Hi there! I’m the author of “The Young Wives Club” and “Louisiana Lucky” and a regular contributor to TODAY.com.

I was born and raised in Louisiana and moved to New York City after college to work at my dream job: Seventeen Magazine.

I’m currently married to a St. Louis boy I met in Manhattan, and we live in Philadelphia with two rambunctious little boys.

 

Here are some nice things people have said about my work:

“Pennell’s debut novel shimmers with lively banter and the glitter of these young women’s dreams. By shifting perspectives and ending each chapter with an emotional cliffhanger, Pennell escalates the tension, making each woman’s tribulations intensify her friends’ troubles, as well. A light novel in which women take charge of their own happily-ever-afters.” – Kirkus on “The Young Wives Club”

“‘The Young Wives Club’ is as delicious as its cover!  A heartwarming story about friendship, heartache, and self-discovery set in the kind of small Southern town I wish I’d grown up in.  You will find yourself rooting for Claire, Laura, Madison, and Gabby as they navigate from girlhood to womanhood, learning what to keep, and what to leave behind.  I loved this book!” – Karen White, New York Times Bestselling Author of ‘Spinning the Moon’

“This sweet (but not too sweet) page-turning debut will appeal to fans of warm southern women’s fiction like Rebecca Wells and Mary Kay Andrews. A really delightful book.” – Booklist on “The Young Wives Club”

“An absolutely delightful tale of three sisters, a big-time lottery win and the unexpected consequences of getting what you’ve always wished for. Julie Pennell has hit it out of the park with this one!” – bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey on “Louisiana Lucky”

“Pennell inspires relatable wishful thinking about what to do with lottery winnings, and it’s hard not to root for the sisters to find their way. Those looking for a fun summer escape novel will enjoy.” – Booklist on “Louisiana Lucky”