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What The Heart Wants

Ellis Darnell

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After the devastating and unexpected loss of her mother, Thea Calloway decides it’s time for a change. She packs up her life and moves across the country from Seattle to Driftbay - a small, serene coastal town, a far cry from the big city. Consumed with grief, Thea throws herself into her one true solace - baking. It’s through her hobby that Thea meets Graham, a cook in her aunt Beth’s successful diner.While Beth navigates her sudden life changes, she realizes she has to face her feelings and can no longer push them aside. Even though she has poured her life into Beth Ann’s Diner, she knows something is missing. And that something just might be a tall, suave man named Charlie, who happens to be her best friend.As Thea struggles to process her grief, and Beth grapples with her feelings, each woman must face love and loss. Can Thea bake up a love connection or does she have a recipe for disaster? Can Beth admit feelings for Charlie? Through friendship and a little flour, both women discover they have to follow exactly what their heart wants.

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Posts about this title from The Page Ladies Book Club

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

\ \ Welcome to your exclusive, unrestricted look into the creative world of debut romance author Ellis Darnell! While the public preview gives readers a taste of her charming coastal setting, we saved the full, raw, and delightfully honest 30-question chat for our First Editions members.\ \ Grab a Diet Pepsi and some Taco Bell (Ellis’s ultimate writing fuel), and dive into this deep conversation about battling imposter syndrome, drafting an entire novel on an iPhone, and what the future holds for the cozy town of Driftbay.\ \ 1. The Debut Milestone \ \ Q: Congratulations on your debut release! What has been the most exciting part of preparing for the launch of What The Heart Wants?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Thank you so much! Honestly, the most exciting and special part before launch was getting my first proof copy. Getting to physically hold the story in my hands was such a monumental moment, a culmination of so much hard work. I cried when I unboxed the first copy!"\ \ 2. Describe the Vibe \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe What The Heart Wants in three words?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Cozy, sweet, and heartfelt."\ \ 3. A Long-Awaited Spark \ \ Q: What inspired you to write a story centered around love, grief, family, and fresh starts?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "I got the basic idea when I was seventeen, of a young girl reeling from the loss of her mom and going to live with her aunt. I wrote a (very rough) story around that time. Then life happened and so many years went by and I stopped writing for a long time. I got inspired again about two years ago for the diner aspect, and just stuck a note in my phone about it.\ \ Then last fall, the story hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I had to tell it. I had always wanted to tell stories from different perspectives but didn’t know how to structure it when I was younger. It wasn’t until I started reading Freida McFadden books that I realized I could write different perspectives and how I could structure it. I knew I wanted to write from Thea’s perspective, and adding her aunt’s in changed so much with what I could do for the draft."\ \ 4. Dreaming of Driftbay \ \ Q: Driftbay sounds like a charming coastal town. What drew you to that setting, and is there anything readers should know about it before diving in?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "The beach always relaxes me. I actually vacationed at the beach while I was working on the book and getting to spend a few days beachside while delving into these characters really helped me create the setting. I’m also from a small town in the Midwest, so combining both aspects created a perfect slice of heaven for me. I wanted somewhere peaceful where Thea could heal and discover that sometimes the smallest places take up the biggest room in our hearts."\ \ 5. The Ultimate Comfort Food \ \ Q: Baking plays a role in the story. If you could choose one baked good that perfectly represents What The Heart Wants, what would it be and why?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "While there’s many recipes mentioned in the book, I think Thea’s lemon-blueberry scones would represent the book the best. They’re sweet and a little tart, just like Thea’s and Beth’s journeys with grief and love."\ \ 6. The Swiftie Soundtrack \ \ Q: Your author bio mentions that you're a huge Taylor Swift fan. If What The Heart Wants had an unofficial Taylor Swift soundtrack, what songs would make the playlist?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "OH MAN - this is a tough one! Guilty as Sin? is included in the book playlist, but if I had to make just a Taylor playlist, it would be…\ \

#BookTok #CozyRomance #SmallTownRomance #DebutAuthor #WhatTheHeartWants #Bookstagram #SwiftieBookish](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/3wUV6llSPIiu5HJ6HVzG/)

