Hannah Brown is still pinching herself. In our Zoom call where she is checking in from Nashville, Tennessee the former Bachelorette turned author is cozying up to Cosmopolitan for a big announcement and it's clear that she is still taking it all in as we chat about all things books. With two New York Times bestsellers under her belt and a series that has fans absolutely wanting more, it's no surprise to hear that there is still more to come. In fact, there's a lot more that she's finally revealing here and now.
Cosmopolitan is exclusively revealing Hannah Brown's Reasons to Be Loved by You, which is set to be released on June 23, 2026. The book continues her Mistakes We Never Made series and now follows Nikki as she deals with the fallout and heartbreak during the summer after she starred in a reality dating show, Loved By, and was left heartbroken. But an unlikely ally appears when her brother announces a fast-action wedding that she plans to stop at all costs. Of course, with scheming comes some sparks, but is Nikki ready for what happens next? Here's some info from our friends at Forever:
Emily Henry’s Funny Story meets The Family Stone in Bachelorette fan-favorite and New York Times bestselling author Hannah Brown’s newest rom-com, a beach read full of banter, emotional authenticity, and female friendship.
Perfectionist and former pageant girl Nikki Bennet is looking forward to some much-needed down time with her family at their Georgia home by the lake. Though it’s been a couple years, she’s still not totally over her time on the reality show Loved By, which resulted in nationally-televised heartbreak when she learned her newly-chosen fiancé was seeing another woman all along.
But when, at the family’s annual Fourth of July celebration, she finds out her little brother Cooper plans to marry her ex-fiancé’s ex-girlfriend, Cara Lancolm—this summer, at the lakeside where Nikki always envisioned having her own wedding, no less—Nikki vows to stop their rushed, ill-advised union. And as the fireworks go off over the lake, Nikki discovers an unlikely ally in Cara’s brother, the quirky and noncommittal Nate Lancolm. While Nikki and Nate begin “working together” to talk sense into their hasty siblings, they’re surprised by the intense chemistry between them, which morphs quickly into a full-on secret fling.
If Nikki’s being honest, this wedding-stoppers-with-benefits relationship with Nate is a welcome distraction from the mess of her love life—and from the sneaking suspicion that her family are keeping other secrets from her too. Secrets that might force Nikki to take a hard look at why she’s been chasing perfection for so long, and where it’s really gotten her.
Can Nikki and Nate prevent Cara and Cooper from making a huge mistake? Or will their efforts lead to an even more preposterous love story—their own?
"There are a little bit more similarities of me and Nikki just from experiences and I feel like I'm at a place where I can really do that and feel confident of myself as a writer, and not just riding on my own coattails," Hannah admits in our conversation.
And, of course, you already know that you can expect an absolutely stunning cover to go along with it.
"I just fall more and more in love with with each book cover. I wanted them to be beautiful. I wanted people to think of it as a work of art. And I feel like the the artists have just killed it every time," she continued.
You can officially check out the cover below which Hannah says, "Feels like a painting. It really brings you into that setting of being in Georgia, on the lake. You can feel that little southern nostalgic vibe."
And that's not all! Hannah is also announcing two new books under a new deal with her publisher, Forever. While official details are still being kept under wraps, we chatted with her some more to hear more about becoming a writer, continuing this new series, and what we can expect next.
Does it still feel a bit surreal to be able to do this as part of your career?
It still feels like such a blessing in my life and such a dream come true. I never dreamt up some of the opportunities that I had, especially at the beginning of my career, but being able to really complete and write a book has always been something that I wanted to do. And now that I'm coming up on my third romance novel and fourth book overall, it's just truly incredible.
I still pinch myself that I've had the opportunity to do that and that's really because people have been supporting me and loving the characters. I feel like each book I get more and more confident. It definitely comes with its own challenges of just trying to make sure that I'm giving the people what they want, but there's also just this sense of gratitude that I have been able to continue to do that and have this two book deal and just really have it be a big part of my career is amazing.
It must also be more exciting for you to also get to meet people who now know you mostly for your writing than anything else.
