Mariko Turk grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in creative writing. She received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children's literature. She lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter, where she enjoys tea, walks, and stories of all kinds. Her debut novel, The Other Side of Perfect, was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2022 pick and a Bank Street Best Children's Books of the year selection and has been published to acclaim around the world including the US, Germany and Spain.
'A compelling story about ghosts, belief, and the ways in which we grieve. Mariko Turk's writing is warm and full of heart, with just the right amount of humour. I'll Be Waiting for You made me smile, shed a few tears, and even gave me goosebumps. Gorgeous.' Tobias Madden, author of Anything But Fineand Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell 'Dreamy, atmospheric, and exquisitely tender.' Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of 99 Days 'A poignant exploration of the transformative nature of grief, I'll Be Waiting for You beautifully blends humor, heart, and pathos. A perfect gem of a book.' Emma Mills, author of Foolish Hearts and Something Close to Magic 'A non-horror novel for horror fans, I'll Be Waiting For You is a tender exploration of grief, deftly balanced with moments of humor and a well-matched romance.' Miel Moreland, author of It Goes Like This and Something Like Possible Praise for The Other Side of Perfect YALSA's 2022 Best Fiction For Young Adults 'Debut novelist Turk writes with a great deal of nuance.... A well-choreographed story of hope, resilience, and personal growth.'-Booklist 'The writing is compelling, sentimental moments with please romance lovers, and the hopeful, yet realistic, ending is satisfying. A love story with a refreshing focus on confronting systemic racism.'-Kirkus 'A strong portrayal of musical theater, ballet, the arts, and culture all merged into a coming-of-age story that will resonate.' -School Library Journal