Meet the author behind this summer's steamiest beach read

Interviewing author Chloe Angyal about her new romance novel Pointe of Pride, her writing routine, and her favorite fellow romance authors.

Sometime last year, or maybe the year before (what is time?) one of my bookish internet pals sent me a message about her best friend from college, who happened to live near me. She said we both loved romance novels, we would probably hit it off, and she would be happy to set us up on a blind date. Eager to make a new friend, I met Chloe Angyal at our local bookstore/coffee shop and was immediately charmed by her sense of humor, smart approach to reading romance, and—let’s be honest—her Australian accent. I now count Chloe as one of my dear friends and favorite romance authors. She is one of the most brilliant women I know, and I am thrilled for you to meet her today via my very first Substack interview.

A little more about Chloe: Chloe Angyal is the author of the novel Pas de Don't as well as Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet from Itself, which the Boston Globe called "incisive and unsparing" and "an important read for ballet lovers and an essential part of any conversation moving forward." Chloe holds a BA from Princeton and a PhD in arts and media from the University of New South Wales. She lives in Iowa with her husband, cute dog, and new baby.

Her brand new romance novel Pointe of Pride is out today! I asked her to tell us all about it.

You have a bunch of upcoming book tour events. Practice your elevator pitch and tell us about Pointe of Pride. 

If you love Center Stage, but wish it had a little bit more Anne Shirley-Gilbert Blythe energy, and a dash of Get a Life, Chloe Brown, this book is for you. It’s a high-heat contemporary romance set in the ballet world and on the beaches of Sydney, Australia.

Let’s jump right into characters! Carly, the protagonist, appears in your first novel, Pas de Don’t, and I loved her right away. Did you always know she would be the heroine in her own story, or did that decision come later? What do you love about Carly?

I loved writing her in Pas de Don’t, and I started wondering about what her HEA would look like. She’s a fiercely loyal friend and she doesn’t suffer fools, especially when those fools are men. She’s stubbornly independent but frequently finds herself in positions where she really ought to ask for help. I was wary of writing enemies to lovers, because it’s so hard to do well, but knowing Carly, her story was never going to be anything else.

Enemies to lovers IS tricky, especially in contemporary romance—but you found a great balance here, not dwelling in the “enemies” territory for too long. How did you craft the perfect love interest for firecracker Carly?

Nick and Carly have a lot in common. They’re both feeling left behind as their friends couple up and transition successfully out of performing and into new careers, and they both feel ashamed that they’re floundering. I wanted to write someone who feels that same insecurity but expresses it differently. And part of me knew that with a firecracker like Carly, Nick would have to be something of a straight man—which would make his occasional moments of giddiness or goofiness all the more satisfying.

One thing I adored about reading Pas de Don’t was the armchair travel I got to experience. Which destinations did you include in Pointe of Pride?

In this book we go back to Sydney and to the Blue Mountains to the west of the city. There’s even more time spent at the beach this time, because it’s set in summertime. And there’s a pivotal scene that takes place in one of Sydney’s many ocean pools—a pool cut into the cliff that’s fed by ocean water but is calm enough to swim laps in, with the surf pounding the rocks right next to you.

We covered enemies to lovers, but let’s talk microtropes (subtle scenes recognizable to romance readers that don’t cover the full arc of the story like a general trope). Can you give us a sneak peek of some fun microtropes to expect in your book?

That thing where one character talks shit about the other in another language, and the other character replies in that language. I love it so much. Also, that thing where they’re about to sleep together but one of them falls adorably asleep and so they just literally sleep together. 

You intentionally and gently write about Carly’s painful pelvic floor condition in a super steamy M/F romance without any penetrative sex scenes. Did you make this decision before sitting down to write, or did it happen as you crafted intimate scenes between Carly and Nick?

What I knew about Carly from Pas de Don’t is that she’s dated a lot, and doesn’t keep a guy around very long because, in Heather’s words, “she has high standards.” I started thinking about why else Carly might not keep a guy around that long. And then I thought about my own experience of pelvic floor dysfunction and how it shaped my experience of dating, and about how common these conditions are among dancers, and I started seeing her serial dating habit differently. And rather than watch her suffer that pain on page, I thought, why not meet her at a moment when she’s realized she deserves pain-free sex and decided to take treating this condition seriously… which can often include stopping penetrative sex for a while (or forever). And then I realized, oh wow, I’m going to write an entire straight high-heat romance novel with no penetration in it. And it became a very fun, very sexy writing challenge.

Give us one teaser quote from Pointe of Pride.

“Speak for yourself,” he grumbled.

“I always do,” she retorted.

What authors inspire you as a writer?

Kate Clayborn, Cat Sebastian, Mia Hopkins, Emma Barry, Denise Williams, Olivia Dade, and KD Casey.

Can you tell us a little bit about your writing routine? Where, when, how? Also, I feel like it would be challenging to read romance novels while writing one, but you seem to manage it so well–how do you maintain your voice, or do you ever need to take a break from reading romance?

I can write almost anywhere (one of the sex scenes in Pas de Don’t was written in the Delta lounge at LaGuardia Airport) but I prefer to write in my office at home.

I write 1000 words at a time. Knowing that my books are about 100,000 words, that’s 100 writing sessions, and I track my progress on a little grid where I can color in each chunk of 1000. A thousand is a doable number of words for me on any given day, but crucially, it takes the pressure off each writing day. If I write 1000 crappy words, it’s a drop in the bucket. But if I sit down and try to write 5000 words in a day, and I’m having a crappy writing day, that’s a significant chunk of crap I’ve just put in my draft. This way, I know I can sit down and write no matter how uninspired I’m feeling, because the stakes of each session stay low. (Shout out to

Jami Attenberg

and the entire 1000 Words of Summer community for showing me how to do this). 

When I’m in drafting mode, I stick to reading historical romance. I find that helps me maintain my own writing voice. Then once I’m done drafting I get to dive back into the contemporary part of my TBR.

How would you describe your taste as a romance reader? 

I like really textured character development and seamless writing of the social issues and politics that shape the characters’ lives. 

For readers who are shouting, SAME, which two or three books would you recommend?

• A Dish Best Served Cold by Natalie Caña

• Fly With Me by Andie Burke

• We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian

One more question before everyone goes to buy a copy of Pointe of Pride. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading When I Think of You by Myah Ariel, and it’s so good! It’s set in Hollywood, but it’s more grind than glamor, and the main character’s voice is distinct and very funny.

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Don’t miss Chloe Angyal’s ode to Australian beaches, Anne of Green Gables, boundaries in ballet, and good people trying hard—and falling in love. You don’t need to read her romance novels in order, but you should just grab both of them right away.

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You can find Chloe on Instagram, Substack, or at a bookstore event near you.

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