Bio (short)
Jessica Pennington is the author of contemporary romance novels for young adults (and the young at heart), including Meet Me At Midnight, When Summer Ends, and Love Songs & Other Lies.
Bio (long)
Jessica Pennington is the author of contemporary romance novels for young adults (and the young at heart), including Meet Me At Midnight, When Summer Ends, and Love Songs & Other Lies. A self-proclaimed “professional romantic,” she has spent the last fifteen years immersed in love–first as a wedding planner and now a novelist. Jessica lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novels, with her husband and son.
Find Jessica on twitter at @jessnpennington and IG @jessicapennington.
Author Photos
Download high-res author photo #1 (photo credit: Sheena Pearce)
Download high-res author photo #2 (photo credit: Sheena Pearce)
Book Covers
BOOK DETAILS:
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Hardcover: 336 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250187664
ISBN-13: 9781250187666
World Rights: Tor Teen/Macmillan
TV/Film Rights: Michelle Wolfson at www.wolfsonliterary.com
SUMMARY (long):
They have a love-hate relationship with summer.
Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.
But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.
Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.
SUMMARY (short):
Feuding summer neighbors fall for each other in this charming YA romantic comedy for fans of Morgan Matson.
Every summer it’s the same—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other.
But now, the summer after their senior year, their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects summer to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.
REVIEWS:
“[Meet Me at Midnight] captures the joy of summer, the love for lake life, and the quaintness of vacation towns after the tourists go home. Simply put, this book is a delight to read. The pranks are silly fun, the tingle of unexpected love is sweet, and the hesitation to go all-in is splendidly real. Pull up a beach chair; Sidney and Asher are your perfect summer-reading companions.”―Booklist
“Sweet and real, and fans of Sarah Dessen or Meg Cabot will find themselves hoping these pranksters find true love. With a light romance, humor, and summers full of swimming, parties, and bonfires, this is a perfect beach read.”—School Library Journal
“Pennington crafts two believable teens ensnared in a hate-to-love romance that is addictingly enjoyable. The comedic matchup between Sidney, a meticulous overthinker, and the charming yet snarky Asher will have readers rooting for the duo. A steamy, prank-filled summer romance that readers will devour.”—Kirkus Reviews
“By the last page of the book — which I finished on my couch in isolation — I had laughed and cried and laughed again. I highly recommend Meet Me at Midnight to anyone in the need of a fabulous emotional journey — and a bonus summer at the lake.” –NPR
BLURBS:
“Does Jessica Pennington have a PhD in chemistry? Because the sparks were FLYING! Meet Me at Midnight is full of wit and romance, with a plot that kept me guessing and characters that I couldn’t help but root for.” ―Lauren Morrill, author of Meant to Be
“A swoony, snarky, perfect romance, set during the summer before college when anything (even falling for your sworn enemy…) is possible. A must-read for YA romance fans!” ―Kerry Winfrey, author of Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It and Waiting for Tom Hanks
“Meet Me at Midnight is the young adult answer to The Hating Game, set at a picturesque Michigan lake house. Readers will fall for Asher and Sidney as they figure out if they’re better as sworn enemies, friends, or much more. A fantastic addition to any romance lover’s shelf!” ―Christina June, author of It Started with Goodbye and No Place Like Here
SAMPLE:
PRESS:
NerdDaily Author Interview (April 7, 2020)
BOOK DETAILS:
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Hardcover: 240 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250187345 (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9781250187345 (Hardcover)
World Rights: Tor Teen/Macmillan
SUMMARY:
Aiden Emerson is an all-star pitcher and the all-around golden boy of Riverton. Or at least he was, before he quit the team the last day of junior year without any explanation. How could he tell people he’s losing his vision at seventeen?
Straight-laced Olivia thought she had life all figured out. But when her dream internship falls apart, her estranged mother comes back into her life, and her long-time boyfriend ghosts her right before summer break, she’s starting to think fate has a weird sense of humor.
Each struggling to find a new direction, Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery from the author of Love Songs & Other Lies.
REVIEWS:
SAMPLE:
A preview of the first chapter is available from Macmillan here
PRESS:
BOOK DETAILS:
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Hardcover: 282 pages
ISBN-10: 0765392275
ISBN-13: 9780765392275
World Rights: Tor Teen/Macmillan
Foreign Translation: Poland (Wydawnictwo Jaguar)
SUMMARY:
It’s summer romance and second chances, the songs that stay in your head, and the boy you’ll never forget.
Two years after rock-song-worthy heartbreak, Virginia Miller is looking forward to a fun, carefree summer. Her friends just landed a spot on a battling bands reality show, and Vee is joining them for her dream internship on tour. Three months with future rockstars seems like an epic summer plan. Until she learns she’ll also be sharing the bus with Cam. Her first love, and her first heartbreak. Now Vee has more than just cameras to dodge, and Cam’s determination to win her forgiveness is causing TMZ-worthy problems for both of them. With cameras rolling, she’ll have to decide if her favorite breakup anthem deserves a new ending. And if she’s brave enough to expose her own secrets to keep Cam’s under wraps.
Breaking Vee’s heart was never Cam’s plan. All he wanted senior year was a new life, in a new town, uninterrupted by the tragedy he left behind. Then Vee swept him into a whirlwind of friendship, musical adventure, and a love he didn’t expect or want. Now, he has a second chance to make it right. But things get complicated when ratings-crazy producers, cameramen, and fans are involved. Can he rewrite their love song with the whole world watching?
BLURBS:
“Reading Cam & Vee’s past and present romance reminds me of This is Us! This is going on my keeper shelf.”―Simone Elkeles, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author
“Fun and full of heart, with a hero who stole my heart!”―Katie McGarry, author of Long Way Home and Pushing the Limits
“Boys in bands, second chance romance, and pitch-perfect chemistry. Love Songs & Other Lies hits all the right notes!”―Gina Ciocca, author of Last Year’s Mistake
“Love Songs & Other Lies is a music-infused romance about a pair of perfectly imperfect teenagers who will have readers rooting for their happily ever after. Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, contemporary young adult fans won’t be able to put this debut down!”―Katy Upperman, author of Kissing Max Holden
REVIEWS:
“A captivating read and a great pick for fans of Morgan Matson and Emery Lord!”―RT Book Reviews
“Filled with lyrics, love, and late nights, Pennington’s debut novel will appeal to romance fans of Sarah Dessen and Susane Colasanti.”―School Library Journal
“Set on beaches, stages, and tour buses, Pennington’s debut is a light road-tripping romance about redemption and the love of music.”―Publishers Weekly
“Vee and Cam both make mistakes, but are ultimately good characters worth rooting for. Easy to read and engaging, the music and reality show aspects of the story are fun and add to the romance. Pennington’s debut novel is sure to please readers looking for a fun romance story.” ― Voya, Jennifer McIntosh.
SAMPLE:
A preview of the first chapter is available from Macmillan here