Jealousy, revenge, deception, betrayal—what more could you want from a book during the most romantic month of the year? Described as Gone Girl meets Luckiest Girl Alive, Rachel Koller Croft’s debut is the sexy, darkly funny Stone Cold Fox, a page turner about a young woman who’s worked her way into one of the country’s wealthiest families, determined to leave her dark past behind—yet does it all armed with the skills she learned from her con artist mother.

Our February guest author Rachel Koller Croft is a film-and-TV writer whose most recent feature, Torn Hearts—a female-driven horror film set in the world of country music, starring Katey Sagal—debuted in 2022 and was given the highly sought ‘certified fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Rachel has scripted projects for Blumhouse, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Freeform, and Comedy Central, among others.

The Book I……

I last bought/am currently reading: The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis

I recommend to everyone: A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

That was my favorite to read last year, and why: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas because it was as hot and fun and provocative as the cover led me to believe it would be.

Whose author I would love to have lunch with: I want to gab with Judy Blume about all of her books, namely Forever. Iconic!

That made me realize language had power: Oh, god, probably Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Weren’t we all traumatized appropriately by that novel in our youth? Compliments to the author, of course, as I’m pretty sure that was the first book that made me cry out loud.

I’d like to see adapted to the screen: Bunny by Mona Awad

That made me laugh out loud—or cry—while reading it: I’ve never laughed louder in public than when I read My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler on train in the British countryside. I think people were getting annoyed with me. And Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart made me ugly cry more than once while reading. Thankfully I read that one in private at home. I cry a lot when I read, though. Katherine Paterson unleashed the beast.

That has the most gorgeous cover: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas. OK, OK, something else. I love the cover of The Cloisters by Katy Hays – both the US and UK editions are stunning!

With the best opening line: Can I say Stone Cold Fox? I worked really hard on that one! But come on, I have to hand this one to the queen: Donna Tartt and The Secret History.

Bookstore that I frequent/is my favorite: Diesel at the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles

Bonus: What is your favorite guilty pleasure book? No such thing because I find no guilt in my pleasure, particularly when it comes to books, and nobody else should either. Read what you like! It’s supposed to be fun.

Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Rachel Koller Croft about Stone Cold Fox here>>