Lily King

New York Times Bestselling Author

Lily King is celebrated for her keen insight and emotional depth. Her acclaimed novel Writers & Lovers followed a thirty-one-year-old writer navigating grief, love, and creative ambition, and her breakout hit, Euphoria, set in 1930s Papua New Guinea and inspired by anthropologist Margaret Mead, became international sensations. Both titles landed on numerous “Best of” lists, cementing King as a leading voice in contemporary fiction. She has also penned The Pleasing Hour, Five Tuesdays in Winter, The English Teacher, and Father of the Rain.

King’s latest novel, Heart the Lover, showcases the wit and sensitivity that fans and critics have come to adore. Featuring a delightful connective thread to Writers & Lovers, Heart the Lover is a deeply moving exploration of literature, forgiveness, and the transformative bonds that shape our lives. Wise and unforgettable, it was named one of the Best Books of 2025 by the New York Times, NPR, and the Washington Post, among others. It was also longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and the PEN/Faulkner Award.

King grew up in Massachusetts and earned her BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MA in Creative Writing from Syracuse University. She has taught English and creative writing at universities and high schools across the U.S. and abroad. A recipient of a MacDowell Fellowship and the Whiting Writer’s Award, King now resides in Portland, Maine, with her husband and two daughters.