Disability rep, coming out, and self-love with Keah Brown

Rebel Ever After

My guest this week is author, actress, and journalist Keah Brown. She has published three books, the 2019 essay collection The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall In Love With Me; the 2022 children’s book Sam’s Super Seats, and her YA romance debut The Secret Summer Promise in 2023. Keah, like the protagonist of The Secret Summer Promise, has cerebral palsy, and we talked about what better disability representation can look like in romance and beyond.

We also discussed about why loving yourself is a lifelong process and Keah's decision to come out as bisexual. Plus: Do teens today read Sarah Dessen? Does Hollywood still do chemistry tests? Why aren't there kisses in rom-coms anymore? And when will Drew Barrymore be our friend?

Follow Keah @keah_maria on Instagram and Threads, and @keahbrown.bsky.social on BlueSky. You can also find her at keahbrown.com.

Purchase THE SECRET SUMMER PROMISE and other romance novels featured on Rebel Ever After in my affiliate Bookshop at bookshop.org/lists/rebel-ever-after

You can listen to Keah and I gab about The Pitt on Patreon at patreon.com/brosandprose — Patreon subscribers get access to premium episodes of Rebel Ever After, as well as access to our Discord server! Join starting at $3/month and have the satisfaction of supporting an indie podcast production that could really use your help.

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FILMS AND BOOKS MENTIONED INCLUDE:

• The Parent Trap (1998)
• Gotta Kick It Up (2002)
• The Pitt (2025)
• Just Listen, Sarah Dessen
• The Truth about Forever, Sarah Dessen
• This Lullaby, Sarah Dessen
• 50 First Dates (2004)
• Ever After (1998)
• Never Been Kissed (1999)
• A Walk To Remember (2002)
• Anyone But You (2023)
• Twisters (2024)
• Back In Action (2025)
• Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
• The Holiday (2006)
• Pride & Prejudice (2005)