Some books seem destined for the big screen. Take journalist and author Rose Dommu’s debut novel, Best Woman, which follows Julia, a bisexual trans woman who returns home to Florida from New York for her brother’s wedding—and attempts to win over her intimidatingly cool high school crush. The story feels deeply cinematic while never losing its humor or giving in to predictable tropes. (After all, who says a leading lady can’t stir up a little pre-wedding chaos while surrounded by attractive people of all genders?)
This week, Vogue spoke with Dommu about today’s rom-com slump, creating a heroine who rejects the idea of “happily ever after,” the intertwined beauty and pain of queer and trans life in Florida, and her compelling theory that “weddings are gender.”
Vogue: How are you feeling as publication day approaches?
Rose Dommu: Crazy. Like, actually insane—but ready for it to be tomorrow.
Vogue: Where, when, and how did the idea for Best Woman first come to you?
Rose Dommu: I’ve been thinking about it on and off for almost a decade. I wanted to set a story about a trans woman at a wedding because weddings are one of the last remnants of a world filled with huge, fabulous parties, where everyone shows up and there’s tons of dramatic tension. Combine that with the experience of being trans and having to reintroduce yourself to your family, and it felt like the perfect recipe for messy interpersonal drama. I also love classic ’90s rom-coms like My Best Friend’s Wedding, and I wanted to pay tribute to those films but through a modern lens and with a trans protagonist.
Vogue: Did you always know you wanted Julia, the protagonist, to cause bisexual chaos?
Rose Dommu: Yes, absolutely—there was no other choice. [Laughs.] In many ’90s rom-coms, we see plenty of heterosexual chaos, but when you’re bisexual, the possibilities for chaotic, messy behavior multiply.
Vogue: So true.
Rose Dommu: Julia was always going to be bisexual because I wanted to explore as many romantic angles as possible. I also wanted to write a romantic comedy where the goal wasn’t monogamy or a picture-perfect happy ending. Even though Julia is obsessed with her love interest, she admits at one point that she isn’t looking for a committed, monogamous relationship. Romance doesn’t always have to end that way. I think that’s part of why rom-coms have grown stale and lost popularity. We’re seeing a few more being made in the streaming era, but there aren’t many big-budget rom-coms anymore. And in books, there’s a lot of romance, but not as much romantic comedy—where the humor really takes center stage.
Vogue: Can you tell me about the split setting between New York and Florida?
Rose Dommu: This book was always going to be set in Florida. I’m from there, and it’s such a strange place that I knew I had to write a book set there to capture how disorienting it can be. I grew up surrounded by older people, which made me mature quickly. Florida provided the perfect contrast to Julia’s urban, progressive life, where she’s grown into a much fuller version of herself. Going back home forces her to squeeze into a box she’s outgrown—though she also discovers that some parts of home still resonate with her.
That experience of returning home for the first time is especially meaningful for queer and trans people, and I really wanted to explore that. One film I thought about while writing was Garden State, which might surprise people as a rom-com inspiration, but it’s another…It’s about going home for a family event, seen through a distinctly Jewish perspective. That experience of returning and having people expect you to be the person you no longer are creates a lot of friction. But on the flip side, as the one coming back, you also tend to assume no one else has changed, which is just as unfair.
Politically, it’s very difficult to be queer or trans in Florida. But that doesn’t mean queer and trans people aren’t there or that places sliding faster into fascism should be abandoned. It was important for me to set this escapist romantic comedy fantasy there to show that trans people can have that experience anywhere.
Why do you think wedding culture remains so cisgender, heterosexual, and rigid?
Weddings are all about gender. They represent the most extreme, outdated version of prescribed, heteronormative gender roles we still uphold. I loved the scene in Materialists with cave people negotiating a wedding—it highlights how ancient and archaic the tradition is. It’s wild that we all buy into this idea of taking time out of our lives and spending a fortune to celebrate what is essentially a legal contract and a lifestyle choice. Weddings are a circus, but that’s exactly why they’re so fun to read and write about. The potential for chaos is endless because it’s not just the wedding day—it’s the week before, the months leading up, and the aftermath. The whole “bridezilla” and “most important day of my life” mentality is intense, but people truly believe it, and our culture reinforces that belief, making it a great sandbox to play in.
You’ve been creating online content for a long time. What feels most different about writing a novel?
Probably the time involved. As a journalist, social media user, or podcaster, there’s an immediacy to what you create. Nothing prepared me for how long novel-writing takes. I started this book over three years ago, and it’s coming out tomorrow. The endurance and patience required to wait for its release, when artistically it feels far behind you, was hard to adjust to. But it’s also exciting to pour so much time, thought, and energy into something that isn’t just my own. Best Woman is the result of many people’s efforts, and it will hopefully outlive any other creative work I’ve done. Maybe centuries from now, as the sun explodes, someone will still be reading it.
Best Woman is available for $27 at Bookshop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Rose Dommu and her debut novel Best Woman
About the Book Author
Q Who is Rose Dommu
A Rose Dommu is a writer and culture critic known for her sharp and witty commentary Best Woman is her debut novel
Q What is Best Woman about
A Its a romantic comedy set in the 1990s about a trans woman navigating love friendship and finding her place in the world Its being called the trans 90s romcom many have been waiting for
Q Why is the 90s setting significant for this story
A The 90s were a pivotal time for LGBTQ visibility and culture but mainstream romcoms rarely centered trans characters This book revisits that era with a perspective that was largely absent at the time
Q Is this book only for trans readers
A Absolutely not While its a vital story for the trans community its a universal romcom at its heart Anyone who loves stories about love selfdiscovery and hilarious mishaps will enjoy it
Themes Significance
Q What makes this book different from other romcoms
A Its specific focus on a trans womans experience in a nostalgic era written with authenticity and humor by a trans author It fills a gap in the genre
Q What are some of the main themes in Best Woman
A Expect themes of identity authenticity chosen family the complexities of love and the joy of finding yourself against all odds
Q Why is it important to have romcoms with trans protagonists
A Representation matters It allows trans readers to see themselves in beloved genres and helps nontrans readers understand and empathize with universal experiences through a specific lens
For Readers Potential Buyers
Q I loved Red White Royal Blue and One Last Stop Will I like this
A If you enjoy smart funny and heartfelt queer romcoms with a strong sense of time and place theres a very good chance youll love Best Woman
Q Where can I buy the book
A It should be available at major book retailers like Barnes Noble Amazon and through independent bookstores You