Leanne Toshiko Simpson

Leanne Toshiko Simpson is a mixed-race Yonsei writer, educator and psychiatric survivor from Toronto. She loves writing joyful, messy, laugh-out-loud stories about living with mental illness, and the moments of hope that help us get out of bed day after day.

Leanne is a graduate of UTSC Creative Writing and the University of Guelph’s MFA, and is currently completing an EdD in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. She teaches seminars in disability arts and BIPOC literature at Trinity College and is a co-founder of Mata Ashita, a national writing circle for Nikkei communities.

Named Scarborough’s Emerging Writer in 2016 and nominated for the Journey Prize in 2019, Leanne also launched a reflective writing program at Canada’s largest mental health centre after being hospitalized for bipolar disorder. Her debut novel Never Been Better is inspired by the community she has found through her mental health advocacy work post-institutionalization.

Never Been Better: A Novel

My Best Friend’s Wedding meets The Silver Linings Playbook in this offbeat, heartfelt comedy about a seaside wedding reunion where no one can stay afloat. When it comes to happily ever afters, how is a girl supposed to choose between love and recovery?

  • "A sparkling romantic comedy that defies the usual tropes of the genre… Filled with a cast of flawed but utterly charming characters, Never Been Better is a story about love of all kinds: between lovers, between friends, between sisters, but most of all, the love offered towards oneself.”

    —Carrianne Leung, award-winning author of That Time I Loved You

  • “[An] invigoratingly comic debut novel . . . Full of sharp, pithy dialogue and farcical scenes that will put a grin on your face, this story about love, friendship, and family also offers hard-won wisdom about mental health and the myths that surround it. . . . Navigating the contrast between humor and pain can be tricky, but Simpson makes it look easy in her first novel. A funny, refreshing, and generous story full of wisdom on mental health.”

    —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

  • “[An] unexpectedly funny but also sad but also uplifting tale of illness, recovery, and true love.”

    —Good Morning America

  • “Laugh-out-loud funny . . . Simpson’s refreshing debut depicts the reality of living with mental illness, which will resonate with many readers.”

    —Booklist

  • “Humor abounds in this story that also sensitively explores issues of mental health and recovery.”

    —The Seattle Times

  • “Life after the psych ward combined with a destination wedding and secrets between friends can only lead to raw yet heartfelt hijinks in this delightful debut by Leanne Toshiko Simpson. Searing and honest, Never Been Better is that most rare of things—a novel that combines humor, heartache and hope in one page-turning package, with lyrical and wickedly funny writing in spades. Simpson is a writer to watch!”

    —Uzma Jalaluddin, author of Much Ado About Nada

  • “A hilarious, honest, refreshing, and moving story about mental health, friendship, and love. Never Been Better is a brilliant debut.”

    —Emily Austin, author of Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead

  • “Leanne Toshiko Simpson’s Never Been Better is an exuberant debut rich with snappy dialogue, madcap misadventures and a lot of heart.”

    —Rebecca Hardiman, author of Good Eggs

Keep up with Leanne on Instagram

Graeme’s first trip to the zoo - another point for Scarborough in the east side vs west side game ✅ Niko was so much of an old pro that he fell asleep for most of the animals (but really loved the tiger especially). A much-needed decompression
Baby’s first starred review from @kirkus_reviews ! Plus a lovely mention in @booklist_ala and some honest (if not slightly ego-bruising) commentary from my sister @kellysimpson_ 🐶 But to be fair, she really took her investment in the novel to
Happy pub day to Interesting Facts About Space by @emilyraustinauthor 🪐🚀 Described as a “fast-paced, hilarious and ultimately hopefully novel for anyone who has ever worried they might be a terrible person” (say no more - I am already o
Happy birthday weekend to my partner in crime (and in blanket fort building) who has channeled big dad energy ever since the moment we met - and has made this parenting journey not only possible, but so fun! We celebrated by skating at Evergreen Bric