Bestselling Classes That Students Are Loving This Fall

As the air is turning a little crisper, it’s that time of year when we’re all starting to gear up for cooler weather. Which makes nights in on cold weekends kind of the best, right? Fuzzy blankets, socks, hot cocoa, and sitting around the fire: It’s the best of fall. And now that those cozy nights in are approaching, we think it’s the perfect time to start taking on more creative projects over the weekend. Especially on Sundays in your pajamas!

We have all kinds of new creative skills you can learn. Take your pick from a range of classes on subjects like photography and design or lettering and illustration. Or if you’ve wanted to amp up your side hustle, we’ve got helpful business courses as well.

Need help making a selection? Start by checking out what classes our students are loving this fall.

ONLINE CLASSES: STUDENT FAVORITES

1. Intro to DSLR Photography ($39): Finally learn how to use your fancy DSLR camera. In this course, you’ll get access to 34-minutes of lessons from award-winning photographer Jenna Kutcher.

2. Fauxligraphy: Pen Calligraphy ($29): There are a TON of supplies you need if you want to start learning calligraphy. We say try fauxligraphy first. All you need for this class is a Sharpie to get that elegant lettering look.

3. Creative Designer Bundle ($82): Get three of our best-selling design courses in one bundle. This includes our intro classes in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

4. Intro to Floral Illustration ($29): Have you been wanting to learn to draw but don’t know where to start? Peggy Dean is here to teach you the art of line drawing, which is a great beginner-friendly technique to get you started.

5. Bounce Lettering Basics ($29): Do you love Tombow brush pens? Then you’ll want to take this class. Learn a fun, unique lettering style from Tombow’s own Brittany Luiz.

6. Digitize Artwork in Adobe Illustrator ($39): In this 61-minute course, you’ll work with watercolor artist and designer Jenna Rainey to take your artwork, doodles, and sketches and turn them into digital designs.

Check out all of our bestselling classes HERE.

What new creative project do you want to start this fall? Share your projects with us on Instagram using the hashtag #bcclasses and tag @BritandCo for a chance to get featured!

Whether you think Valentine’s Day gives you an excuse to watch romantic movies or is a true testament of love, we don’t doubt that you’ll be celebrating in some form on February 14. Are you hosting a Galentine's Day brunch with wine and chocolate galore or will you go all-out for a private night in with you and your sweetie? Maybe, just maybe, you want to DIY Valentine's Day cardsto hand out to loved ones or that one co-worker you have a crush on.

Whatever your plans may be, we have you covered with 19 sweet decor ideas to get your pad all decked out.

DIY Conversation Heart Care Packages

The best thing about these packages is that they're way prettier than your average brown box, meaning they make great Valentine's Day decor ideas to add to your coffee table! (via Brit + Co)

Gem-Inspired Brunch

Remind your best gals how valuable they are with everything from crystal name cards to rock candy Cupid's arrows. This is one brunch theme that is sure to be a hit. (via Brit + Co)

Air Plant Wall Art, Valentine’s Edition

Our cute kit has all you need to make a pink, red and white masterpiece. Try using roses or other blossoms for a splash of color, then swap ’em out with air plants for a more permanent exhibition. (via Brit + Co)

Galentine's Mailboxes

There are so many treats you can send to your gals' mailboxes: funny meme cards, chocolates, or handwritten notes. Whatever gift you choose, these are definitely the cutest way to deliver them. (via Brit + Co)

Heart Piñatas

A classic heart-shaped box, plenty of pink fringe and a confetti surprise inside? What’s not to love about these Valentine's Day decor ideas? (via Brit + Co)

Paint Chip Garland

The main reason why we heart this gorgeous DIY? The fact that you can get your supplies practically for free. (viaBrit + Co)

Honeycomb Heart Art

This honeycomb-textured wall piece has us swooning. Use this awesome strategy for all sorts of geometric shapes to up your decor game year-round. (DIY and image via Minted)

Cross-Stitch Heart

You can hang this pretty, rustic art piece on your wall for Valentine’s Day or display it as a funky piece of neon artwork all year round. (via Oleander and Palm)

XO Marquee

It doesn’t get flashier than this. If you’re going for a Moulin Rouge vibe, this is definitely the piece to consider when thinking about Valentine's Day decor ideas. (via Kristi Murphy)

Giant Ombre Heart

Hang this pretty eye-catching piece in the middle of your room to tie the space together. You could even use it as a framing device for a photo booth sesh. (DIY and image via The House That Lars Built)

Moss Hearts

While we’re showing some love to greenery for V-Day, how ’bout checking out these living art pieces made with moss? (via Alisa Burke)

“Cross-Stitch” Valentine Art

A blank canvas is all you need to whip up this abstract take on the classic heart motif. (via Craftberry Bush)

Valentine’s Chandelier

Is your party lacking a little sophisticated charm? Not to worry; we’ve got you covered with this heart-filled DIY chandelier. It'll put your other Valetine's Day decor ideas to shame. (DIY and image via The House That Lars Built)

Conversation Heart Banner

Borrow from the classic conversation heartsayings or make your own inspired quotes. If it’s just you and your sweetie, line the hearts with inside jokes and favorite phrases to show how much you care. (DIY and image via Hello Little Home)

Heart Balloon Piñata

How sweet is this idea? You and your love write your favorite memories from the past year on strips of paper, then blow them up in heart-shaped balloons. Spend the night popping each one and revealing and reliving the memories together. (via Kristi Murphy)

Giant Geometric Wall Art Heart

Pink and gold paper make for a color scheme that’s equal parts sweet and sexy. A bold piece of artwork like this is sure to set some hearts aflutter. (via Oleander and Palm)

Cupid’s Arrow Garland

Take the heart garland up a notch with this charming take on some of Cupid’s action. (DIY and image via The House That Lars Built)

DIY Valentine Heart Wands

These cute DIY Valentine's Day decor ideas are a nod to your former Sailor Moon binge-watching days. (Kelsey Bang)

DIY Heart Wreath

Create your own pink floral wreath in less than 10 minutes! (The Crafted Life)

Which of these Valentine’s Day decor ideas are you most excited to try? Tell us all about it in the comments below and follow us on Pinterest for more party planning inspo.

This post has been updated.

George and Amal Clooney are one of the celebrity couples I’d personally be upset over if they ever break up. Like...my heart just wouldn’t be able to handle it because their love story is one for the books — not to mention all the power couple fashion moments we'd miss out on!

I was introduced to George Clooney’s work via Quentin Tarantino’s movieFrom Dusk ‘Til Dawn (thanks, dad) and have always found him to be a force of nature, but I didn’t take him for the ‘settling down’ type. Imagine my surprise when the man who once claimed he’d never get married eventually found himself smitten with Amal Alamuddin, an intelligent Human Rights Lawyer.

Since their fateful first meeting at George’s home years ago, the two have gone on to get married, have children, and even established the Clooney Foundation for Justice together. If you can’t get enough of their relationship either, here’s a full timeline of their love story!

George and Amal Clooney's Full Relationship Timeline

Image via Andrew Goodman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night

July 2013: George And Amal Clooney’s First Introduction

In 2018, George sat down with David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction to recount various moments from his life, including when he first met Amal. He remembers being at home at Lake Como when one of his friends asked if they could bring a plus one with them.

To make things even wilder, his own agent let him know his bachelor days would soon be over. “I got a call from my agent who called and said, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry,’” he said.

Once he met Amal and began talking to her, it was apparent they had chemistry that resulted in them exchanging emails. George told The Hollywood Reporter, “I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart…Then she sent some pictures from when she was here, and we were writing each other, emailing, talking, mostly about what was going on in each other’s lives, and over a period of time it became clear we were more than just friends.”

I’m being dramatic, but I think this dispels the idea that it’s impossible to find love if you don’t leave home.

