Born in a mountain cabin to a punk-rocker mother, Tess Sharpe grew up in rural California. She lives deep in the backwoods with a pack of dogs and a growing colony of formerly feral cats. She is an author and anthology editor, and has written several award-winning and critically acclaimed books for children, teens and adults.
A FORBES, BUZZFEED, BOOK RIOT AND KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY AND CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A BUSTLE, REFINERY29, COSMOPOLITAN, BUZZFEED AND MARIE CLAIRE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2021 A BEST BOOK OF JANUARY 2021 ON POPSUGAR, E! ONLINE, BOOK RIOT, BITCH MEDIA, LGBTQREADS, AND CULTURESS A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A COSMOPOLITAN 100 BEST YA BOOKS EVERYONE SHOULD READ, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE AN ALA RISE: FEMINIST BOOK PROJECT SELECTION A captivating, explosive, and satisfyingly queer thriller. -Kirkus, starred review An arrestingly incisive narrative . . . fiercely captivating and impressively characterized, this tightly plotted thriller is engrossing from start to finish. --Booklist, starred review Not since Veronica Mars have hardscrabble swagger, enormous grief and teenage noir been combined into such a satisfying piece of storytelling. The Girls I've Been is a heart-wrenching, perfectly paced, cinematic thriller . . . a romance, a tragedy and a story about reclaiming agency and power. It is a triumph. -Bookpage, starred review This action-packed story sizzles with suspense . . . In this thriller, characters prove that they can rely on their strength, friendship, and desire to be the confident and caring people they know themselves to be. -School Library Journal Sharpe (Barbed Wire Heart) focuses as much on [Nora's] trauma-and the systems of power that enable and excuse abuse-as on mystery and heart-pounding action . . . the small, complex cast of characters and emotional core make this a poignant thriller. --Publishers Weekly The tension is absolutely nailbiting. -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A non-stop thrill ride... This book is so INTENSE. It jumps back and forth from the robbery in progress to Nora's earlier life with her mother, a con woman married to a dangerous man. It's so well done, extremely cinematic. -Book Riot If you're looking for a queer YA contemporary book with complex characters, loads of action to keep you reading WAY past your bedtime - and a story so well written I might have shed a tear over it - you need to read The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe. It will keep you captivated until the last page. -Culturess