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Rachael Johns
Photo Credit: © Jess Gately

Rachael Johns

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Rachael Johns was once (briefly) an English teacher, before turning her attention to writing – and never looking back. She now writes award-winning romance, women’s fiction, and the occasional awkward text. Her novel The Patterson Girls won the 2016 ABIA for General Fiction, and she’s a two-time winner of the Romance Writers of Australia RUBY Award.

When she’s not writing, Rachael can be found hanging out with her adorable Sheepadoodle, listening to audiobooks, or fuelling her latest obsession—reformer Pilates. She lives in the Swan Valley with her husband, two of her three sons (the other has flown the nest), and tells herself she’ll read more non-fiction every year—but let’s be honest, the novels always win.

Rachael is the co-host of two podcasts: Reading Between Deadlines and Dear Rach & Soph, and also runs the vibrant Rachael Johns Book Club on Facebook. You can find her at www.rachaeljohns.com or subscribe to her Substack, Pink Ink, where she shares behind-the-scenes bookish thoughts and writer life.

Books by Rachael Johns

The Bad Bridesmaid

‘A good rom-com is a balm for the harshness of the outside world, and no one does romance and comedy better than Rachael Johns.’ Australian Women’s Weekly

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The Other Bridget

'The feelgood read of the year.' - Better Reading
WINNER - Favourite Aussie-Set Romance, Australian Romance Readers Awards 2024

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More features

Video
The Bad Bridesmaid by Rachael Johns

A heart-warming friends-to-lovers romance about the magic and mayhem of weddings – and what happens when everything you thought you knew about love is turned upside down. Find out more https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-bad-bridesmaid-9781761341748

Article
The Other Bridget book club questions

A feelgood romantic comedy by Australia's bestselling romance writer.

Video
The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns OUT NOW

Read More: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-other-bridget-9781761341717

Article
What you should read in February and why

Thrills, romance, fantasy and a novel collaboratively written by a collection of literary legends; check out our top reads for February!

Article
Rachael Johns shares her trick for getting words onto the page

We caught up with Rachael Johns to learn about her writing routines, favourite rom-coms and new book The Other Bridget.

Video
The Other Bridget by Rachael Johns

Out 30 January: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-other-bridget-9781761341717 A feelgood romantic comedy by Australia's bestselling romance writer, ideal for fans of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes. Named after a famous fictional character, librarian Bridget Jones was raised on a remote cattle station, with only her mother’s romance novels for company. Now living alone in Fremantle, Bridget is a hopeless romantic. She also believes that anyone who doesn’t like reading just hasn’t met the right book yet, and that connecting books to their readers is her superpower. If only her love life was that easy. When handsome Italian barista Fabio progresses from flirting with love hearts on her coffee foam to joining the book club she runs at her library, Bridget prays her romance ‘curse’ won’t ruin things. But it’s the attention of her cranky neighbour Sully that seems to be the major obstacle in her life. Why is he going to so much effort to get under her skin? With the help of her close friends and the colourful characters who frequent her library, Bridget decides to put both men to the test by finding just the right books to capture their very different hearts. She soon discovers that not all romances start with a meet-cute, but they might just end in happily ever after… Written by Australia’s most beloved romance writer, The Other Bridget is a delightfully uplifting book about books, and a gorgeous celebration of the power and pleasure of romance novels throughout the ages.