Welcome to Jen’s Jewels, your go-to destination for the hottest new fiction. This week, I’m featuring FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN by Kristina Thornton. If you’re searching for your next unforgettable read, you may have just found it.
LIGHTNING ROUND
What’s your favorite way to spend a slow July afternoon?
I enjoy going on long walks among the trees with my family. I live in the countryside in Derbyshire, England in a small village in the heart of the National Forest, and you can walk for miles surrounded by woods and fields. It’s so relaxing. And my husband loves to get the BBQ out in the summer. He and my sons cook a beautiful steak!
What snack, drink, or sweet treat always finds its way to your desk when writing?
Coffee, always coffee! I also like to nibble on cashews and biscuits (cookies).
What’s one thing that instantly helps you slip into a creative mindset?
Simply sitting at my desk with a coffee and opening my laptop puts me in the mood to write. I have a little desk under the stairs (it’s nicer than it sounds!) that has shelves above it, which are full of my favorite novels and writing craft books. It’s an inspiring place to be.
THE SUMMER SPARK
July often feels like the heart of summer. In what ways did this story represent a new direction or challenge for you as a writer?
I wanted to write a book set over a short timeframe with a definitive structure. So, the majority of FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN happens over one week – when the main character, Louise is given ten challenges by her best friend, Katie. This is very different from my debut novel, Claire Morris is Completely Lost which is set over about eighteen months. I thought dealing with just one week would make writing the book easier, and guess what? It didn’t! Writing a novel is hard no matter what. I loved having the structure of the ten challenges and veering off the expected path when the story required it. Also, with FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN, I was aiming to write something lighter, funnier, and even more romantic. It was so much fun to write.
Tell us about a scene that changed significantly from your first draft to your final version. What made you rethink it?
The first chapter didn’t exist in the first draft! I wrote a totally new opening. I was told by a publisher that my story needed a more dramatic start and another reason for Louise to want to complete the challenges she’s been set to celebrate her fortieth birthday. I’m so glad that I was given this feedback; it took the novel to the next level, and the new beginning and new story threads were surprisingly easy to add – I had found the missing pieces to the puzzle. I think these changes helped me to secure a deal with Harpeth Road Press; they were enthusiastic about my novel as soon as I approached them.
Setting can shape a story in powerful ways. What role does the setting play in your book, and what inspired you to choose it?
FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN is set in Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England. It is the main character, Louise’s hometown, which she returns to for her birthday week away. It is also my hometown, and I relished writing about the real places I know while adding some fictional locations as well. It’s a place that Louise holds dear to her heart but needed to escape. She loves that everybody knows everyone, but that’s also the reason she left. It’s comforting yet claustrophobic. The setting reflects Louise’s internal struggles with her son growing up and becoming an independent adult. But I won’t say much more; I don’t want to give too much away! Another reason why I chose Doncaster is because I have never read a romance novel set there. I knew I could make it work and the story would be unique and stand out.
People often associate summer with memories and nostalgia. Did any personal experiences or favorite places inspire parts of the story?
I definitely mined my memories of nights out in Doncaster for this book. There’s a real mix of real and fictional places in the story. I had a blast writing a particular dance floor scene. I listened to some old dance tunes to get me in the zone! The descriptions of a busy night out in Doncaster town center are inspired by my own experiences. I used to have the best time in my hometown, and I wanted to convey those feelings of frivolity and freedom.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
Every book comes with its challenges. Was there a moment during this one that reminded you why you fell in love with writing?
There are certain scenes in the book which haven’t changed that much over the many edits I have done. They’re the bits that flowed, when I was having the most fun and I knew exactly what I wanted to write. In those moments, it’s as if I’m in the scene either watching from the sidelines or embodying the character. Everything plays out in my head. When writing the new first chapter, it came together quickly – that was a satisfying moment.
If readers could step inside one scene from your book and experience it in real life, which scene would you choose and why?
