Picture a British storyteller who turned the raw beauty of a working-class upbringing into lyrical prose that sings—meet Jessica Andrews! Born in 1992, this Sunderland native has captivated readers with her debut novel Saltwater, a poignant coming-of-age tale that weaves mother-daughter bonds with the gritty charm of northern England. With a style critics call 'voluptuous,' Andrews transforms everyday struggles into poetic narratives, drawing from her eclectic life across Europe.
Now a lecturer in creative writing and co-runner of The Grapevine literary magazine, Andrews is a rising star whose work resonates with anyone who’s ever felt caught between worlds. Her stories don’t just tell—they haunt, linger, and invite you to see the beauty in the ordinary.
The Making of Jessica Andrews
Growing up in a working-class family in Sunderland, Jessica Andrews was shaped by the salty air of the North Sea and the stories of her community. As the first in her family to attend university, she studied English literature at King’s College London, later earning a master’s in creative writing from the University of Kent. Her travels—from Santa Cruz to Paris to Donegal—infused her writing with a sense of place, while her deaf brother’s use of sign language sparked her fascination with words as symbols. Writing became her way to process a world where she often felt like an outsider.
After juggling bar jobs in London, Andrews seized a chance to write in her late grandfather’s cottage in Donegal, Ireland. There, amid wild beaches, she crafted Saltwater, a novel that would launch her career. Her journey from Sunderland to literary acclaim is a testament to her grit and passion for storytelling.
Jessica Andrews’s Unforgettable Stories
Andrews’s debut, Saltwater (2019), is a semi-autobiographical gem that follows Lucy, a young woman navigating class, identity, and family ties across Sunderland, London, and Ireland. Written in fragmented, poetic prose, it captures the push-and-pull of belonging. The novel won the 2020 Portico Prize, dubbed 'the Booker of the North,' for its vivid evocation of northern spirit.
Her second novel, Milk Teeth (2022), dives into a whirlwind romance shadowed by body image and desire, set across England, France, and Spain. Shortlisted for the 2023 Royal Society of Literature Encore Award, it showcases Andrews’s knack for blending emotional truth with lush, sensory language. She also adapted the 2019 film Saint Maud for the stage in 2024, proving her versatility. Andrews’s work, often blurring fiction and memoir, explores gender, class, and the body with a raw, poetic edge that feels both intimate and universal.
Her writing draws inspiration from authors like Eimear McBride and Garth Greenwell, who straddle poetry and prose. Andrews’s prose is a dance of restraint and intensity, trusting readers to feel the weight of what’s left unsaid. Her focus on working-class women’s experiences carves a vital space in contemporary literature.
Why Jessica Andrews Matters
Jessica Andrews is more than a novelist—she’s a voice for the underrepresented. Her work amplifies northern, working-class women, offering a lens on lives often overlooked in literary fiction. Through The Grapevine and her podcast, Tender Buttons, she champions diverse voices, fostering a more inclusive literary world. Her PhD research on working-class women’s bodies in fiction further cements her commitment to reshaping narratives.
Andrews’s impact lies in her ability to make the ordinary extraordinary, turning personal struggles into universal stories. Her prose invites readers to embrace their own contradictions, making her a beacon for anyone seeking belonging in a fractured world.
- Born: 1992, Sunderland, England
- Key Works: Saltwater (2019), Milk Teeth (2022), Saint Maud stage adaptation (2024)
- Awards: Portico Prize (2020), shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction Futures (2022)
- Fun Fact: She co-runs The Grapevine, a platform for underrepresented writers.
Snag Saltwater or Milk Teeth and dive into Jessica Andrews’s lyrical world of class, identity, and heart!