Kristen Roupenian

Roupenian grew up in the Boston area. Her father is a medical doctor, and her mother is a retired nurse.[1] Roupenian graduated from Barnard College in 2003 with a dual degree in English and Psychology and holds a PhD in English Literature from Harvard University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan.[2]

In 2017 Roupenian's short story "Cat Person" was published in The New Yorker. She received a $1.2 million advance for her 2019 book You Know You Want This.[1] In 2018 HBO bought the development rights for the collection to create an anthology drama series project.[3] In March 2018, A24 acquired the rights to her horror screenplay Bodies, Bodies, Bodies.[4]

In July 2021 Alexis Nowicki alleged that, in writing "Cat Person," Roupenian included details from Nowicki's life. [5]

• You Know You Want This, 2019, Gallery Press, ISBN 9781982101633

• Roupenian, Kristen (2019-01-10). "What It Felt Like When "Cat Person" Went Viral". The New Yorker.