Jay Asher
Jay Asher has published 5 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with Thirteen Reasons Why (2011).
Jay Asher is an American author of young adult novels. While growing up, he was encouraged to pursue all his interests, from playing guitar to writing. During his time at Cuesta College, he wrote two children’s books and decided he wanted to be an elementary school teacher. He then transferred to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, leaving his senior year to focus entirely on writing. Asher worked several jobs, including as a shoe salesman and in bookstores and libraries, before making his debut as a published novelist in 2007 with THIRTEEN REASONS WHY. His debut became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a Netflix series. Asher is also the author of the New York Times bestseller WHAT LIGHT, co-author of THE FUTURE OF US and the graphic novel PIPER, and wrote the screenplay CHRISTMAS IN JULY. His books have been published in over 40 languages.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Graphic Novels
- Tagsgraphic-novelsyoung-adultromancechildrenhistorical-fictionfantasyDescriptionWhat does it mean to be heard when the world refuses to listen, and where do we find connection when we're cast to the margins of our own community? In this haunting graphic novel from Jay Asher, we meet Maggie, a deaf girl living in a small village surrounded by deep, dark forest, where her disability has made her an outsider in the only home she's ever known. Shunned and isolated, she retreats into the one place where she has power: her vivid imagination, spinning stories that offer solace and the promise of something more. Maggie's gift for storytelling becomes both refuge and lifeline as she dreams of the fairy-tale love that feels impossibly distant in her lonely reality. Asher weaves a tender, atmospheric tale that explores the ache of longing and the resilience required to hold onto hope when you're invisible to those around you. The graphic novel format amplifies the emotional weight of Maggie's silence, letting image and narrative intertwine in ways that honor her inner world. This is a story about the stories we tell ourselves to survive, and the quiet courage it takes to believe we deserve our own happy ending.Publication dateOctober 31, 2017Amazon rating4/5Print length144LanguageEnglishPublisherRazorbill
Order of Memoirs
- Tagsbiographymemoirnon-fictionDescriptionJay Asher opens a window into his childhood with unflinching honesty. He was the kid who smiled through everything. The one adults called sunny. But beneath that bright exterior, he was navigating a world that didn't always make sense—a world of family secrets, unspoken tensions, and the quiet weight of trying to be good. This memoir peels back the layers of a seemingly happy childhood to reveal what it costs to always be the light in the room. Asher examines the moments that shaped him: the relationships that both nurtured and confused him, the expectations he carried without question, and the slow realization that being "sunny" wasn't the same as being seen. The writing is intimate and precise. Asher doesn't sensationalize or dramatize. He simply tells the truth about growing up, about the gap between how we're perceived and who we actually are. There's tenderness here, but also a sharp awareness of the ways we learn to perform ourselves. If you've ever felt the pressure to be the easy one, the cheerful one, the one who doesn't make waves—this will resonate. Asher has written a memoir that's both deeply personal and quietly universal, a portrait of boyhood that lingers long after the final page.Publication dateJune 5, 2017Print length198LanguageEnglishPublisherCreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tagsyoung-adultmysterythrillerchildrenDescriptionThis is a novel that understands how small cruelties accumulate into unbearable weight, how the things we don't say can echo louder than the things we do. Clay Jenkins finds a shoebox on his doorstep containing thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, the girl from school he never quite worked up the courage to know better, the girl who took her own life two weeks ago. Each tape names a person who played a role in her decision to die, and Clay is somewhere on that list, forced to listen through the night to understand how he's connected to her unraveling. What makes this story so devastating is its structure—Hannah's voice from beyond, methodical and raw, walking Clay through the moments that broke her while he wanders the streets of their town, retracing her steps, seeing their shared world through her eyes for the first time. It's not a mystery so much as an excavation, each tape peeling back another layer of loneliness and missed connection. Asher writes with an aching clarity about the invisible damage we do to each other, about how a gesture that seems like nothing to one person can be everything to another. This is a book that asks you to pay attention, to see the people around you, to understand that every action reverberates in ways we can't always predict.Publication dateJune 14, 2011Amazon rating4.4/5Print length288LanguageEnglishPublisherRazorbill
