Meet the Storyteller: Jessica Siskin — Behind the Perfect Image
A Romanceaholic Interview | The Story Behind the Story
On honesty, vulnerability, complicated relationships, and why being seen isn’t the same as being known.
A Million Followers. And Nobody Knows the Whole Story.
Come sit, romance reader. We need to talk about perfection.
Not the kind we find in beautifully arranged bookshelves or an outfit that makes us feel like we could conquer the world.
I’m talking about the exhausting kind.
The kind where everyone thinks you’re living your dream, your relationship looks wonderful, your career is thriving, and you’re supposed to be grateful because, darling, what could you possibly have to complain about?
Except you’re miserable.
Or confused.
Or quietly wondering when the life you worked so hard to build stopped feeling like your own.
Welcome to Looks Perfect by Jessica Siskin.
Stella Lerner has a million followers, a successful fashion brand, and the opportunity to take her business global. From the outside, she’s living the dream.
Behind the photographs, however, things are considerably more complicated.
Her relationship with Alex is struggling, her career demands more than she knows how to give, and somewhere along the way, Stella has become better at presenting herself than understanding herself.
Then she joins an anonymous dating app and meets Pineapple.
A stranger who doesn’t know what she looks like.
A man who isn’t impressed by her follower count because he doesn’t even know she has one.
And somehow, he makes her feel seen.
Now, isn’t that an interesting contradiction?
At Romanceaholic, we love stories that give us something to think about beyond the romance. And Looks Perfect asks a particularly uncomfortable question:
What happens when the person everyone admires isn’t the person you feel free to be?
We had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Siskin about the experiences that inspired her novel, the characters who surprised her, the emotional walls Stella doesn’t realize she’s built, and why the greatest connections require us to look beyond our expectations.
And yes, romance readers, we’re talking about Pineapple.
Because a man who manages to be emotionally available while remaining completely anonymous? We have questions.
Let’s meet the storyteller.
01. The First Spark — When Instagram Doesn’t Tell the Whole Truth
Every story begins somewhere.
Sometimes it’s a conversation. Sometimes it’s an experience. And sometimes it’s the realization that what people believe about your life has very little to do with what’s actually happening.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Every romance begins with an idea. What first inspired this story?
Jessica Siskin:
When I was a content creator, it was always funny to me that at the times I was struggling the most with my small business, people would come up to me and say I was killing it, because that’s what they saw on Instagram. This planted the seed to explore the way we project the most generous details on the strangers we follow on social media, when that isn’t always their lived reality.
The Romanceaholic Take: The Highlight Reel Has Some Explaining to Do
Now this is the kind of inspiration that makes me appreciate a story even more.
Jessica wasn’t simply imagining the pressure of maintaining a successful public image. She had experienced the strange disconnect between what people saw and what she was actually going through.
And that disconnect is something worth examining.
We see a photograph of someone celebrating a business milestone and assume everything must be wonderful.
We see a smiling couple and assume they’re happy.
We see someone wearing fabulous clothes, traveling, succeeding, and living what appears to be an extraordinary life.
And we forget that we’re seeing a carefully selected moment, not the complete person.
Stella’s experience takes that contradiction and asks what happens when the image becomes something you feel obligated to maintain.
Because there’s a difference between enjoying success and feeling like you’re no longer allowed to struggle.
The problem isn’t necessarily the beautiful picture. It’s believing the picture has to tell the whole story.
02. Perfectly Imperfect — The Characters Behind the Image
One of the things I appreciate about a well-developed cast is that everyone brings something different to the story.
Not every character needs to be lovable.
Not every relationship needs to be romantic.
And not everyone who disappoints us needs to become the villain.
Sometimes people simply struggle to understand each other.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Before readers fell in love with these characters, what made you fall in love with them?
Jessica Siskin:
I love Stella because she knows she isn’t perfect, but is willing to grow. I also love her commitment to her passion, and the lengths she’s willing to go to pursue her dream of growing her business because she genuinely believes she’s bringing value to people.
