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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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Average rating: 3.97 · 921 ratings · 154 reviews · 21 distinct works

	Messed Up 4.16 avg rating — 591 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 — 127 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 3.36 avg rating — 110 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 3.27 avg rating — 22 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
	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
	Wheel of Fire 3.83 avg rating — 6 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
	Clara Schumann, Pianist and Composer 4.50 avg rating — 4 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
	Florence Price: American Composer 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 Lynch is currently reading

All Fours

by Miranda July (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 23, 2026 03:13PM

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Janet Lynch is currently reading All Fours by Miranda July (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
Mar 23, 2026 03:13PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All Fours by Miranda July. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All Fours by Miranda July <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it An Old Fashioned Murder: A Northport College Mystery by Linda S Ghent	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 enjoyed this cozy murder mystery set in a fictional small university in North Carolina. As an academic, I found the academic setting and events amusing. The list of four likely suspects kept me guessing, and there're a couple of budding romances ad ...more
Mar 23, 2026 03:05PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of An Old Fashioned Murder by Linda S Ghent. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — An Old Fashioned Murder by Linda S Ghent <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book liked it Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll	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
Although I'm very familiar with this material, it occurred to me that I never read the original text. I never liked the story much. As a child, I was disturbed that live animals are used in a croquet game as mallet and ball. Wouldn't that hurt them? ...more
Mar 23, 2026 02:51PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey (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
Mar 23, 2026 02:49PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey (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
Mar 23, 2026 02:48PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing Congratulations, by the Way: Some Thoughts on Kindness by George Saunders	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
Spend a very pleasant, worthwhile half-hour to read Saunder's plea for kindness. ...more
Feb 12, 2026 05:21PM · 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 Congratulations, by the Way by George Saunders. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Congratulations, by the Way by George Saunders <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing Vigil by George Saunders	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
Feb 12, 2026 05:20PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Vigil by George Saunders. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Vigil by George Saunders <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing Tell Me Everything (Amgash, #5) by Elizabeth Strout (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
Feb 12, 2026 05:17PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine	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
Feb 12, 2026 05:16PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood (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
Feb 12, 2026 05:15PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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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

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“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

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message 1: by Wishbone

Feb 16, 2009 03:59PM

I'm sorry I tore the cover off of "Pet Semetary" with my baby dog teeth. I feel really bad.

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