Bernadette Strachan (née Gaughan, born 27 December 1962) is an English author of popular women's fiction and among the more popular writers of "chick lit." Her first novel, The Reluctant Landlady, was published by Hodder and Stoughton in 2004 since when she has published a further three novels. with the same publisher. In 2009 her fifth book, How to Lose a Husband and Gain a Life, was published by Little, Brown. She also writes theatre works under her maiden name of Bernie Gaughan.
Bernadette Strachan was born in Fulham, London into an Irish Catholic family. Her Irish background is often incorporated into her writing, particularly in the semi-autobiographical musical Next Door's Baby. which was written for London's Orange Tree Theatre with her composer husband Matthew Strachan. Prior to becoming an author she worked in the media as a radio advertising producer and subsequently as an agent for voiceover artists.