This Means War
by Benna Bos
Released: Feb 17, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Why this book and why now?
The concept of a person who has already started down one path in life and finds themself in need of a reset (something both of the MCs are experiencing in this book) really resonates with me at this moment in my own life.
Would you and your main character(s) get along?
I think that Molly and I would fight constantly and also be best friends. We are both kind, deeply passionate people with a strong sense of indignation.
Did any real-life events or personal experiences influence the story?
I have had many personal adventures in ghost towns throughout the Western U.S., and I loved creating the world of Theia, which is very much based on real places.
What’s one fun fact about your book that most people wouldn’t know?
Theia is the name of a Titan. She is the daughter of earth and sky and is associated with gemstones and minerals.
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
Seph would bring: a laptop, her dog, and a really great, all-occasion dress.
Which character do you relate to the most, and why?
I relate to Molly the most. We are both capable of being impetuous when we are worked up about something—a characteristic that makes life pretty interesting overall.
Which character was the most fun to write, and which was the hardest?
Molly was the most fun to write. She gets herself into ridiculous situations and I loved that for her!
Seph was difficult to write because she is driven by a sense of an incredible sense of self understanding, which I found difficult to put on the page.
Publishing a book is a huge accomplishment and it’s time to party! Choose a celebratory beverage for one of your main characters to toast the release of your new book.
Molly would ask her best friend—a bartender—to make her a “good tour” drink. She doesn’t know what’s in it. She just sits at the bar and accepts the drink after conducting a tour of the ghost town with a great group of people (as opposed to the less desirable “bad tour” drink.
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
This book has two official mascots: the bar dog Rosie, and the fluffy and tenacious Belle.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I am a pantser.
What are you currently reading?
Melissa Brayden’s “Can We Skip to the Good Part?”