I’d put them in the restaurant scene where Louise and Tom go on a date, so they could witness their growing connection and chemistry. It’s a pivotal part of the novel. Writing dialogue is my favorite: the back and forth, the banter. It has to be natural but sparkle. Hopefully I’ve achieved that on the page, but if the reader could experience it in real life, I would sit them on the next table, close to Louise and Tom, so they could watch their date play out.
LOOKING AHEAD
Can you give readers a sneak peek into your next project, minus any spoilers?
My next book is again a fun romance with a romcom feel. It’s about a school exam invigilator who’s lost everything. I think this sums it up pretty well: Grace is heartbroken, back living with her parents, and dealing with a bizarre cheese mystery when she meets Daniel – a divorced George Clooney doppelganger – who says he can help…
And I’ve started writing my fourth book which is an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance.
Where can readers connect with you and keep up with your latest writing news? (Website, social media, newsletter, etc.)
Through my website, newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X
BONUS: The Author’s Playlist
Share 3–5 songs that capture the mood of your book or that helped inspire you while writing.
These songs capture the mood of FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN, and I played them before writing some of the scenes…
“Now You’re Gone” by Basshunter
“Toca’s Miracle” by Fragma
“Wild Women Do” by Natalie Cole
FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN by Kristina Thornton
Two best friends. One outrageous week. Ten birthday dares. And a plan to turn back the clock… just a little.
Louise Nightingale, a routine-loving single mum, is hitting forty and feeling stuck. Enter Katie Sinclair: party planner, mischief instigator, and her best friend. She’s whisking Louise back to her hometown of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, for a week of pubs, bubbly, and very carefully crafted chaos.
The catch? Ten challenges designed to push Louise out of her comfort zone. Cue the embarrassing moments, questionable decisions, and a very familiar face—Tom Gardner, her school crush, turned slightly-too-charming adult. He’s handsome, smug, and possibly a little off-limits or maybe not.
Full of laughter, flirting, and the kind of friendship that saves you from yourself, this is a delightfully cheeky story about love, life, and taking a few chances before forty hits.
If you love books about lifelong friendships, laugh-out-loud mishaps, and swoon-worthy, second-chance romance, this charming tale of self-discovery, daring challenges, and unexpected love will have you smiling long after the last page.
Romance Contemporary [ Harpeth Road Press, On Sale: July 28, 2026, e-Book, ISBN: 9781963483635 / ]
Buy FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN:Kindle Unlimited| BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Kristina Thornton
Kristina Thornton writes fun and emotional romantic fiction full of self-discovery, friendship, and drama. Her second novel, FORTY GOING ON NINETEEN is a swoony, funny, small-town, second-chance romance (Harpeth Road Press, July 2026). Kristina’s first book, CLAIRE MORRIS IS COMPLETELY LOST (Northodox Press, July 2024) was shortlisted for two Romantic Novelists’ Association awards: The Debut Romantic Novel Award 2025 and The Joan Hessayon Award 2024.
She grew up in Doncaster and now lives in Derbyshire, England with her husband and two sons. As well as being an author, the former BBC presenter and broadcast journalist is an associate lecturer in journalism at the University of Worcester. Kristina is addicted to watching Real Housewives of Orange County/Beverly Hills/Miami/Salt Lake City and is a fantastic player of Jenga, having perfected a unique ‘woodpecker’ technique.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | AMAZON
About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido is the author of The Gull Island Series, sweet Lowcountry romances inspired by her love of coastal living and small-town charm. Serendipity by the Sea won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest, and Baltimore Magazine readers named her Best Local Author in 2024 and 2025.
A Vanderbilt graduate, Jennifer traded in teaching French to follow her dream of becoming an author. She loves discovering and sharing literary gems through her Jen’s Jewels column, celebrating the books that make her heart happy.
Jennifer lives in Maryland with her husband and is mom to two grown sons. Her rescue dog, Fripp, is her constant companion, though he’s better at napping than editing. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at the beach with her toes in the sand, dreaming about her next romance.
No Comments
Comments are closed.