Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail: A swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud queer romcom

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Who doesn’t love a good renovation story? Whether it’s the experts of “Queer Eye” making lifestyle improvements, Marie Kondo organizing clutter, the beloved hosts of “What Not to Wear” upgrading a wardrobe (still waiting on that reboot, TLC) or the “Property Brothers” giving a home a much-needed tuneup, we all like to watch professionals take a mess and rework, renew and restore it into something beautiful. There’s a hopefulness to renovations, too, in the idea that everything has hidden potential just waiting to be brought to light. And the main couple of Ashley Herring Blake’s Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail? Well, let’s just say they could use some touch-ups.

KATIE TAMOLA: One of the main characters is questioning her sexuality. How do you best navigate thoughtfully crafting such an experience? AHB: Yeah. I am an HGTV fan. I go through phases where I watch it relentlessly, and then I don’t watch it for months at a time. I was familiar with shows like Property Brothers and the Joanna [Gaines] and Chip [Gaines] show, Fixer Upper — just all the really popular ones. AHB: I love enemies to lovers or rivals to lovers. I just love seeing the animosity turn into something more and seeing that subtle shift of “we don’t like each other,” or whatever level that they’re on in terms of intimacy, turning something softer, and then finally, that realization. I love seeing their journey. I think it’s just delicious. I think everybody’s just very into [the question] how is this possibly going to turn into something romantic?So, I think with Astrid, I really wanted to balance the very real, authentic way that I experienced it with her character and all the things that she’s dealing with from her mom. For Astrid — well, I think for a lot of people and for me — [she was] just dealing with compulsory heterosexuality, where you just assumed that this is what you’re supposed to be like. I wanted to balance that, though, with a lot of support. A lot of times, it can be very traumatic. We read about kids that have come out and realize [their] sexuality, but what does it really look like as an adult? And I think it can still be very harrowing if you don’t feel like there’s people around you who can see you. And while there are certain experiences where adults are going through this, and they’re not seen, and they’re not supported by family or people around them, I wanted Astrid’s experience to be a little gentler. I wanted readers to read that experience and be like, “Oh, that’s [something] that I can relate to.” Or “I’m glad she had that support because she has all her friends around her, even if her mom is not exactly into it.” I wanted to capture the angstiness of “Oh, my gosh, I don’t think I am who I have always thought I was,” which has its own level of trauma and hardship just realizing that in and of yourself. But I wanted to balance that with [the idea of] I have these people around me — no matter who I am or what I am, or how I see myself, label or no label, whatever it is — [who] accept me and support me no matter what. So to me, that balance right there was really important with Astrid’s journey, for sure. KT: Conversely, you have another character, similar in age, who enjoys what she does but is at a point in her life where she thinks everything she touches turns to destruction. Is this a case of two characters needing to meet each other when their own lives are somewhat derailed, whether they realize it or not?

Astrid, an interior designer, prides herself on her carefully curated image and reputation. And while her professional image is pristine, her personal one is not: A failed engagement and a tough-to-please mother have sent her flailing. But when Astrid gets an exciting opportunity to renovate an entire inn that will be featured on a designer television show, Innside America, she thinks her prayers have been answered. That is until she meets Jordan Everwood, the carpenter who will also be assisting in this production.About Us Advertise Online Why Did I Get This Ad? About Our Ads Community Guidelines Press Room Other Hearst Subscriptions