💎 The First Editions Exclusive: The Complete 30-Question Q&A with Ellis Darnell


1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

\ \ Welcome back to new Book Club Conversations, book lovers! If your favorite kind of read involves a charming coastal town, a cozy diner, a dash of mouthwatering baking recipes, and a deeply moving story of healing and love, you are going to fall head over heels for today’s featured author.\ \ We are sitting down with debut novelist Ellis Darnell to celebrate the upcoming release of her book, What The Heart Wants! Ellis shares the emotional milestone of unboxing her very first proof copy, the exact Taylor Swift tracks that capture the vibe of her book, and how dual perspectives helped bring this sweet, comforting world to life.\ \ Enjoy part one of our interview below!\ \ 1. The Debut Milestone \ \ Q: Congratulations on your debut release! What has been the most exciting part of preparing for the launch of What The Heart Wants?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Thank you so much! Honestly, the most exciting and special part before launch was getting my first proof copy. Getting to physically hold the story in my hands was such a monumental moment, a culmination of so much hard work. I cried when I unboxed the first copy!"\ \ 2. Describe the Vibe \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe What The Heart Wants in three words?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Cozy, sweet, and heartfelt."\ \ 3. A Long-Awaited Spark \ \ Q: What inspired you to write a story centered around love, grief, family, and fresh starts?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "I got the basic idea when I was seventeen, of a young girl reeling from the loss of her mom and going to live with her aunt. I wrote a (very rough) story around that time. Then life happened and so many years went by and I stopped writing for a long time. I got inspired again about two years ago for the diner aspect, and just stuck a note in my phone about it.\ \ Then last fall, the story hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I had to tell it. I had always wanted to tell stories from different perspectives but didn’t know how to structure it when I was younger. It wasn’t until I started reading Freida McFadden books that I realized I could write different perspectives and how I could structure it. I knew I wanted to write from Thea’s perspective, and adding her aunt’s in changed so much with what I could do for the draft."\ \ 4. Dreaming of Driftbay \ \ Q: Driftbay sounds like a charming coastal town. What drew you to that setting, and is there anything readers should know about it before diving in?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "The beach always relaxes me. I actually vacationed at the beach while I was working on the book and getting to spend a few days beachside while delving into these characters really helped me create the setting. I’m also from a small town in the Midwest, so combining both aspects created a perfect slice of heaven for me. I wanted somewhere peaceful where Thea could heal and discover that sometimes the smallest places take up the biggest room in our hearts."\ \ 5. The Ultimate Comfort Food \ \ Q: Baking plays a role in the story. If you could choose one baked good that perfectly represents What The Heart Wants, what would it be and why?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "While there’s many recipes mentioned in the book, I think Thea’s lemon-blueberry scones would represent the book the best. They’re sweet and a little tart, just like Thea’s and Beth’s journeys with grief and love."\ \ 6. The Swiftie Soundtrack \ \ Q: Your author bio mentions that you're a huge Taylor Swift fan. If What The Heart Wants had an unofficial Taylor Swift soundtrack, what songs would make the playlist?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "OH MAN - this is a tough one! Guilty as Sin? is included in the book playlist, but if I had to make just a Taylor playlist, it would be…\ \

📖 Book Club Conversations: Coastal Small-Town Romance & Fresh Starts with Ellis Darnell!


1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jun 20

\ \ Summer reading season is in full swing, and July is absolutely packed with incredible new releases! To help you stay ahead of the game, we’ve put together our ultimate Early Warning System Pre-Order Guide.\ \ Securing your copies early is the best way to support your favorite authors and ensure these highly anticipated titles land on your doorstep the day they drop. Below, you'll find direct links to grab them from our Bookshop.org shop (to support independent bookstores!) or via our Amazon affiliate links.\ \ ✨ BONUS: Keep your eyes peeled! We have an exclusive written Q&A post coming soon featuring a couple of the brilliant authors on this list. Stay tuned so you don't miss it!\ \ 🗓️ July 1st \ \ The Long Way Home by Renée Curtis\ \

🚨 Early Warning System: Your July Pre-Order Guide!


43 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

💎 The First Editions Exclusive: The Complete 30-Question Q&A with Ellis Darnell


1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

📖 Book Club Conversations: Coastal Small-Town Romance & Fresh Starts with Ellis Darnell!


1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jun 20

🚨 Early Warning System: Your July Pre-Order Guide!


43 books