Author Lindsay Jill Roth Reflects on Love, Friendship with Meghan Markle and the '250 Questions' That Led Her to 'the One'

'Romances & Practicalities' will hit shelves early next year

Author and TV producer Lindsay Jill Roth is ready to pop the question — 250 of them, to be exact!

PEOPLE can exclusively reveal the cover for Roth's new book, Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions, forthcoming from HarperCollins on January 28, 2025. In it, Roth blends her own romantic journey with expert-backed guidance, offering a collection of 250 questions designed to foster deeper intimacy and help readers get real about what they want in a partner.

Inspired by her transatlantic romance with her now-husband, Gavin Jordan, affectionately nicknamed “the Brit” (whom she married in 2016, with close friend Meghan Markle as her maid of honor!), Roth tackles the fundamental question: How do you really get to know someone?

“I was like the girl from 27 Dresses — I had tried to find my person, and I thought I was ready. Until I really looked at myself and asked, ‘What are you really looking for? Not just what are you looking for on paper, but what is going to be the best for you?’” Roth tells PEOPLE.

That’s the heart of Romances & Practicalities. Roth’s book presents 250 thought-provoking questions spread across twelve chapters, touching on essential topics like finances (“How do you feel about debt?”), children (“Would you work with a fertility specialist if we struggled to conceive?”), sex (“What are your views on monogamy, infidelity or polyamory?”) and even household dynamics (“Which would you choose: laundry or dishes?”). These questions are designed to uncover red flags, identify deal-breakers and foster open conversations that strengthen relationships.

“I was looking for a way to connect and communicate,” Roth explains about creating the questions during her own search for "the one." "Then, when I started talking about it, I realized other people were looking for that, too. It was really organic. I’m a storyteller — it was only natural for me to take this experience and ask, ‘How can I tell an amazing story while also helping people?’”

"It's not about getting these questions right," she adds. "It's about finding a way to communicate your needs and deciding what those most important needs are. I do take my own advice. We are really good at having periodic check-ins about different things. We talk about our finances often. I know it sounds crazy, but I find it really sexy when we pore over our spreadsheets and plan because it's something we are doing together. We talk about our sex life. We check in. We're like, ‘Hey, are we good? Is there stuff you want to be doing? Is this not enough or too much?’"

Related: Meghan Markle's Best Friend Shares the Star's Personal Motto — and You'll Love It!

Alongside her personal love story, Roth features real-life couples who’ve benefited from her approach, along with expert insights from notable figures like psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb, Dr. Nicole LePera, sex therapist Dr. Emily Morse and financial expert Suze Orman.

Now living between London and New York with her husband and their two young sons, Roth reflects on her path to finding love: “I loved finding love, and I realized there was a reason for the journey I went on. If you can find a partnership that makes you feel wonderful, it’s so worth it. If I can help anyone else achieve that, I’d love it. I love being in a healthy partnership, and if I can help others do the same while giving them a really fun story to read, that’s it for me.”

For Roth, communication is at the core of lasting relationships, whether in her marriage, which began long distance or with her closest friends.

"I think healthy communication, whether in friendships, families, or your romantic life, is essential. You learn how to be present for someone. I find that a handwritten note, a little gift in the mail, a gift card, reading the same book and discussing it, or just texting, 'I love you and I'm thinking about you,' all make a difference," she says. "If you have good friends to support you, you can get through anything."

"It's being as present as you can be and also giving other people grace because we need grace," Roth adds. "It's okay if you don't reply to my text. There are times when I can't do that for you, and just saying, 'It's okay. I love you, and I'm here for you.'"

Roth shares a close bond with the Duchess of Sussex, whom she met during their freshman year at Northwestern University in a Toni Morrison literature class. Their friendship has only grown stronger over the years, supporting each other’s work and passions. In 2015, Meghan promoted Roth’s debut novel, What Pretty Girls Are Made Of, on Instagram, calling it the “best summer read” and playfully teasing her own cameo in the book, writing, “You’ll have to read it to find out who I am!” Roth, in turn, has publicly supported her friend, even appearing in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s hit Netflix documentary, Harry & Meghan.

Over the past decade, both women’s lives have transformed. Roth married her British husband and became a mother of two, while Meghan wed Prince Harry in a royal wedding and also welcomed two children. Amid their evolving lives, their bond remains strong, with Roth even including a heartfelt message for Meghan in her book’s acknowledgments.

“She hasn't read her acknowledgment yet,” Roth says. “I have saved that as a little token for her to see when the book comes out. I think it's rare to find friends who love you unconditionally, and I've been lucky in my life to have a few who I truly consider family. It's almost like those words aren't enough.”

And while it’s not lost on Roth that both she and Meghan ended up with partners from the U.K., she prefers to emphasize what truly matters: "I often get asked, 'Is it really special that you both married Brits?' What I always say is, 'It's special that we both married such wonderful people.'"

She adds, "I'm lucky to have chosen a partner who is so supportive of the stories I want to tell and of me. He's been along for the ride the whole time."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.