship first.

I enjoyed letting Ava gradually (really, really gradually) (glacially, in fact) soften to this man who bulldozed his way into her life, and open herself up to trust and then love him, in her own quiet, unassuming way.

It’s not so much Finn’s storyline, but more just him as a person – I loved writing a man who contains not a single ounce of toxic masculinity. There is nothing alpha about him, but he’s still very much a Hot Man, and I know I wrote him, but I’m obsessed with that.

Was it difficult flipping back and forth between Ava and Finn’s POV’s? Or did you write the storylines separately first?

 I didn’t find it difficult to flip between per se, but it took me a bit longer to get into Finn’s head when I first started writing. I had to figure out exactly what kind of thoughts I wanted him to have, and it was a conscious effort to make sure he never comes across as lecherous or toxic in how he thinks about Ava.

I consider TFF to be Ava’s story, which is why she has more POV chapters, but I initially toyed with the idea of writing solely from her POV. I decided against it in the end because there were certain scenes I desperately wanted from Finn’s perspective, if only just to see how hard he falls.

I’m sure some readers finish the book wanting more Finn chapters, but the split makes sense for the story I wanted to tell.

But also, if anyone wants me to write bonus chapters from Finn’s POV, just say the word. I love that boy!

Are there any similarities between Ava’s character and your own?

 Too many! That’s part of what made her so easy to write. We’re both reserved and have a very dry sense of humour, and neither of us are great at expressing emotions, but we’re both softer than we’d ever willingly admit, especially when it comes to our families and friends.

I used to be a barista, too, and kind of hated it. I will neither confirm nor deny if the KitKat theft was based on real-life experience.

Without giving anything away, what was your favorite scene to write between Ava and Finn?

 I love the scene at the boat bar. I can picture it so vividly – the colors of the sky, the vibes of the boat, the palpable, simmering tension between them in the muggy summer air.

 I used to live near that bar when I first moved to London, and it reminds me of that time of my life, and like I said before, I wouldn’t have written TFF if I hadn’t moved, so it feels full circle in that way. But specifically, I love that this is the first time we see any real romantic tension between Ava and Finn, even if neither of them addresses it directly.

Who are some of your fellow romance writers who inspire you?

 Again, too many to count! I’ll forever admire Emily Henry’s writing, Tarah DeWitt just keeps getting better and better, and recently I’ve loved Myah Ariel’s work. I’ve been lucky to make lots of author friends over the years and they all inspire me in different ways too, whether because of how they write, how they market themselves, or how cool their ideas are.

I’m also really inspired by Ali Hazelwood. Not just for her writing and her books (although that’s a big part of it – she’s SO good), but for the way she uplifts other authors and uses her platform in the very best way. 

Are you working on your next novel, and if so, can we get a sneak peek?

I am! My next novel is called The Roommate Rule and follows Ava’s brother Max and her friend Dylan. I’m not sure what else I’m allowed to say or share about it right now, but what I will say is that while there are some familiar faces, it’s in a whole new setting with a new cast of characters, and the pair’s dynamic is very different from Ava and Finn’s. I can’t wait for everyone to meet them properly!