“I loved Love on Paper and Love on Film, and this one is no exception. A must-read beginning to the series. Sarah’s writing style is fresh and engaging, and will leave you wanting to turn the page until the very last word. I highly recommend!”
~ ALLISON GYGI ~
AUTHOR OF THE BUENA HILLS ROMANCE SERIES
Love on Hold
The thing about romance? The ever-after isn’t always happy.
THE PREQUEL NOVELLA
Marin Beckett grew up in a real-life storybook romance. Her parents’ marriage inspired millions through the pages of her dad’s famous memoir, but only she was around later to watch it implode. It took her years to trust in lasting love, but her fiancé’s romantic gestures have finally won her over. Between wedding planning and her flourishing writing career, Marin is sure she’s found her own happy ending.
When a glamorous work trip beckons—complete with a Manhattan penthouse, chauffeured cars, and a visit to the set of her book-turned-TV-movie—it should be a thrilling adventure. Instead, she’s thrust into a world of publishing elites eager to dissect her family’s painful demise. These shadows of the past bring her long-buried doubts about love to the surface. Is she simply nervous? Or is her fear of commitment rooted in a truth she hasn’t quite figured out?
In this poignant prequel to the Love Unscripted series, Sarah Wright Reed explores the weight of family legacy, the fear of repeating past mistakes, and finding the courage to believe in forever—even when forever feels impossibly out of reach.
Love on Hold is the first book in the series, but it was actually written last. It's a short book that introduces Marin and the events that take her to Seasalter in Love on Paper.
A Writing Vacation
I don't always get to travel while writing, but when I wrote Love on Hold, I happened to be on a month-long "virtual work" trip with my husband and little ones. We went to Beaufort, a beautiful, historic town in the lowcountry islands of South Carolina. The area is connected to Marin's family, so it was fun to explore for those reasons, too. This is the Angel Oak tree on Johns Island, where Marin's family is from. It's between 300 and 400 years old!
One Essential Song
I listened to one song only while writing this book - Taylor Swift's "All Too Well" (10-minute Sad Girl Autumn Version, for my fellow Swifties). I discovered it the first day of our trip and instantly fell in love. It was heartbreakingly gorgeous; I became a Swiftie overnight. This song played on repeat for hours every day while I wrote. Its aching beauty is engraved onto every page of Love on Hold. Thank you, Taylor, for the inspiration!
My Outdoor Office
Beaufort has a lovely waterfront park that was just down the street from our rental house. I often set up shop on one of the big swings that line the long stretch of park overlooking Beaufort's saltwater river. Writing with the January lowcountry breeze in my hair was a perfect way to spend the day.
Side note: my parents came to visit for a week; that's my dad in this picture!
New York, New York
I had a great time researching all the elements needed to set a book in New York. From Yvonne's ultra-fancy car (a Mercedes-Maybach) to just the right neighborhood (Manhattan's NoMad, where Marin's proudly smutty publisher Velicity Books is headquartered, is also home to the Museum of Sex), sneaking in some tributes to one of my favorite cities was a blast!
On Lyle and Leslie
Lyle Michaud, Marin's godfather and her dad's literary agent, completely stole his two scenes in the book. I modeled Lyle on the effervescent Leslie Jordan, who passed away later that year in October 2022. From the first word out of Lyle's mouth, I heard nothing but Leslie's voice. Leslie always signed off with "Love, Light, Leslie," and that's exactly what he helped me bring to the character of Lyle. Thank you, Leslie. You are missed.
The Vintage Veil
Marin's grandmother's vintage Juliet cap veil plays a special role in the story. While I couldn't find one with the little blue beaded dove I envisioned, this one from UK-based brand Agnes Hart is a good representation of what I had in mind. Isn't it beautiful?! And it's handmade - just perfect for Marin's love of vintage items with a storied history.
