Jenny Han

{{Infobox writer

| name = Jenny Han

| image = Jenny Han at BookCon - 2019 (26746) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Han at BookCon in June 2019

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|9|3}}

| birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.

| occupation = Author

| years_active = 2006{{endash}}present

| education = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BFA)
The New School (MFA)

| genre = Young adult fiction

| website = {{URL|https://www.jennyhan.com}}

| nationality =

| notableworks = The Summer I Turned Pretty series
To All the Boys series

}}

Jenny Han (born September 3, 1980) is an American author, screenwriter, executive producer, and showrunner.{{Cite web |last=Longeretta |first=Emily |date=2024-01-11 |title=The 50 Top TV Producers of 2023 |url=https://variety.com/lists/top-tv-producers-2023/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} She is best known for writing The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, which she adapted into a TV series for Prime Video. She also wrote the To All the Boys trilogy which was adapted into a Netflix film series.{{cite web|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a30878304/always-forever-lara-jean-news-cast-spoilers-date/|title=To All the Boys: Always and Forever: What We Know So Far|last=Gonzales|first=Erica|website=Harper's Bazaar|date=January 1, 2021}}{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|2678226844}} |last1=Peters |first1=Fletcher |title='The Summer I Turned Pretty' Proves Jenny Han Is Gen Z's Nancy Meyers |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-on-amazon-prime-video-is-jenny-hans-new-crush-worthy-hit |work=The Daily Beast |date=19 June 2022 }}

Early life and education

Han was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, to Korean-American parents.{{cite web|url=http://wtvr.com/2014/04/15/a-great-novel-by-best-selling-author-jenny-han/|title=A Great Novel by Best Selling Author Jenny Han|website=WTVR-TV|date=April 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/73432-q-a-with-jenny-han.html|title=Q & A with Jenny Han|website=Publishers Weekly|first=Sara|last=Grochowski|date=April 25, 2017|accessdate=August 28, 2017}} She graduated from Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in 1998,{{Cite web|url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Jenny-Han/33419149|title=Jenny Han|website=Simon & Schuster|language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/netflix-ya-novel-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-exclusive-1202732565/|title=Netflix Acquires Rights to Adaptation of YA Novel 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before'|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 21, 2018|website=Variety}} then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.{{cite web|url=http://www.dearjennyhan.com/bio.html|title=Jenny Han, writer of books for kids and teens|website=DearJennyHan.com|accessdate=June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530140527/http://www.dearjennyhan.com/bio.html|archive-date=May 30, 2014|url-status=dead}} In 2006, she received her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at The New School.

Career

= Author =

Han wrote her first book, the children's novel Shug, while she was in college.{{cite web|first=Terry|last=Hong|url=http://www.bookslut.com/features/2011_05_017614.php|title=An Interview with Jenny Han|website=Bookslut|accessdate=June 12, 2014|archive-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827131348/http://www.bookslut.com/features/2011_05_017614.php|url-status=dead}} Shug was published in 2006 and is about Annemarie Wilcox, a twelve-year-old trying to navigate the perils of junior high school.{{cite web|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4169-0942-2|title=Children's Book Review: Shug by Jenny Han|website=Publishers Weekly|date=April 17, 2006|accessdate=June 12, 2014}}

Her next project was a young adult romance trilogy about a girl's coming-of-age during her summer breaks. The three novels, The Summer I Turned Pretty, It's Not Summer Without You, and We'll Always Have Summer, were published from 2009 to 2011 by Simon & Schuster and quickly became New York Times Best Sellers.{{cite web|url=http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Jenny-Han/33419149|title=Jenny Han; Official Publisher Page|website=Simon & Schuster|accessdate=June 12, 2014}} The trilogy is the story of protagonist/narrator, Belly Conklin, who struggles to choose between two brothers she has known her whole life and works through a messy love triangle.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-25 |title=Is 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Show Based on a Book? Well, Yes and No |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a40410014/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-book-show-amazon/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Good Housekeeping |language=en-US}}

Han's second young adult trilogy was co-written with Siobhan Vivian and began with the 2012 publication of Burn for Burn. The novel follows three high school girls seeking revenge in their island town and contains paranormal and romance elements. The trilogy includes Fire with Fire, published in 2013, and Ashes to Ashes, published in 2014.