Ace is a real straight shooter who is a true original, she’s a total dreamer, but she’s also super practical.
Becca is an incredible friend, is deeply honest, and loves hard. She’s that person who feels like home to Stella.
Alex is a good guy who means well, and I think we can all relate to the feeling of loving someone but finding yourself feeling totally disconnected from them.
And Pineapple is vulnerable and playful; even though he’s anonymous, he isn’t hiding anything.
The Romanceaholic Take: Nobody Needs to Be the Villain
There are two things I particularly appreciate about Jessica’s answer.
First, she loves Stella because Stella is willing to grow.
Not because Stella always makes the right decisions.
Not because she’s perfect.
But because she’s capable of recognizing that something needs to change.
And second, look at how Jessica describes Alex.
He’s a good guy who means well.
That matters.
Because sometimes relationships don’t fall apart because someone is cruel, dishonest, or deliberately hurtful.
Sometimes two people care about each other but have stopped connecting.
And that can be heartbreaking in an entirely different way.
We don’t always need a terrible ex to justify a new romantic possibility.
Sometimes the relationship itself has simply reached a place where the people involved no longer understand what the other needs.
And then there’s Becca, the friend who feels like home.
I love that description.
Because romance isn’t the only relationship that deserves emotional depth.
Sometimes the people who know us best are the friends who can tell when something is wrong before we’ve found the courage to admit it ourselves.
And Pineapple?
We’ll get to him.
Because Jessica has given us something rather interesting to discuss.
03. When Friendship and Business Collide
We talk about romantic relationships constantly, but friendships and professional partnerships can become just as emotionally complicated.
Especially when the person you work with is also someone you genuinely care about.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Which relationship in this novel surprised you the most while writing?
Romantic, family, friendship, mentor—every meaningful relationship counts.
Jessica Siskin:
The relationship between Stella and Ace surprised me the most. They are colleagues, but underneath that, a true friendship developed, which means that the personal and professional have become intertwined. As a result, there’s a ton of depth, but that also means that professional conflict can become personal, and vice versa. Their relationship is high-stakes to both of them, which means they really need to show up fully in tough conversations and hold one another accountable.
The Romanceaholic Take: Friendship Doesn’t Cancel Accountability
Oh, this is an important one.
Because there’s a lovely idea that friendship should make everything easier.
And sometimes it does.
Until you disagree about something important.
Then suddenly, a professional decision feels like a personal rejection, and a disagreement about work becomes a question of loyalty.
Jessica’s description of Stella and Ace recognizes something meaningful: caring about someone doesn’t eliminate the need for difficult conversations.
In fact, sometimes it makes those conversations even more necessary.
A genuine friendship should be able to survive honesty.
That doesn’t mean every disagreement will be comfortable.
It means both people have to care enough about the relationship to address problems rather than pretend they don’t exist.
And isn’t that the same foundation we want in a romantic relationship?
Love, friendship, and loyalty shouldn’t require us to abandon accountability.
04. The Heart of the Romance — Love Without the Perfect Script
Now, romance readers, we’re getting to the heart of the matter.
Because at Romanceaholic, we don’t believe a happily ever after is earned simply because two people are attracted to each other.
Chemistry is wonderful.
Butterflies are delightful.
And a man who knows how to flirt? We’re listening.
But eventually, those two people have to figure out how to understand each other.
And that’s where the real work begins.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Romanceaholic believes the greatest love stories are earned. What challenges did your couple have to overcome before they truly deserved their happily ever after?
Jessica Siskin:
Without sharing any spoilers, I think it was important for the couple that end up together to step outside of themselves enough to be able to truly see another person outside of their own preconceptions or expectations.
The Romanceaholic Take: Are You Loving the Person or the Idea?
This answer gets right to something I believe matters in romance.
We all bring expectations into relationships.
We have ideas about who someone should be, how love should feel, and what our future should look like.
But what happens when we’re so attached to those expectations that we stop paying attention to the actual person standing in front of us?
That’s where things become complicated.
