Sarah MacLean (born December 23, 1978) 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 for The Washington Post that reviewed romance novels. 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 hosts a weekly podcast called Fated Mates, where she and her co-host, Jen Prokop, discuss and analyze 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 Bachelor of Arts degree 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 publicist who helps promote books until she went to graduate school at Harvard University. There, she earned 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 try writing for teenagers. The book, set in Regency England, won many awards and was included in the 2010 Lone Star Reading List from the Texas Library Association.
After The Season, MacLean wrote her first adult romance novel, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, a story set in the Regency era. 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 the first book to receive the Romantic Times Magazine Seal of Excellence.
MacLean calls herself a feminist and often discusses how feminism and the romance genre connect. She strongly supports the value of romance novels and the skill needed 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 also aired on Fated Mates).
MacLean is a strong supporter of political and literary causes. In 2024, she became a founding member of the board for Authors Against Book Bans, a group of writers 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 in-depth talks about classic books and how the romance genre influences society. It also has special episodes that examine common themes found in romance stories.
During its fourth season, Fated Mates collected stories from people who helped shape the modern romance genre, including authors and editors.
In 2020, Fated Mates created Fated States to help listeners take action on political issues. The podcast organizes phone calls to support democratic candidates during elections and works during times when elections are not happening to support causes that help improve society.
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 the USA Today Bestseller List. Her books have received special praise from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal.