What I’m looking for
I am building a list of upmarket commercial fiction with memorable characters, strong voices, eye-catching concepts and propulsive storytelling, as well as accessible non-fiction books that helps readers better their every day.
In fiction
Books on families, particularly stories across multiple generations, about interesting family and interpersonal relationships, and with alternating perspectives, such as PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson, MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid, HELLO BEAUTIFUL by Ann Napolitano and THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD by Claire Lombardo. Modern love stories with an edge, such as ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld, PRETENDING by Holly Bourne, GOOD MATERAL by Dolly Alderton and THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo. Contemporary stories incorporating speculative elements, such time loops, anniversaries, or parallel perspectives (i.e. that Sliding Doors quality), such as MAYBE NEXT TIME by Cesca Major, WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME by Gillian McAllister, IN FIVE YEARS by Rebecca Serle, OONA OUT OF ORDER by Margarita Montimore, and THE NAMES by Florence Knapp. I adore magical realism that is grounded in a sense of reality. Books on adult and female friendships, such as OLIVE by Emma Gannon, EXPECTATION by Anna Hope, FRIENDS AND STRANGERS by J. Courtney Sullivan, and HOW COULD SHE by Lauren Mechling. Mysteries that are humorous in tone and dark comedies such as ALL THE MOTHERS HATE ME by Sarah Harmon. I would love to work on novels that feature protagonists with interesting jobs and/or take place in a unique community or setting. I am also on the hunt for domestic thrillers that are told through a new lens and subvert the genre.
In nonfiction
Books on food-adjacent health, popular science, and wellness subjects, such as GLUCOSE REVOLUTION by Jessie Inchauspé and ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear. Submission Guidelines Submissions should be emailed to jennifer.simpson@ Submissions should be emailed to je ************** @ * Please send me a query letter, synopsis and the first 10,000 words of your manuscript to je ************** @ *. Vital Info Website Agent
Fiction
Bookclub, Commercial, Contemporary, Domestic Thriller, Family Saga, Humor, Romance, Romcom, Thriller, Women’s Fiction
Non-Fiction
Cookbooks, Health, Relationships and family, Wellness
Favorite sub-genres
Book Club, Commercial Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Suspense, Domestic Suspense/Thriller, High Concept, Magic Realism, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Thriller, Speculative, Upmarket Women's Fiction, contemporary women's fiction I’d like the next… ONE DAY by David Nicholls My favorites include… SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN by Garth Stein THE VERSION OF US by Laura Barnett I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK by Nora Ephron OLIVE by Emma Gannon ELIGIBLE by Curtis Sittenfeld THE DUTCH HOUSE by Ann Patchett EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT LOVE by Dolly Alderton TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid