Jen Bouvier

As a Senior Editor at Entangled Publishing, I’m actively acquiring Young Adult, New Adult,  and Adult Romance. I update this list at least once a month to reflect my evolving interests. Always aiming to make it most helpful, I welcome agent feedback!

[You’re reading the February 2025 version]

I’m passionate about nurturing author careers and helping to bring meaningful stories to life. Editing is my labor of love, and I thrive on collaborating with authors who share my dedication to storytelling! I want to work with authors who are committed to making their books the best they can be. I can’t stress enough that even if your exact premise is not listed here and you believe I may enjoy your manuscript, I would still like to see it.

For everything I acquire, a commercial high-concept approach, tight plotting, high narrative tension, and a very strong voice are essential.

Note: I’m generally not the best fit for epic/hard fantasy, superheroes, performing arts themes, pregnancy themes, tournament books, books centered on bigotry, any slavery elements, reality TV themes, mixed media, road trip books, holiday books, dream-centric stories, memory loss-based premises (outside of nuanced disability representation), cis character disguised as another gender stories, sports romance, novels-in-verse, 4+ POVs, or anything heavily focused on political intrigue.

Currently Seeking:

Young Adult (YA) Crossover / New Adult (NA)

Seeking big, high-concept premises in the commercial realm. (Not looking for Historical/Historical Fantasy/Sci-Fi at this time.)

Generally:

• Sapphic Romance: with high tension and chemistry.
• Morally Grey Characters: Antiheroines or villain romances with complex, layered narratives.
• High-Drama Love Stories: Lyrical, quotable prose that evokes deep responses! I love romance and find it a welcome addition to most stories!
• Dark Academia & Gothic Vibes: I’m not a huge fan of college/high school settings otherwise, but I love stories that blend the moody, atmospheric elements of dark academia with gothic undertones. Think A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee or The Grimrose Girls by Laura Pohl—elite institutions, hidden secrets, and a sense of foreboding. I’m particularly interested in explorations of the darker aspects of ambition, obsession, and forbidden knowledge, all wrapped in an immersive setting! I prefer lots of romance in these types of stories.
• Dark Naturalism: Stories that explore the raw, often harsh realities of nature and human existence, where the environment itself becomes a character,  all with a big dose of fantasy. Can be any sub genre. A great example is Evergreen by Devin Greenlee. Send me your singing trees and flying mushrooms; the more out there, the better. I want to see creative worlds that depict the beauty and danger of nature in equal measure, with an emphasis on atmospheric settings.
• Mythology: Authenticity is crucial—particularly interested in Korean, Turkish, and East African mythologies. Especially eager for a Greek mythology retelling by a Greek author!

In YA/NA High Fantasy

(No pirate or seafarer settings, please)

Stand-out premises are essential for me, particularly in High Fantasy. I’m not looking for something that echoes popular trends—I’m seeking truly original concepts that push the boundaries of the genre. I’m looking for manuscripts that are truly works of art—stories offering fresh perspectives, challenge conventional norms, and that are full of heart. I want to be captivated by creativity and innovation, the kind of story that makes me think, “If I don’t acquire this, I’ll never encounter anything like it again.”

High Fantasy holds a special place in my heart, but given how much of it I take on, I need to be quite selective with what I add.

• Game-Inspired Narratives: Anything inspired by Bioware or Bethesda games, with a focus on intricate world-building and compelling character arcs. I also love Baldur’s Gate/DnD!
• Intricate High Fantasy Worlds: Expansive worlds with creative magic systems, capable of spanning multiple books.
• Horror Crossover: Stories that blend horror with high fantasy, embracing either darker, chilling tones or a delightfully campy approach. Think eerie, otherworldly settings with a touch of the macabre or fantastical elements. I don’t always just want dark though, a special wish is something campy and funny with a Princess Bride vibe.
• Romantasy: I get so few submissions like this, I cannot state enough that I love it, especially here.

In YA/NA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

(Note: I’m personally a tough sell for zombies, ghosts, and vampires here at the moment)

• Innovative takes on paranormal beings—think paranormal theme parks, cryptids. Craving a resurgence of 2010s-style PNR romance!!
• Museum Mysteries with Monsters: I’ve been very eager to find something with a Night at the Museum type twist, but scarier, where ancient artifacts, sculptures, or exhibits come to life—predictably I would love a dark, gothic edge.
• Frankenstein! This has been one of my dream projects for a while, but since there are quite a few Frankenstein retellings out there, it would have to be really fresh. I’d like to see themes of creation, autonomy, and power reimagined through a modern lens, exploring the ethical dilemmas of science and ambition and diving deep into questions of control, identity, and what it means to create life. Whether it’s set in a lab, a futuristic society, or a darkly gothic world, I’m looking for narratives that challenge the original tale’s themes while adding a smart, contemporary edge.

