Sarah MacLean was born on December 23, 1978. She is an American author who writes young adult novels and romance novels. Her first adult romance novel, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, first appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and remained there for four weeks. All of her adult romance novels have since been listed on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. From 2014 to 2018, MacLean wrote a monthly column about romance novels for The Washington Post. She won the Romance Writers of America RITA Award for Best Historical Romance twice: once in 2013 for A Rogue by Any Other Name and again in 2014 for No Good Duke Goes Unpunished. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast called Fated Mates, where she and her co-host, Jen Prokop, discuss and examine the romance genre.
Biography
MacLean was born in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to an Italian father and a British mother. Her website states that her mother worked for MI6. MacLean began reading romance novels because her older sister read them, and she wanted to be a romance novelist since she was a teenager. In 2000, she earned a BA in American Studies from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. While at Smith College, MacLean and her friends read many romance novels.
In 2000, MacLean moved to New York City and worked as a literary publicist until she attended graduate school at Harvard University, where she received a master’s degree in education. After returning to New York City, she wrote her first book, a young adult novel titled The Season, after a friend encouraged her to write for teenagers. The book, set in Regency England, won many awards and was included in the 2010 Lone Star Reading List by the Texas Library Association.
After The Season, MacLean wrote her first adult romance novel, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, a Regency historical. The book appeared on the USA Today Bestseller List and The New York Times Best Seller list, where it remained for four weeks. It was also the first book to receive the Romantic Times Magazine Seal of Excellence.
MacLean identifies as a feminist and often discusses how feminism and the romance genre connect. She strongly supports the value of romance novels and the skill required to write them well. In February 2014, she began writing a monthly romance review column for The Washington Post. In July 2019, she hosted the Romance Writers of America RITA Awards. In 2021, she appeared on the podcast 99% Invisible to talk about the importance of the romance genre and its history (which was also broadcast on Fated Mates).
MacLean is a strong supporter of political and literary causes. In 2024, she became a founding board member of Authors Against Book Bans, an organization of authors working to stop book bans and challenges. Through her podcast, she organizes weekly phone calls to support progressive candidates during elections and raises money for Democrats in local races.
She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband. She is active on social media, especially on Threads and Instagram.
Podcast
In 2018, MacLean started the Fated Mates podcast with critic Jen Prokop. The podcast is released every Wednesday and includes detailed discussions about classic books and stories that explore how the romance genre influences society. It also has special episodes that examine common themes and patterns found in romance books.
During its fourth season, Fated Mates began recording stories from important people in the romance genre, such as authors and editors who helped shape the modern romance book industry.
In 2020, Fated Mates created Fated States, a project that allows listeners to take part in political activities. The podcast organizes phone calls to support democratic candidates during elections and helps raise money for them. Outside of election times, it works to support causes that promote progress and positive change.
Awards and reception
- 2010 – Texas Library Association Lone Star Reading List for The Season
- 2010 (April) – Romantic Times Magazine Seal of Excellence for Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
- 2013 – Romance Writers of America, RITA Award for Best Historical Romance for A Rogue By Any Other Name
- 2014 – Romance Writers of America, RITA Award for Best Historical Romance for No Good Duke Goes Unpunished
MacLean’s romance novels have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List and USA Today Bestseller List. Several of her books have received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal.