MacLean moved to New York City in 2000, and worked as a literary publicist until she attended graduate school at Harvard University, receiving a master's degree in education.

[4] Upon returning to New York City, she wrote her first book, a young adult novel, The Season, after a friend suggested she try her hand at writing for teens.

[5] The book, set in Regency England, received numerous awards, and was named to the 2010 Lone Star Reading List of the Texas Library Association.

[11] In 2021, MacLean appeared on the popular podcast 99% Invisible where she discussed the importance of the romance genre and its history (which co-aired on Fated Mates).

[13] Through her podcast, MacLean runs weekly phonebanks for progressive candidates during election years, and raises money for democrats in downticket races.

In its fourth season, Fated Mates began collecting the oral histories of romance trailblazers: authors, editors and others who built the modern genre.