Jessica Anya Blau is a bestselling author of literary fiction, hailing from the United States. She was born in Boston, but spent the majority of her childhood in Southern California. Blau pursued higher education at the University of California, Berkeley and later received her master's degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Blau has written several novels, including the nationally bestselling book "The Summer of Naked Swim Parties" and the critically acclaimed "Drinking Closer to Home." Her works have received significant recognition and praise. For instance, her third novel, "The Wonder Bread Summer," was featured on NPR's All Things Considered as a thrilling summer read, and Oprah.com's book club selected it as a thrilling beach read. Additionally, CNN highlighted the novel as a best beach read.
Blau's second novel, "Drinking Closer to Home," was featured in Target stores' Breakout Author series, with novelist Irina Reyn describing it as "unrelentingly, sidesplittingly funny." The Austin Chronicle praised the book's domestic relationships, stating that they are "brilliantly rendered, a contemporary California version of Philip Roth." Dylan Landis also commended the book, saying that it is "so raw and funny I wanted to read parts aloud to strangers." Blau's first novel, "The Summer of Naked Swim Parties," was chosen as a top ten summer read by the Today Show, The New York Post, and New York Magazine. Cosmopolitan called it a "Sexy Summer Read!" The San Francisco Chronicle and the Rocky Mountain News also selected "The Summer of Naked Swim Parties" as one of the best books of the year.