Forever35 Episode 387: Romance On The Brain with Maurene Goo
Feb 2, 2026
Maurene Goo, author known for sharp YA and now adult romance, discusses her adult debut One and Only and crafting confident forty-something heroines. She shares wardrobe rituals, closet overhauls, sweater care tips, and styling perks. Maurene also talks about supporting her husband through awards season and the LA setting and romantic dynamics that shape her new novel.
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Build A Ten-Minute Facial Ritual
- Try a daily facial massage routine to improve circulation and feel more in control.
- Maurene Goo does a 10-minute fascia-focused ritual and signed up for a paid course to deepen it.
Forties As A Rich Romance Setting
- There’s growing space in adult fiction for confident, single forty-year-old protagonists.
- Maurene wanted to write a romance that treats 40-somethings with the same richness as younger characters.
Fashion As Identity Work
- Fashion can be a meaningful, tangible way to regain identity after life changes like childbirth.
- Maurene used style work and Substack communities to rebuild a sense of self and routine.
