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747 ratings | 423 reviews | avg rating:4.04

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Janet Nichols Lynch

Goodreads Author

Born

in Sacramento, The United States

Website

http://www.janetnicholslynch.com

Twitter

JanetNicLynch

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Young Adult, Nonfiction

Influences

Jane Smiley, Jane Austen, Lorrie Moore, Anne Tyler

Member Since

January 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/janetnicholslynch

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Janet Nichols Lynch is the author of seventeen books. Her most recent novel, MORE TO LIFE, about the humor and challenges of aging, was published Fall 2025 by Legacy Book Press. Her children's Black historical novel, ELLEN OF ALLENSWORTH is about a girl growing up in Allensworth, the only town in California owned and governed by Blacks, which is now a California Historic State Park. Janet's debut novel, CHEST PAINS, was published in 2009. Her short fiction has appeared in THE NEW YORKER, SEVENTEEN, HIGHWAY99, A LITERARY JOURNEY THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY, and elsewhere. Her young adult novels include MESSED UP, a 2009 ALA Quick-Pick for Reluctant Readers and a VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates) Top of the Top Shelf Fiction for Janet Nichols Lynch is the author of seventeen books. Her most recent novel, MORE TO LIFE, about the humor and challenges of aging, was published Fall 2025 by Legacy Book Press. Her children's Black historical novel, ELLEN OF ALLENSWORTH is about a girl growing up in Allensworth, the only town in California owned and governed by Blacks, which is now a California Historic State Park. Janet's debut novel, CHEST PAINS, was published in 2009. Her short fiction has appeared in THE NEW YORKER, SEVENTEEN, HIGHWAY99, A LITERARY JOURNEY THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY, and elsewhere. Her young adult novels include MESSED UP, a 2009 ALA Quick-Pick for Reluctant Readers and a VOYA (Voices of Youth Advocates) Top of the Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers; RACING CALIFORNIA, a 2012 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book; MY BEAUTIFUL HIPPIE; COMMIE PINKO; and WHEEL OF FIRE. Janet has also written nonfiction for young readers including CLARA SCHUMANN, PIANIST AND COMPOSER; FLORENCE PRICE, AMERICAN COMPOSER; ELIZABETH WARREN AND IT TAKES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT; AMERICAN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN COMPOSERS; and WOMEN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN COMPOSERS;

Janet was born in Sacramento, California, and graduated with a BA in Music from California State University, a Master of Music Degree in Piano from Arizona State University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Fresno State University. She has taught music and English at the community college, high school, and middle school levels, and private piano to all ages.

Janet lives in Visalia, California, with her husband composer Timothy Lynch, and they have two grown children, three grandchildren, and three cats. Janet has completed twenty marathons and numerous other races and triathlons. As an avid cyclist, her longest ride was from Phoenix, AZ to Washington, D.C., and she is nearing the completion of her goal of cycling in all fifty states. Find Janet on Facebook at facebook.com/jnicholslynch and Instagram at janet_nichols_lynch. Her website is JanetNicholsLynch.com.

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Janet Nichols Lynch’s books

Average rating: 3.98 · 935 ratings · 156 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Messed Up 4.16 avg rating — 596 ratings — published 2009 — 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
	My Beautiful Hippie 3.71 avg rating — 129 ratings — published 2013 — 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
	Addicted to Her 3.37 avg rating — 111 ratings — published 2010 — 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
	Racing California 3.88 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2012	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
	Peace Is a Four-Letter Word 3.35 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2005 — 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
	Chest Pains: A Novel 3.83 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2009 — 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
	Wheel of Fire really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2016 — 5 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
	Commie Pinko 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — 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
	Clara Schumann, Pianist and Composer 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings — 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
	More to Life 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 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

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Janet is Currently Reading

Janet Lynch is currently reading

The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories

by Philip Matyszak

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Aug 05, 2026 07:45AM

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Janet Lynch finished reading The Fact Checker: A Novel by Austin Kelley (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
Sep 04, 2026 05:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fact Checker by Austin Kelley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fact Checker by Austin Kelley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch joined the group Book Thoughts
Aug 10, 2026 06:42AM · like
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing Patty Reed's Doll: The Story of the Donner Party by Rachel K. Laurgaard	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 novel came out when I was a child, growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. After visiting Donner Memorial State Park this summer to introduce my five-and-six-year-old grandkids to the concept of pioneering in covered wagons, I decided to reread the n ...more
Aug 10, 2026 06:11AM · 3 likes · like · see review
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Aug 07, 2026 09:39AM
Janet Lynch is currently reading The Fact Checker: A Novel by Austin Kelley (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 05, 2026 07:46AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Fact Checker by Austin Kelley. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Fact Checker by Austin Kelley <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch is currently reading The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories by Philip Matyszak	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 05, 2026 07:45AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Greek and Roman Myths by Philip Matyszak. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Greek and Roman Myths by Philip Matyszak <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch is currently reading Patty Reed's Doll: The Story of the Donner Party by Rachel K. Laurgaard	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 05, 2026 07:45AM · like
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it Accidental Friends by Susan Josephs	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 friendship referred to in the title of Susan Josephs’ novel ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS is between 37-year-old Nina and 93-year-old Rose. The accident which is the catalyst of their relationship is Rose’s husband Morey running down Nina’s fiancée Jeff in ...more
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More of Janet's books…

Quotes by Janet Nichols Lynch (?)

“You just keep living until you die. Makes sense?”
― Janet Nichols Lynch, More to Life

tags: senior-citizens

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Game Night: Katharine- Gold	175	25	Dec 17, 2020 09:20PM

Janet’s Quotes

“During our lives...we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope.”
― Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

tags: go, lance-welcome-to-visalia

28 likes

“Standing amid the tan, excited post-Christmas crowd at the Southwest Florida Regional Airport, Rabbit Angstrom has a funny sudden feeling that what he has come to meet, what's floating in unseen about to land, is not his son Nelson and daughter-in-law Pru and their two children but something more ominous and intimately his: his own death, shaped vaguely like an airplane.”
― John Updike, Rabbit at Rest

7 likes

“excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. you are what you repeatedly do”
― Shaquille O'Neal

19 likes

“You just keep living until you die. Makes sense?”
― Janet Nichols Lynch, More to Life

tags: senior-citizens

0 likes