Picture an American storyteller who turned the gritty world of housecleaning into a canvas for dark humor and raw emotion—meet Jen Beagin! With her sharp wit and unflinching take on life’s messiest moments, Beagin has carved a unique niche in contemporary fiction. Her novels, like Pretend I’m Dead and Big Swiss, blend humor with heartache, earning her a 2017 Whiting Award and a loyal following.
Born in 1971, Beagin’s journey from a housecleaner to a celebrated novelist is as compelling as her characters. Her work, often centered on complex women like her protagonist Mona, explores identity, addiction, and self-discovery with a voice that’s both fearless and funny. Let’s dive into the world of Jen Beagin!
The Making of Jen Beagin
Jen Beagin grew up in Torrance, California, before moving to Lowell, Massachusetts, in her youth. Life wasn’t always easy, and Beagin took a winding path to writing. She worked as a housecleaner for years, a job that inspired the unforgettable Mona, the protagonist of her first two novels. In her mid-30s, Beagin returned to education, earning a BA from the University of Massachusetts Boston and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Irvine. This late start didn’t hold her back—her real-world experiences fueled her distinctive voice.
Beagin’s time as a housecleaner gave her a front-row seat to human quirks and struggles, which she channels into her fiction. Her stories, published in journals like Juked and Faultline, caught early attention, but it was her debut novel that put her on the map.
Jen Beagin’s Unforgettable Stories
Beagin’s debut, Pretend I’m Dead (2015), introduces Mona, a twentysomething housecleaner navigating heartbreak and self-discovery. The novel’s blend of dark humor and raw emotion earned a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and a spot on their Best Fiction of 2018 list. Shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, it’s a scathingly funny tale of Mona’s quest for belonging, praised by Entertainment Weekly for Beagin’s fresh voice.
The follow-up, Vacuum in the Dark (2019), continues Mona’s journey in Taos, New Mexico, diving deeper into her troubled past and complicated relationships. Shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic fiction, it showcases Beagin’s knack for balancing humor with heartache. Her third novel, Big Swiss (2023), shifts to Greta, a transcriber in Hudson, New York, whose obsession with a therapy client sparks a chaotic romance. Critics lauded its zany, precise prose and sharp take on human weirdness.
Beagin’s style is a cocktail of wit, grit, and surrealism, often compared to Sorrow and Bliss or Schitt’s Creek. Her characters—flawed, funny, and fiercely human—tackle heavy themes like mental illness and trauma with a light touch, making her work both accessible and profound.
Why Jen Beagin Matters
Jen Beagin’s impact lies in her ability to make the ordinary extraordinary. Her novels shine a spotlight on women who are messy, complex, and unapologetic, challenging stereotypes in contemporary fiction. The 2017 Whiting Award recognized her as a bold new voice, and her work resonates with readers who crave stories that are equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Beagin’s influence is growing, inspiring writers to embrace authenticity and humor in tackling life’s darker corners.
Her novels also reflect a uniquely American experience, from the sun-soaked streets of California to the quirky charm of Hudson, New York. By turning everyday struggles into art, Beagin reminds us that even the messiest lives can be beautiful.
- Born: 1971
- Key Works: Pretend I’m Dead, Vacuum in the Dark, Big Swiss
- Awards: 2017 Whiting Award in Fiction
Snag Pretend I’m Dead or Big Swiss and dive into Jen Beagin’s gritty, hilarious world—you won’t be able to put them down!