Because genuine love requires curiosity.
It requires listening.
And sometimes it requires admitting that the version of someone we’ve created in our minds isn’t who they really are.
You cannot truly love someone while refusing to see who they are.
And the same is true when someone is trying to love you.
Romanceaholic Asks:
What quality do you think makes this couple work so well together?
Jessica Siskin:
Ultimately I think that what brings this couple together is a shared curiosity and detachment from a specific story.
The Romanceaholic Take: Curiosity Might Be More Romantic Than We Think
I love the idea of curiosity being part of what makes a relationship work.
Because curiosity means you haven’t decided you already know everything about someone.
You’re still interested.
Still listening.
Still willing to discover something new.
And detaching from a specific story?
That may be even more important.
Sometimes we become so invested in how we believe a relationship should unfold that we stop allowing it to become what it actually could be.
We want the perfect beginning.
The perfect progression.
The perfect ending.
But people aren’t scripts.
And love doesn’t always follow the outline we imagined.
Sometimes the most meaningful relationship is the one that surprises us because we finally stop trying to control every chapter.
05. The Moment They Finally See Each Other
There is always that moment in a romance when something changes.
Sometimes it’s a confession.
Sometimes it’s a sacrifice.
And sometimes it’s simply two people finally understanding something they’ve been missing all along.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Was there one moment while writing when you realized, “They’re going to make it”?
Jessica Siskin:
I wrote the bones of final scene early in the writing process, and when I finally got there and was able to fill in the more emotional elements, I realized that the couple really see one another in a deeply powerful way.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Every relationship has a turning point. What scene changed everything for your couple?
Jessica Siskin:
Again, I think the final scene. I’m avoiding a spoiler here, but I think they finally get to see one another in a way that really cements their relationship.
The Romanceaholic Take: Sometimes Being Seen Is the Grand Gesture
Jessica is protecting the ending, and we’re going to respect that.
No spoilers from this corner of the romance universe.
But I find it interesting that both answers return to the same idea.
Seeing someone.
Not simply looking at them.
Not recognizing their face.
Not knowing their accomplishments or the version of themselves they show the world.
Actually understanding them.
And considering Stella’s journey throughout the novel, that feels especially meaningful.
Because this is a woman who has spent so much time being watched.
Yet the emotional promise of her story isn’t about attracting more attention.
It’s about discovering what genuine understanding feels like.
And honestly?
Being loved without having to perform might be one of the most romantic things of all.
06. The Stranger Who Wasn’t Hiding
All right, romance readers.
It’s Pineapple’s turn.
And I have to admit, there’s something rather fascinating about a man who can remain anonymous while being more emotionally open than people who share their entire lives online.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Which character would you trust with your own heart? Why?
Jessica Siskin:
I would trust Pineapple because he shows up with honesty and vulnerability. He’s super direct, in a way that I think would make me feel safe; he manages to show a lot of depth while also keeping things light with humor.
The Romanceaholic Take: Emotional Availability Looks Good on Him
Now that’s an answer I appreciate.
Honesty.
Vulnerability.
Direct communication.
And a sense of humor.
Romance readers, are we witnessing the appeal of a man who can actually express himself?
Because let’s face it, we’ve read enough fictional relationships where a single honest conversation could have saved everyone approximately two hundred pages of emotional suffering.
Pineapple’s appeal, as Jessica describes it, isn’t that he has all the answers.
It’s that he’s willing to communicate.
He can be playful without avoiding emotional depth.
He can be direct without losing his warmth.
And he can be vulnerable without treating vulnerability like a personal defeat.
Of course, emotional openness doesn’t automatically make every complicated situation simple.
But it does create the possibility of genuine connection.
And in a story about a woman who struggles to reveal her true feelings, that quality becomes particularly important.
Sometimes the most attractive thing a person can offer isn’t mystery. It’s the courage to be honest.
07. The Walls She Didn’t Know She Built
Now we come to something I found especially meaningful about Stella.
Her transformation.
Because personal growth isn’t always beautiful while it’s happening.
Sometimes it’s uncomfortable.
Sometimes it’s frightening.
And sometimes it means recognizing that the very habits we developed to protect ourselves are now preventing us from living the way we want.
Romanceaholic Asks:
Which character challenged you the most to write?
Jessica Siskin:
Stella was the most challenging to write because it was important to me that her transformation felt gradual, earned, and real.
Romanceaholic Asks:
What’s one thing about your characters that readers may not immediately notice, but you secretly hope they do?
Jessica Siskin:
I really hope that readers can understand that Stella built walls around herself for protection without even noticing that’s what she was doing, and that the work of lowering those walls isn’t easy.
The Romanceaholic Take: Growth Isn’t a Wardrobe Change
This might be my favorite part of our conversation.
Because Jessica understands something essential about meaningful character development.
A heroine shouldn’t suddenly become a completely different person simply because the plot needs her to.
Real growth takes time.
Stella has spent years building her career, developing her public identity, and learning how to navigate the expectations surrounding her.
Those habits don’t disappear overnight.
And the emotional walls she has built aren’t necessarily there because she wants to deceive anyone.
They’re there because, somewhere along the way, protecting herself became familiar.
Sometimes we don’t even recognize our own defenses until something forces us to confront them.
And lowering those defenses can be terrifying.
Because honesty comes with uncertainty.
You might disappoint someone.
You might discover that a relationship isn’t what you thought it was.
You might have to admit that something you’ve worked hard to achieve no longer makes you happy.
But remaining behind those walls has consequences too.
You cannot build genuine intimacy while refusing to let anyone close enough to know you.
And you cannot fully understand yourself if you’re constantly avoiding your own feelings.
Stella doesn’t need to become perfect. She needs to become honest enough to recognize who she is.
That’s the kind of character growth I appreciate.
Not instant transformation.
Not magical healing through romance.
But a woman gradually finding the courage to change.
08. The Romanceaholic Confessional — Quick Fire!
We’ve discussed vulnerability, emotional walls, and the complicated business of being human.
Now it’s time for something a little lighter.
Because we cannot possibly invite an author into our romance-loving corner of the world without finding out which tropes have their heart.
And whether coffee is involved.
Obviously.
Coffee or Tea?
Jessica: Coffee.
Morning writer or Night owl?
Jessica: Night owl.
First draft or Final edits?
Jessica: Final edits.
Favorite romance trope?
Jessica: Friends to lovers.
Trope you’ll never get tired of writing?
Jessica: Second chance.
One fictional couple you absolutely adore?
Jessica: AJ Graves and Noah Drew (Into The Blue).
A romance novel every reader should experience at least once?
Jessica: Into The Blue.
The Romanceaholic Take: Second Chances and Friends to Lovers?
Well, Jessica, now we’re talking.
Friends to lovers has a special kind of emotional appeal.
There’s already a foundation.
Shared experiences.
Trust.
The comfort of knowing someone before romance complicates everything.
And second chances?
Oh, those can be deliciously complicated.
Because a second chance isn’t meaningful simply because two people still have feelings for each other.
We want to know what’s changed.
What they’ve learned.
Why things might work differently this time.
And whether they’re finally ready to have the conversations they avoided before.
Notice a theme here?
Communication keeps finding its way back into our discussion.
Apparently, even our favorite tropes aren’t escaping accountability today.
09. One More Chapter — What We Carry Beyond the Ending
Before we close our conversation, there’s something I always want to know.
Not simply what an author hopes readers will enjoy.
But what they hope readers will remember.
Because sometimes a story stays with us not because of one unforgettable romantic moment, but because it makes us recognize something about our own lives.
Romanceaholic Asks:
If readers remember just one thing after finishing this book, what do you hope it is?
Jessica Siskin:
I hope that readers walk away having considered their own relationship to performing online and in relationships and learn a little bit about themselves through Stella’s story.
The Romanceaholic Take: Who Are You When Nobody’s Watching?
That is a question worth carrying beyond the final page.
