Annie Barrows is an American editor and author, renowned for her contribution to children's literature as well as adult fiction. Born in 1962 in San Diego, California, she moved early to San Anselmo in the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up, she spent considerable time in libraries, leading to her first job shelving books at the tender age of twelve.

Annie pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Medieval History from the University of California at Berkeley. Her interest in publishing was sparked by the belief that it involved a significant amount of reading, leading her to roles such as a proofreader at an art magazine and later, an editor at a textbook publishing company. She joined Chronicle Books in 1988 and climbed the editorial ranks to become a Senior Editor.

In 1996, after completing her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College and having her first child, Annie transitioned from editorial roles to writing. She initially authored several non-fiction books on diverse topics, later turning her focus to children's literature. Her acclaimed Ivy and Bean series, which has been translated into fourteen languages, commenced in 2006 and includes twelve books, frequently appearing on best-seller lists.

Beyond children's books, Annie co-authored The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society with her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer in 2008, achieving international success with translations in over twenty-six languages. Her first solo adult novel, The Truth According to Us, released in 2015, also garnered national acclaim.

Annie Barrows continues to live in Northern California with her family.