Writer, Teacher, Human

Writing fiction and nonfiction is how Jessica Handler explores the questions that haunt her, fascinate her, and won’t let her go. Writing is her doorway into empathy, celebration, and wonder. She hopes it’s the same for you.

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Author Photo: Royce Soble

"Depth and emotion..."

Booklist

"Handler’s beautiful storytelling enlightens us…"

The Bitter Southerner

Books by Jessica Handler

Explore Jessica Handler's thought-provoking themes and powerful narratives.

The World To See

When teenager Nadine Harvey helps her best friend hide a disturbing secret, she’s also concealing her own deepest truth: she’ll do almost anything to be wanted.

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The Magnetic Girl

Set in a time of emerging electricity and heightened Spiritualism, "The Magnetic Girl" is an inspired novel about women's quest for political, cultural, and sexual presence.

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Braving The Fire

"Braving the Fire" is the first book to provide a road map for the journey of writing honestly about grief and loss.

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Invisible Sisters

One daughter’s moving account of illness, death, and the dissolution of her family.

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I am compelled by a single theme in my fiction and nonfiction: women and girls bearing more responsibility than they believe they can carry, and the ways they — we — learn to thrive.

Jessica Handler

Events

Join Jessica Handler for writing workshops, book signings, and engaging conversations with award-winning authors!

Jun 26, 2026

In Conversation with Suzanne Van Atten at Book Soup, Los Angeles

In conversation with Suzanne Van Atten

Link Register here >

Jul 18, 2026

Write/Share Greenville Summer Camp!

Pack up your pencil and spend the weekend with local authors, beginning writers, and publishing industry professionals. We’ll take care of the programming, the trail mix, the camp t-shirt, and the [inflatable] campfire. All the good stuff—without the mosquitoes. We’ll have various panels and classes in the morning, and author Jessica Handler will teach the whole afternoon. Stick around after camp for our first-ever BLOCK PARTY!

Link Register here >

Pre-Order Now!

The World To See

When teenager Nadine Harvey helps her best friend hide a disturbing secret, she’s also concealing her own deepest truth: she’ll do almost anything to be wanted.

Learn more >

FeatureS

From insightful interviews to engaging essays, see how Jessica's work continues to resonate with readers and critics alike.

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Jun 2026

Imagine You're Her

Jessica Handler on channeling her novel's singer-songwriter protagonist so that she can sing the songs she wrote for her unabashedly.

Oldster

May 2026

7 Books That Inspired "The World To See" (Publisher's Weekly.)

Seven books about friendship, feminism, and rock & roll!

Publisher's Weekly

Apr 2026

Books By Women Interview

How did your childhood impact the writer you’ve become?...

Women Writers, Women's Books

Jan 2026

Hear/Tell Podcast from the UGA Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction

In this episode of Hear-tell, Pat Thomas—MFA Distinguished Professor of Practice at the University of Georgia—joins award-winning author Jessica Handler to talk about Pat’s essay for The Bitter Southerner, “The Answer Is Yes.” Their conversation moves through memory, hesitation, and what it takes to finally write the story you’ve been quietly avoiding. Together, they reflect on how grief shapes our work and how timing, courage, and curiosity can change what we’re able to say on the page. Here is a link to Pat’s essay: https://bittersoutherner.com/feature/2024/the-answer-is-yes And here are links to Jessica Handler’s website with links to all her books: https://www.jessicahandler.com/

Hear/Tell with Jessica Handler & Pat Thomas

About the Author

Get to know Jessica Handler and explore the writing and teaching that defines her work.