Paul Neilan is an American novelist. He is best known as the author of the book Apathy and Other Small Victories.

Apathy and Other Small Victories follows Shane, a directionless and hopelessly apathetic man in his mid-twenties. The book has been compared to Benjamin Kunkel's Indecision, possibly indicating a trend of novels focusing on directionless young adults. Notably, Max Barry described it as the “funniest book he'd ever read,” while a review in Daily Kos called it "magnificent, one-of-a-kind, immensely interesting, a five-star must-read, and hilarious." However, a review in Booklist described it as "Juvenile fun for undiscerning lads with two hours to kill."

Neilan resides in New Jersey and has three brothers: John, Michael, and Ryan. He is the second oldest. He also has three nieces, Lily, Lucy, and Avery Neilan, and a nephew, Quinn Neilan.