Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of several romantic comedy novels for teens and adults, and is known for her bestselling novel, The ExTalk and Weather Girl. After growing up in Seattle, she decided she needed a change of scenery and moved to Amsterdam, where she can be found exploring the city, browsing through stationery, and practicing her knitting skills. Her latest book What Happens in Amsterdam releases Summer 2025!

Tell us about What Happens in Amsterdam.

What Happens in Amsterdam is a romantic comedy about a woman who moves to Amsterdam and ends up renting a room from her first love: the Dutch man who was her family’s foreign exchange student ten years ago… and who now needs to be married to inherit his canal house.

How did your own move to Amsterdam influence the novel?

Before I moved to Amsterdam, I’d only ever lived in Seattle, and I was convinced I’d never be able to write about another place—because I’d never know another setting as well as I knew the Pacific Northwest. Which is ridiculous, really, because plenty of authors (maybe a majority!) set books outside of where they live. That said, in order to write the kind of book about Amsterdam that I wanted to, I knew I’d need to wait until I’d experienced enough of the city to understand it, but not to the point where I’d forget my initial impressions and challenges. This book became a love letter to Amsterdam because I drafted it as I was falling in love with the city, too.

What drew you to the second chance trope? What are some of the surprises and challenges of writing this type of romance?

I didn’t set out to write a second-chance romance, actually! I just knew that I wanted the two main characters to have had some kind of connection in the past, and when foreign exchange student popped into my head, it was too juicy to ignore. I loved the idea of Dani and Wouter having had this forbidden romance when he lived with her family, experiencing all their firsts together… and then relearning each other in the present, on the opposite side of the world.

You also explore “marriage of convenience” in your latest book, what compelled you to layer the tropes and which did you feel most drawn to?

At first I was mulling faking dating or a fake engagement, and when my editor suggested a marriage of convenience, I instantly ran with it. Marriage of convenience is like fake dating dialed up to eleven—there’s the forced proximity, which is always a blast to write. Then there’s navigating living together, which is simply incomplete with an “oops I didn’t know you were in the bathroom wearing just a towel” scene. And then something I hadn’t expected was that marriage of convenience forced my characters to think more deeply about their futures, and whether they pictured this person as a forever partner.

Are there elements in the book that mirror your own experiences as an expat in Amsterdam?

Absolutely! Dani’s fascination with public transportation and general awe of the city, her struggle to find a bike as someone under five feet tall—the Netherlands is the tallest country in the world. Also, in case anyone reading chapter 1 thinks it’s unrealistic for there to be a bathtub in Dani’s bedroom: I have come across multiple real estate listings like this, plus an episode of House Hunters International! People really get creative with limited space here.

You’ve set previous books in Seattle, New York, and other U.S. cities. How does writing an international setting like Amsterdam change the way you approach storytelling?

I think it has a greater impact on character than storytelling, though of course character always informs the plot. When writing Wouter, his family, and friends, I had to keep in mind that their personalities are completely shaped by having grown up in a country I did not grow up in. So it was crucial for me to share early versions of this book with Dutch readers to ensure those characters felt realistic.

Did writing this novel differ from your previous works, given its personal connections and setting?

It felt significantly more personal. I also felt some pressure—largely self-imposed—to do this city and country justice. Amsterdam hasn’t really had its time to shine in the media; most portrayals of it are historic. And when you think about whirlwind European romances, the likelier settings are the UK, France, Italy. Amsterdam felt largely untouched by romance novels, and I wanted to ensure that I was presenting its beauty and quirks both realistically and positively. For readers who’ve never been to Amsterdam, I hope this book gives them vibrant portrait of it. For readers who’ve visited, I want it to bring back all the best nostalgia associated with their trip. And of course, I’d be delighted if it inspired anyone to book a ticket!

What are some of your favorite recent romance reads?

You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon—rivals to lovers perfection.

The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee—a love letter to romance novels.

For readers who have been long-time fans of both your YA and adult books, what do you think your readers will find familiar in this book, and what might surprise them?

Dani is grappling with some mental health issues, which I’m often drawn to write about. I also really love beta heroes, and Wouter is another one who falls into that category. As far as what might surprise readers…I think the spice level is a bit hotter than my previous books!

Many of your books have been optioned for film, do you have any updates or involvement in adaptations?

I don’t, unfortunately—the film/TV side tends to move slowly. I love the idea of an adaptation of my work being able to stand on its own, so while I don’t have any desire to write a script, I like to be consulted during the process. I will say that I was fortunate enough to read an amazing script for one of my books last year, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Can you talk about what you’re working on next?

My next published book will be another adult romance, and it’s been pure joy to write. It’s called Extracurricular, and it’s about a former child actress turned pop star who abandons the spotlight, determined to have the kind of normal life her manager parents denied her—starting with college, where she clashes with the sunshine professor who seems to love.

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

After feeling lost throughout her twenties, Dani moves to Amsterdam in her thirties—not that a catastrophic breakup with a coworker had anything to do with it. But the life she hoped would be an escape brings its own challenges, including a run-in with her high school love interest, Wouter. Though sparks still fly, so does their unresolved anger. When Wouter reveals he must marry to receive his full inheritance—including his family’s canal house—Dani considers the offer. She has nothing to lose, but a marriage of convenience to her former flame isn’t exactly the fresh start she envisioned—and she’s not sure she can handle another heartbreak.

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