Kaira

Rouda

Bestselling Novelist

Award-Winning Thriller Writer

Travels from: Laguna Beach, CA

“One of the things that makes Kaira such a standout author at events is her ability to connect with readers both on and off the page. She has a natural gift for putting audiences at ease, making every conversation feel genuine and welcoming. Funny, relatable, and incredibly likable, she brings infectious energy wherever she goes. Whether she’s discussing her work or engaging with readers, her warmth and enthusiasm make her an absolute joy to listen to.” — The Creepy Book Club, 2026

Kaira Rouda is an award–winning USA TODAY and Amazon Charts bestselling author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her novels of domestic suspense include WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS (an Instant national bestseller), JILL IS NOT HAPPY, THE WIDOW, SOMEBODY’S HOME, THE NEXT WIFE, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER, BEST DAY EVER, ALL THE DIFFERENCE, BENEATH THE SURFACE, UNDER THE PALMS, THE NEXT MRS. STROM, and WHAT THE NANNY SAW and the forthcoming TAKE BACK THE NIGHT (2027, with Killer Author Club co-hosts Kimberly Belle and Heather Gudenkauf). Her next standalone novel, IT WASN’T ME, will be released in May 2027.

Reviews have touted her novels as “pure genius” (SheReads.com), “an exceptional psychological thriller” (Publishers Weekly starred review) and promising to “keep you at the edge of your seat” (PopSugar). It is clear, one outlet shares, that “Kaira Rouda is the new mistress of domestic suspense” (Bookstr).

Kaira’s work has been translated into more than 14 languages and BENEATH THE SURFACE has been optioned for feature film. Three of her novels have been named Amazon Editor’s Picks for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense. THE NEXT WIFE was named a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2021, won the 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense Novel and was a 2022 Silver Falchion first runner-up for Best Book of the Year. BENEATH THE SURFACE won a Zibby’s Book Award for Best Beach Read, and WE WERE NEVER FRIENDS was featured in People magazine.

Kaira is active in the mystery and thriller writing community as a co-founder and co-host of the Killer Author Club, a live online show supporting authors. She’s also a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Women’s Fiction Author Association, and the International Thriller Writers Association. She served as a committee chair for the Edgar Awards 2024 and frequently appears on panels at conferences across the country. She is a candidate for a Masters in Creative Writing at the Palm Desert Low-Residency program at UC Riverside.

This year, she will be a featured author at the Decatur Book Festival, the Tucson Book Festival, the Columbus Book Festival, and the Southern Festival of Books, among many other appearances.

Prior to writing novels, Kaira was a journalist, society columnist, magazine editor, and marketing executive. She has received numerous Prism, Addy and Webby Awards throughout her career. For her efforts creating the first women consumer focused residential real estate brand, Real Living, she won the prestigious Stevie Award for Women in Business. Her first book, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 ESSENTIALS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, inspired women nationwide. Active in the areas of homelessness, food security, and empowering women and girls, in her twenties, as a volunteer, she created the first walk-in emergency shelter for homeless families in Central Ohio. Kaira has received numerous awards for her community service, including the national Kiwanis Service to Mankind Award, the Ohio Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, and Kick Ass Woman of Orange County by Orange Coast Magazine. Kaira was honored to be appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the California Volunteers commission. Kaira Rouda lives in Southern California with her family.

Kaira's Featured Titles

We Were Never Friends: A Novel

Poisoned Pen Press |

February 3, 2026

Mystery/Thriller

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?

Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend―even matching the cocktails to her couture―to prove that she remains their undisputed queen
Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow
Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family―and a well-guarded bad habit
Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal
Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed―until she wasn’t

They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies―because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…

For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

Fiction, Friendship & Community, Mystery & Thriller

Jill Is Not Happy

Scarlet |

June 10, 2025

Mystery/Thriller

Instant USA Today Bestseller

Bonfire of the Vanities meets War of the Roses in this latest thriller from the USA Today bestselling author of Best Day Ever and The Next Wife, in which an ill-fated road trip resurrects a married couple’s darkest secrets.

Some secrets keep a couple together.