In 2014, Han released a young adult romance novel, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, about Lara Jean Song Covey, a high school student whose life turns upside down when the letters she wrote to her five past crushes are mailed without her knowledge.{{cite book |last1=Han |first1=Jenny |title=To All the Boys I've Loved Before |date=2014 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4424-2670-2 }}{{page needed|date=November 2022}}{{primary source inline|date=November 2022}} The novel was optioned for a screen adaptation within weeks of its publication.{{cite web|url=http://www.koreatimesus.com/hollywood-come-calling-for-jenny-hans-ya-books/|title=Jenny Han's YA books attract Hollywood's attention|website=The Korea Times|first=Julie|last=Carlson|date=July 1, 2014}} The sequel, P.S. I Still Love You, was released the following year, and won the Young Adult 2015–2016 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature.{{cite web|url=http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/literature-awards/winners/2015-2016-awards-winners/|title=2015-2016 AWARDS WINNERS|website=Asian Pacific American Literature Awards|accessdate=July 10, 2017}} A third novel, Always and Forever, Lara Jean, was released in 2017.{{cite book |last1=Han |first1=Jenny |title=Always and Forever, Lara Jean |date=2020 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5344-9725-2 }}{{page needed|date=November 2022}}{{primary source inline|date=November 2022}}

= TV and film =

Han executive produced the Netflix adaptation of her novel To All the Boys I've Loved Before, starring Lana Condor in the lead role, which began filming in July 2017 and was released by Netflix in August 2018, to positive reviews.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/lana-condor-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-jenny-han-novel-1202502572/|title=Lana Condor to Star in 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' Movie Based on Jenny Han Novel|website=Variety|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=July 21, 2017}} Han had a brief cameo in the film. Han also executive produced the sequel films To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and To All the Boys: Always and Forever which were released in 2020 and 2021.

In June 2022, The Summer I Turned Pretty was released on Amazon Prime.{{cite news |last1=Moreland |first1=Alex |title=The Summer I Turned Pretty: Prime Video release date, trailer and cast with Lola Tung |url=https://www.nationalworld.com/culture/television/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon-prime-release-date-trailer-cast-lola-tung-christopher-briney-jennie-han-3729366 |work=National World |date=14 June 2022 }} Han created the series, which is based on her book trilogy of the same title, and serves as showrunner and executive producer.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-06 |title=The Jenny Han Effect: How the YA rock star took charge of her own media empire |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-07-06/summer-i-turned-pretty-jenny-han-to-all-the-boys-xo-kitty |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Han has cameos in the first and second season.{{cite news |last1=Penn |first1=Farrah |title=13 Behind-The-Scenes 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Tidbits Straight From Jenny Han And Lola Tung |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/farrahpenn/jenny-han-and-lola-tung-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-interview |work=BuzzFeed }} The television adaptation was noteworthy in part because there were a number of modifications to make the story more diverse. For example, in the book, Belly appears to be of European descent, as confirmed by the original book cover.{{cite news |last1=Tamanaha |first1=Akemi |title='The Summer I Turned Pretty' is Making Asian Americans Feel Seen |url=https://asamnews.com/2022/06/20/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-is-making-asian-americans-feel-seen/ |work=AsAmNews |date=20 June 2022 }} However, in the television series, Belly is biracial; her dad is White and her mom is Korean-American.{{cite news |last1=El-Mahmoud |first1=Sarah |title=Jenny Han Addresses Changes She Made To Summer I Turned Pretty So It Was More Diverse |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/jenny-han-addresses-changes-she-made-to-summer-i-turned-pretty-so-it-was-more-diverse |work=CINEMABLEND |date=19 June 2022 }} The series was renewed for a second season before the first season was even released.{{cite news |last1=Woo |first1=Kelly |title=The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2: Everything we know so far |url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-2 |work=Tom's Guide |date=22 June 2022 }} The series has been renewed for season 3 at Prime Video.{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=2023-08-03 |title=‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Renewed for Season 3 at Amazon Prime Video |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/summer-i-turned-pretty-renewed-season-3-amazon-prime-video-1235687385/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

