Picture a storyteller who whisks readers away to sun-drenched Italy and witchy Salem with tales of love and self-discovery—meet Jenna Evans Welch! This New York Times bestselling author has captured young adult hearts with her enchanting novels, blending wanderlust, romance, and coming-of-age magic. From her breakout hit Love & Gelato to the poignant Spells for Lost Things, Welch’s stories invite teens to explore the world and find themselves.
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Welch was an insatiable reader who dreamed of crafting the adventurous teen fiction she craved as a young library-goer. Her teenage years in Florence, Italy, sparked a lifelong love for travel and storytelling, setting the stage for her vibrant career.
The Making of Jenna Evans Welch
Jenna Evans Welch’s journey to authorship began in a small Utah library, where a lackluster young adult section left her yearning for more. At 11, she vowed to write the kind of books she wanted to read—stories brimming with adventure, romance, and heart. Her two years in Florence as a teen expanded her worldview, infusing her with a passion for settings that breathe life into stories. After struggling with early drafts in her 20s, Welch honed her craft with persistence, guided by her father, a published author, and her own relentless drive. Her debut, Love & Gelato, took seven years and multiple rewrites to perfect, proving her commitment to storytelling.
Jenna Evans Welch’s Unforgettable Stories
Welch’s novels are love letters to travel and self-discovery, wrapped in swoony romance and vivid settings. Her debut, Love & Gelato (2016), follows Lina, a teen uncovering her mother’s secrets in Tuscany, blending mystery and romance with gelato-fueled charm. It became a New York Times bestseller and inspired a Netflix film. The companion novels, Love & Luck (2018) and Love & Olives (2020), whisk readers to Ireland and Santorini, exploring family ties and personal growth with Addie and Liv. Welch’s standalone, Spells for Lost Things (2022), shifts to Salem, Massachusetts, where teens Willow and Mason unravel family mysteries and a possible curse, weaving witchcraft and belonging into a heartfelt narrative.
Welch’s style is immersive and sensory, painting settings so vividly you can almost taste the bacio gelato or feel Santorini’s breeze. Her dual perspectives, like in Spells for Lost Things, add depth, while her focus on family, identity, and first love resonates with teens. Critics praise her ability to balance lighthearted fun with real struggles, making her books both escapist and relatable.
Why Jenna Evans Welch Matters
Jenna Evans Welch has carved a niche in young adult literature, filling the gap she felt as a teen reader. Her stories empower young women to embrace their journeys, whether through a Tuscan summer or a witchy Salem adventure. By celebrating diverse settings and universal themes, she inspires wanderlust and self-acceptance in a new generation. Her books, translated into over 18 languages, have touched readers worldwide, proving that stories of growth and love transcend borders.
- Born: Salt Lake City, Utah
- Key Works: Love & Gelato, Love & Luck, Love & Olives, Spells for Lost Things
- Awards: Love & Gelato was a 2017 YALSA Teens’ Top Ten title and a Goodreads Choice Award nominee
Snag Love & Gelato or Spells for Lost Things and dive into Jenna Evans Welch’s world of romance, adventure, and self-discovery!