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Jess’s Year In Books

Jess’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Jess’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Jess Lourey’s Followers (4,663)

Jess’s Bookshelves

to-read (1)
currently-reading (4)
read (8)
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Jess’s Friends (2,087)

Ashley Rose Wilkes

236 books | 3 friends

Haley

1,662 books | 16 friends

Mary Beth

2,367 books | 104 friends

Emily W

134 books | 6 friends

Mary

1,406 books | 172 friends

Lana Kortchik

127 books | 4,945 friends

Keith Raffel

1,006 books | 360 friends

Tabatha Graves

711 books | 20 friends

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Jess Lourey

Goodreads Author

Born

in Tacoma, WA, The United States

Website

http://jessicalourey.com/

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Young Adult, Horror

Member Since

August 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/jesslourey

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My name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.

The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.

I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.

I live in Minneapolis with a rot ...more

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Combine Editions
Jess Lourey’s books

Average rating: 3.95 · 375,206 ratings · 25,683 reviews · 49 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Quarry Girls 4.01 avg rating — 131,408 ratings — published 2022 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unspeakable Things 3.78 avg rating — 92,165 ratings — published 2020 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Taken Ones (Steinbeck and Reed, #1) 4.20 avg rating — 33,165 ratings — published 2023 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bloodline 3.88 avg rating — 33,520 ratings — published 2021 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Reaping (Steinbeck and Reed, #2) 4.07 avg rating — 14,450 ratings — published 2024 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Litani 3.96 avg rating — 10,092 ratings — published 2021 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Laughing Dead (Steinbeck and Reed, #3) 4.38 avg rating — 7,443 ratings — published 2025 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	May Day (Murder by Month Romcom Mystery, #1) by Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author) 3.54 avg rating — 8,863 ratings — published 2006 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Catch Her in a Lie (Steinbeck and Reed, #0.5) 3.70 avg rating — 6,982 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	June Bug (Murder by Month, #2) by Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 4,108 ratings — published 2007	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jess Lourey…

47 posts
Jess Lourey's Blog

New York Times Bestseller

The Verdant Cage is an instant New York Times bestseller! I'm overwhelmed. If you've seen my TEDx Talk, you know that writing has both sustained and saved me. It's my church, my office, my shelter, and I've been immeasurably grateful to make a living off of it since 2021. But little girl Jessie still fantasized about hitting this milestone. Growing up in rural Minnesota, living miles from the near

Series by Jess Lourey

Murder by Month Mystery (13 books)
by

Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author)

3.89 avg rating — 39,528 ratings

A Salem's Cipher Mystery (2 books)
by

Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author)

4.03 avg rating — 4,689 ratings

The Catalain Book of Secrets (1 book)
by

Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author),

Tony Van Den Einde (Illustrator)

3.90 avg rating — 804 ratings

The Toadhouse Trilogy (1 book)
by

Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author)

3.83 avg rating — 90 ratings

Kellye Garrett’s crime fiction novels have been featured on The Today Show, won numerous awards, and named to Time magazine’s 100 Best...

Jess is Currently Reading

Jess Lourey is currently reading

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls

by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 25, 2025 03:46PM

Jess Lourey is currently reading

The Guilty Dead (Monkeewrench, #9)

by P.J. Tracy (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 25, 2022 06:42PM

Jess Lourey is currently reading

The Apprentice (Rizzoli & Isles, #2)

by Tess Gerritsen (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 22, 2022 09:47AM

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Jess’s Recent Updates

Jess Lourey wrote a new blog post New York Times Bestseller The Verdant Cage is an instant New York Times bestseller! I'm overwhelmed. If you've seen my TEDx Talk, you know that writing has both sustained and s Read more of this blog post »
Apr 17, 2026 05:55AM · 2 likes · like
Jess Lourey answered Carly's question: I just saw a comment that said Verdant Cage was book 1 in a trilogy, not a standalone. Is this true? Im reading it regardless, I just wanted to see if that was true, cuz if so, it belongs on a different page of my spreadsheet lol Move that baby over to a different page, Carly, because THE VERDANT CAGE is book one The Verdant Series. :) Book two is called THE VIOLET MAZE, and should go up for preorder any day now.
Mar 21, 2026 05:18AM · 5 likes · like
Jess Lourey is currently reading Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Horror	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2025 03:46PM · 12 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lourey has read The Laughing Dead (Steinbeck and Reed, #3) by Jess Lourey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2025 05:56PM · 28 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lourey rated a book it was amazing The Last One (Vallendor, #1) by Rachel Howzell Hall (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 03, 2024 10:12AM · 18 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lourey rated a book it was amazing The Last One (Vallendor, #1) by Rachel Howzell Hall (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 27, 2024 02:03PM · 18 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Jess's books…

Quotes by Jess Lourey (?)

