Mariko Turk grew up in Pennsylvania and studied creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. She went on to get her PhD at the University of Florida with a concentration in children’s literature. She now lives in Colorado with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, The Other Side of Perfect, was a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2022 pick. Her next YA novel, I'll Be Waiting For You, won the Colorado Book Award for young adult fiction.