O'Connell, Jennifer

(Jenny O'Connell)

PERSONAL: Female. Education: Smith College, B.A.; University of Chicago, M.B.A.

ADDRESSES: Home—IL. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Penguin Group, Publicity Department, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Writer; owner of a consulting firm.

WRITINGS:

Bachelorette #1 (novel), New American Library (New York, NY), 2003.

Dress Rehearsal (novel), New American Library (New York, NY), 2005.

Off the Record (novel), New American Library (New York, NY), 2005.

(As Jenny O'Connell) Plan B (young adult novel), MTV Books (New York, NY), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS: Jennifer O'Connell is the author of novels that include Dress Rehearsal, in which protagonist Lauren Gallagher judges relationships based on people's culinary choices. The owner of Lauren's Luscious Licks feels that couples who cannot agree on their wedding cake can look forward to a doomed marriage; she convinces her best friend, for example, to break up with her fiancé because he wanted cupcakes for their reception. Lauren is taken aback, however, when her own former boyfriend orders the same style of cake she had picked out for her own wedding, which she hopes will occur sometime in the future. In reviewing the novel, Booklist critic Aleksandra Kostovksi concluded that O'Connell "delivers a fun addition to the chick-lit collection."

Off the Record is the story of Jane Marlow, a Chicago lawyer who sacrifices her personal life as she works relentlessly towards a partnership in her firm. Her life changes when her brother discovers that musician Teddy Rock wrote his hit "Janey 245" about her. Jane enjoys her new celebrity, and Teddy, who is trying to overcome his past and make a comeback, welcomes the stability Jane lends to his image. They publicly revive their childhood friendship, but Jane is brought back to reality when an attractive attorney becomes involved with one of her firm's cases. Describing Off the Record as a "sweet treat," a Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that "O'Connell is adept at exposing the manipulative nature of both the legal profession and the music industry."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2005, Aleksandra Kostovski, review of Dress Rehearsal, p. 832.

Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2005, review of Off the Record, p. 760.

ONLINE

Jennifer O'Connell Home Page, http://www.jenniferoconnell.com (March 10, 2006).