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Lauren’s Year In Books

Lauren’s 2024 Year in Books

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

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Lauren Mechling’s Followers (94)

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Jennifer Mennella

1,252 books | 74 friends

Steph | bookedinsaigon

3,817 books | 1,015 friends

Amy

589 books | 1,785 friends

Bennett

163 books | 261 friends

Francesca Marciano

747 books | 182 friends

Hilary

270 books | 237 friends

Melisse Gelula

923 books | 55 friends

Rosemary

600 books | 25 friends

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Lauren Mechling

Goodreads Author

Born

in New York, The United States

Twitter

laurenmechling

Member Since

March 2007

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/laurenmechling

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Hello there! I'm the author of many novels — and not only that but many kinds of novels, from a YA detective series and a proper literary novel about the ups and downs of female friendship to an interactive vampire thriller that ran as a serialization in an online magazine that the New York Times called “brilliant.” Not sure about that, but it was definitely bananas. I am especially fond of my latest work, The Memo, co-written with my dear friend Rachel Dodes. It’s a book about a woman who has a crushing sense that she never got the memo—and it turns out she is right. There was a memo she didn’t get. Literally. When Jenny shows up at her 15th college reunion, her old career counselor tracks her down and hands over the magic set of instructi Hello there! I'm the author of many novels — and not only that but many kinds of novels, from a YA detective series and a proper literary novel about the ups and downs of female friendship to an interactive vampire thriller that ran as a serialization in an online magazine that the New York Times called “brilliant.” Not sure about that, but it was definitely bananas. I am especially fond of my latest work, The Memo, co-written with my dear friend Rachel Dodes. It’s a book about a woman who has a crushing sense that she never got the memo—and it turns out she is right. There was a memo she didn’t get. Literally. When Jenny shows up at her 15th college reunion, her old career counselor tracks her down and hands over the magic set of instructions and gives her a chance to do over her past mistakes.
What can I say? It’s a personal fantasy. I have always been plagued with indecision and a sense of “what if?” I’d hand over all my worldly possessions to have a guardian angel (or, in this case, bespoke document) to tell me what invitations to say yes to or what books not to bother reading (since it knows I’ll end up not finishing them) or what to serve myself from the buffet at the office Christmas party (how was I to know the cod fritters would make me sick?). My memo would have told 22 year old me to figure out a way to borrow money and buy an abandoned Brooklyn parking lot whose value would skyrocket and that I could eventually sell to a real estate developer for a fortune. It would have told 37 year old me to call in sick on the day a friend and I had lunch and got into the blowout fight that ended our relationship (I still miss her!). It definitely would have mandated that I get Beyonce’s phone number when I interviewed her for a newspaper story zillions of years ago (too many years ago for my memo to tell me to take a selfie with an iPhone).
It probably would have had less to say about my career choices, as I have had a very rewarding work life. I spent the year after college as an “editorial assistant” which was late-90s speak for sitting around Manhattan offices and answering men’s telephones. I was restless and really wanted to be a writer, so I wrote a letter to an upstart newspaper in Canada, and offered my services. I was offered an internship that turned into a job, and I spent three glorious years as a newspaper reporter in Toronto, reviewing movies and hanging out for very short periods of time (seven minutes was the typical allowance) with the likes of Lionel Richie, one of the Rolling Stones, and Beyonce along with the two other members of Destiny’s Child. It was the best, but I missed New York, where I grew up, so I came back with a portfolio of clips (that’s industry speak for published stories) and I started working at local newspapers. One of my assignments was to interview the author of a scandalous book called Gossip Girl, and it got me thinking: Maybe I could write a funny and fast-paced book for young readers? I floated this idea by my friend, the brilliant Laura Moser, and we began the draft of what would become The Rise and Fall of a 10th Grade Social Climber.
Writing is an addictive habit, and I kept at it. As I got older, the themes that colored my young adult books (friendship, ambition, the bonds of love) made their way to material for people who felt a little more age-appropriate. If you ask me how I'd describe my books I'd say I want them to delight, occasionally shock, and and make you feel like somebody is reading your mind and has said the thing you never dared put into words. Speaking of words, I’d be happy to hear from you! I’m on the platform formerly known as Twitter as @laurenmechling and on Instagram at @laurenomics (I made that up when Freakonomics came out, and here we are a century later). Take care, and happy reading, Lauren x ...more

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Lauren Mechling’s books

Average rating: 3.04 · 6,312 ratings · 820 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	How Could She 2.83 avg rating — 3,904 ratings — published 2019 — 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 Memo by Rachel Dodes (Goodreads Author), Lauren Mechling (Goodreads Author) 3.37 avg rating — 2,445 ratings — published 2024 — 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

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman know the radical life-changing power of a good friendship. The two launched their hit podcast Call Your...

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Lauren’s Recent Updates

Lauren Mechling rated a book it was amazing Hope by Andrew Ridker (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
I generally have two or three books on the go. Once I started Hope, which has more life in it than some entire book piles, I was hooked and flew through it in a couple of days. The family at the center of the book is flawed and funny as can be, and t ...more
Jan 08, 2024 01:42AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Hope by Andrew Ridker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Hope by Andrew Ridker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lauren Mechling made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Book I co-wrote not showing up on my author page topic " Hi--I co-wrote The Memo with Rachel Dodes. Would you kindly help me attach it to my author page? Thank you!https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... ...more "
Jan 07, 2024 04:17AM
Lauren Mechling joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
Jan 07, 2024 04:17AM · like
Lauren Mechling rated a book it was amazing The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty	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
This book is a marvel. I was less than sold on it when one of my book clubs selected it (it seemed precious from afar) and man oh man, was I proven wrong. Gunty can write prose to make your heart race solely on account of its strange beauty. Have put ...more
Jan 07, 2024 04:13AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Lauren Mechling rated a book it was amazing Persuasion by Jane Austen	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
Jan 07, 2024 04:08AM · like
Lauren Mechling rated a book it was amazing Get the Picture: A Mind-Bending Journey Among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See by Bianca Bosker (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
Bianca Bosker should change her name to Bianca Bonkers. The lengths she goes to in order infiltrate secret underworlds, and the artfulness with which she relates her observations and findings, is truly extraordinary. She is is a living legend, and th ...more
Dec 21, 2023 03:17AM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Busy as a Bee Books: 6/25/19: Book News	8	9	Jun 30, 2019 04:26PM
Ultimate Popsugar...: 13 - A book rated less than three stars on Goodreads	112	2782	Nov 15, 2025 11:35AM

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Lauren’s Year In Books

Lauren Mechling’s Followers (94)

Lauren’s Bookshelves

Lauren’s Friends (50)

Lauren Mechling

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Preview — Hope by Andrew Ridker

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Lauren’s Year In Books

Lauren Mechling’s Followers (94)

Lauren’s Bookshelves

Lauren’s Friends (50)

Lauren Mechling

Goodreads Author

Combine EditionsLauren Mechling’s books

Related News

rssLauren’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Hope by Andrew Ridker

See a Problem?

Preview — The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty

See a Problem?

Preview — Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker

Topics Mentioning This Author

recent postsLauren’s Groups

Lauren’s Friend Comments

Combine Editions
Lauren Mechling’s books

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Lauren’s Recent Updates

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