Introduction

At All in the Edit, we love celebrating authors who remind readers why romance remains one of storytelling’s most beloved genres. This month, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Olivia Isley, a contemporary romance author whose stories are brimming with heart, humour, emotional depth, and characters who discover that love can find you even when life is already beautifully full.

With sharp wit, irresistible chemistry, and emotionally layered happily ever afters, Olivia writes romance that explores reinvention, resilience, and the courage it takes to make room for love after heartbreak. Her latest novel, The Payback Proposal, delivers fake dating, accidental marriage, family drama, and swoon-worthy emotional support — all wrapped in a heartfelt story about self-worth, healing, and finding the person who stands beside you while you learn to stand on your own.

When she’s not writing strong characters and unforgettable romance, Olivia can be found curled up on the couch reading with her dog and partner, or exploring the stunning landscapes of Aotearoa New Zealand — always chasing stories, adventure, and the kind of connection that makes life richer.

About the Author

Olivia Isley is a romance author and lifelong storyteller who believes stories are one of humanity’s most powerful ways to connect, process, and understand the world around us. For Olivia, writing is more than creating love stories — it’s about community, belonging, and reminding readers they are never truly alone.

A passionate reader of romance, Olivia has long been drawn to happily ever afters and the emotional truths they hold. Her writing journey began years ago through fanfiction and creative exploration before evolving into original contemporary romance. Over time, storytelling became a central part of how she contributes to something bigger — creating books that help readers feel seen, understood, and connected.

Outside of writing, Olivia balances a demanding professional life, a love of wide-ranging reading, and a deep appreciation for community in all its forms. Whether through family traditions, volunteering, or storytelling itself, Olivia’s work is grounded in the belief that connection matters — and that love stories can be both joyful and deeply meaningful.

Author Fact File

Name: Olivia Isley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Website: oliviaisley.com
Instagram: @oliviaisleyauthor
Facebook: Olivia Isley Author

About the Book – The Payback Proposal

Series: London, With Love - Book 3

Services Provided by All in the Edit: Line Editing, Copy Editing, Proofreading

A fake date. A real mistake. A forever consequence.

Ness Riley is reinventing herself. She had no choice but to flee California after her fiancé left her for her own sister.

Luckily, she meets Matt Keys, her neighbour. He’s got a great job, great cat, great...biceps. He’s the perfect guy to introduce her to the real London.

When her parents show up demanding Ness attend her estranged sister's wedding back in the US, Matt jumps at the chance to be neighborly. She can’t show up alone. Matt needs a favor. It’s a win-win.

But after a drunken meeting during the bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas, Ness and Matt wake up with hangovers, questions, and shiny new rings.

Annulling the marriage is the smart thing to do. The wedding was an accident, after all. Only, now they’re falling for real. Ness knows ending the relationship will ruin her, and change her life forever. But it just might ruin Matt, too.

The Payback Proposal is a heartfelt, funny, and deeply romantic story about healing, self-worth, and discovering that the right person doesn’t save you — they stand beside you while you save yourself.

Purchase Links:
The Payback Proposal: https://mybook.to/Thepaybackproposal
The Romance Pitch: https://mybook.to/TheRomancePitch
Resorting to Love: https://mybook.to/ResortingToLove

Fun Stuff

Five Faves

Favourite Book: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Favourite Author: Ruby Dixon
Favourite TV Show/Movie: The Pitt
Favourite Place: The Catlins, South Island, New Zealand
Favourite Ice Cream Flavour: Hokey Pokey

3 Fun Facts

• Once licked a giraffe (in self-defence).

• Feels slightly panicked when too far from the ocean for too long.

• Is fascinated by survival stories set in freezing, extreme environments.

Author Q & A

1. Why do you write?

Storytelling is such a human thing. It's the way we form connections with each other, and also how we process the world around us - and that's been the case for thousands of years. Stories tell us something about society and the people in it, and that's really important to capture. There's something about writing and telling stories that helps me feel part of something bigger. I hope one day, someone reads something I've written and it helps them make sense of something, or helps them feel less alone.