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 2013: George and Amal Have Their First Date

George also told The Hollywood Reporter about how their first official date came to be. He was in London overseeing the music for Monuments Men and decided to invite Amal for a visit. “Then we went for dinner…and when we came out, there were 50 paparazzi there. But she handled it like a champ. And pretty quickly, things escalated once I was in London,” he said

While they dated and got to know each other, they told CBS that they wrote each other letters. While they described that courtship, Amal added that some of the letters George wrote to her came from...his dog? Talk about bringing someone into your inner world! TBH, I'm more than here for it — let your sweet, goofy flag fly, George!

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner

April 2014: George and Amal Get Engaged

I always say there’s no denying when you’ve fallen in love with someone, and that couldn’t be more true for George and Amal Clooney who got engaged after six months of dating. Seriously, the way George proposed is something out of a romantic fairytale because he planned it. Not only that, but he cooked for her and sent her on a short scavenger hunt — except she didn’t know she was supposed to be looking for a ring.

He revealed even more details about the moment during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things you’re supposed to do. I had a playlist with my Rosemary [Clooney] songs on it, and I was waiting for this song, ‘Why Shouldn’t I,’” he said.

Needless to say, Amal happily accepted his proposal! Ironically,I’m starting to realize there’s not always a set timeline for people to get engaged or married after dating. Some people only date for a few months while others date for years before deciding to get married. It’s all very personal.

Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI

September 2014: George And Amal Clooney Get Married

It wouldn’t be right if the couple didn’t get married in Italy, the country where they first met. Of course they were free to get married wherever they wanted, but leave it to the Clooneys to keep the romance going.

People reported the lovely couple wed at the Aman Canal Grande resort and guests like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski were in attendance.

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images

January 2015: George and Amal Grace the Red Carpet Together

For the first time ever, George and Amal Clooney made an appearance on the red carpet at the beginning of 2015. They attended the Golden Globes together where George received the famed lifetime achievement award.

Towards the end of his speech, George praised Amal in only a way that a man truly in love with his wife could. He said, "You make every single day — every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — feel as special as tonight..."

Image via Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images

Late 2016: George and Amal Found the Clooney Foundation for Justice

By 2016, George and Amal Clooney decided to found the Clooney Foundation for Justice — an organization that aims to shed light around social injustices found across the globe. They've prioritized spending their own money to help those in need without a second thought and have even donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image via Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

February 2017: PEOPLE confirms George and Amal are expecting twins

Almost three years after getting married, a source close to George and Amal Clooney revealed the two were expecting a baby together. They told People, "They’re all very happy," referring to the couple's family.

George later revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked when he discovered the couple would actually become parents to twins. He recalled their experience in the ultrasound room. "He goes, 'Well, there's one.' And I said, 'Great.' And then he goes, 'And there's the second one.' And I was like, 'What?' We just sat there, staring at that piece of paper they give you, and I kept thinking there was a mistake," he said of the exchange between the doctor and the couple.

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

June 2017: George and Amal Clooney Welcome Their Twins

People also reported the birth of George and Amal Clooney's twins — Alexander and Ella — during the summer of 2017. "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days," they revealed in lighthearted joint statement.

September 2017: George and Amal Clooney Make Their First Appearance After Becoming Parents

Later that year, George and Amal Clooney graced the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in support of George's film Suburbicon. George — an ever dapper gentleman — wore a classic black tuxedo while Amal wore a lilac Versace gown.

Image via Gareth Fuller - WPA Pool/Getty Images

May 2018: George and Amal attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Things were quiet for the couple until the spring of 2018. They attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized wedding. They were just a few of the celebrities that were seen in the crowd.

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

February 2022: George and Amal accept the Catalyst Award together

A couple of years later, George and Amal Clooney were the proud recipients of the joint Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The amazing work they'd been doing in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice hadn't gone unnoticed and they were praised for their amazing philanthropic work.

