Why Not Us?
by Naomi Rivers
Released: Nov 11, 2025
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Why this book and why now?
We wanted to write about an established couple. In a romance novel, there’s a happy ever after ending – in Why Not Us? we take Jasmine and T’s story a step further. We wanted to normalize that for many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community – chosen family is the norm and not the exception. This story felt like a way to honor the family and friends that leap into action for the people they love.
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
We’ve had multiple family members and friends diagnosed with cancer. Each of them required different levels of support and navigating the U.S. healthcare system for some was, at times, challenging. The cancer journey affects all members of an individual’s circle differently. We write about the family/friend varying responses.
How does it feel to finally share this book with readers?
There are so many emotions! Relief, joy, and some anxiety. Relief that it’s finished, polished, and ready for prime time. Joy because we think we’ve handled sensitive topics with care and crafted a story about love, resilience, and hope. And finally anxiety – we want readers to embrace and enjoy our latest novel of course however, once it’s released into the world, we’ll cross our fingers.
Is there anything you wish readers knew before diving into this book?
We want our readers to know that we took great care to balance the seriousness of cancer, loss, and grief with a fair amount of humor. Our beta readers said they cycled between laughing and crying, interspersed with a little anger directed toward one of the secondary characters.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
If Jasmine’s planning a romantic evening with T, it involves a bathtub large enough for two, bubbles, candles, and music with a melodic, sexy saxophone. There’s something about candlelight reflecting off of water—it makes any atmosphere more sensual.
Were there any scenes or characters that surprised you as you wrote?
Jasmine’s goddaughter Portia surprised us the most. She’s the cute, nine-year-old daughter of Leslie, the best friend with a life-threatening illness, who emerges as a resourceful fount of positive energy and innocent perspective. Portia challenges the adults around her to be better, looks for solutions through a child’s lens, and takes an active role in breast cancer advocacy.
One scene that garnered emotion when we wrote it and continues to do so re-reading it, takes place during a Thanksgiving Day church service where Portia asks for prayer for her mom—cue the tissues.
If your book were to be adapted into a movie or TV show, who would be your dream cast?
We had to answer this question! One of our beta readers said, “That actress from the television show Harlem would make a good T.” That conversation then led to us comparing the book characters with real actors. We actually posted a compilation of our dream cast as an Instagram reel. Natasha Rothwell and Jerrie Johnson were Jasmine and T. And an all-star lineup of supporting actors—Tasha Smith, TC Carson, Colman Dolmingo, and Amirah Vann—rounded out the remaining cast. We even included our real fur baby, Emmy, to play the four-legged book character Coco. We can easily see a Netflix adapted series with eight episodes.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Jasmine puts on “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. The song highlights the importance of family with a catchy dance beat. It’s often heard at family reunions, weddings, and other gatherings. In the novel, Jasmine acknowledges that her friends Leslie and Stephanie are closer to her than her biological family. Both sister-friends are chosen family.
If your book had a scent, what would it smell like?
It would smell like shea butter, which reminds Jasmine of her and T’s first date.
If your book had a signature dessert, what would it be?
Banana bread. It’s not necessarily a dessert, but it’s certainly a feel-good comfort food when eaten warm. Naomi remembers coming into the kitchen one day this past summer, smelled banana bread baking, and commented to Rivers, “this is the scene in the book.” Rivers has just about perfected the delicious banana bread we had in 2017 while visiting Australia—it was so good, you wanted to eat slowly and savor it with a flat white or cup of tea.
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
The official mascot would be Jasmine and T’s dog Coco. IRL, we’ve had two Bichon Frisés among many dogs that we shared. Steve and Minnie were the prototype for Coco. They never met strangers, were fiercely loyal, and were emotional support companions to visiting family and friends.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
For our first novel we each wrote in various countries around the world and emailed the manuscript back and forth. Naomi can be found with multiple scraps of paper, unused napkins or draft files of sentences dictated while waiting somewhere. Rivers had a friend who met with her regularly during the first round of editing. Accountability helps; we both get writing or editing completed when we agree to sprints with others. Our ritual for the second novel found us writing and editing anywhere that was convenient.
What are you currently reading?
Rivers – Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three by Dawn Staley. Naomi – King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
James Baldwin. Having a meal with Mr. Baldwin would be a hoot and sobering since he was a writer, civil rights activist, and profound thinker. He was an out gay, Black man when it was dangerous to be either gay or Black, let alone both. However, his charm, wit, and snappy retorts are legendary—we imagine a dinner party would last well into early morning hours. We post many of his quotes as they continue to resonate in our current climate.