“You’ll recognize those men, the ones inclined to their dark side, because they’ll expect you to carry their load. They’ll smother your anger with their pain, they’ll make you doubt yourself, and they’ll tell you they love you the whole time. Some do it big, like Ed, but most do it in quiet steps, like your father.”
― Jess Lourey, The Quarry Girls

13 likes

“And once I opened up all that real estate where before I’d been holding anger and regret, I found a lot of things were simpler than I’d made them.”
― Jess Lourey, January Thaw

12 likes

“Men in packs can do terrible things, things they wouldn’t have the hate to do alone. It’s no excuse, just something you should know.”
― Jess Lourey, The Quarry Girls

9 likes

See all Jess Lourey's quotes »

Polls

Vote for our March/April Deadly Authors of the Month!

Melinda Woodhall

3 votes, 25.0%

Catherine Ryan Howard

2 votes, 16.7%

John Hart

1 vote, 8.3%

Joy Fielding

1 vote, 8.3%

Nancy Bush

1 vote, 8.3%

Jefferson Bass

1 vote, 8.3%

Karen Harper

1 vote, 8.3%

Kendra Elliot

1 vote, 8.3%

Rita Herron

1 vote, 8.3%

Karen Robards

0 votes, 0.0%

Elizabeth Goddard

0 votes, 0.0%

Rebecca York

0 votes, 0.0%

Cherry Adair

0 votes, 0.0%

Lisa Renee Jones

0 votes, 0.0%

Leah Swann

0 votes, 0.0%

Anna Snoekstra

0 votes, 0.0%

Tonya Burrows

0 votes, 0.0%

April Wilson

0 votes, 0.0%

Susan Stoker

0 votes, 0.0%

Freya Barker

0 votes, 0.0%

Mary Jane Clark

0 votes, 0.0%

Iris Johansen

0 votes, 0.0%

Jamie Lee Scott

0 votes, 0.0%

Anne Frasier

0 votes, 0.0%

Diana Xarissa

0 votes, 0.0%

Walter Mosley

0 votes, 0.0%

Jon Land

0 votes, 0.0%

J.D. Barker

0 votes, 0.0%

Linda Fairstein

0 votes, 0.0%

Joanna Schaffhausen

0 votes, 0.0%

Karen White

0 votes, 0.0%

Mike Omer

0 votes, 0.0%

Kay Hooper

0 votes, 0.0%

Paula Munier

0 votes, 0.0%

Sharon Sala

0 votes, 0.0%

Katie Reus

0 votes, 0.0%

Kennedy Layne

0 votes, 0.0%

Brian Panowich

0 votes, 0.0%

Kerry Greenwood

0 votes, 0.0%

Juno Rushdan

0 votes, 0.0%

Ann Cleeves

0 votes, 0.0%

Mike Grist

0 votes, 0.0%

Beverly Connor

0 votes, 0.0%

Mary Stone

0 votes, 0.0%

Wendy Walker

0 votes, 0.0%

Jess Lourey

0 votes, 0.0%

Caren Hahn

0 votes, 0.0%

Danielle M. Haas

0 votes, 0.0%

John Gilstrap

0 votes, 0.0%

Melinda Leigh

0 votes, 0.0%

Stacy M. Jones

0 votes, 0.0%

12 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Cover to Cover Ch...: August readathon: Progress and minichallenges	157	98	Aug 17, 2011 08:28AM
The Seasonal Read...: * Summer Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)	2614	899	Aug 31, 2011 09:18PM
Cover to Cover Ch...: Shay's Less is More Challenge 2011	43	115	Dec 23, 2011 02:30PM
Nothing But Readi...: Level 3 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2011	167	291	Jan 01, 2012 08:27PM

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Jess’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Nora-adrienne

Aug 19, 2016 09:51AM

Feel free to troll my friends and followers list for your friends and readers.

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Jess’s Year In Books

Jess Lourey’s Followers (4,663)

Jess’s Bookshelves

Jess’s Friends (2,087)

Jess Lourey

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Jess Lourey’s books

47 posts
Jess Lourey's Blog

New York Times Bestseller

Series by Jess Lourey

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Jess is Currently Reading

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Jess’s Recent Updates

New York Times Bestseller

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Jess Lourey’s Followers (4,663)

Jess Lourey

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See a Problem?

Preview — Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

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Preview — The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey

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