Dee Benson has loved books since childhood. Exploring Narnia, adventuring with the Famous Five, and indulging in all things girly with the Sweet Valley Twins sparked her love for reading. She finds it surreal that she now gets to create her own worlds and characters in books of her own. At university, she studied Molecular Biology with Genetics and only survived it by writing fiction during lectures. When she isn't writing, Dee enjoys long walks, good food, and music that makes her wish she could sing. She lives in Liverpool with her husband and two daughters.
I absolutely adored Glow Up, Lara Bloom! It was hilarious, heartwarming and real. If you enjoyed Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, you'll love this book too. Dee's writing is so immersive; it was as if I was experiencing life, including all the embarrassing bits, with Lara. Being a teen can be hard, but Dee has shown that you just need the right community around you to get by. I can't wait to see what she writes next! * Rachel Faturoti, author of Sade and Her Shadow Beasts * Lara Bloom is the absolute coolest! A queen on and off the pitch! A funny, honest and fierce book about friendship, facing bullies head on and why other people's opinions don't matter as much as you think they do. Long live the SQuIDGE squad! * Kate Weston, author of Diary of a Confused Feminist * Dee Benson is an exciting, new and authentic voice and from the moment I started reading, I was transported into the joyful highs, bittersweet lows and crazy fun antics of Lara Bloom's life. This book is a celebration and a delightful insight into adolescence, relatable to readers everywhere. I loved it. * J. P. Rose, author of The Haunting of Tyrese Walker * This book is a hug from friends, a roar against bullies, and a back-of-the-net super goal for being the best version of who you want to be - for you, and no one else. Lara is a brilliant, funny, modern teen heroine and I really, really want to be part of the SQuIDGE Squad now. * Holly Race, author of A Midnight Dark and Golden *