Picture a Midwestern storyteller who spins heartfelt tales of teenage dreams, heartbreak, and hope—meet Emery Lord! This bestselling young adult fiction author has captured readers’ hearts with her emotionally rich novels like When We Collided and Open Road Summer. With a knack for crafting authentic characters and poignant stories, Lord’s work resonates with anyone who’s ever navigated the messy, beautiful chaos of adolescence.
Born in Baltimore and raised across cities like Virginia Beach and Chicago, Lord’s journey to becoming a YA sensation is as vibrant as her books. Now a Cincinnati resident, she writes stories that feel like a warm hug, blending humor, romance, and real-life struggles.
The Making of Emery Lord
Emery Lord’s love for writing sparked young, penning sarcastic family newsletters that once jokingly claimed her brother won a Nobel Prize at 10! Though she always wrote, fiction felt like a distant dream. After college, she dabbled in personal essays, but at 22, a tough year pushed her toward escapism through fiction. What started as an adult novel morphed into her YA hit The Start of Me and You, proving her knack for capturing teenage life. Her persistence through rejections and life’s chaos paved the way for a breakout in 2014 with Open Road Summer.
Emery Lord’s Unforgettable Stories
Lord’s novels are a love letter to flawed, trying teens and the families and friends who shape them. Open Road Summer (2014) follows Reagan, a girl healing from heartbreak on a country music tour, blending friendship and romance with small-town charm. The Start of Me and You (2015) dives into Paige’s journey through grief and new love, earning praise as a Huffington Post Top YA Book. When We Collided (2016), a Schneider Family Book Award winner, tackles mental health and romance through Vivi and Jonah’s tender story. Her latest, All That’s Left to Say (2023), a USA Today bestseller, explores loss and resilience, cementing Lord’s gift for emotional depth.
Her style shines with witty banter, vivid settings, and themes of healing, identity, and connection. Whether it’s a road trip or a quiet suburb, Lord’s worlds feel lived-in, her characters like friends you’d text at 2 a.m. She draws from personal experiences, like grief and Midwestern life, to create stories that balance light and heavy with grace.
Why Emery Lord Matters
Emery Lord’s impact on young adult fiction lies in her fearless exploration of tough topics—grief, mental health, and self-discovery—while keeping hope at the core. Her books, translated globally and featured on YALSA lists, offer teens a mirror for their struggles and a window into empathy. Readers cherish her authentic voice, with quotes like “My dark days made me strong” from When We Collided inspiring resilience. Lord’s work reminds us that even in chaos, there’s beauty in trying.
About Emery Lord
- Born in Baltimore, now lives in Cincinnati.
- Key works: Open Road Summer, When We Collided, All That’s Left to Say.
- Awards: 2017 Schneider Family Book Award for When We Collided.
- Fun fact: She loves karaoke and coffee-fueled shopping sprees!
Ready to fall in love with Emery Lord’s heartfelt YA world? Grab When We Collided and dive into her soulful storytelling today!