The awkward and real moments of being a teenager...

That's what I write about.

I'm Rebecca Garner, contemporary young adult fiction author. Why Won't My Boobs Grow... and Other Annoyances, the award-winning first book in the Emma Bishop series, and the sequel, Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas are both available now.

I'm also a wife, mama, cat-lover, reader, and nostalgia enthusiast.

You can poke around a bit here to learn more about me and my work. There are links below to sign up for my newsletter and connect with me on Instagram.

I'd love to get to know you.

AVAILABLE NOW!

Dear Boyfriend
…and Other High School Dilemmas

Being a teenager is still hard. ⁠

Emma and her friends are back in Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas with a new set of adventures. There are relationships, cartwheels, sleepovers, and of course, our favorite trio figuring it all out together. 💕⁠

⁠

This lighthearted, laugh out loud YA novel about being a teenager and figuring out what’s right for you is available now. I can’t wait for you to see what Emma’s up to next.⁠

AVAILABLE NOW

“My mouth is dry. My hands start sweating. My face is on fire. My heart is racing uncontrollably. I honestly might throw up.”

ICYMI Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas is now on audio!

I love DBF, and I’m really proud of it, but the poor girl is struggling in the review department. Reviews make a HUGE impact for authors, especially smaller indie authors like me. Reviews help my books get more visibility and find more readers. Every review matters–even if it just says, “I loved this book! It made me laugh out loud.”

In fact, I have FIVE codes for a FREE download of the Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas audiobook if you want to give her a listen and leave a review. Just comment, “Me!” and I’ll send you one. 😉

What you can expect in Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas
💜 lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💜 relatable teenage experiences
💜 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
💜 embarrassing moments
💜 Swiftie vibes
💜 a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

It’s Judy Blume for a new generation. ✨

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #teenfiction #audiobooks

It’s Judy Blume for a new generation. ✨

What you can expect in Why Won’t My Boobs Grow… and Other Annoyances
💕 lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💕 relatable teenage experiences
💕 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
💕 embarrassing moments
💕 Swiftie vibes
💕 a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

Why Won’t My Boobs Grow… and Other Annoyances is available in ebook, paperback, audio, and in KU, PLUS signed copies on my website. You know where to go to learn more. 😉

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #youngadultnovels

I am a lot of things: an author, a wife, a friend, a cat lady, a weirdo, a hugger— but being their mom is my favorite thing to be. 💕

If you’re a mom, I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday.

And if your day was hard, I see you.

#millennialmoms

She just left her teaching job.
She had a blog called The Married Cat Lady.
She had a character in her head– a teenage girl named Emma.
She wasn’t sure what was coming next. ✨

That girl in 2017 was just barely daring to dream that we could actually write a book, and here we are with TWO published. 💕

I talk a lot about my teenage self and wanting her to be proud of me, but this twenty-something version of me would be proud, too. We took the big, scary steps to follow our dreams, and we did it. 🥹

#rebeccagarnerauthor #youngadultauthor

SURPRISE! Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas is now available on audio! 🎧💜

@kbnarration brought Emma and her crew to life so beautifully. I’ve read this story a thousand times, but listening to Krissy read it made me feel like it was the first time. I found myself giggling and swooning at the story– as if I wasn’t the one who wrote it lol.

As an audiobook girlie myself, I’m so happy to share this version of DBF and make Emma’s story accessible to everyone, no matter their preferred reading method.

💜 BLURB 💜
Emma Bishop is ready for a fresh start. She’s in high school now, afterall, so there’s no room for last year’s drama to follow her. She’s older and wiser, more confident, and determined to make this her best year yet.

In what might be the most exciting development of her life, Emma finally has a boyfriend. Andy is cute and nice and really likes her– what could go wrong? As it turns out, everything.

From sleepovers to high school dances, dreaming of her first boyfriend to having one glued to her side, Emma is excited, nervous, and most of all, confused. It doesn’t stop there though. She finds herself navigating dynamic shifts in her friend group, break-ups and make-ups, sibling relationships, and all the dilemmas that come with being a freshman in high school.

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas is the second book in the Emma Bishop series by Rebecca Garner. These light-hearted, young adult books explore the realities of what it’s really like to be a teenager. Friendship, love, embarrassing moments, Emma experiences it all.

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #yabookstagram #audiobooksrock

For the daughters of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Lizzie McGuire…

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas has
💜 lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💜 relatable teenage experiences
💜 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
💜 embarrassing moments
💜 Swiftie vibes
💜 a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

AVAILABLE NOW wherever you buy books + signed copies on my website! (You know where to find the info. 😉)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #amreadingya

Those smiles at the end. That’s the point. ✨💕

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #momswhowrite

No eloquent post today. Just a reminder that these babies exist, and I wrote them. 💕

STAY TUNED though because I have an exciting announcement coming later this week! ✨

Have you read either of Emma’s stories yet? Drop a 💕 if you have. (If not, they’re available wherever you buy books— plus signed copies on my website.)

What you can expect in the Emma Bishop series:
💕 lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💕 relatable teenage experiences
💕 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
💕 embarrassing moments
💕 Swiftie vibes
💕 a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #booksforteens

A note to my teenage self on my 36th birthday ✨

Hey girl,
We are 36 years old today. Can you believe that? Me neither, honestly. But don’t worry, I’m still cool, though–well, as cool as I’ve ever been.

I think about you a lot. Not that that is new. I think you would be really proud of me, of us.

I’m a mom and a wife and a published-freaking-author. Yeah. Read that again. Mom, wife, author. Oh, and I have boobs. They’re a little saggy now (see: mom), but in the right bra, we do okay. You would be happy.

It’s hard sometimes in the day-to-day to remember that I am living my dream. A dream at one point I was afraid to believe in. But I–we did it.

We have published TWO books, and we’re working on a third. I look to my right and on the top shelf of my bookshelves are books with my–our name on them. How cool is that?

Like I said, it’s hard to remember that in the day-to-day, when it’s easy to compare yourself to others, or even because our dreams are bigger now, but to tell you, to show you, they exist because of you, that means something.

All those things that feel so hard, so unfair, so embarrassing? They helped create a world where other girls just like you feel seen and understood and less alone.

I wrote them for you. And I’ll keep writing them for you. And I’ll keep dreaming.

I love you. I’m cheering for you. I’m so proud of you, and I hope you’re proud of me. 💕

Love,
Bex

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #millennial #birthdaythoughts

Being a teenager is hard, and Emma Bishop is no exception.

What you can expect in the Emma Bishop series:
💕 lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💕 relatable teenage experiences
💕 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
💕 embarrassing moments
💕 Swiftie vibes
💕 a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

I love this trend, and look, I’m not even super late to the party! (There’s a first!)

Thanks @thekatherinebitner for the tag! @daniellemorriswrites this is your reminder!

Also tagging
@pattyloo_wrote_it
@author.emilymurray
@rachelthomewrites
@haleylwrites
@kristinacarmela_writes

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #yabookstagram #shedoesntknowityet

If you’re looking for books, cats, motherhood, and nostalgia, then you’ve found me. ✨

I cannot tell you how fast my little fingers RAN to do this after I saw @reading4vibes use this audio.

I love it so much. Sometimes I wonder why I put as much effort as I do into my social media. Is it really worth it? Am I wasting my time? Am I just out here embarrassing myself?

But my goal as an author has always been simple: to help people (teenage girls, specifically) feel seen. So, if you found me, and I made you (or someone you love) feel seen, then I’ve done it, and it’s been worth it. 💕

So I’m gonna keep hanging out here, sharing my dreams and my books and my cat and my joy. ✨

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #bookishbabe

From the author’s note of Why Won’t My Boobs Grow… and Other Annoyances 💕

Emma is just starting to figure out who she is. I can’t wait for you to join her.

AVAILABLE NOW in paperback, ebook, and audio + signed copies on my website! (You know where to find the info. 😉)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #momsofteenagegirls #momsofteensandtweens

moments of joy in march ✨

What’s something that brought you joy this month?

Here’s mine:
💕small moments with my little humans
📖 bookish events
🌳 walks around the block
🍺 reading + a beer
👭 laughing so hard you cry

Your turn. Tell me yours below. 👇🏼

#rebeccagarnerauthor #smallmomentsofjoy

Had so much fun traveling back in time today. ✨

Of course, I couldn’t NOT do this trend.

Yes, we missed our reunion by 2 years.

Yes, this is the wrong music for the trend but I ran out of audio and don’t know how to loop it again. 🙃

#millennial #reunion

“What was I supposed to do about the breathlessness of a five-second kiss that felt just as universe altering as the first one, the last, and the thousand in between?”

