"It brought me to tears, made me think, and gave me some laughs. There are some heavy topics, but there’s also deep love and life shared among the pages. The characters’ lives continue right into this sequel, so I found myself experiencing all the feelings as they navigated fame, love, loss, mental illness, and misunderstanding. I recommend Sarah’s books to whoever wants a love story that goes far beyond surface romance."

Kristin Hill Taylor, author of Peace in the Process

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Love on Film

the gripping sequel to love on paper

A quiet seaside romance collides with the Hollywood spotlight . . .

Author Marin Beckett knows all about crafting the perfect happily-ever-after, but her own love story with rising star Sam Quinn almost feels too good to be true. Between stolen moments in their cozy Chicago home and glamorous occasions on the red carpet, life has become the kind of fairytale she never quite dared to believe in. But when the demands of fame pull Sam further from home, Marin discovers that writing about love and living it are two very different things.

She’s traded their peaceful beach cottage days for a life where even coffee dates make headlines, and most of the time, she can laugh about it. But when an unexpected tragedy rocks their world, the distance between them grows deeper than miles. Is their love strong enough to survive the trauma . . . and everything they’ve left unsaid?

Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods and Lake Michigan’s moody shores, Love on Film is a powerful story about the cost of keeping secrets and the courage it takes to face our deepest fears. Sarah Madelin weaves a raw and honest tale that reminds us that sometimes the greatest love stories aren’t about falling in love—they’re about fighting to stay there.

Buy Love on Film

  • The Perfect Neighborhood

  • The Perfect Plaza

  • The Comfort of Home

  • The Wind Point Refuge

  • The Lakefront Cottage

  • The Riviera Theatre

Unlike the other books in this series, which take place mainly in other places, much of this book takes place in Marin's hometown of Chicago. Lincoln Square is a real northside neighborhood, and it's as charming as it looks in this picture. I spent so many afternoons writing in Cafe Selmarie (seen here) on the ground floor of "Marin's building" or in the plaza just below her third-floor window. In this picture, the fountain has been turned into a Christmas tree!

Marin's condo overlooks Giddings Plaza, which is the heart of activity in Lincoln Square. In summer, musicians play and the fountain bubbles. In autumn and spring, the plants and trees provide a welcome haven. In winter, it's lit up in festive style. I love that Giddings Plaza brings this neighborhood together. It plays an important role near the end of the book, so featuring it here felt right.

When I chose Lincoln Square for Marin's home base, I picked out a pretty brick building as the model for her condo in all three books. Marin loves old things and their history, so giving her a home in a historic Chicago building felt right. It's also in the heart of Lincoln Square and makes the rhythms of that special neighborhood part of her every day. Here, I marked her third-floor window with a heart. The fountain in Giddings Plaza is below.

Marin's dad lives in Wind Point, Wisconsin, which is a real lakeside village between Chicago and Milwaukee. While I chose it at random based on the name and location, it has become one of my favorite places on earth. I lived in Chicago while writing most of this series, and I often drove the 1.5 hours up to write at the lighthouse park. Marin describes the lighthouse as her protector during her dark period in the book. It's a stand-in for her dad while he's gone and a comforting guide when she needs it most.

The lighthouse is right beside where I set Marin's dad's home. Weirdly enough, when I first visited, a little cottage already sat in that same spot. It's hard to see, but it's just below the arrow. The owner told me it's no longer legal to build that close to the shore, but this house had been there for years. It's one of the only ones left in the area that sits right above the water, and it just happened to be located right where I'd set a similar house in my books.

Sam's concert, near the end of the book, takes place at The Riviera, a local Chicago concert venue with history and charm. It's not only in the Uptown neighborhood next door to Marin's home in Lincoln Square, it also has the perfect energetic feel I needed. I love the vintage sign! Fun fact: there's really a pancake house next door, which is mentioned in the book, too. Thank you for joining me on this tour of Love on Film!

Goods Inspired by Love on Film

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