Curtis Sittenfeld

"And I am pretty sure that's the point of reading fiction - so someone else can say in a way you never would have something you recognize immediately."

Curtis Sittenfeld is the bestselling author of six novels: Prep, The Man of My Dreams, American Wife, Sisterland, Eligible, and Rodham. Her first story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It, was published in 2018 and picked for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club. Her books have been selected by The New York Times, Time, Entertainment Weekly, and People for their “Ten Best Books of the Year” lists, optioned for television and film, and translated into thirty languages. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Esquire, and in the Best American Short Stories anthology, of which she is the 2020 guest editor. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Slate, and on “This American Life.” A graduate of Stanford University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Curtis has interviewed Michelle Obama for Time; appeared as a guest on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” CBS’s “Early Show,” and PBS’s Newshour; and twice been a strangely easy “Jeopardy!” answer.

What genres does Curtis Sittenfeld write in?

She writes contemporary literary fiction in both novels and short stories, often character-driven and occasionally reimagining public figures or historical what-if scenarios.

Which book is a good place to start?

Many readers begin with Prep, her debut novel, or with the short story collection You Think It, I'll Say It if you prefer shorter pieces; both are widely praised.

What is a recommended reading order for her work?

A common approach is publication order. Notable titles in that sequence include Prep; The Man of My Dreams; American Wife; Sisterland; Eligible; You Think It, I’ll Say It (stories); Rodham; and Romantic Comedy.

Has her work received notable recognition?

Yes. Her books have appeared on Ten Best lists from outlets like The New York Times and Time, been translated into about 30 languages, and her short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and Esquire. Her story collection was also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and she served as guest editor of Best American Short Stories 2020.