Brooke Averick Returns To Boston: 'Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It' Book Tour

Fan-favorite podcaster, internet personality, influencer, and officially published author as of May 26th, Brooke Averick, returned to Boston on her sold-out book tour. Averick visited The Coolidge Corner, the very theatre she saw Call Me by Your Name while she was in college at Boston University, to chat about her debut novel: Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It. The instant New York Times Bestseller stars character Phoebe Berman, a lovable anxious protagonist who creates a checklist to lose her virginity before her 30th birthday. Fans came dressed for the occasion, wearing vibrant red and pink sweaters, fruit-patterned skirts, and cherry jewelry to match the book cover. They posed around the lobby to snap photos, buzzing with excitement for the Q&A.

Author and Massachusetts native Annie Hartnett led an insightful Q&A that pulled back the curtain on Averick's writing process and obsessions that influenced the book. She wanted the story to feel like an early 2000s romcom, think 13 Going on 30. An especially important part of the story was its emphasis on mental health. Averick wanted to create a lead one might find in an Emily Henry book, but with anxiety. Averick struggles with OCD and has a history of nervous puking, which she shares with Phoebe. For a humorous retelling of events like these in her own life, listen to Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast. It was important to Averick to create a love story that "explores the concept of someone who is really successful in a lot of ways but really struggling in one specific area." One of the toughest parts of the book was creating that honest vulnerability while making it just as romantic.

Another meaningful message she wanted to convey is that it's normal "to feel like you're messing up in your 20s," but "nothing is wasted." Every career path, life lesson, or roadblock is a part of the journey. Harnett began quoting the book to Averick and asking her how it felt to have all these people come out for her. Averick, an advocate for therapy, shared that she's still wrapping her head around it and had actually been chatting about it with her therapist that morning.

She's formed such a loyal base of fans through her passionate, candid, and unapologetic expression of self, making it only natural that some of her favorite things appear in the book. Brooke shared that her love of Glee, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, and showtunes are sprinkled throughout the storylines. In terms of who she would cast as the roster of three men Phoebe finds herself conversing with: Hudson Williams, David Corenswet, and Joe Keery.

Averick aimed to make Phoebe's friendships just as important as her romantic relationships, inspired by her real-life experience of moving to LA and what led her to her found family. Averick's background as a podcaster also helped her form realistic dialogue. She always planned to write in the first person and shared that she would often read dialogue out loud to see if it sounded like something she would actually say or share on her podcast.

The duo carefully avoided any spoilers, knowing the audience would want to experience the thrilling details on their first reads. Without sharing anything too revealing, they both spoke about the twist at the end. Averick revealed that she always had the final twist in mind and let the writing process uncover how to lead Phoebe there. When asked about the idea for the list, Averick revealed it was ideated with her editorial team. Phoebe's list is a central part of the plot, which she feels really ties the whole story together. "Once I started accepting feedback, the book got good...I knew I wanted the humor to come from what she did with the things on the list." In the spirit of lists, here are some that Averick shared during the Q&A.

• Favorite Authors: Shelby Van Pelt, John Green, Sarah J. Maas, Emily Austin, Lena Dunham, Emily Henry.
• Celebrity crushes that inspired names in the book: Jonathan Groff, Finn Hudson from Glee, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Robert Pattinson.
• Songs on Phoebe's Playlist: "Take A Bow" by the Glee cast, "Without Love" by the Motion Picture Cast of Hairspray, and "You're The One That I Want (From "Grease")" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
• Current Obsessions: Off Campus, Antonio Cipriano, In Pieces: A New Musical.

Averick's bond with Phoebe has grown ironclad through the process, and she feels like "she could write as Phoebe forever." Before stepping down to the crowd for a group photo, she confirmed she is "definitely writing another book." After the event, fans flocked to the beloved local bookstore and town staple, Brookline Booksmith, to shop and debrief, a reminder of how reading forms community. Pick up a copy of Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It from Brookline Booksmith here. Keep up with Brooke Averick here. View upcoming events and screenings at The Coolidge Corner Theatre here.