What is the title of your latest release?
MOST ELIGIBLE
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A journalist goes undercover on a reality dating show, only to discover that the host is her country star one-night stand from the year before.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I always knew I wanted this book to take place on reality TV. It’s such a juicy setting with so many opportunities for shenanigans and drama. Plus, I love the added dynamic of not knowing what’s for the cameras and what’s “real.”
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely, but I hope she’d want to hang out with me! We’re both late sleepers, so maybe we could grab a mid-morning coffee or tea and talk about what’s on our Spotify rotation.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Thoughtful, suave, tortured (and hot)
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned a lot of fun facts about The Bachelor, for example: If the women get cold on set, the producers don’t want the lead to give them their jacket, because it’ll look too bulky on camera!
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
A little bit of both! I don’t like to let editing hold me back if I want to keep going with a first draft, but if there’s something massive that I know I’ll have to change eventually, I’ll often edit it before moving on to draft the rest.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
A hot chai latte at my local coffee shop!
Describe your writing space/office!
I don’t really have an office, but my living room (AKA unofficial office) is full of books! So many books that I had to add in a rotating bookshelf for the overflow. I usually write either on the couch or in coffee shops. Coffee shops are my favorite place to write because of the ambient noise, inspiration from random people talking next to me, and of course the lattes that I can’t make at home.
Who is an author you admire?
Abby Jimenez. I love her books and am in awe of how she can make readers care so much in just a few sentences. By the end of the first paragraph of her books, I’m willing to risk my life for her characters!
Is there a book that changed your life?
There are so many, but I’ll say The Penderwicks series. I read these at a young age and it was a really magical escape. The books are really inspiring and made me feel like I could be a writer, even before I had the skills or fortitude to finish writing a whole book.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
I received an email from my agent with several exclamation marks as the subject line, and had to take a deep breath before opening it. I tried to keep it cool but my heart was beating so fast! I called my family to tell them the news, and I think I cried a little. It was a surreal, life-changing moment, but internalizing the fact that my book will be out in the world has been a slow progression rather than just one, light switch moment. Every step of the way makes it feel more real, and I can’t wait to see MOST ELIGIBLE in bookstores!
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance, thrillers, and anything with juicy family drama.
What’s your favorite movie?
Titanic.
What is your favorite season?
Autumn! I am from New England and love to see the leaves changing colors.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I love to spend the day writing, specifically something that I’m just working on for fun. I’ve done this for the past three years and it was the best! And, of course, cake should be involved too – my favorite is red velvet with cream cheese frosting!
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I was lucky enough to read Mara Williams’s THE EPICENTER OF FOREVER early and it is phenomenal. Look for it in February!
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love Mediterranean food.
What do you do when you have free time?
I love doing cardio dance classes. It’s my favorite way to exercise and is just the right mix of challenging and fun!
What can readers expect from you next?
I’m hard at work on a second romantic comedy novel, and having a lot of fun with it. You can expect high-stakes, hijinks, and what I hope will be a truly epic love story.
MOST ELIGIBLE by Isabelle Engel
The Bachelor meets Funny You Should Ask in this laugh-out-loud rom-com debut about a journalist who goes on reality TV only to find her country music star one-night stand is the host.
Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.
Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.
Romance Comedy [ St. Martin’s Griffin, On Sale: January 13, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250396204 / eISBN: 9781250396211 ]
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About Isabelle Engel
Raised in New England, Isabelle now lives and works in Washington, D.C. She has a MA in English from George Washington University and a BA in English, Theatre, and Creative Writing from UMass Amherst. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, watching reality TV, going on hikes, petting other people’s dogs, and listening to true crime podcasts.
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