Grief book series in reading order

by Amy Reed

by Ali Novak

Lurlene McDaniel, born April 5, 1944 in Philadelphia, is an American author of more than 70 young adult books, known for stories of young people facing mortality and chronic illness. McDaniel began writing on the subject as a therapeutic response after a son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 3. The characters face cancer, diabetes, organ failure and the deaths of loved ones. The catalogue counts 82 books from A Horse for Mandy (1981) to The Girl with the Broken Heart (2018), with series such as One Last Wish, Dawn Rochelle, Angels Trilogy and Angels in Pink. McDaniel graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa and lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Francine Pascal (née Rubin, 1932–2024) was an American author whose name is tied to the Sweet Valley books for young adults. Sweet Valley High anchored that collection, was adapted for television, and branched into spin-offs such as The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. The catalogue opens with Hangin' Out with Cici (1977) and also carries the Fearless series. Subjects include twins, sisters, high schools, friendship and dating. Most Sweet Valley books came out in the 1980s and 1990s, and several titles were re-released decades later.

James Patterson

510 books• 73 series

James Patterson, born on March 22, 1947, is an American writer whose catalogue here holds 514 books published from 1976 to 2027. The run opens with The Thomas Berryman Number (1976), and Along Came a Spider (1992) and Kiss the Girls (1995) follow later. Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, Witch & Wizard, NYPD Red, Private, Middle School and the Women's Murder Club are among the Patterson series, alongside standalone thrillers, non-fiction and romance. Marshall Karp shares the credit on 5 of the books. Patterson's sales exceed 425 million copies, and Patterson was the first person to sell one million e-books. Forbes ranked Patterson the highest-paid author in 2016, for a third year running, and the National Book Foundation gave Patterson the Literarian Award in November 2015. 27 Stars is scheduled for 2027.

Robyn Carr is the American author of the Virgin River books, and an executive producer on the television versions of Virgin River and Sullivan's Crossing. The catalogue records 70 Carr books, from Chelynne (1980) to The Friendship Club (2024). Thunder Point, Sullivan's Crossing and the Grace Valley Trilogy are Carr's other series. Several novels, The Hero among them, reached The New York Times Best Seller list. Subject tags on the books include contemporary romance, California, single mothers, veterans and city and town life.

Amy Clipston is an American writer of romance fiction, and the catalogue's subject tags point to Amish settings and Christian romance. A Gift of Grace (2009) is the first of 74 listed books, followed by A Place of Peace and A Promise of Hope (both 2010). Candy Apple Kisses (2026) is the latest title, and The Amish Widow's Convenient Marriage is due in 2027. Series include Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, Amish Marketplace, Amish Legacy and Amish Singing. Pennsylvania, family life, secrets and widowers recur in the subject tags.

Melody Carlson, born March 2, 1956 in San Francisco, is an American author of more than 250 books for women, teens and children, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. The catalogue lists 298 books from 1995, when Contemplative Bible Reading and How to Start a Quality Childcare Business in Your Home appeared, to All Booked Up (2026). Series include Carter House Girls, On The Runway, TrueColors, 86 Bloomberg Place, Secret Life of Samantha McGregor, Beary Patch Bears and Fruit Troops. Subjects include Christian life, high schools, friendship, Bible stories and stories in rhyme. Carlson grew up in Springfield, Oregon, attended Lane Community College and lives in Sisters, Oregon.

Edgar Allan Poe

98 books• 4 series

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, known above all for poems and short stories of mystery and the macabre. Poe stands among the central figures of American Romanticism and Gothic fiction, was one of the country's first successful short story writers, and is counted a pioneer of detective fiction who also helped shape science fiction. The catalogue holds 98 entries, from Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827) to The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (2023), with C. Auguste Dupin as a named series.

Ann M. Martin

446 books• 24 series

Ann Matthews Martin, born August 12, 1955, is an American writer of children's and young adult fiction and a Smith College graduate. The Baby-Sitters Club, first published in 1986, is the series Martin is known best for, and Martin remains involved with the series and its spin-offs. The catalogue lists 446 books, beginning with Inside Out and Bummer Summer in 1983. Related lines include Baby-Sitters Club Mysteries, California Diaries, Kids in Ms. Colman's Class, Main Street and Doll People. Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter: A Graphic Novel (2025) is the newest listed title.

Jacqueline Woodson

42 books• 7 series

Jacqueline Woodson, born February 12, 1963, is an American writer of books for children and young adolescents. Miracle's Boys is Woodson's best-known book, and Brown Girl Dreaming, After Tupac and D Foster, Feathers and Show Way each earned a Newbery Honor. Woodson was Young People's Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017 and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2018 to 2019. Another Brooklyn reached the 2016 National Book Award shortlist for fiction. Honors include the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (2018), the Hans Christian Andersen Award (2020) and a 2020 MacArthur Fellowship. The catalogue lists 42 books from Last Summer with Maizon (1990) to Remember Us (2023), with subjects such as African Americans, friendship, family life, race relations and grief.

Katherine Paterson

70 books• 5 series

Katherine Paterson, born Katherine Womeldorf on 31 October 1932, is an American writer known chiefly for children's novels. Bridge to Terabithia (1977) won the 1978 Newbery Medal, and across four books published between 1975 and 1980 Paterson won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. The catalogue lists 70 books from The Sign of the Chrysanthemum (1973) to Birdie's Bargain (2021), with The Master Puppeteer (1975), The Great Gilly Hopkins (1978) and Jacob Have I Loved (1980) among them. Marvin and Read For Your Life are listed series, and Japan, friendship and grief appear in the subjects.

Lisa Schroeder writes children's fiction, including novels in verse. Grief, friendship, families, best friends, and mothers and daughters run through 25 catalogued books published between 2005 and 2022. Baby Can't Sleep (2005) opens the list and A Night to Die For (2022) is the newest entry. Charmed Life and It's Raining Cupcakes are the two series listed. The catalogue also holds Mother's Best: Comfort Food That Takes You Home Again (2009). The 2010s are the busiest decade, and the median recorded length is 224 pages.

Deb Caletti, an American author born June 16, 1963, writes young adult and adult fiction set in the Pacific Northwest. Caletti was a National Book Award finalist and received a Michael L. Printz Honor, the Washington State Book Award and the Josette Frank Award. Random House published He's Gone (2013), the first Caletti novel for adults. The catalogue holds 23 books from The Queen of Everything (2002) to You, Me, and Infinity (2026), including The Nature of Jade (2007).

Julie Buxbaum is an American novelist and lawyer, born in 1977, who writes mainly young adult novels. The first two novels, The Opposite of Love and After You, were written for adults. Buxbaum studied at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Anne Hathaway was tentatively cast in a planned film of The Opposite of Love. Later titles include Tell Me Three Things (2016) and What to Say Next (2017), and Area 51 Files is a listed series.

Across 194 catalogued books, Danielle Steel writes contemporary romance and family drama: love stories, marriages, widowhood and the turns that reshape a life. The run starts with Going Home (1973) and continues through Celebration, with 24 Hours scheduled for 2027. Steel's catalogue also holds children's picture books, short stories and non-fiction beside the standalone novels that make up most of it.

Debbie Macomber

245 books• 35 series

Debbie Macomber, born October 22, 1948, is an American author of romance novels and contemporary women's fiction. Six Macomber novels became made-for-TV movies, and the Cedar Cove novels became a television series of the same name, with Macomber serving as executive producer on the adaptations. Macomber won the first fan-voted Quill Award for romance in 2005 and holds a RITA Award and a lifetime achievement award from the Romance Writers of America. The catalogue counts 245 books between Starlight (1983) and A Date with Santa (2026). Series include Heart of Texas, Midnight Sons, Navy, Those Manning Men, Orchard Valley and Angels Everywhere.

C.S. Lewis

59 books• 9 series

C.S. Lewis wrote fantasy fiction and Christian apologetics, and the two meet in Narnia. Spirits in Bondage (1919) opens a catalogue of 59 books that holds the Chronicles of Narnia, the Cosmic Trilogy beginning with Out of the Silent Planet (1938), The Screwtape Letters (1942) and Mere Christianity (1943). The 1950s carry the largest share of the list, and catalogued editions run to 2022.

Ellen Hopkins

44 books• 7 series

Ellen Hopkins, born March 26, 1955, is a novelist with several New York Times bestselling titles, read largely by a teenage and young adult audience. Novels in verse are a recorded form in the catalogue, which takes in family problems, emotional problems and interpersonal relations. Hopkins also has a nonfiction strand for younger readers, and the earliest catalogued titles include Air Devils (2000), Orcas: High Seas Supermen (2000), Freshwater Fishing (2001) and The Thunderbirds (2001). The 44 catalogued books span 2000 to 2024 and take in the Crank, Burned and Tricks series.

Alice Hoffman

52 books• 10 series

Alice Hoffman, born March 16, 1952, is an American novelist who also writes for young adults and children. Practical Magic (1995) became a 1998 film of the same name and grew into a media franchise. Magic realism runs through much of the work, with elements of magic, irony and unconventional romances. The catalogue counts 52 books, starting with Property Of (1977) and The Drowning Season (1979) and reaching The Witches of Cambridge (2026). Series include Practical Magic, Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, Water Tales and Green Angel, plus picture books. Subjects include Massachusetts, mothers and daughters, friendship and family life.

Susan May Warren writes Christian fiction spanning contemporary and historical romance, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy and Christmas novellas. The catalogue counts 144 books, starting with Happily Ever After and Tying the Knot (both 2003) and reaching Shadow (2026), with On Thin Ice set for 2027. Deep Haven, the Christiansen Family, Montana Rescue, Montana Fire, the Minnesota Marshalls and True Lies of Rembrandt Stone are among the series. Warren has won the Christy, RITA and Carol awards, coaches other writers, and was named Mentor of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers in 2009.

Tracie Peterson, born 1959, writes Christian fiction, mostly historical novels carrying romance and faith themes. Peterson used the pen name Janelle Jamison early on and has written joint novels with other Christian authors; Bethany House publishes many of the titles. Several Peterson series feature Harvey Girls, the waitstaff of the Fred Harvey Company. The catalogue lists 153 books from A Kingdom Divided (1991) to Devoted to Love (2026), across series such as Heirs of Montana, Westward Chronicles, Ribbons West, Yukon Quest, Shannon Saga and Desert Roses. Peterson lives in Montana and runs Peterson Ink with husband Jim.

Joan Didion

30 books

Joan Didion wrote essays and novels about American social conditions, politics and the places she reported from. Run River (1963) is the earliest catalogued title, followed by Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1968), Play It As It Lays (1970), The White Album (1979), Salvador (1983) and Miami (1987). Thirty books are listed, the newest Notes to John in 2025, at 238 pages on median.

Maureen Johnson

23 books• 4 series

Maureen Johnson writes young adult fiction, much of it mystery. Born in 1973, the American novelist has 23 catalogued books running from The Key to the Golden Firebird (2004) to The Velvet Knife (2026). Three series anchor the list: Truly Devious, Shades of London and Little Blue Envelopes, the last opening with 13 Little Blue Envelopes (2005). Boarding schools, murder, ghosts and grief recur across the books. Johnson co-wrote the holiday romance Let It Snow with John Green and Lauren Myracle, and contributed novellas to the anthologies The Bane Chronicles, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy and Ghosts of the Shadow Market.

Kate Mosse

21 books• 6 series

Kate Mosse is a British novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and broadcaster. Her 21 catalogued titles begin with Becoming a Mother in 1993 and take in Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2010) and Citadel (2012). Labyrinth alone has been translated into more than 37 languages. The work divides into the Languedoc novels, the Joubert Family Chronicles, standalone novels, short stories and non-fiction, with grief, history, families and ghost stories as recurring subjects. Mosse co-founded the prize now known as the Women's Prize for Fiction in 1996, and her newest title, Autumn, appeared in 2026.

Nancy Springer, born July 5, 1948, is an American author of fantasy, young adult literature, mystery and science fiction. Larque on the Wing won the 1994 Tiptree Award, and the Mystery Writers of America gave Springer Edgar Awards for Toughing It in 1995 and Looking for Jamie Bridger in 1996. I am Mordred earned the Pennsylvania Library Association's Carolyn W. Field Award in 1999. The first Enola Holmes book appeared in 2006. The catalogue lists 90 Springer books from The White Hart (1979) to Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin (2026), with the Book of Isle, Rowan Hood and Tale of Camelot series alongside.