PHOTO: Sophie Sullivan, author of heartwarming romantic comedies, brings emotional authenticity and charm to every page she writes.
Romantic Comedies With Heart Humour And Healing
Sophie Sullivan shares how personal experience shapes her heartfelt romantic comedies, highlighting the importance of vulnerability, found family, and emotional authenticity in crafting stories that truly resonate with readers.
Sophie Sullivan writes with a voice that is warm, wry, and quietly profound. With each novel, she peels back the layers of what it means to love—imperfectly, authentically, and often with a touch of chaos. There is a genuine tenderness in the way she brings her characters to life, allowing them space to stumble, to falter, and ultimately to find their way. Her stories, often filled with heartfelt moments and just the right amount of humour, speak to the unguarded parts of ourselves.
In Ten Rules for Faking It and beyond, Sullivan doesn’t shy away from the raw edges of human emotion. She offers readers not just happily-ever-afters, but journeys of vulnerability, growth, and connection. Her characters navigate anxiety, grief, friendship, and hope—all with a deeply personal honesty that lingers long after the final page.
Perhaps most resonant is her unwavering belief in the power of found family, those steadfast bonds formed not through blood but through choice. It’s a theme woven seamlessly through her work, one that reflects the very spirit of her writing: full of compassion, relatability, and quiet strength.
In her own words and stories, Sullivan reminds us that being seen is sometimes the most romantic gesture of all.
What inspired you to centre your stories around characters who often battle anxiety or emotional vulnerability?
As someone who personally struggles with severe generalized anxiety disorder, I’ve become more cognizant of wanting and needing to see representation of this in what I’m reading and writing. When I released Ten Rules for Faking It, in which the main character, Everly Dean, has social anxiety, it was like revealing a large piece of who I am at my core. When people responded to that with understanding and feeling like they were seen, I realized it mattered to others as well. I also believe that in life and in books, true connections come from expressing emotional vulnerability and learning who is willing to support you and still see you for all that you are.
Many of your books include “found family” themes—why does that resonate so strongly with you?
We’re incredibly fortunate to have so many friends who are, really, more than just friends. Family, to me, means people you can turn to without hesitation. They’re there for you regardless of the circumstances and it doesn’t have to be someone who is blood related to you. I think, especially in our mid to late twenties, we form these connections that can last a lifetime. It’s why shows like Friends and Big Bang Theory are so relatable. These friends become our family.
How do you balance humour and heartache when writing romantic comedies?
The same way I balance it in life; by being honest and genuine. Some of our most painful moments have humour tangled within them. I learned this in spades most recently when my mom passed away. There’s no way to express the sadness I feel over losing her but when I think of those final few days with her and the stories we tell about her, they’re infused with brief glimpses of humor. When I write, I try to create moments that are true to life and we feel so much on any given day. Why shouldn’t our characters?
Disneyland comes up a lot in your life—has it ever directly inspired a plot or character?
No but that’s a fabulous idea! I think I’ve heard of a few books where the setting is Disneyland but I often think about it when I’m there: how could I create a story that features this magical place as the background? I haven’t found the answer yet but one day, maybe I will. It brings me so much joy just to be there with my family. It would be amazing to find a way to truly immerse one of my books with that feeling.
What’s been the most surprising reaction you’ve received from readers about one of your characters?
I’d have to say the responses I received to Everly Dean have been amongst the most special and rewarding. As I said earlier, Everly was a somewhat revealing character for who I am in my real life. I’d never written a book with that much of myself in it before and to have people connect so deeply to her felt incredibly validating. To be able to write something that so many people felt connected to is something that an author dreams about. We all want to be seen; that’s why all stories matter. I once had a woman tell me that my romance books saved lives. I was speechless.
You’ve written several strong, independent female leads—do you base them on real people or are they purely fictional?
They’re based on aspirations of who I want to be (just joking…sort of). I know some pretty dynamic women who are strong, loving, persistent, and incredibly selfless. The females I write are definitely inspired in part by the real women I’m lucky enough to have and have had in my life (my mom, my daughters, my best friend, some of my closest friends and colleagues to name a few).
How do you keep your stories fresh while staying true to the romantic comedy genre?
I’m not one hundred percent certain about whether or not I do stay true to the romantic comedy genre. Over the years, I think the genres of women’s fiction, romance, romantic comedy, chick lit and whatever other names stories like mine have been given, have blurred. I think the more important part is to stay true to who you are as a writer, to be willing to grow and adapt and change and always push yourself a little harder. When you do that, I think it naturally takes care of ‘keeping it fresh’ while staying true to your own style.
What advice would you give to other authors trying to write romance that feels both entertaining and emotionally authentic?
It’s important to know that there’s room for everyone. It doesn’t feel like it some days because you’ll see the same names over and over again but the truth is, all of our stories matter. You have to drown out the noise (which is often the voice in your own head) and write the story you want to tell. Know your characters and think about their journey. What seems romantic to one person might not be true to another. For example, for Everly Dean, romance is showing up at her house, sitting beside her on the couch and not making her go out for dinner at a crowded restaurant. Let your characters guide you and trust yourself. Ask for feedback and don’t be afraid to really hear it and use it to make you a better writer.