While accepting the award, George gave a moving speech about their foundation's purpose. "One of the Elevate Prize Foundation's core values is human safety and freedom...Our goal at the foundation is to free the innocent and punish the guilty. I think we're both inspired by the young people out there challenging injustice in their communities, a new generation that won't accept the status quo," he said.

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

September 2022: George and Amal attend London premiere of Ticket to Paradise

The couple then attended the London premiere of Ticket to Paradise where they looked refreshed and glowy. This is my attempt to be appropriate, but they truly looked smoking h-o-t!This time George wore a three-piece suit while Amal stunned in beautiful slip dress.

Image via Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

October 17, 2022: George and Amal attend Ticket to Paradise Los Angeles premiere

They then attended the L.A. premiere of Ticket to Paradise where George looked debonair in a grey suit. Amal wore a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number that was an appropriate nod to the film's paradise theme.

Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images

December 3, 2022: George and Amal Attend The Kennedy Center Honors

George and Amal Clooney attended the Kennedy Center Honors where he, along with honorees, received a nod for lifetime achievements. They were a picture of perfection on the red carpet, especially Amal. She dazzled in a lovely Valentino gown that looked amazing on her frame.

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images


August 31, 2023: The Couple Attend The DVF Awards in Venice

While attending the DVF Awards in Venice, Amal received the DVF Leadership Award. During her acceptance speech, Amal thanked George for being by her side. People reports she said, "Venice is the place where almost nine years ago we were married. I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away, and you make our lives magical. It is sometimes hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”

September 28, 2023: George and Amal host The Albies

Before the end of 2023, People reported George and Amal Clooney hosted their foundation's second annual Albies at the New York Public Library to continue highlighting the importance of securing human rights for all.

Love celebrity relationships? Follow us on Facebook for all the news on your faves!

Header image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

As much as we love diving into a spellbinding novel, there's something to be said for the instantaneous inspo that comes from flipping through a stunning art or design book. And let's be honest, sometimes our attention span isn't up for the challenge of conquering a verbose, 500-page tome.

With an explosion of new poetry, design, and coffee table reads on the scene, we thought we'd do the heavy lifting for you and curate our absolute faves. Ahead, see this spring's fresh book releases (plus some essential coffee table reads you may have missed) from the most inspiring and creative minds among us. Whether you're into interior design, poetry, travel or plants, there's a little something for everyone.

Image via Amazon

Great Women Artists

Discover artists you may have missed in your male-centric art history classes in this robust survey of over 400 leading female creatives spanning the last 500 years.

Image via Amazon

Directions: Really Good Advice For Getting From Here To There

Directions features hand-lettered affirmations and observations from artist Hallie Bateman that are equal parts uplifting, relatable, and humorous. Flipping through the collections feels like you're stumbling across a fortune cookie truth written just for you.

Image via Amazon

Ibiza Bohemia (Classics)

Ignite your wanderlust with this breathtaking photo series that captures why this Mediterranean locale has been such a hotspot for escapism.

Image via Amazon

Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants In Beautiful Spaces

Calling all plant people! Hilton Carter brings his trademark green thumb to a beautiful new coffee table read brimming with plant care tips and at-home styling advice for all your greenery.

Image via Amazon

Design The Home You Love: Practical Styling Advice To Make The Most Of Your Space

The co-founders behind the interior design service Havenly are publishing their first book this spring that aims to be a budget-friendly guide to identifying your unique style and designing your space accordingly.

Image via Amazon

Atlas Of Mid-Century Modern Houses

Nostalgia seekers will love scanning the pages of this visual stunner, which showcases the works of famed architects like Richard Neutra, Marcel Breuer, and hundreds of other design icons.

Image via Amazon

Radiant Human: Discovering The Connection Between Color, Identity, and Energy

If you're not already familiar with the rainbow portraiture style that is aura photography, let Lonsdale's new book teach you everything you need to know about this creative practice that captures your energy and disposition through a color-coded index.

The Apricot Memoirs

Guinery's book of poetic musings (printed across apricot-hued pages, of course) serves as an exploration of love, growth, motherhood, and vulnerability that invites the reader to unlock their own creativity.

