Of The Moment: Emma Rosenblum
The author of this summer’s tell-all in her home setting. Emma wearing the Westerly dress, Elizabeth belt, Bartleby sunglasses, and Shauna heels. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
Every summer there’s that book you see everywhere—on the Instagram feeds of literature lovers, on the beach chairs in Bridgehampton.
There’s no denying Emma Rosenblum’s, Bad Summer People is that book of 2023.
Rosenblum, Chief Content Officer at Bustle Digital Group, author, and Fire Island native–knows how to tell a killer story. Set against Fire Island’s exclusive summer community, Bad Summer People is this season’s ‘it’ book–considered “a whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue” and widely considered “White Lotus sharp”.
We visited Emma at her Fire Island enclave in Saltaire where she spilled the details about the inspiration behind her book, career motto, and favorite styles that are fit for the ultra-stylish characters of Bad Summer People.
Read more below.
Shop Her Look:
Name:
Emma Rosenblum
Something nautical with a hint of murder mystery. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
Location:
Manhattan and Saltaire, Fire Island
Profession:
Chief Content Officer, Bustle Digital Group; Novelist, Author of Bad Summer People
How to: Saltaire chic. Emma wearing the Westerly dress, Elizabeth belt, Bartleby sunglasses, Shauna heels, and Makeda tote. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
My Personal Style Is…
Muted, classic, all about shape and proportion.
Always…
Be funny
Never…
Look back
Art imitates life. Emma wearing the Westerly dress, Elizabeth belt, and Bartleby sunglasses. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
I Never Leave Home Without My...
Phone, sadly. I rarely even take my wallet out with me anymore!
Life Motto:
You snooze, you lose.
Career Motto:
What's next?
Named a Best Book of Summer 2023 from Bustle, Elle, Cosmopolitan, PopSugar, Bloomberg, Vogue, and more, Bad Summer People is a must-read. Seen here with the Makeda tote and Bartleby sunglasses. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
You have one of the most talked about books of 2023…what inspired you to write Bad Summer People?
As I've progressed in my career, my day-to-day has gotten increasingly managerial. I wanted to get back to writing, and decided to give fiction a go. I was in Fire Island for the summer, and thought it was the perfect place to set a beach read/murder mystery. I started with just one chapter, and then I was off! I laughed to myself the entire time I wrote it.
My book Bad Summer People is perfect for anyone who…
Loves Bravo, loves White Lotus, and is a fan of fun, frothy, satiric drama.
Most surprising aspect of your book release:
How much fun readers are having with Bad Summer People on social media. It's such a thrill to see people posting pictures of the book on the beach, at the pool, and even some staged on tennis courts! I love it.
“Salcombe days are filled with tennis and the beach.” Emma wearing the Westerly dress, Elizabeth belt, and Bartleby sunglasses. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
Tips for anyone who is considering writing a book:
Set deadlines and stick to them. Pretend someone is already paying you for the work. Have a clear sense of what the beginning, middle, and end of your story will be, and then fill in from there.
The best part of living in NYC is…
Not having to commute to New Jersey or Long Island or Westchester.
The inspiration for this summer’s best book. Photo by Daphne Youree Photography.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding thing is having an audience respond positively to something I've helped to create. When someone says: "I read that! And I liked it!" That gives me a happy buzz.
Currently Reading / Listening To / Watching:
Watching: The Bear, season 2, which is amazing; And Just Like That, season 2, which is not.
Reading: Rachel Syme's New Yorker profile of Sarah Jessica Parker–“Why Sarah Jessica Parker Keeps Playing Carrie Bradshaw”
Favorite Authors:
The queen of chic, Victoria Beckham. Image courtesy of InStyle.
Style Icon:
Victoria Beckham (2023; not 1993). I live for a reinvention story.
J.McLaughlin Styles That Are Totally Salcombe/Saltaire:
Salcombe days are filled with tennis and the beach, so certainly the Agnes skort and Bedford top for the courts, and the Malibu bikini with the Sanders shirtdress on the sand! Also the Miranda shirtdress is perfect for bayside cocktails in the evening.
