Jennifer Close was born and raised on the North Shore of Chicago. She is a graduate of Boston College and received her MFA in Fiction Writing from The New School in 2005. She worked in New York in magazines for many years and then in Washington, D.C., as a bookseller.
So Old, So Young (2026) Grant Ginder "I'm obsessed with this book! So Old, So Young follows a group of college friends over decades as they grow up and grow apart, perfectly capturing the splits, spats, and celebrations that occur over the years. These characters are so vivid and real that by the end of the book they felt like my friends...and I missed them badly as soon as I turned the last page. Grant Ginder is extraordinarily talented at examining the absurdity and joys of friendship and love, of making you laugh while he breaks your heart, and this is without a doubt his best book yet - honest, witty, and just so damn funny!"
I'll Follow You (2025) Charlene Wang "I'll Follow You is a dark and twisty story of female friendship, belonging, and betrayal. Charlene Wang deftly explores the complicated power dynamics between women, the way we see ourselves and each other. This haunting and addictive page-turner will keep you guessing until the very end!"
The Irish Goodbye (2025) Heather Aimee O'Neill "I picked up The Irish Goodbye one morning and finished it later that night, unable to do anything else until I got to the end. These characters captured my heart, and I got lost in this family weekend full of secrets, resentment, and emotional landmines. Heather Aimee O'Neill has written a beautiful debut about family, grief, love, and loss."
The Namaste Club (2025) Asha Elias "I'm obsessed with The Namaste Club! This yoga retreat has everything: A murderous alligator, a deranged tradwife, a hot yoga apprentice, and too many spicy margaritas to count. This novel is hilarious, suspenseful and full of surprises. No one - and I mean no one - writes Florida like Asha Elias!"
The Names (2025) Florence Knapp "The Names is a gorgeous, compelling, and haunting novel. Florence Knapp gracefully explores the ideas of fate, luck, and the weight of a name. Each version of these characters and this story cracked my heart wide open."
All the Signs (2025) Jessie Rosen "All the Signs is a charming story about love, family, and fate. Jessie Rosen has written delightful and entertaining characters that draw you in and immediately and steal your heart. Once you pick up this book you won't want to put it down!"
A Home for the Holidays (2024) Taylor Hahn "This is the perfect big-hearted novel to curl up with! A Home For the Holidays explores grief, love, and family secrets with a heavy dose of charm and Christmas magic. Taylor Hahn's writing is honest, emotionally generous, and just so funny. I couldn't love it more!"
In a Dark Mirror (2024) Kat Davis "In a Dark Mirror is a propulsive and twisty thriller that explores girlhood and friendship, obsession and horror. Kat Davis captures the desperation of adolescence with observations so sharp they will take your breath away. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to stop!"
Till There Was You (2024) Lindsay Hameroff "Till There Was You explores what happens when an aspiring chef meets a musician on the edge of fame and becomes his inspiration for a hit single--in other words, it's a complete delight! Lindsay Hameroff's debut is witty, warm, and charming with a healthy dose of hilarious one-liners and clever dialogue. Fans of Emily Henry and Robinne Lee's The Idea of You are going to go crazy for this one!"
Three Holidays and a Wedding (2023) Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley "The most delightful holiday rom-com... A charming novel that explores love, happiness, and honesty with sweet and hilarious characters that will steal your heart. I devoured it!"
The Christmas Orphans Club (2023) Becca Freeman "I'm completely in love with this book! The Christmas Orphans Club is a beautiful exploration of friendship with laugh-out-loud dialogue and characters you can't stop thinking about. Becca Freeman's debut is witty, heartwarming, and hilarious and the most delightful thing you'll read all year."
The Sunset Crowd (2023) Karin Tanabe "Reading The Sunset Crowd is like being invited to a glittery party full of drama and champagne, imposters and celebrities. Karin Tanabe expertly explores friendship, ambition, power, and lust in the glamorous world of 1970s Hollywood. This is the addicting novel you're looking for-don't miss it!"
