Holly Smale is a bestselling English author, renowned for her young adult novels. She is the creator of the Geek Girl series, which features awkward young girls who are driven by a desire to transform their images. Smale has always had a passion for reading and writing, even as a child. However, she also experienced bullying during her youth, which would later become a subject she covered in her fiction.
Smale's teenage years were marked by a brief stint as a model, which she did for two years but did not enjoy. She went on to earn a B.A. in English Literature and a M.A. in Shakespeare studies from the University of Bristol. Smale's love for travel and adventure has led her to visit 27 countries, including Japan, where she worked as an English teacher for two years. She has also volunteered in Nepal, and has had various jobs such as a PR, a waitress, and a factory worker.
Smale's debut children's novel, Geek Girl, became a number one bestseller in the UK and won the Waterstones Teen Prize of the Year and the Leeds book award. The series has been an international hit, selling 3.4 million copies in 30 languages. Smale has also been recognized for her work, being shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Branford Boase award, and long-listed for the Carnegie. In 2021, Smale published her debut adult novel, The Cassandra Complex (UK)/ Cassandra in Reverse (US), which is a Reese's Book Club Pick, a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and the Aardvark Book Club pick.
Smale was diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia at the age of 39 and has since become a passionate advocate for neurodiversity. She uses her platform to speak about neurodiversity and various other topics. Smale currently resides in Hove, England.