Jessica Dettmann is an Australian author and performer.^[1]

Dettmann worked as an editor for Random House Australia and HarperCollins Publishers Australia before becoming a writer.

In late 2018 her debut novel How to Be Second Best was published through HarperCollins, drawing comparisons to Liane Moriarty and Marian Keyes.^[2][3] The novel was endorsed by both Mia Freedman and Ben Elton, who labelled Dettmann "a fine comic writer".^[4][5] The Daily Telegraph called it "the first book you have to read in the new year".^[6]

In 2019 the Telegraph tipped her as "Australia’s next Liane Moriarty".^[7]

Dettmann has regularly performed her work at Giant Dwarf's Story Club.^[8] In July 2016 she performed 'The Chairs Are Gone'. In October 2018 she performed 'Yuletide MacGyver'.^[9]

Novels

• How to Be Second Best (HarperCollins, 2018)
• This Has Been Absolutely Lovely (HarperCollins, 2021)

Short stories

• 'In Recognition of Fifteen Years’ Service' in Thanks for The Mammaries (Penguin, 2009)^[10]

Performance pieces

• '64: The Chairs Are Gone' (Giant Dwarf Story Club, 2016)^[11]
• '139: Yuletide MacGyver' (Giant Dwarf Story Club, 2018)^[12]

Other

• 'Books that Changed Me' (The Sydney Morning Herald, 2019)^[13]

• ABC Radio Melbourne - What’s on at the library? Just ask Monica Dullard
• The Daily Telegraph The first book you have to read in the new year
• The Sydney Morning Herald How To Be Second Best review: Jessica Dettmann has fun with the rom-com novel

• Official website

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