Laura Nowlin
Laura Nowlin is an American author of young adult contemporary fiction whose work explores love, loss, friendship, and grief. She is best known for the bestselling novels If He Had Been with Me and If Only I Had Told Her; If He Had Been with Me became a widely read BookTok-driven New York Times bestseller.
Biography & Author's Journey
Laura Nowlin came of age in north St. Louis County and has said she grew up in Florissant, close to the Ferguson landscape that later informed her fiction. From an early age she saw herself as a writer; by secondary school, she had already written a novel. She went on to earn a B.A. in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Missouri State University, then built her adult life in St. Louis, where work in public libraries kept her close to books, readers, and the rhythms of ordinary conversation. She has also written publicly about living with clinical depression and, in 2014, about being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, describing those experiences as moments that clarified her commitment to writing, family, and perseverance. ((https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/books/news/2013/10/27/this-is-what-i-wanted))
Quotes
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Popular Books
This Song Is (Not) for You
Laura Nowlin
Three hearts, one melody: love beyond conventional boundaries.
If He Had Been with Me
Laura Nowlin
Missed love's tragic timing: the heartbreak we never see coming
If Only I Had Told Her
Laura Nowlin
Souls intertwined: a devastating journey through love, loss, and healing.
This Song Is (Not) for You
Laura Nowlin
Three hearts, one melody: love beyond conventional boundaries.
If He Had Been with Me
Laura Nowlin
Missed love's tragic timing: the heartbreak we never see coming
If Only I Had Told Her
Laura Nowlin
Souls intertwined: a devastating journey through love, loss, and healing.
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Community Voices
"Laura Nowlin has joined the league of authors anointed a #BookTok success story"
— Publishers Weekly
"Nowlin captures the antsy energy of senior year and the desire to stand out while still fitting in"
— Publishers Weekly
"Nowlin clearly communicates the visceral pleasures of performing music, as well as first love’s giddiness"
— Booklist
"If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin is a page-turner that you won’t be able to put down"
— Girls' Life
"Laura Nowlin’s wrenching debut novel begins—and ends—at the scene of the same serious car accident"
— School Library Journal
"First-time author Nowlin keeps the story real and fast paced, avoiding the melodramatic"
— Booklist
"Nowlin is unafraid to explore the gritty sides of sadness, grief, regret, and mental health struggles"
— Booklist
"Nowlin’s bantering dialogue feels genuine and is often humorous"
— School Library Journal
"Nowlin perfectly captures the awkwardness of unspoken love"
— Booklist
"There’s something about Laura Nowlin’s writing that reaches out and touches the heart in unexpected ways"
— A Backwards Story
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