Twenty-Seven by P.L. Hernandez (aka @pattyloo_wrote_it ) is one of my favorite, favorite books. EVER.

It’s a story of heartbreak, falling in love, grief, and figuring your shit out. It has the most beautiful words, and it will make you FEEL.

I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook early, which was my second read, and I loved it even more this time around. It was so fun to spend a year with Jax again. I’m so proud of her, and I’m even more proud of you, Patty. 🖤

Go read it for yourself and you’ll see why.
NOW AVAILABLE ON AUDIO!! 🎧

PS Finley Archibald Hendricks >>>>>>

#secondchanceromance #bookishposts #booksthatmakeyoucry

~coffee & currently reading~
wine & read: QUICKSILVER

Finished this yesterday. It was a slow start but damn did it get good. 🦋

Hate the name Kingfisher though— have you ever been, like, embarrassed to call someone by their name? (No, just me?) That’s how I would feel about calling him Kingfisher.

And Carrion is my favorite, obviously.

QOTD: Are you a romantasy fan? What’s your favorite genre to read?

#romantasybookstagram #readingiscool

These are the vibes I bring to the function. ✨

You can learn ~almost~ everything you need to about me from this photo.

That’s it. That’s the post. ✌🏼

#rebeccagarnerauthor #catladyforlife #ilovewine🍷

Read this if you…
💜 loved Judy Blume and Lizzie McGuire
💜 want a relatable, laugh out loud book
💜 have ever been, loved, or known a teenage girl
💜 are looking for the perfect coming of age series for the teen or tween in your life

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas - AVAILABLE NOW wherever you buy books + signed copies on my website! (You know where to find the info. 😉)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #youngadultbooks

My daughter: I want to dress like you because YOU’RE an author. You’re my favorite author.
Me: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

My daughter’s school was doing spirit days to celebrate Read Across America Week this week. The first day was “dress as your favorite book character or author.”

And my daughter wanted to dress like me.

Sorry, one sec. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I just about fell onto the floor when she said this to me. The last few weeks have left me questioning a lot of things, but this moment with my daughter… I don’t know if I have words for what it means to me.

Being a mom is hard. Being an author is hard. Being both is really hard. But moments like this make it totally worth it. 🥲💕

(I hope she still thinks I’m this cool when she’s a teenager. 😉)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #momswhowrite

A little behind the scenes of my event with @thebottleshoplakegeneva last week 🍷📖

@rachelzawaski_ is the best assistant/ hype girl/ photographer/ sales girl in the game, and we had SO much fun!

AND it was a huge success! EVERY book I sold was going to a teenage girl, and nothing makes me happier than that. 💕💕

If you’re ever in Lake Geneva, you HAVE to go see Beth at The Bottle Shop. They are the absolute best, and I can’t wait to go back!

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #booksigning

Life lately/ February joy~

I took a much needed break the last half of February. It filled my cup and reminded me to give myself some grace.

I’m ready to get back to work, but to also take care of myself while I do it. I’m living my dream every day, but the pressure I was putting on myself took the joy from that. I’m here to get it back. ✨

Quiet mornings brought me joy in February. What about you? 👇🏼

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #findingjoy

ICYMI on my stories the other day 🙃

Here’s the gist: I’ve been taking a much needed break, but I’m hoping to get back to things next week.

But in doing so, I need to give myself a little bit of grace. I’ve been putting A LOT of pressure on myself, and frankly, not taking care of myself because of it.

So, Emma 3 might take a little longer than I initially hoped. But that’s ok. 💕

I hope you’ll stick around for the journey anyway. ✨

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

Just trying to make my teenage self proud, always. 💕

What�’s something you would tell your younger self about your life today?

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

I love 💕 LOVE 💕 in all its forms, but the love between girlfriends is something extra special, and friendship is a key theme in the Emma Bishop series.

So, what better way to celebrate that than to do a GALENTINES DAY sale! 💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️

You can snag the ebooks for only $0.99 each, or grab a signed copy for you and your galentine– they’re 2 for $30 on my website! (That’s actually cheaper than the ‘zon!)

If you’ve already read them, drop some love for the girls in the comments and help this get seen! 💕❤️

What you can expect in the Emma Bishop series:
❤️ lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
💕 navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
❤️ embarrassing moments
💕 Swiftie vibes
❤️ a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

“Garner captures this all or nothingness of being a teen beautifully.” -Goodreads review

If you’re looking for a book with…
💜 Relatable teenage experiences
💜 First love
💜 Laugh out loud moments
💜 Friendship
💜 Self-confidence

Then Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas is for you (or the teenage girl you love)!

Available wherever you buy books + signed copies on my website! (You know where to find the info. 😉)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

What’s your favorite YA book? 👇🏼

Hi! I’m Rebecca Garner, teenage girl at heart and author of the coming of age Emma Bishop series–which feels like Judy Blume for a new generation. ✨

Stick around for lighthearted, laugh out loud moments, Swiftie vibes, and a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery. 💕

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

What is something that brought you joy in January?

January was 57834 days long and was filled with… a lot. (I seem to keep saying that month after month, don’t I? 😒)

But right now, let’s take a minute to find joy in the small moments. ✨

Here’s where I found mine:
❄️ bookstore visits (@jollygiraffebooks )
❄️ an upside down 5
❄️ snow angels
❄️ blowing out birthday candles
❄️ coffee in bed
❄️ Cam’s love for sunglasses

Oh, and I wrote over 12,000 words this month!!

Tell me about something that brought you joy this month 👇🏼

PS We tend to primarily see the good, the happy, the beautiful moments on social media. I try to keep it real around here, and I want to recognize that maybe this month was hard for you. I see you, and you’re not alone. 💕

“I like you, Emma,” he says quickly, like he’s afraid if he doesn’t shove it out of his mouth, he’ll chicken out. Everything inside me warms. I feel it from my cheeks down to my toes.

>> Meet Andy and the whole cast of characters in Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas.

What you can expect in DBF:
💜 Laugh out loud moments
💜 First love
💜 Self-confidence
💜 Swiftie vibes
💜 Relatable teenage experiences

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas - AVAILABLE NOW wherever you buy books (signed copies available on my website)!

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

For the daughters of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Lizzie McGuire, meet Emma Bishop. 👇🏼

She’s real, she’s unsure, and she’s wondering if her boobs are ever going to grow, or if she’ll ever kiss a boy.

Come for the nostalgia, stay for the laughs and real moments. Then share it with the tween or teen girl in your life. 💕

Why Won’t My Boobs Grow… and Other Annoyances is available in ebook, paperback, audio, and in KU, PLUS signed copies on my website. You know where to go to learn more. 😉

P.S. That freckle Emma has? I have it, too. But I always hated him. There’s a whole story there (maybe I’ll tell it in my stories), but I wanted Emma to embrace it. Just one of many nods to my teenage self in this book. ✨

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

Ask me anything about my WIP! 👇🏼

Also this video tells me I really need to work on my posture and use my laptop stand more. (Sitting ramrod straight right now lol)

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop #booksta

“It’s probably dramatic, but everything feels different now. Like that girl altered my brain chemistry in that empty closet. Reached down with her hands that save lives, curled her fingers around my heart, and whispered that it should come back to life.”

>> Slide 2: “What do you mean, Beckett Davis isn’t real??” -Nellie, probably.

This book. These two. THEY HAVE MY HEART.

Beckett is a golden retriever football player who missed an important kick last season. Greer is a black cat transplant surgeon who feels like a hypocrite. They meet. They go into a closet (🥵). They grow. They fall in love.

I love Beckett. I love Greer. And most of all, I love how they are both better versions of themselves because of the other.

The fall was beautiful and real. And so was the mental health rep.

@haleylwrites knocked this out of the park. Near Miss is out today. Go read it. NOW.

#booksbooksandmorebooks #readreadread #goreadthis #addtotbr #ilovetoread
#sportsromance #blackcatfmc #goldenretrievermmc #mentalhealthrep

📖 Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas OUT NOW

Read if you…
💜 love lighthearted YA books
💜 loved Judy Blume and Lizzie McGuire
💜 want a relatable, laugh out loud book
💜 have ever been, loved, or known a teenage girl
💜 are looking for the perfect coming of age series for the teen or tween in your life

DBF is available wherever you buy books + signed copies on my website!

#rebeccagarnerauthor #emmabishop

Would you read this one?

If you love books with…
💜 Relatable teenage experiences
💜 First love
💜 Laugh out loud moments
💜 Friendship
💜 Self-confidence

Then DEAR BOYFRIEND is for you! Available wherever you buy books + signed copies on my website! (You know where to find the info. 😉)

P.L. Hernandez writes some of my favorite, favorite words.

