Meet Our Alumna: Isabelle Engel
Congratulations to our alumna Isabelle Engel whose first book is being released January 13, 2026! With a degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Isabelle did her Master’s degree in English at George Washington University. The English Department interviewed her on her accomplishments.
Congratulations on your new book! Could you tell us what it’s about (without spoilers)?
It’s a romantic comedy centered around an investigative journalist who ends up on a reality dating show, something like The Bachelor.
The story is funny, a little zany, and offers a critique of both reality TV and the real world. The main character isn’t in it for love. On the contrary, she’s there to write an exposé on the producers, in hopes that her work will allow her to grasp the journalism career of her dreams. Nonetheless, love, friendships, and past relationships complicate her goals. It’s not exactly a love triangle, but there’s definitely tension.
What is your favorite part of writing this book?
Developing the relationships between the contestants. I really wanted to explore how reality TV often pits women against each other, and it was so fun to imagine a fictional world where that wasn’t the case; to create genuine friendships and support among the cast.
Tell us about your time at GW and how that experience influenced your writing.
At GW, I focused on Shakespeare, which definitely influenced my writing. There are little Shakespearean touches here and there in the book, especially in the humor, mistaken identities, and sneaking around.
Further, I took one creative writing class that I really loved—it helped get my writing muscles moving. I also did a lot of independent writing during the program. One of the novels I wrote then didn’t land with agents, but I put it on the back burner and kept going. I actually began writing this current book in my second year at GW.
What motivated you to write this book?
I have always been interested in writing, but this time I wanted to create something fun. The idea of a reality TV setting was really interesting: the circumstances, the heightened emotions, and the built-in drama offered so much room to play. As I wrote, it became both a romantic comedy and a bit of commentary on the world of reality television.
What’s the most exciting part of writing a novel for you?
There’s nothing like the thrill of when things start clicking and you know where the story is going. I also had a great time exploring the side characters! Romance often focuses on the leads, but the ensemble around them became really meaningful. Seeing how the contestants grew and how their friendships evolved was one of the most rewarding parts.
Each chapter opens with little snippets (song lyrics, interviews, and other bits of mixed media) which was a fun way to hint at things outside the main character’s perspective.
My agent was also incredible in helping me refine the story and push it to the next level.
Do you have any advice for current students?
Write! All the time. Write what interests you. Don’t wait for external validation. If you write, you’re a writer. Give yourself permission to take it seriously. Being in school is such a rich time to write, you’re exposed to so many ideas and voices, take advantage of that energy and just keep creating.