There's a real community in writing, and that sense of community really drives so much of what I do. It's why I'm a lawyer, why I'm a volunteer puppy trainer, why I have a standing family dinner date at my grandmother's house on a Sunday night, and the only reason I'm still on social media. In a world where, if we weren't careful about staying connected we would just be lone little islands, community is more important than ever, and it's something we should all actively be trying to hold on to.

And for me, storytelling is a massive part of that. I've been writing for a long time! It started with NaNoWriMo back in high school and I'd completed NaNo about 15 or something times. My first book, Resorting to Love, was written during the last official NaNo event I participated in. I'm really grateful I got to make a new beginning out of that. I published quite a bit of fanfic before I started writing OC, so I guess you could say the writing bug has been in me for a long time!

2. What is your writing process?

I'd probably best describe myself as a frustrated plotter. I always know the beginning and end of the story when I start writing, but the middle is a mystery to me. I often think if I just plan better, I'll be able to plan my way out of discovery writing, but alas, turns out that discovery writing is crucial for my process.

Writing a first draft takes me anywhere from a month to maybe 3 months. Editing, on the other hand - that takes a lot longer. I think this is because I have a full time job that's pretty demanding, and the writing I can do anywhere. A few sentences while I'm waiting for a coffee or the lift or while at the gym really add up. Editing is a different beast though - it really requires me to sit down and properly focus, and step back and look at the big picture. I'm lucky that I don't really get writer's block! A friend said to me the other day that she thinks I'm too busy to get writer's block, but in reality I think the discipline of my job really helps. It's not unusual for me to write 10,000 words a day at work, and my brain is used to thinking through ideas as I type. I also make a real effort to keep my creativity well full. I read widely not only in romance, but non-fiction (I'm OBSESSED with stories where people survive very cold places - Everest, Arctic and Antarctic exploration, lost in the mountains etc - I can't explain it), fantasy, whacky speculative fiction, you name it. I also talk quite often to other authors about craft stuff - I really love chatting about why books work and what could have been done differently to make something work. Talking about writing is a surefire way to get me back to the keyboard. I also am a big fan of group writing sprints on discord.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

The answer to this is always going to be the same, I think. People who stand up for people who can't stick up for themselves. That's what community is all about - looking after people who need a bit more help or support.

4. What do you want your readers to know about your book?

The Payback Proposal is a story about a man who loved a woman so much, he supported her until she believed in herself as much as he did. Despite everything, the horrific way her family treats her, her ex-fiance's inability to be a decent person, his support finally gets her to believe that she's worthy of love. He's not a man who came in and saved the day - because the most supportive people in our lives aren't people who come and do stuff for us, they're the people who support us, and stand by our side while we're figuring out how we can stand on our own two feet. That's Matt and Ness's story in a nutshell. And there's fake dating and only one bed and they wake up married. That too!

5. What is coming next for you?

I'm currently writing the last book of the London, With Love series, which is a slightly sadder and more emotional story than the rest. It's bittersweet, finishing a series, that's for sure.

My plan was to write a series of small town romances set in NZ, and I've got a couple of them drafted, but sports romance has really caught my attention. I want to tell a story about a woman who has worked her ass off to get to the top, only to discover when she gets there that arriving hasn't solved the sexism she's worked so hard to get past. It'll be a romance, obviously, so we need the tough, more experienced guy in there somewhere, but that's what I'm working on the second this draft is done! I'm also looking at releasing some alternative covers to the first two books in the London, With Love series, so I'm doing some work with the amazing artist who illustrated the cover of The Payback Proposal.

Connect with Olivia

Website: oliviaisley.com
Instagram: @oliviaisleyauthor
Facebook: Olivia Isley Author
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Testimonial:

Working with Sarah has been exactly what I needed! She's been great at helping build my confidence while having a really clear sense of my vision and keeping my voice as an author clear. She's been so helpful answering all my questions and she's really helped me put my best foot forward with this book. I can't wait to work with her again.

Final Thoughts

Olivia Isley writes romance that is heartfelt, emotionally intelligent, and irresistibly charming. Through stories filled with humour, healing, and deeply supportive love, she reminds readers that happily ever afters aren’t about being rescued — they’re about finding someone who helps you become your fullest self.

With The Payback Proposal and the London, With Love series, Olivia is crafting stories that are equal parts swoon-worthy and soul-deep — and we’re so excited to see what comes next.