Songs We Fell In Love To is a story of a girl and the loves of her life— yes, a boy, but also her family, her hometown, and herself.

We follow Francie as she grows up and figures her shit out (or at least tries to). Francie is smart and loving, and fierce, and, most of all, real. She’s not perfect. She makes mistakes and says things she regrets, but I think we can all see a piece of ourselves in her. (I, too, feel like I can do anything when I rock a red lip.)

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you might even want to scream a little bit, but at the end, you’ll sigh, having gone on a beautiful, brave journey with Francie.

What was your final read of 2024?

#ilovetoreadbooks #bookishpost #bookreviewers #goreadthis #newrelease #booklovers #mentalhealthrep #womensfiction

So. Much. Joy. ✨

What’s something that brought you joy this month?

I’ll go first: our annual Christmas party, holiday movies, Prosecco, the magic of Santa.

And, if I’m honest, this little break from social media. 🙃

It’s hard to believe tomorrow is a new year. I hope you’re ready for us 2025. Let’s do this. 💪🏼

Marie is Emma’s little sister… and also mine. 😉 We love Marie because she is sassy, confident, and unafraid to rock her colonial pony. ✌🏼

Meet Marie and the whole cast of characters in Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas.

Read DBF if you love books with…
💜 First love
💜 Laugh out loud moments
💜 Self-confidence
💜 Sibling relationships
💜 Swiftie vibes

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas - AVAILABLE NOW wherever you buy books (signed copies available on my website)!

#addtotbr #bookwormlife #readersofinstagram📚📚❤️ #readreadread #bookstagrammer #indiebooks #bookwormlife #bookish #readersofinstagram #kindleunlimitedbooks #momswhowrite #indieauthors #yaauthor #millenialmoms #momofteengirls #parentingteens #youngadultbook #booksaboutbeingateenager #yabookstagram #amreadingya #youngadultreads #iloveya

❄️ EBOOK SALE!! ❄️

BOTH ebooks in the Emma Bishop series are on SALE for only $0.99 12/6-12/9.

And not just my books, but there are ton of books across all genres on sale for either $0.99 or FREE!

Head to the 🔗 in my b!o to browse and shop all the featured books on the @indie_visible_services website.

Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings, but everytime you click ADD TO CART, an indie author’s heart grows three sizes. (Yes, I just mashed two Christmas references together, I’m sorry, please keep reading!)

What you can expect in the Emma Bishop series:
❄️ lighthearted, laugh out loud, fun
❄️ relatable teenage experiences
❄️ navigating friendship, first love, and self-confidence
❄️ embarrassing moments
❄️ Swiftie vibes
❄️ a realistic look at the journey of self-discovery
❄️ short chapters

#addtotbr #bookwormlife #readersofinstagram📚📚❤️ #indiebooks #bookwormlife #bookish #readersofinstagram #momswhowrite #indieauthors #yaauthor #millenialmoms #momofteengirls #parentingteens #youngadultbook #booksaboutbeingateenager #yabookstagram #amreadingya #youngadultreads #iloveya #kindleunlimited #booksale

Ruby is a girl’s girl through and through. 💕

She’s quirky, she’s kind, she’s outgoing, and she’s loyal. She’s the best kind of best friend.

(Don’t tell Emma, but Ruby is my favorite. 😉)

Meet Ruby and the whole cast of characters in Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas.

You should read DBF if you…
💜 love The Summer I Turned Pretty and Never Have I Ever
💜 want a relatable, laugh out loud book
💜 have ever been, loved, or known a teenage girl
💜 are looking for the perfect coming of age series for the teen or tween in your life

Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas - AVAILABLE NOW wherever you buy books (signed copies available on my website)!

#ilovetoreadbooks #bookishpost #bookreviewers #goreadthis #readingiscool #supportindieauthors #booksbooksbooks #tbr #kindleunlimited #momswhowrite #yaauthorsofinstagram #yawriter #indieauthor #millennialmom #momofteenagers #parentingteens #amreadingya #youngadultnovels #youngadultbooks #yacontemporary #teenfiction #yafiction #yabookstagram #booknerds #booksforteens #booksaboutfirstlove #youngadultfiction

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The awkward and real moments of being a teenager...

Dear Boyfriend …and Other High School Dilemmas

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Dear Boyfriend
…and Other High School Dilemmas