Jenny Offill

Jenny Offill is an American novelist, short story writer, and educator whose works are always charming, witty, and emotionally resonant. Offill has authored two novels, Last Things and Department of Speculation, and two short story collections, Edison, New Jersey and Temper. Throughout her writing, Offill explores the complexity of relationships, despair, and hope.

Born in 1974 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Offill grew up in Queens, New York. After graduating from college in 1995, she attended the Master of Fine Arts Program at Columbia University. In 1998, she worked as an assistant editor for a magazine, and for many years she wrote for various venues. Her first book, a story collection titled Edison, New Jersey, was published in 2002.

In 2014, Offill’s first novel, Last Things, came out. The novel is set in a small New England town and tells the story of a newly divorced woman who is struggling to rebuild her life. As she deals with the challenges of being a single parent, she is also figuring out how to navigate the difficult relationship between her daughter and her ex-husband’s new girlfriend. Throughout the novel, Offill examines how families are formed, broken, and remade over time.

In 2019, Offill published her second novel, Department of Speculation. This novel follows the story of a writer who is navigating her failed marriage and the challenges of raising their young daughter. It follows her on her internal journey of self-discovery and exploration of her marriage's history and future. Department of Speculation has been highly acclaimed and won multiple awards, such as The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books in 2014, the New York Public Library's Young Lions Fiction Award in 2015, and the CBS News Sunday Morning Book Award in 2016.

In addition to her writing, Offill also teaches creative writing at New York University and in the Brooklyn College MFA Program in Fiction. Offill has also lectured at numerous universities and literary events around the country, such as the Lyndhurst Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Through her writing, Offill offers insight into love, family, and life. Her novels are tender and insightful, exploring the depths of relationships and humanity with grace and poignancy. No matter the topic, her characters are complex and believable, and her work is always compelling and heartfelt. Offill’s work is perfect for any reader looking for a deep, thoughtful read.