Audrey Goldberg Ruoff joins My Perfect Romance to talk about her new book Vengefully Matched, a witchy enemies-to-lovers romance novel built on revenge, forced proximity, prank wars, and emotional growth. The conversation explores why vengeance can be honest, how messy characters can still be lovable, and why communication and consent matter just as much as chemistry. They also discuss the witchy Hallowcross world, memorable side characters, dream casting, and what Audrey hopes readers take away from a romance that starts in chaos and grows into trust.
In this episode
- Why revenge can be a compelling and honest force in romance
- How to write messy, vengeful characters readers still root for
- The enemies-to-lovers tension between Agatha and Priscilla
- How pranks and close observation bring the characters together
- Communication, consent, boundaries, and emotional growth
- The inspiration behind Audrey’s Hallowcross world
- Writing vulnerable scenes during a difficult time
- Possible casting choices for a screen adaptation
- Audrey’s upcoming young adult novel, Personal Space Issues
Mentioned in the episode
- Vengefully Matched by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff
- Personal Space Issues, Audrey’s upcoming young adult novel
- Practical Magic, Pushing Daisies, and The Addams Family
Notable quotes
“I want to support women’s rights and also women’s wrongs.”
“You don’t have to settle for anything less than electric.”
“We get to believe in love even when we mess up.”
About the guest
Audrey Goldberg Ruoff is the author of Vengefully Matched and teaches high school English. She discusses her books and updates on Instagram as Audrey Goldberg Ruoff.
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Coming Up:
- The Bride written by Maggie Gyllenhaal, starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley
- Lights Out by Navessa Allen
Chapters
- (00:00:00) - Introduction and Welcome to Audrey Goldberg Ruach
- (00:01:28) - First Impressions of Vengefully Matched
- (00:03:02) - Vengeance as a Theme and Women's Anger
- (00:05:10) - Enemies to Lovers: The Chainsaw Scene
- (00:07:46) - Plotting Revenge and Character Growth
- (00:10:01) - Priscilla's Wedding Abandonment and Real-Life Parallels
- (00:13:32) - Three Words for Romantic Tension
- (00:15:17) - Pranking as Foreplay and Real-Life Pranks
- (00:19:41) - Dick Pics, Consent, and Funny Tangents
- (00:22:34) - Communication, Consent, and Good Sex
- (00:25:23) - Trust and Vulnerability After Chaotic Beginnings
- (00:28:12) - Building the Hollowcross Universe and Magic System
- (00:30:44) - Favorite Side Characters and Writing Challenges
- (00:31:44) - Writing Vulnerable Scenes and Personal Struggles
- (00:35:26) - Casting the Movie Version
- (00:40:30) - Main Takeaway and Believing in Love
- (00:41:21) - Relationship Longevity Game
- (00:43:45) - Spice Level Rating and Deleted Scenes
- (00:46:49) - Where to Find Audrey and Upcoming Projects
- (00:49:02) - Closing Remarks and Show Info