- DescriptionWhat if you could glimpse your future self and discover that the life waiting for you isn't the one you imagined—would you try to change it, or would you let fate unfold as written? In this quietly unsettling yet tender exploration of destiny and choice, two high school friends in 1996 stumble upon something impossible when an AOL CD-ROM connects them not to the early internet, but to a mysterious website called Facebook, where they can see fifteen years into their own futures. The atmosphere is thick with the particular ache of adolescence—dial-up modems, away messages, the weight of decisions that feel both monumental and impossibly distant—and as Emma and Josh refresh their future profiles obsessively, watching their lives shift and reshape with every choice they make in the present, the novel becomes a meditation on the beautiful, terrifying uncertainty of becoming who we are. The tone walks a delicate line between nostalgic warmth and genuine suspense, as small actions ripple forward in unexpected ways, relationships fracture and reform, and the question of whether we should know our futures becomes far more complicated than either character anticipated. This is a story that understands how the past and future are always in conversation, and how the most important moment is always the one we're living right now.Publication dateOctober 16, 2012Amazon rating4.3/5Print length384LanguageEnglishPublisherRazorbill
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionEvery year, Sierra's family leaves Oregon to sell Christmas trees in California. It's a rhythm she's known her whole life—two worlds, two sets of friends, a seasonal migration that marks the passage of time. This year should be no different. But then she meets Caleb, and everything shifts. He's charming, attentive, everything she could want—except for one problem. His past is dark, marked by a mistake that branded him in the eyes of her California community. Her parents warn her away. Her friends question her judgment. The boy she's falling for carries a reputation that precedes him everywhere he goes. Sierra has to decide what she believes about second chances and whether people can truly change. The relationship forces her to examine her own assumptions about forgiveness, about the stories we tell about others, and about the courage it takes to see someone for who they are now rather than who they once were. Jay Asher crafts a tender seasonal romance that asks difficult questions about redemption and judgment. It's a story about the liminal space of the Christmas tree lot, about temporary homes and permanent choices, and about a girl learning that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is trust your own heart when everyone else is telling you you're wrong.Publication dateOctober 18, 2016Amazon rating4.3/5Print length272LanguageEnglishPublisherRazorbill
Frequently Asked Questions about Jay Asher
Jay Asher's books can be read in any order. The novels are standalone stories and do not form a series. If you prefer to read his books chronologically by publication date, you would start with Thirteen Reasons Why, published in 2011. This is followed by The Future of Us in 2012, What Light in 2016, and then Piper and Sunny Boy, both published in 2017. Reading them in this sequence allows you to follow the progression of his published works.
A good starting point for Jay Asher's books is Thirteen Reasons Why, published in 2011. This novel introduced his distinctive approach to storytelling and has resonated with many readers. It explores themes of consequence and communication through a unique narrative structure. Following this with The Future of Us, co-written with Carolyn Mackler, offers a different perspective on connection and relationships. Both books stand on their own and provide a solid introduction to his writing.
No, you do not have to read Jay Asher's books in order. All of his novels, including Thirteen Reasons Why, The Future of Us, and What Light, are standalone stories. They do not rely on previous plots or character developments for understanding. You can pick up any of his books and enjoy the story independently. This allows readers to explore his work in any sequence that appeals to them, without feeling lost or missing crucial information.
Jay Asher writes standalone novels and graphic novels. His novels Thirteen Reasons Why, The Future of Us, and What Light each tell a complete story independently. He also has a graphic novel titled Piper and a memoir titled Sunny Boy. None of these works are part of a larger series. Readers can approach each book as a distinct experience, without the need to follow a sequential plotline across multiple titles.
Jay Asher has written five books: Thirteen Reasons Why (2011), The Future of Us (2012), What Light (2016), Piper (2017), and Sunny Boy (2017). This count includes his standalone novels, his co-authored novel, and his graphic novel and memoir. Each of these works represents a distinct contribution to his bibliography. Readers have a focused selection of titles to explore from this author.
The first book Jay Asher wrote and published was Thirteen Reasons Why, which came out in 2011. This novel marked his debut and established his presence as an author. It was followed by The Future of Us in 2012. The other books in his bibliography, What Light, Piper, and Sunny Boy, were published later. Thirteen Reasons Why remains a significant entry in his body of work.
Jay Asher's most recent books were published in 2017. These include the graphic novel Piper and the memoir Sunny Boy. His last standalone novel, What Light, was also published in that year. Since 2017, there have been no new books released by Jay Asher. Readers looking for his latest work can turn to Piper or Sunny Boy for his most recent publications.
Jay Asher writes young adult fiction, with a particular focus on standalone novels that explore complex emotional themes and interpersonal relationships. His work often delves into topics such as consequences, communication, and the impact of choices. Thirteen Reasons Why, for instance, is known for its examination of teenage suicide and the ripple effects of actions. The Future of Us, co-written with Carolyn Mackler, offers a story about navigating adolescence and future possibilities.
Ada Palmer
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We verified the reading order for Jay Asher's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Jay Asher Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/jay-asher