Do you remember Reagan? From Fangirl? Cath’s no-nonsense, secretly soft roommate?

Reagan has always been one of my favorite supporting characters — so this year, for the holidays, I decided to give her her very own story … with her very own romance.

IF THE FATES ALLOW is available today, exclusively in ebook and audiobook. Read or listen here.

The story takes place last year, on Christmas. Reagan is all grown-up, heading home to Arnold, Nebraska, with a pan full of green Jell-O salad for her grandpa. Before the night is out, she’ll have a few run-ins (literal and otherwise) with the boy next door.

I wanted this story to feel romantic and festive, even as it tells a story set over a very hard year.

Last year, at this time, I wrote a short story called The Prince and the Troll. I really liked that story, but I felt bad that some readers assumed from the timing that it was a holiday story. (And not a mildly disturbing fairy tale!)

If the Fates Allow is DEFINITELY a holiday story. And DEFINITELY a romance. (Though it takes place in 2020, so it’s also mildly disturbing…)

Anyway, I really hope you like it. Reagan is my literary agent’s all-time favorite, of all my characters. He’s always wanted me to write more about her. At first I didn’t think I could pull it off… She’s such a tough cookie, I wasn’t sure I could climb into her head.

But once I got in there, I never wanted to leave. It was so much fun thinking about what sort of guy Reagan might like… And what her relationship might be like now with Cath and Levi…

I had so much fun doing this, if people end up liking it, I might revisit characters from my books, too.

Oh — if you’re a fan of Rebecca Lowman, who reads most of my audiobooks, you’ll be happy to know that she narrates this story with her usual nuance and perfect timing. I’m so lucky to work with her.

And I’m lucky to work with Micaela Alcaino, who illustrated this cover and The Prince and the Troll.