Mona Awad

Mona Awad is a Canadian-American author known for her darkly comedic and surreal novels that often explore themes of body image, trauma, and the pressures and anxieties faced by women in contemporary society. Her works frequently employ elements of satire, horror, and literary experimentation.

Awad was born in Montreal, Canada. She holds a Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Denver and an MFA from Brown University. She has taught creative writing at various universities.

Awad's notable works include:

• 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl (2016): A novel-in-stories that follows the protagonist Lizzie as she navigates the complexities of weight loss, body image, and self-esteem.

• Bunny (2019): A satirical and darkly comedic novel about a group of wealthy and eccentric MFA students who practice a bizarre and unsettling form of creative ritual. The novel received critical acclaim and was a finalist for the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

• All's Well (2021): A dark and unconventional novel centered on a Shakespeare professor suffering from chronic pain and grappling with her career and personal life.

• Rouge (2023): A gothic horror novel examining beauty standards and the extreme measures women take to achieve them. The novel follows a young woman investigating the death of her mother, which leads her into a dark and twisted world of beauty treatments and obsession.

Awad's writing style is characterized by its sharp wit, surreal imagery, and exploration of complex psychological states. She is a distinctive voice in contemporary fiction, known for pushing boundaries and challenging conventional narratives.