If you ask Jill Tingley, she’ll tell you she and her husband Jack are college sweethearts living the dream in Southern California. Wealthy, popular and genetically blessed, theirs is an enviable life, though they’ve grown distant in recent years. Newly empty nesting with their daughter Maggie away at college, Jill suggests a road trip to reconnect.

Jack would rather do anything else than drive to Utah with his wife. He’s only stayed in this marriage because of a shared secret, a tragedy in the past he wanted to keep buried. And for his daughter’s sake. But Jack is finished with the charade of his marriage. He’s filing for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what.

But he doesn’t realize what else Jill is hiding.

So begins a cat-and-mouse road trip as a cunning wife—think Ripley in yoga pants—and a reluctant husband match wits and drive each other to the edge. But everything will be fine. Jill still loves Jack and believes he’s the only one for her. She’ll do anything to keep him. Anything. She always has.

Family Narratives, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Under the Palms: A Novel (The Kingsleys)

Thomas & Mercer |

May 21, 2024

Mystery/Thriller

During a weekend retreat, a powerful family plays a dangerous game of dark secrets and cold-blooded ambition in a novel by Kaira Rouda, USA Today bestselling author of Beneath the Surface.

Under the direction of the Kingsleys’ new president, Paige, the family has gathered for a weekend retreat at a luxurious Laguna Beach resort.

Still clinging to the hope of succession are the sons of Richard Kingsley, the family patriarch and CEO: John, the oldest, who’s clawed his way back from a dark tragedy, and Paige’s estranged husband, Ted, the golden boy. When Richard’s ex and his wayward daughter join the fray, Paige finds herself with two fast allies. They know a secret that could shatter the family legacy. Call it leverage, call it revenge, the Kingsley women believe they have the upper hand.

But as the power games begin, greater threats than the howling Santa Ana winds are coming. Because this weekend, amid so much greed and betrayal, no Kingsley is safe. It’s family. Watch your back.

Family Narratives, Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Friendship, Marriage and the Stories We Tell Ourselves: Beneath the Surface of Seemingly Perfect Lives

Kaira Rouda’s signature talk, Beneath the Surface of Seemingly Perfect Lives: Friendship, Marriage, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves, explores the hidden tensions beneath outwardly beautiful lives — the emotional terrain at the heart of her psychological suspense novels. Through stories from books like We Were Never Friends and Best Day Ever, Rouda examines the gap between appearance and reality: polished marriages hiding resentment, friendships shaped by rivalry and memory, and communities where image often matters more than truth. The talk explores how people carefully construct identities and personal narratives — and what happens when those narratives begin to unravel.

Woven throughout is Rouda’s own journey from marketing executive and entrepreneur to bestselling suspense author. She reflects on how branding, storytelling, and suburbia all revolve around perception, and how a pivotal moment later in life inspired her to pursue fiction writing seriously. Ultimately, the talk is about reinvention, resilience, and the stories people tell themselves in order to survive, belong, and feel loved — themes that continue to drive both her novels and her connection with readers.

It's Never Too Late to Live the Life of Your Dreams based on Real You Incorporated

Kaira Rouda’s inspiring keynote based on her first book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, is a heartfelt, humorous, and motivating conversation about reinvention, resilience, and finally giving yourself permission to pursue the life you truly want. Drawing from her journey from journalist and marketing executive to entrepreneur, national brand builder, and bestselling suspense author, Rouda shares the pivotal lessons that helped her navigate change, trust her instincts, and embrace new dreams — even when those dreams arrived later than expected.

Blending practical wisdom with personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments from her publishing career, Rouda encourages audiences to rethink the limits they place on themselves and to recognize that it is never too late to begin again. Whether speaking to women entrepreneurs, corporate leadership groups, readers, or creative professionals, she explores the power of authenticity, branding, storytelling, resilience, and self-belief — reminding audiences that the most important role they will ever build is becoming fully themselves. At its heart, the talk delivers the empowering message that success is not about perfection; it’s about having the courage to live the life of your dreams.

Marriage Thrillers and Why My Husband Sleeps with One Eye Open

An Entertaining Conversation with Bestselling Author Kaira Rouda and Former Congressman Harley Rouda

What happens when your wife makes a career out of writing marriage thrillers—and you’re the husband?

