Abby McDonald
Abby McDonald is a New York Times bestselling British author and screenwriter,[1] who also writes under the pen name Abigail Haas.[2][3][4]
Early life
She was born in England and grew up in Sussex, going on to study Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Oxford University.[3][2][5] At college, she became music editor of The Oxford Student and completed her first novel.
Career
She has worked as a music journalist and entertainment critic. Her writing has appeared in the New Musical Express, Plan B magazine, CosmoGIRL! and others.
She has written twelve novels.[6][7]
As well as writing under Abby McDonald and Abigail Haas, she has written as Melody Grace, self-publishing her Beachwood Bay series. The series became a USA Today and international bestseller series before she revealed she was the author.[8][9][10] She is also a staff writer for the Netflix series Bridgerton.[11]
Published works
(sources:[12][13]) Young Adult novels:
- Sophomore Switch (Candlewick Press - 2009) (published as Life Swap in the UK)[14]
- Boys, Bears & a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots (Candlewick Press - 2010)
- The Anti-Prom (Candlewick Press - 2011)
- Getting Over Garrett Delaney (Candlewick Press - 2012)
- Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood (Candlewick Press - 2013)
- Dangerous Boys (Simon & Schuster UK - 2014) (as Abigail Haas)
- Dangerous Girls (Simon Pulse - 2013) (as Abigail Haas) (republished as 'I'll Never Tell' in 2019)
- And Then He Kissed Me: an anthology (Avon - 2013)
Adult novels:
- The Popularity Rules (Random House - 2009)[15]
- The Liberation of Alice Love (Random House - 2010)
TV
- Bridgerton Season 1 - Staff Writer
- 104 'An Affair of Honor' (written by)
- 107 'Oceans Apart' (co-written with Jay Ross)
- Bridgerton Season 2 - Executive Story Editor
- 205 'An Unthinkable Fate' (written by)
Movies
- Jingle Bell Heist. In December 2023, it was announced that McDonald's original script 'Jingle Bell Heist' had started production in London, starring Olivia Holt and Connor Swindells. The film was produced by ACE Entertainment, and directed by Michael Fimognari.[1] It released on Netflix in November 2025.[16]
Personal life
In 2009, she lived in Sussex and Montreal. She has lived in London. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
Sources
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (15 December 2023). "Jingle Bell Heist': Olivia Holt, Connor Swindells & More Set For ACE Entertainment Rom-Com". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Abigail Haas". www.lbabooks.com LBA Literary Agents. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ a b "About". abbymcdonald.com. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Abigail Haas". simonandschuster.co.uk.
- ^ Elisabeth Donnelly (12 August 2014). ""It's About Connecting With the Darkness": Thriller Authors Elizabeth Little and Abigail Haas on Writing Complicated Women". Flavorwire. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (9 December 2016). "Tooley Prods Snaps Up 'Pics Or It Didn't Happen' Spec By Abby McDonald". Deadline. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Abby McDonald books and biography". www.waterstones.com | Waterstones. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Author Melody Grace reveals her true identity". Hypable. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Melody Grace wraps up Beachwood Bay with 'Unforgettable'". Happy Ever After. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ "Beachwood Bay Series by Melody Grace". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ Abigail McDonald [@abbywritesbooks]; (26 December 2020). "Such a thrill to see my credit onscreen for Episode 4! Dukes, dancing, and duels, oh my 😉 #bridgertonsonnetflix #bridgertonnetflix #bridgerton". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Books". Abby McDonald .com. June 2013.
- ^ "Abby McDonald". fantasticfiction.com.
- ^ "Sophomore Switch". Candlewick Press. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ "The Popularity Rules by Abby McDonald". publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ Nhundu, Kimberly (24 November 2025). "Jingle Bell Heist release date and cast in full as Bridgerton writer pens romcom". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 November 2025.