363 ratings | 44 reviews | avg rating:4.51

more photos (1)

Jess’s Year In Books

Jess’s 2024 Year in Books

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

Go to Jess’s 2024 Year in Books

Jess Riley’s Followers (106)

Jess’s Bookshelves

to-read (255)
currently-reading (14)
read (393)
jess-riley-author-shelf (4)

Jess’s Friends (490)

Tony Fahkry

924 books | 1,283 friends

Patti

645 books | 27 friends

Tina

467 books | 93 friends

Jennifer

836 books | 73 friends

Liz Fenton

783 books | 833 friends

Darren

45 books | 2,607 friends

Angie Miale

2,191 books | 677 friends

Bobbie

312 books | 1,902 friends

More friends…

Jess Riley

Goodreads Author

Born

in Milwaukee, WI, The United States

Website

http://www.jessriley.com

Twitter

jessrileywrites

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Fiction, Humor and Comedy

Member Since

February 2008

edit data

Wisconsin native Jess Riley spent much of her childhood being punished for lying and/or passing notes during class, both of which qualified her for a possible future as a novelist. She won her first short story contest in high school for a tale told through the point of view of a seven-year-old black boy living in Cabrini Green because as a middle-class white teenager, she knew a lot about that kind of life.

Jess has been a waitress, a blue cheese packager, and a school grant writer. She worked at a toy store during the Tickle Me Elmo craze and lived to tell about it. She's also worked at a medium-security men's prison, which was much less stressful. Jess graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 1998 with degrees in English and History. She shares a dr ...more

162 posts
Jess Riley's Blog

I Once Was Lost ...

Last weekend my college roommates and I rented a house in Door County—I hadn’t seen two of them in over two years, and it was such a lovely reunion. I haven’t laughed that hard in months…maybe years. I love these amazing women, and I’m so grateful we met (nearly 30 years ago!)

We're down one due to Covid--boo!
We parted on Sunday, and the weather was mild enough that I decided to take a hike at Read more of this blog post »

View more on Jess Riley's website »

1 like · Like • 1 comment • flag

Published on April 29, 2022 10:37

View all 162 posts »

Combine Editions
Jess Riley’s books

Average rating: 3.66 · 2,265 ratings · 407 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Driving Sideways 3.64 avg rating — 1,473 ratings — published 2008 — 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
	All the Lonely People 3.70 avg rating — 479 ratings — published 2012 — 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
	Mandatory Release 3.77 avg rating — 236 ratings — published 2013 — 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
	Closer Than They Appear 3.75 avg rating — 60 ratings — published 2013	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
	How to Make Friends: A Step-By-Step Guide to Meeting People and Building Relationships 2.75 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
	The Dsyphagia Cookbook Diet:: 40+ Friendly Delicious Recipes for soft food & Puree For Management, tips and tricks with Treatment for All Levels 1 2 3 4 5 liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating	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 Low Carb Diet Cookbook & Weight Loss Plan:: A Complete Guide To Start Losing weight With 30+ Essential Recipes 0.00 avg rating — 0 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
	The Dysphagia Cookbook Diet:: 40+ Friendly Delicious Recipes for soft food & Puree For Management and Treatment of Dysphagia 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	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
	Complete Keto For Foodies:: Unique Fat-Burning Foods To Keep You In Ketosis - Good Foods to Eat On A No Carb Diet Along For Healthy Living And Weight Loss 0.00 avg rating — 0 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
	Renal Dialysis Diet Breakdown:: Kidney Friendly Recipes That Are Low Sodium, Potassium and Phosphorus foods to Avoid Dialysis and Reduce Your Kidneys’ Workload 0.00 avg rating — 0 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 books by Jess Riley…

Jess is Currently Reading

Jess Riley is currently reading

A Cosmology of Monsters

by Shaun Hamill (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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 24, 2025 09:12PM

Jess Riley is currently reading

The Book Eaters

by Sunyi Dean (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in January 2025

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 19, 2025 07:55AM

Jess Riley is currently reading

Martyr!

by Kaveh Akbar

bookshelves: currently-reading

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 07, 2025 08:31PM

rss
Jess’s Recent Updates

Jess Riley entered a giveaway In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka (Goodreads Author) 20 copies available, ends on October 23, 2025 Enter to win »
Oct 08, 2025 07:36AM · like · see giveaway
Jess Riley wants to read The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Science Fiction	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
Oct 06, 2025 07:19PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley entered a giveaway The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 75 copies available, ends on October 21, 2025 Enter to win »
Oct 02, 2025 06:32AM · like · see giveaway
Jess Riley has read Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman (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 29, 2025 02:54PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley wants to read A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck (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 29, 2025 07:21AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley is currently reading A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill (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 24, 2025 09:12PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Cosmology of Monsters by Shaun Hamill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley finished reading Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson (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 24, 2025 09:10PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley rated a book really liked it The Taken Ones (Steinbeck and Reed, #1) 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
Sep 19, 2025 07:55AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Riley rated a book it was amazing American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild	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 19, 2025 07:55AM · like
Jess Riley rated a book really liked it The Last Mrs. Parrish (Mrs. Parrish, #1) by Liv Constantine (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 19, 2025 07:55AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Jess's books…

Quotes by Jess Riley (?)

“It’s only physical, she reminded herself. Just lust. Some kind of twisted, mutual escape valve. And those physical things, with no love or respect or loyalty to bind and preserve them, had a short shelf life. They were limited-time offers. Three months, tops.”
― Jess Riley, Mandatory Release

1 likes

“I want to move to the mountains. I want to live in a little cabin next to a towering, tenacious mountain fourteen thousand feet above sea level and eat a bowl of raisin bran every morning in its shadow.”
― Jess Riley, Driving Sideways

tags: inspirational, travel

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Challenge: 50 Books: Vivian's fifty in twenty ten - done!	31	82	Oct 12, 2010 11:29PM
Crazy Challenge C...: Celebrating the Barcode Challenge	201	137	Sep 18, 2013 06:29AM
Crazy Challenge C...: Spring 2013 Scavenger Challenge - Spring Cleaning	304	151	Oct 16, 2013 11:16PM
Crazy Challenge C...: 2013 Countdown	415	324	Jan 14, 2014 06:52PM
Crazy Challenge C...: The Language of Flowers Challenge	312	170	Mar 31, 2014 08:27PM

More…

Jess’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-6) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 6: by Jeannie

Nov 10, 2008 07:26PM

Hi Jess and thanks so much for the add! I love your website, btw. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Smiles,
Jeannie

reply | flag

message 5: by Roger

Oct 30, 2008 10:38AM

Hi Jess,
No jokes about what made Milwaukie famous,
glad to have your friendship on Goodreads.
ROGER

reply | flag

message 4: by Kate

Sep 15, 2008 04:37PM

Thanks for connecting as readerly friends. I'd like to invite you to read the first chapter of my new novel:

http://forthemayqueen.blogspot.com/

Sincerely,
Kate (PS: I added your book to my "to read" list!)

reply | flag

message 3: by Kate

Sep 11, 2008 12:06PM