720 ratings | 411 reviews | avg rating:4.03

Janet’s Year In Books

Janet’s 2024 Year in Books

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

Go to Janet’s 2024 Year in Books

Janet Nichols Lynch’s Followers (37)

Janet’s Bookshelves

to-read (1)
currently-reading (0)
read (744)
cults (8)
cycling (10)
did-not-finish (2)
fiction (395)
graphic-nonfiction (5)
graphic-novels (1)
kids-lit (44)
See all bookshelves »

Janet’s Friends (251)

Iva-Marie Palmer

2,579 books | 362 friends

Leigh Collazo

1,336 books | 574 friends

Jess (The Cozy Reader) Kennedy

2,556 books | 1,424 friends

Liza Wiemer

1,785 books | 1,924 friends

Andrew

228 books | 304 friends

Doubleday Books

654 books | 5,108 friends

Candlewick Press

4,786 books | 3,341 friends

Andye.Reads

1,387 books | 4,605 friends

More friends…

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

edit data

Janet Nichols Lynch is the author of seventeen books. Her most recent book is the children's Black historical novel, ELLEN OF ALLENSWORTH, 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. Her debut novel, CHEST PAINS, was published in 2009 and her novel MORE TO LIFE, about the humor and challenges of growing old, is forthcoming from Legacy Book Press, fall 2025. 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 Janet Nichols Lynch is the author of seventeen books. Her most recent book is the children's Black historical novel, ELLEN OF ALLENSWORTH, 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. Her debut novel, CHEST PAINS, was published in 2009 and her novel MORE TO LIFE, about the humor and challenges of growing old, is forthcoming from Legacy Book Press, fall 2025. 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 about music including AMERICAN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN COMPOSERS; WOMEN MUSIC MAKERS: AN INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN COMPOSERS; CLARA SCHUMANN, PIANIST AND COMPOSER; and FLORENCE PRICE, AMERICAN COMPOSER.

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.

...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Janet Nichols Lynch questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Janet Nichols Lynch’s books

Average rating: 3.97 · 915 ratings · 153 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Messed Up 4.15 avg rating — 588 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 3.70 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 4.33 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
	Where Words Leave Off Music Begins: stories it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2004 — 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

More books by Janet Nichols Lynch…

rss
Janet’s Recent Updates

Janet Lynch rated a book liked it Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion	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'm a Didion fan, but this was just a bunch of her old magazine articles thrown together to make a book, and I didn't get much out of them. ...more
Sep 20, 2025 05:23PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (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
This is pretty lightweight Tyler, but still entertaining, wise, heartfelt, and humorous. Some of my favorite Anne Tylers are THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, SAINT MAYBE, DIGGING TO AMERICA, A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD, and VINEGAR GIRL. She is close to my heart b ...more
Sep 20, 2025 05:22PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Three Days in June by Anne Tyler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (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
This is pretty lightweight Tyler, but still entertaining, wise, heartfelt, and humorous. Some of my favorite Anne Tylers are THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, SAINT MAYBE, DIGGING TO AMERICA, A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD, and VINEGAR GIRL. She is close to my heart b ...more
Sep 20, 2025 05:13PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Three Days in June by Anne Tyler <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt	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 highly repetitive, it does offer some wise suggestions for childrearing in this social-media, helicopter-parenting, crazed world.
Sep 20, 2025 05:12PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt	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 highly repetitive, it does offer some wise suggestions for childrearing in this social-media, helicopter-parenting, crazed world.
Sep 20, 2025 05:09PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing 44 Years At The Pink Palace by Emilio Trejo	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
For a number of years, whenever I walk into my local gym, Emilio Trejo greets me by name with a smile and asks about my husband Tim. One recent morning, he drew me aside and said, “I know you write books. I wrote a book too.” 44 Years at the Pink Pa ...more
Sep 20, 2025 05:07PM · like · see review
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir by Molly Jong-Fast	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 20, 2025 05:04PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1) by Richard Osman	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 thought this was going pure fluff, another cozy mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised by its wisdom, humor, and insight of growing old. As usual, the book is better than the movie.
Sep 20, 2025 05:04PM · like · see review
Janet Lynch rated a book it was amazing The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1) by Richard Osman	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 thought this was going pure fluff, another cozy mystery, but I was pleasantly surprised by its wisdom, humor, and insight of growing old. As usual, the book is better than the movie.
Sep 20, 2025 05:01PM · like · see review
Janet Lynch rated a book really liked it Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen (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 10, 2025 02:37PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Janet's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
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

18 likes