Naina Kumar on the Runaway Bride, Road-Trip Chaos, and Romance in ‘Just a Highland Fling’

The only thing worse than accidentally causing your dad’s fiancé to ditch him at the altar? Being forced to go on a road trip to find her with your estranged father…and your one-night stand. That special kind of nightmare is the premise of Naina Kumar’s Just a Highland Fling.

After Neelu’s booze-fueled rehearsal dinner rant sends her dad’s bride-to-be running, the dating show producer ends up driving across the Scottish Highlands with Jacob — the attractive bagpiper she met at the pub a few nights earlier, who, as it happens, now wants nothing to do with Neelu but knows her future stepmother better than she does. Though something tells us his disinterest won’t last long. We asked Kumar a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?

Kumar: My under-the-desk treadmill. Walking helps me think and de-stress, and I love that I can do it while getting some things done.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?

Kumar: My mother’s salmon biryani, which isn’t super traditional, but she started making it when I was a pescatarian and now it's my favorite.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t stop listening to?

Kumar: Olivia Rodrigo's new album. I've had it on repeat since it came out. I'm seeing her in concert this fall, and I'm so excited.

Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?

Kumar: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. It's a truly immersive fantasy, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

Q: What's your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

Kumar: Reality television. I'm watching the newest season of The Ultimatum right now, but what I'm really looking forward to is the next season of The Traitors.

Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?

Kumar: A cup of spearmint-lavender tea, my tortilla-shaped blanket, and a physical book.

Q: What’s one thing that makes you laugh without fail?

Kumar: My family. I never laugh harder than when I'm hanging out with them. We're all really funny and goofy people. A lot of the humor in my books comes from them.

Meanwhile, on the internet…

• Millennials, we’re sorry to do this to you, but Gen Z just came up with a list of “old lady names” — and Jessicas everywhere are going to have thoughts.  

• Leave it to a Love Island contestant to dream up the most unexpected concealer hack of all time. Life-changing? Laughable? Depends who you ask.

• You thought your family vacation was rough? Chelsea Handler just resurfaced the detailed list of etiquette rules she sent loved ones after a “shortfall of manners.” Don’t touch her ginger ale.