Image via Amazon

Escape

This quintessential art book goes beyond Malin's iconic overhead beach shots and captures unbelievable vacation locales like Aspen, Namibia, Bora Bora, and more to fuel your ideal getaway.

Image via Amazon

Jungalow: Decorate Wild The Style Guide

Teach Me Something New guest Justina Blakeney's new book is an interior lovers dream. If you need a push to break free from your minimalist instincts and dive into the world of big, bold pattern, let this book serve as your guide to do it.

Image via Amazon

Film For Her

This visual diary features prose, poetry, short stories and photography from the well-known YouTube poet and achieves the feeling that you're sifting through someone's intimate DIY scrapbook. Forewarning, it may just inspire you to be in your feels.

Image via Amazon

Poolside with Slim Aarons

Featuring Slim Aarons' signature peek into the lives of wealthy jet-setters, this collection of photographs will be the star of your art book rotation.

Image via Amazon

Cherry Bombe: The Cookbook

This essential foodie read captures recipes from some of the most interesting and famous female chefs, bakers, and food stylists of our time.

Image via Amazon

Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power

Further your art education by discovering previously neglected histories of 20th-century Black artists during one of the most revolutionary eras in American history.

Humans

Humans of New York pioneer Brandon Stanton traveled to more than 40 countries to tell the resonate stories of what it means to be human.

Image via Amazon

Flower: Exploring The World In Bloom

Florals for spring? How groundbreaking. But in this new collection, see how floral motifs have been depicted throughout history across art, film, textiles, and more.

Image via Amazon

Virgil Abloh. Nike. ICONS.

Bring some color to your bookshelf in a major way with this innovative dive into Virgil Abloh's creative process during his collaboration with Nike. The end result is an ode to design true sneakerheads can't miss.

Image via Amazon

The Bright Book: A Creativity Workbook Designed to Help You Shine

Also known as EttaVee, Jessi Raulet brings her signature bold pattern play to life in this creative workbook. Once you're feeling sufficiently inspired by all of the amazing reads above, tap into your own creativity by following the prompts for collaging, journaling, painting, and more.

Image via Barnes & Noble

Architectural Digest at 100: A Century Of Style

This stunning and informative read is full of glorious designs from past and present. Featuring the homes of top celebrities and architects, it's an inspirational nod to the ever changing landscape of home decor.

Image via ThriftBooks

The New York Dog

Rachael Hale has managed to use her powerful photography skills to capture the quintessential nature of dogs in The New York Dog.

Image via Barnes & Noble

The Colors of Sies Marjan

The Colors of Sies Marjan is a beautiful recollection of the celestial brand of the same name. With memorable collections that wowed crowds during past NYFW seasons, Sander Lak's beautiful explosion of texture and color remain immortalized in this gorgeous coffee table book.

Image via Barnes & Noble

The New Black Vanguard

Get lost in the pages of The New Black Vanguard. Curated by Cultural Critic Antwaun Sargent, this coffee table is great for the fashion enthusiast who's interested in seeing the world of fashion, beauty and art through a more inclusive lens.

Image via ThriftBooks

Latin American Artists: From 1785 To Now

Allow yourself to be transported in time as you view the artwork of more than 300 Latin American artists.

Image via ThriftBooks

Glass Houses

Foray into the wondrous build of glass houses. You'll find yourself admiring designs that date back to the 1930s and will love learning how architects create stunning homes with sturdy foundations.

Which coffee table books are you thinking about adding to your collection? Let us know in the comments!

This post has been updated.

Header image via Amazon

Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.

What causes weak fingernails?

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

  • Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
  • Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
  • Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
  • Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

  • Cuticle oil
  • Biotin
  • Diet
  • Nail protection
  • Avoid picking and peeling
Here's why each factor is important, plus how you can go about successfully achieving them.

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

Looking for more beauty tips and inspo? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe

I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.

Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.

Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Image via Zach Wallnau

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!

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