How much of our lives do we spend trying to meet expectations?
How often do we say we’re fine when we’re not?
How frequently do we choose the answer that keeps everyone comfortable instead of the one that expresses what we actually feel?
And perhaps most importantly, when did we start believing that being loved requires us to be perfect?
Stella’s journey reminds us that authenticity isn’t simply about being honest with other people.
It begins with recognizing what we’re feeling ourselves.
Because if we can’t acknowledge our own needs, how can we expect anyone else to understand them?
And if we’re constantly performing happiness, when do we give ourselves permission to pursue the real thing?
One Final Question…
Complete the sentence: Love is…
Jessica Siskin:
something that comes in many forms.
The Romanceaholic Take: And Every Form Deserves Honesty
What a lovely way to end our conversation.
Because love really does come in many forms.
Romantic love.
Friendship.
The care we give our families.
The passion we pour into our dreams.
And the relationship we have with ourselves.
Not every love story is about finding someone new.
Sometimes it’s about learning how to reconnect with someone we’ve grown distant from.
Sometimes it’s about recognizing the friends who have always been there.
And sometimes it’s about finally giving ourselves the compassion and honesty we’ve been offering everyone else.
Love doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful.
But it does deserve to be real.
About the Storyteller — Jessica Siskin
Jessica Siskin earned her MFA from the New School. She is a former fashion executive and the founder of Misterkrisp, a popular Instagram-based food art business specializing in custom Rice Krispies Treats and social media content.
She is also the author of Treat Yourself!, a cookbook featuring her inventive food art.
Jessica lives in New York City.
The Last Word — You Can’t Be Loved for Who You Are If Nobody Knows Who That Is
There is something beautifully fitting about a novel centered on a woman who appears to have everything but struggles to recognize what she truly needs.
And after speaking with Jessica Siskin, I appreciate the emotional intention behind Stella’s journey even more.
What stood out to me wasn’t simply the discussion of social media or the pressure of maintaining a successful business.
It was Jessica’s understanding that Stella’s greatest challenge involved the walls she had built around herself.
Walls she didn’t necessarily realize were there.
Walls that protected her from uncomfortable feelings but also kept her from meaningful connections.
And walls that couldn’t simply disappear because someone interesting entered her life.
Stella had to do the work of recognizing them.
That’s what makes her transformation important.
Because romance shouldn’t erase the need for personal growth.
Love can encourage us.
It can challenge us.
It can create a space where we feel safe enough to become vulnerable.
But ultimately, we still have to decide whether we’re willing to be honest.
And that’s what I appreciated about Looks Perfect.
It reminds us that communication matters.
That success doesn’t guarantee happiness.
That being admired by thousands—or even millions—doesn’t mean we feel understood.
And that sometimes the most important thing we can do for ourselves and the people we love is finally say what we’ve been afraid to say.
A million people might admire the person you present to the world. But genuine connection begins when you allow someone to know the person behind the image.
And romance readers?
That includes allowing yourself to know her, too.
Thank You, Jessica Siskin!
A heartfelt thank-you to Jessica Siskin for joining Romanceaholic and sharing the inspiration, emotional depth, and relationships behind Looks Perfect.
We especially appreciate her thoughtful reflections on Stella’s gradual transformation, the importance of emotional honesty, and the ways our expectations can influence how we see ourselves and the people we love.
It’s always a pleasure to discover the ideas and experiences that inspired a story and to explore how those ideas connect with what readers take away from the page.
Now, Romance Readers, It’s Your Turn!
Do you believe someone can truly love you if you’re afraid to show them who you really are?
And have you ever read a story that made you reconsider the difference between appearing happy and actually being happy?
Come tell us. We love a good romance conversation.
Keep Reading: Looks Perfect by Jessica Siskin — When Having Everything Means Nothing If You Can’t Be Yourself | A Romanceaholic Book Review
Until our next story,
Carmen A
Soft heart. Sharp tongue. Zero apologies.
Romanceaholic — Love Stories Taken Seriously.