In YA/NA Horror

(Not the best fit for very classic haunted house/ghost stories without a twist)

• Psychological Horror: I’m looking for YA horror exploring themes of paranoia, anxiety, and the fear of the unknown. Stories that play with perception and create an unsettling, eerie atmosphere. Note: With themes of mental illness, respectful representation is key. I’m personally not into magical cures, e.g. their mental illness was actually a ghost, etc.
• Folk Horror: I’m drawn to YA horror that taps into folklore and myth, using ancient legends and rural settings to create a sense of dread, like The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould. I’d love to see stories that explore the dark side of traditions and the haunting power of forgotten lore. As with all mythological themes, authenticity is very important to me.
• Paranormal Horror: I’m eager to find YA horror that centers on supernatural entities with a unique twist. Anything comparable to Supernatural in a very fresh and original way would be awesome. If you understand the term Superwholock, you get the depth of my obsession back in the day, so I’m looking for something I wouldn’t find on AO3. Just completely exposed myself, oh well. (No intense gore, please.)
• Gothic Horror: I’m looking for Gothic vibes mostly. Crumbling mansions, family secrets, and a sense of doom. (no full-on historical fantasy for me unless it’s alternative reality high fantasy with Gothic vibes. Then 100% yes!)

In YA Thrillers

Very slowly getting back into this genre after being closed for a long time. I’m looking for extremely tight plotting and a high-concept story. Strong voice too, so pretty much everything that I want to see in other genres, but I’m extra selective here.

I want to read two sentences of your pitch and GASP. I want extremely fresh premises I have never seen like this before.

No sexual assault or bigotry-based premises, as well as anything related to political intrigue, please.

See also the Thriller section below under Adult Fiction; interests translate to YA.

In YA Contemporary 

Contemporary is perhaps the genre that’s hardest to hook me on, so a high-concept premise and an unforgettable voice are essential. It needs to be a standout project.

I’m primarily looking for fresh RomComs with unique twists and broad, international appeal. Note that I’m generally not drawn to stories set primarily within a school environment, including study abroad-type stories.

• I’d love to see more YA Contemporary featuring Muslim main characters, regardless of how prominently their faith/culture is woven into the story.
• STEM-related premises: would love to read about characters whose interests lay in coding, chemistry, physics etc.
• Creative, Niche Talents: Characters with unusual talents or interests, like glassblowing, traditional calligraphy, or urban foraging. Their journey of finding community or achieving a dream through these quirky interests would feel fun and original!
• Epic Rivalries with Heart: Contemporary stories driven by rivalries—think two teens from competing families, rival small businesses. Ideally, this would combine high stakes with complex, emotional dynamics.
• Social Media with Substance: High-stakes stories set in the digital world with characters navigating fame, identity, and authenticity. Ideally, this would be something fresh that doesn’t rely on tropes like “influencer gone bad,” but instead offers a nuanced take on the real-life effects of online fame. I guess this could also fall under Thriller!

Adult Fiction

In Contemporary Romance (RomCom Only)

See also my Women’s Fiction section. Some of the genre classifications I chose are subjective.

• Fresh Meet Cutes: essential.
• STEM-Centric Professions: biologists, physicists, or women in traditionally men-dominated fields like firefighting or carpentry.
• 90s/00s Movie Retellings: yes!
• Grey’s Anatomy Comp: Interested in stories with the emotional depth and ensemble cast feel we all love from Seattle Grace. I wouldn’t mind thinly-veiled fan fiction…
• Diverse Settings: Museums, animal shelters, outer space, at sea/underwater, or wildlife rehabilitation…anything original!

In Historical Romance (Georgian, Regency, Victorian only)

• Long-Running Series Potential: I would love to find prolific authors who can produce 2-3 books a year. I take on very little in Historical, but I get very into it when I do!
• Strong Voice and Tone: Open to both serious and funny tones. I would love anything with marginalized protagonists where their marginalization is not the central conflict, like in Bridgerton.

In Paranormal Romance/Fantasy

My interests here are pretty similar to YA/NA, so I’ll try to only add something new. See this as an addition just for Adult, exceptions are pointed out.

The Adult Fantasy I take on would all have to fall under Romantasy.

• Cozy, Cozy, Cozy: Anything in the vein of Travis Baldree and T.J. Klune. I gravitate towards humor here and am on the lookout for manuscripts exuding warmth and charm. Note that I’m still looking for high-stakes, high-concept plots here.
• Subversive & Innovative Takes: I’m eager for stories flipping traditional fantasy tropes on their head. Whether it’s a feminist reimagining of classic fantasy elements or a narrative challenging genre norms, I’m looking for fresh, groundbreaking concepts that push the boundaries of fantasy. Surprise me!
• Community-Focused Narratives: Big fan of stories that open themselves up to standalone sequels with new protagonists! Love tight-knit communities or found families, especially when they’re set against unique or magical backdrops. Whether it’s a quaint village with quirky characters or a small-town fantasy setting, I’m interested in manuscripts that emphasize connection and belonging while of course centered around a high-concept plot.
• Whimsical Worldbuilding: I’m drawn to imaginative fantasy world. If your story features whimsical creatures, enchanted villagers, or a setting where magic is woven into the everyday in a charming way, I’d love to see it

Submission Guidelines

To submit, please use Submittable following the submission guidelines and ATTN to me, any imprint. I accept agented and unagented submissions. Trigger warnings are always very, very appreciated!

www.entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit