In this week’s Jen’s Jewels column, I’m excited to chat with author Alisha Fernandez Miranda about her delightful new novel, SOMEONE’S GOTTA GIVE. Set against the glittering backdrop of London’s high society, this witty and heartfelt story follows Lucia, a former nonprofit executive turned high-powered advisor to the elite, as she navigates motherhood, marriage, and the excesses of wealth with humor and grace. From Buckingham Palace mishaps to private island perks, Alisha invites readers behind the scenes of a world few ever see and delivers a thoughtful exploration of identity, ambition, and staying grounded when everything around you sparkles.
Jen: Your main character, Lucia, finds herself advising royals and billionaires—did you base any of these larger-than-life clients on real people you’ve met or read about, and what was your overall inspiration for the book?
Alisha: The first scene I wrote for SOMEONE’S GOTTA GIVE. was when Lucia approaches the Perry family’s large country estate. I wanted to capture that feeling that I had so often when I moved to the UK (and still do sometimes): a combo of “holy crap, how crazy is it that I get to be here?” mixed with a bit of “I am way out of my league” and “I have no idea which fork goes where.”
This general sense of being a fish out of water is one I have felt so many times in my life: as an expat, as a new mom and in the wild world of wealth, privilege and philanthropy. It seemed like the perfect backdrop for a Devil Wears Prada-esque “peek behind the curtain.”
Of course, every person in the book is entirely a work of fiction, and any resemblance to people dead or living is purely coincidental. (So the lawyers tell me to say).
Jen: If Lucia could give one piece of unsolicited advice to her past self before taking this glamorous job, what would it be?
Alisha: I think her friend Sooz says it best in the book: “Do me a favor and don’t get even more lost while you’re in there. That world, the world of private jets and superyachts and trying to use generosity to gloss over all manner of sins— it’s easy to lose your way. Don’t forget who you are and promise you won’t forget why you’re there.”
It’s so easy to lose track of your why when you are blinded by glitz and glamor. Unfortunately for Lucia (but fortunately for my readers!), she doesn’t always follow Sooz’s advice.
Jen: What was your favorite scene to write: a Buckingham Palace moment, a private island getaway, or a chaotic night at home with Lucia’s baby?
Alisha: What a great question! My favorite scenes to write are the funny ones. Of the three you mention, it’s probably her first meeting in Buckingham Palace. The technocrat character she meets there, Brody Cutler, is one of my favorites in the book. There are chapters’ worth of conversations with him that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Also – it was so delightful to remember my own first visit to the palace. The wonder and thrill of driving through the private gates, the awe at where I was. I got to meet Princess Anne at an afternoon tea, and I wore my favorite pink dress and butchered my curtsy. Even though that delight is not gone for me, there’s nothing like your first time.
Jen: Lucia navigates secret clubs and royal circles—what’s the most surprising or outrageous thing you learned about the world of the über-wealthy while writing this book?
Alisha: I’ve been working with philanthropists for almost 20 years, so a lot of these wild quirks of the world of the uber-wealthy have been known to me. But I had to do a bit of research to find out what A-List celebrity musical acts charge for performing at charity galas and that was truly shocking. When my editor first read that scene, she asked me to confirm the number; she was sure it was a typo.
Jen: This story balances motherhood, marriage, and career so well. Is there a piece of Lucia’s experience that was inspired by your own “what if” moments?
Alisha: While this book is definitely fiction, there are so many of Lucia’s emotions that stem directly from things I have felt, in love, in work and especially as a new mom. I think Lucia is very much at the cusp of her own “what if” questioning. She comes to realize throughout the book that she’s always cared so much about making others proud and doing what she thought they wanted, and less about herself. I think the feeling that she’s so tied to her many obligations that she’s forgotten who she is at the core is one that was very familiar to me.
I could absolutely see her interning somewhere down the line! Maybe at a bakery or coffee shop? She’d be in heaven.
Jen: What’s one luxury perk Lucia gets through her job that you’d secretly love to have in real life?
Alisha: I’ve had the good fortune to take a lot of glamorous work trips, but never one to a private island. I wouldn’t mind a bit of beach time on someone else’s dime!
Jen: How did you tap into the comedic side of Lucia’s life? Do you have a favorite line or bit of dialogue that still makes you laugh?
Alisha: I love writing humorous dialogue, especially a bit of banter. I think that both early motherhood and the world of philanthropy are actually surprisingly funny, so finding the humor in them was an enjoyable challenge of the writing process. There are so many bits I still chuckle at, but many of my favorite lines belong to Tristan, especially when he sends her a stream of angry texts at GIFGAL. Snarky characters are the most fun to write.
Jen: If this book were made into a series, who would be your dream cast for Lucia and her husband?
Alisha: In my head, I’d love Brooklyn 99’s Melissa Fumero as Lucia and Andrew Garfield as Ollie! How cute would they be together?
Jen: This story is set in London’s glitziest corners—what’s your personal favorite hidden gem in London that you’d recommend to readers?
Alisha: Sir John Soane’s Museum on Lincoln’s Inn Fields is an amazing old house full of the paintings, sculptures and collected treasures of Sir John Soane, an architect who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When he died, he left his home and everything in it to create a museum on the stipulation that it had to be left “as is.” He had eclectic taste! My favorite part is the giant Sarcophagus in his basement. When he bought it, he hosted a three-day viewing party.
Jen: Finally, what’s your next project? And, how can readers stay connected with you?
Alisha: I’ve come to realize that the things I’m most obsessed with writing are stories about women of a certain age – my age! – balancing ambition and motherhood in all its beautiful, challenging and comical forms. I’m working on a novel about a CEO and mother of teenage twins that gently pokes fun at the self-care and wellbeing industry and also lets me explore a little bit of my love for speculative fiction!
You can always find updates on my Instagram, my Substack, or my website.
SOMEONE’S GOTTA GIVE by Alisha Fernandez Miranda
The author of My What If Year is back with a fun, witty debut novel that takes you inside the world of extreme wealth and charitable giving.
Lucia thought she had it all figured out—until life in London as a new mom and expat turned everything upside down. She’s barely holding it together when she unexpectedly lands a glamorous job as a philanthropic adviser at London’s poshest private bank. But is the world of the über-wealthy everything that it’s cracked up to be?
At work, she’s rubbing elbows with royals; at home, her teething one-year-old is up at all hours of the night, and her husband’s growing connection to his ex-girlfriend is raising suspicions.
Can Lucia juggle Buckingham Palace visits, private island getaways, and late-night cocktails at secret clubs while keeping her family intact and staying true to herself?
Romance Chick-Lit [Zibby Books, On Sale: August 5, 2025, e-Book , / ]
Buy SOMEONE’S GOTTA GIVE: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Alisha Fernandez Miranda
ALISHA FERNANDEZ MIRANDA is the author of My What If Year, the first release from Zibby Books. She serves as chair and former CEO of I.G. Advisors, an award-winning social impact intelligence agency that consults with the world’s biggest nonprofits, foundations, and corporations on their philanthropy and social initiatives. A graduate of Harvard University and the London School of Economics, her writing has been featured in Vogue, Business Insider, Romper, and Huffington Post. Originally from Miami, she currently lives in Scotland with her husband and children.
WEBSITE | AMAZON | INSTAGRAM
About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, “Serendipity by the Sea,” secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido’s talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
No Comments
Comments are closed.