Ask the Author: Mara Jane
Answered Questions (5)
Mara Jane
They were never meant to be normal average people living normal lives 😅 Isabelle, Nick and Joe are young, successful, rich, living in Manhattan surrounded by money, obsession, temptation and everything they want. Of course they stand out. That’s exactly why they became the characters of my story.
The interesting part though is that being pretty is not enough. They all carry their own baggage of shit and can be emotionally completely unstable sometimes ❤️
The interesting part though is that being pretty is not enough. They all carry their own baggage of shit and can be emotionally completely unstable sometimes ❤️
Mara Jane
I think people often confuse toxic love with fake love, but toxic love is still love. Sometimes it’s actually the strongest kind because it comes without logic, balance, or control.
In the beginning, Isabelle and Nick were genuinely in love, almost like two teenagers discovering emotions for the first time. The problem was not the love itself. The problem was everything that came after... fear, jealousy, pride, power, mistakes, timing. But yes, they were very much in love.
Some relationships are destroyed not because the feelings weren’t real, but because they were too intense.
In the beginning, Isabelle and Nick were genuinely in love, almost like two teenagers discovering emotions for the first time. The problem was not the love itself. The problem was everything that came after... fear, jealousy, pride, power, mistakes, timing. But yes, they were very much in love.
Some relationships are destroyed not because the feelings weren’t real, but because they were too intense.
Mara Jane
It gave me my 'unfiltered' voice. In that environment, you learn to see people for who they truly are, without the masks. When I moved into the 'High Life' of London and New York, I realized people there wear masks too—they’re just more expensive. My time in Atlanta taught me that love and survival are the same thing, and I brought that intensity to Nicholas and Isabelle’s relationship.
Mara Jane
More than I’d like to admit! While the plot is fiction, the 'vibe' is 100% real. I’ve spent years navigating the social circles of Manhattan and the villas of Mallorca. I wanted to capture the specific energy of those places—the glamour, the hidden agendas, and the feeling that you’re always playing a game. Isabelle’s wit and the way she handles pressure are definitely reflections of things I’ve seen and experienced firsthand.
Mara Jane
"Because I think the word 'romance' sometimes promises a perfect, easy ending. My characters have scars, they make mistakes, and they sometimes hurt the people they love. I call it 'unfiltered' because I want to show the grit beneath the glamour. To me, love isn't a fairytale; it’s a high-stakes choice you make every day."
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