Marian Keyes (born 10 September 1963) is an Irish novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for her work in women's literature.

She has so far sold 22 million copies of her work in 30 different languages, and her novel The Other Side of the Story is considered, according to an entry in the Penguin Celebration series, to be one of the best of its kind.[1]

Born in Limerick and raised in Monkstown, Keyes earned a law degree from Dublin University, but immediately disregarded it, left Ireland and became a waitress in London, feeling as though she did not deserve a well-paid career. Keyes began composing short stories after she found work in an accounts office, but initially had no intention of completing a novel, arguing that it would take too long.

However, following a letter back from the publisher whom she'd sent her manuscripts to, she began work on a book, and thus her first feature-length story, Watermelon, was born. Known for her self-deprecation, Keyes often says that she "became a writer by accident".

Although many of her novels are known as comedies, they are often filled with dark themes including domestic violence, drug abuse, mental illness, divorce and alcoholism, most of which are loosely based on Keyes' own life experiences.

She is regarded by her fans as a pioneer of the so-called 'chick-lit' genre; her stories usually revolve around a strong female character who overcomes numerous obstacles to achieve lasting happiness.