Everything's Fine (2023) Cecilia Rabess "Both entertaining and wise, a page-turner that explores race, class, sex, and ambition and how love and compromise work (or don't) in our current political climate."
Social Engagement (2023) Avery Carpenter Forrey "I picked up SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT to read one chapter and didn't put it down until I finished it later that night. This novel is a masterful and sharp exploration of friendship, family, class, and social media. Forrey's debut is twisty and absorbing, full of family secrets and millennial weddings, and you won't want to miss it!"
Really Good, Actually (2023) Monica Heisey "From the moment I picked up this book, I haven't stopped talking about it. Really Good, Actually is a hilarious look at divorce, friendship, identity, and the many ways we try and fail to take care of each other. Monica Heisey has given us a modern-day Heartburn, a brilliant, unique, charming novel that I will be recommending to every single person I know."
How to Fall Out of Love Madly (2022) Jana Casale "Jana Casale is a master storyteller--observant, witty, sharp, and funny. How to Fall Out of Love Madly is an honest and compelling look at female friendship, romantic relationships, and infatuation."
Our American Friend (2022) Anna Pitoniak "I was immediately hooked on this novel about Sofie, a burned-out political reporter, who develops a friendship with the mysterious and elegant First Lady. Pitoniak blends a sharp look at present-day Washington, DC with an exploration of power, love and politics and the result is this smart, addictive page-turner. OUR AMERICAN FRIEND is a delicious political thriller and I couldn't put it down."
Rock the Boat (2021) Beck Dorey-Stein "Rock the Boat is a funny and bighearted novel about friendship, love, and going home again. Dorey-Stein’s unique characters are hilarious and heartbroken—which is to say they are fantastic company and I enjoyed every single page."
Love Like That (2021) Emma Duffy-Comparone "Emma Duffy-Comparone’s debut is smart, witty, and razor-sharp. These stories perfectly capture the complications of love and heartbreak, longing and desire. The women and girls in Love Like That are written with precision and compassion and it is fascinating to eavesdrop on their lives, to witness the pivotal moments as they deal with family, lovers, children, and loss."
Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing (2020) Allison Winn Scotch "Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing is a sharp, funny (and oh so timely) story about women, power, ambition, and politics—which is another way of saying you will completely devour this book. This brilliant character full of grit and heart (with a moral compass to boot!) feels like the heroine we all need right now."
Happily Whatever After (2020) Stewart Lewis "Happily Whatever After is a quirky, sweet story about second chances, family, and friendship. Stewart Lewis writes with a perfect blend of humor and wit and delivers a romance that is as hopeful as it is entertaining."
Followers (2020) Megan Angelo "How can I explain how much I love this book? Followers is an inventive, addictive and perfectly constructed novel...a sharp look at social media, friendship and the lengths we'll go to in order to feel seen...It's also the best book I've read in years."
You, Me, and the Sea (2019) Meg Donohue "An honest and engaging look at the complicated and powerful bonds of female friendship. Donohue takes us on a weekend reunion full of secrets, resentment, and regret-in other words, once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down!"
The Dinner List (2018) Rebecca Serle "I read The Dinner List in a single day, unable to tear myself away from this unconventional dinner party. Rebecca Serle draws you in with this clever and delightful story and then (when you least expect it) offers up some of the sharpest insights on first loves, friendships and family. This book is completely original and wildly entertaining."
Indecent (2018) Corinne Sullivan "Indecent is a fresh twist on the prep school novel, a thrilling ride that masterfully explores class, sex and obsession. Sullivan's debut novel is a sharp and complex coming-of-age story that will keep you hooked until the last page."
The Mentor (2017) Lee Matthew Goldberg "A dark, whirling, and gripping book, 'The Mentor' pulls you in from the very first page. Goldberg is a masterful storyteller and this tale of jealousy and ambition is one that will stay with you long after you're done."
