Jen Doll

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jen Doll |Lynn Steger Strong

THE FLOAT TEST, by Lynn Steger StrongWriters are the worst, am I right? As a writer, I can say this. Whether we're following in the grand "everything is copy" tradition of Nora Ephron or quietly "borrowing" other people's stories, we cannot be trusted. But what happens when the writer is your beloved sister, and your whole family is kind of a disaster, with years of snubs, betrayals, and accidental and purposeful misdeeds between everyone, many of them aired in print by the writer?

Dec 20, 2024 | dailypress.com | Jen Doll

If you are a cynical sort (and who isn’t, these days?), the concept of a novel set around Christmas may fill you with a particular squeamishness and fear of holiday cringe. Predictable festive narratives have been fed to many of us throughout our lives, so it’s only fair to feel some wariness. Yet these tales might just turn you into a slobbering lump of humanity, suddenly possessed by all the best of the so-called Christmas spirit, ready to do — and be — just a little bit better.

Nov 19, 2024 | nytimes.com | Jen Doll

If you are a cynical sort (and who isn't, these days?), the concept of a novel set around Christmas may fill you with a particular squeamishness and fear of holiday cringe. Predictable festive narratives have been fed to many of us throughout our lives, so it's only fair to feel some wariness.

Jan 5, 2024 | yourtango.com | Jen Doll

By Jen DollWhen you compare the first kiss to that first time in bed... well, awkward intimacy can improve with time. But a bad kiss? You’re not going to wait around to see what comes after. So it’s worth considering which messages we exchange when we pucker up. No one wants to end up with someone who's a bad kisser. RELATED: 15 Facts About Kissing That Will Change The Way You KissHere are 3 incredibly rare things a simple kiss can teach you:Even chimps and elephants kiss.

Dec 16, 2023 | yourtango.com | Jen Doll

By Jen DollBummer, since research shows that women seek close one-on-one friendships, whereas men collect a loose-knit posse. "Compare our 'face to face' relationships of having coffee and the 'shoulder to shoulder' experience of two guys watching the game," says Andrea Bonior, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of The Friendship Fix. That dynamic makes our bonds more intimate — and more explosive.