Join USA Today bestselling suspense author Kaira Rouda and her husband, former US Congressman, entrepreneur, and business leader Harley Rouda, for a hilarious and insightful conversation about the realities of a 36-year marriage that has survived entrepreneurship, politics, parenthood, public life, and a literary career built on fictional husbands behaving very badly.

Together, Kaira and Harley pull back the curtain on the real stories behind the novels. Audiences will hear how their years building a national real estate brand inspired The Next Wife, why Harley’s political career unexpectedly provided material for The Widow, and what happened when Kaira had to announce to Harley’s congressional re-election consultants that she had just sold a novel about a cheating congressman and his wife.

Along the way, they explore why readers are fascinated by marriage thrillers, how ordinary relationships can inspire extraordinary stories, and what they’ve learned about partnership, reinvention, resilience, and laughter after more than three decades together.

Warm, candid, and often laugh-out-loud funny, this program offers audiences an unforgettable look at the intersection of marriage, ambition, storytelling, and the secrets we all keep behind closed doors.

Audience Takeaways
-Why marriage remains one of the most compelling relationships in fiction—and in life.
-Lessons from 36 years of marriage through business ventures, political campaigns, parenting, and career reinventions.
-How real-life experiences become bestselling stories.
-The role humor plays in navigating life’s biggest challenges and transitions.
-Behind-the-scenes insights into the world of publishing, politics, entrepreneurship, and psychological suspense.

“Kaira was a wonderful speaker. She was warm, funny and relatable. She was really animated and shared descriptive stories about her writing and writing process which really encouraged audience engagement and questions.” — Alpha Day of Authors

“We Were Never Friends is Kaira Rouda at her best! Lush descriptions, outrageous characters, and corkscrew twists make this a deliciously fun read.” — Sarah Pekkanen, New York Times bestselling author

“A reunion goes horribly and thrillingly wrong…this fast-paced, entertaining read will delight fans of May Cobb and Jeneva Rose.” — Library Journal

“Nothing about these “sisters” is what it seems, and all have their own stories about the night that Sunny died…Mean Girls has nothing on We Were Never Friends.” — First Clue

“We Were Never Friends is a wicked blend of long-held secrets, backstabbing frenemies, a gorgeous estate, and a relentless dust storm – the perfect backdrop for murder in this riveting, heart-pounding thrill ride from a writer who delivers every single time. Settle in because you’ll only stop reading to catch your breath. Join Theta Gamma Mu for a party that will chill you to the bone, leave you looking over your shoulder, and sleeping with one eye open.” — Heather Gudenkauf, NYT bestselling author of The Overnight Guest and Everyone Is Watching

“Secrets and betrayals abound in this twisty tale of a sorority reunion gone very, very wrong. We Were Never Friends is a delightfully juicy reminder that dark secrets can lurk behind even the glossiest of exteriors.” — Kathleen Barber, author of Sisterhood Above All

“I love everything Kaira Rouda writes and We Were Never Friends is no exception. As twisty and suspenseful as it gets, this book is filled with deceitful characters who spend a weekend at a luxurious mansion in ultra-cool Palm Springs to celebrate a young couple’s recent engagement. But instead of looking to the future, these old friends and sorority sisters discover it’s not so easy to bury the past. A haunting page-turner. I loved it!” — Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Haters

“Mix one part ruthless college frenemies out for vengeance with another part juicy scandal not-so-deeply buried in the past, then shake it up with messed-up family dynamics and Rouda’s trademark dark humor, and you get the heady cocktail that is We Were Never Friends. A fun, clever spin on the revenge thriller and a rollicking good time.” — Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow

“For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.” — Criminal Element

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Honors, Awards & Recognition

Silver Falchion Best Suspense Novel, 2022
Silver Falchion First Runner-Up for Best Book of the Year, 2022
Zibby Media’s Most Anticipated
Amazon Editor’s Picks
USA Today Bestseller
Amazon Charts Bestseller
Books translated into more than 14 languages
Amazon Editor Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2021