In 2022, Han launched her production company, Jenny Kissed Me, after signing a multiyear deal with Amazon Prime Video.{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2022-04-26 |title=‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Author Jenny Han Signs Amazon Overall Deal |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-jenny-han-amazon-overall-deal-1235241221/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Of the deal, Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, said "Not only is Jenny Han a beloved and best-selling author, but she has also brought her voice to screens around the world, speaking to her fans with an authentic voice that inspires, moves and entertains her huge and growing fan base. We are so excited to now be the home for Jenny and her fantastic work to come. I know our global prime audience will thank us." In 2023, Han was named one of the Top 50 TV Producers of the Year by Variety and was named to Adweek's Creative 100.{{Cite web |last=Longeretta |first=Emily |date=2024-01-11 |title=The 50 Top TV Producers of 2023 |url=https://variety.com/lists/top-tv-producers-2023/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-12 |title=Adweek’s Creative 100: 2023’s Most Innovative Talents |url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/adweeks-creative-100-2023s-most-innovative-and-visionary-talents/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=www.adweek.com |language=en-US}}

In May 2023, XO, Kitty, a spinoff television series to To All the Boys film series was released on Netflix.{{cite web |last1=Zorrilla |first1=Mónica Marie |title='To All the Boys' to Get TV Spinoff Starring Anna Cathcart |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/to-all-the-boys-tv-show-xo-kitty-anna-cathcart-1235092047 |website=Variety |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=October 18, 2021}}{{cite web |title=XO, Kitty First Look: To All the Boys Spinoff Sets May Premiere on Netflix |url=https://tvline.com/2023/03/22/xo-kitty-release-date-season-1-netflix-video/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |date=March 22, 2023}} Han created the series and serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the first season. The series follows Lara Jean's sister, Kitty Covey, as she goes on her own journey to boarding school in Seoul, South Korea. Season 1 was nominated for an Emmy for best teen series.{{Cite web |title=The 2nd Annual Children’s & Family Nominees! – The Emmys |url=https://theemmys.tv/cafe-2nd-nominations/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=theemmys.tv |language=en-US}} In June 2023, Netflix announced that XO Kitty was renewed for season 2.{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=2023-06-14 |title=‘XO, Kitty’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix. |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/xo-kitty-renewed-season-2-netflix-1235644163/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Season 2 was released on January 16, 2025 on Netflix.

Works

Standalone Novels:

Shug (2006)
Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream (2011)
My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories (2014)

The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy:

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2009)
It's Not Summer Without You (2010)
We'll Always Have Summer (2011)

Burn for Burn Trilogy:

Burn for Burn (2012)
Fire with Fire (2013)
Ashes to Ashes (2014)

To All The Boys I've Loved Before Trilogy:

To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2014)
P.S. I Still Love You (2015)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean (2017)

Filmography

class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" \| Year ! rowspan="2" \| Title ! colspan="2" \| Credited as ! rowspan="2" \| Notes
Writer ! Executive producer
2018 \| To All the Boys I've Loved Before \| {{no\|No}} \| {{yes\|Yes}} \|
2020 \|To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You \| {{no\|No}} \| {{yes\|Yes}} \|
2021 \|To All the Boys: Always and Forever \| {{no\|No}} \| {{yes\|Yes}} \|
2022–present \|The Summer I Turned Pretty \| {{yes\|Yes}} \| {{yes\|Yes}} \|Creator, wrote 3 episodes
2023–present \|XO, Kitty \| {{yes\|Yes}} \| {{yes\|Yes}} \|Creator, Co-Wrote "XO". Appeared in Cameo as airport gate agent.

class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Title

! colspan="2" | Credited as

! rowspan="2" | Notes

Writer

! Executive
producer

2018

| To All the Boys I've Loved Before

| {{no|No}}

| {{yes|Yes}}

2020