It's probably one of my favorite things that ever happens. Obviously, I am so thankful for my day one fans who have been with me through The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but when somebody comes up to me and the first thing they say is, Oh my gosh, I just finished your book or while I'm in the airport and I see somebody is reading my book—I'll never forget we were coming back from our honeymoon this summer and we were going through like customs and I look over and this girl is listening on audiobook, and sees me and is like, I'm listening to your book right now—it's just the coolest thing ever.
How do you feel like your writing has changed with each book?
I feel like I say this with every book, but from Emma's book to Sybil and now sharing Nikki's story, I feel like they get more and more personal in a way. Even though they're all like the same universe, they're all standalone books. Each book, it's become less trope-y, which I love a good trope, but then it's, it feels like there's more meat to the actual personal growth and reflection. With Reasons to Be Loved You, I think there's a few more elements that come into it. Obviously, it's a romance and it's a love story, but there is a big placement on the importance of family and diving into just more of this personal journey for Nikki.
I feel like with each book I am learning and evolving as a writer to be able to go into more depth while still keeping the book light, fun and airy and definitely an escape for people.
It does feel like Nikki's story is the closest to yours personally. Was there ever a moment you that made you think of not doing that.
I think my first book being a memoir, I revealed so much and I wanted these romance novels to to be able to really express my creativity and not just solely based on people just wanting to find different little easter eggs of my life. My writing style is that I have to write from some place of truth, and so I feel like I've evolved and realized that people do actually love these stories and are not just reading them because they're wondering what they're going to get about me from them. They're really invested into the characters, so I feel like I'm able to step into this book that is a little bit more personal.
There are a little bit more similarities of me and Nikki just from experiences and I feel like I'm at a place where I can really do that and feel confident of myself as a writer, and not just riding on my own coattails. I think the story is one that people will really be invested in if they have followed my life. But then, just in general, I think it's a fun story for people who don't care anything about my past life and really just love fun, interesting, nuanced, characters that's have a very unique journey with love and relationships.
Tell us a bit more about Nate! How does he compare to the love interests in your past books?
He's very different than my top my past two books have been more like Darcy from Pride and Prejudice-type characters. Nate is funny and a little goofy and I am obsessed with him. He's just so fun and he really reminds me of Nick from New Girl. He's a character that's just a little bit weird and goofy, but so charming and I definitely think that's going to be different for readers who have read any of my other books.
The romantic interests are so like...you swoon over them, but I think you're gonna swoon over Nate in a different way. And so he's been really fun to write and a character that I'm just kind of obsessed with.
How does he match up with Nikki and her story?
This is the type of love interest that I feel like Nikki needs because she's such a perfectionist. There needed to be that type of dynamic for her to just be able to shake off just having to be perfect. She was in pageants and on competition dating shows, and feels the need to to be the best and perfect in every way. Nate just is not that way and it brings something out in her that I think it's really fun and refreshing!
We're also announcing that two more books are on the way. What can you tease about them?
I'm really excited to create a full universe for everyone to be able to fall in love with the core four through their unique experiences and how they have learned to love themselves. They're watching them experience falling in love and finding true love in their unique ways and how they continue to support each other.
What has been the biggest lesson you've learned so far as a writer?
I think just more confidence in myself and my abilities and my instincts when it comes to writing. You really should trust your instincts and know what you love to read and what makes for a compelling story. There can be so many people that you know have done it more than you and are more seasoned, but you still bring something new and a different outlook that that nobody else can replicate, so really trust that.
I feel like with each book, I'm able to stand on my own two feet more thanks to all support that I have, and having my co-writer, Emily Larrabee, has just been amazing. But I'm really learning about having the confidence in what I can bring and being able to truly be collaborative and and be proud that my name's on that cover and that it's my story to tell.
Any final words for fans?
I am so excited for them to pick up this book. I feel like Nikki's story is been a long time coming and there was a reason why it wasn't the first book. To people who have never read any of my books, I hope it makes people excited to pick up this book and see how these women and their relationships really encourage each other when it comes to love in their lives—whether that be with their family, with their romantic partner, with friendship and with within themselves. These core four women really bring something unique to all of their their group.
Reasons to Be Loved by You, by Hannah Brown will be released on June 23, 2026 from Forever. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:
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