Stephanie Perkins
Stephanie Perkins has published 8 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with Anna and the French Kiss (2014).
Stephanie Perkins is an American author of young adult novels. She is the author of the Anna and the French Kiss series, which includes Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. Before becoming a novelist, Perkins worked in various roles within the book industry, including as a bookseller and a librarian. Her novel There’s Someone Inside Your House was adapted into a motion picture for Netflix. Perkins lives in the North Carolina mountains with her husband. Their home features rooms painted in a spectrum of colors. She also edited the anthology My True Love Gave to Me.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Anna and the French Kiss Books
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenfantasyDescriptionStephanie Perkins captures the exquisite agony of adolescence by transplanting a displaced teenager into the most romantic city on earth. Anna is less than thrilled when her father ships her off to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year, leaving behind a promising job, a best friend, and a crush on the verge of blooming. The narrative brilliance lies in how the City of Light transforms from a prison of homesickness into a backdrop for self-discovery. It is not merely a setting, but a catalyst that forces Anna to navigate the disorienting, beautiful mess of growing up far from everything she knows. The emotional core of the novel beats around Étienne St. Clair, a boy who is as complicated as he is charming. He is smart, beautiful, and utterly unavailable, tethered to a serious girlfriend that turns their electric connection into a series of heart-stopping near-misses. Perkins masterfully sustains the tension, allowing the reader to feel the weight of every lingering glance and accidental touch. This is a story about the patience required by true affection, proving that sometimes the most worthwhile endings are the ones that make us wait for a single, perfect moment.Publication date29 January 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin
- TagsromancechildrenDescriptionWhat happens when the dreamy, distant crush you’ve idolized for years suddenly steps into your reality? Isla has spent her time at the School of America in Paris quietly pining for Josh from afar, but a chance encounter over the summer in Manhattan shifts the dynamic entirely. Returning to France for their senior year, the lines between fantasy and actual romance begin to blur, pulling them into a whirlwind that feels both inevitable and terrifying. But as Isla and Josh navigate the intoxicating highs of first love, they are forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters are not always guaranteed. This isn't just a fluffy romance; it’s a raw look at the messy, complicated challenges every young couple faces when the initial magic fades and real life intervenes. With its honest portrayal of intimacy and emotional stakes, this story captures the beautiful, terrifying uncertainty of falling in love when the future is anything but certain.Publication date14 August 2014Amazon rating4.5/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherDutton Books for Young Readers
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenfantasyDescriptionHow do you reconcile the vibrant life you’ve built with the ghost of a friendship you thought you left behind? Lola Nolan has crafted an eccentric world in San Francisco, complete with two loving dads, a loyal dog, and a punk-rock boyfriend who matches her bold costumes. But her carefully curated existence tilts on its axis when the Bell twins move back in next door. Suddenly, she is forced to confront Calliope, the figure skater whose rivalry ended their childhood bond, and Cricket, the boy next door who once held her heart and still sparks a confusing, undeniable longing. This isn’t just a story about first love; it’s about the courage it takes to be yourself when the past demands your attention. Perkins captures the messy, wonderful anxiety of growing up, where every outfit is a shield and every glance holds weight. As Lola navigates the jagged edges of old grudges and new desires, she discovers that sometimes the most extraordinary designs are the ones we make of our own lives. It’s a tender, honest look at finding your footing when the ground beneath you shifts.Publication date23 January 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length368LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin
Order of Anthologies
- Tagsshort-storiesyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionSnow falls softly on the page, but the warmth here is undeniable. The holiday season is a backdrop for every kind of love, from the surreal to the starkly real. This collection captures the electric anticipation of midnight on New Year’s Eve and the quiet magic of a starlit winter night. The atmosphere shifts effortlessly from the eerie to the cozy, pulling you into a world where miracles feel possible. It is a sensory experience. The scent of pine, the bite of cold air, the flutter of a heart beating faster. These stories are not just about romance; they are about the feeling of being alive during the darkest days of the year. Twelve distinct voices come together to weave a tapestry of holiday emotion. Rainbow Rowell and Laini Taylor bring their signature styles, alongside Holly Black and others who know exactly how to make a moment resonate. The stakes vary wildly. A girl confronts a fox on a snowy estate. A boy plays Santa for a stranger. A couple navigates the awkwardness of a holiday party. Each tale is a compact gem, polished and bright. The writing is sharp. The emotions are raw. This anthology is a perfect companion for the winter, offering a spark of joy and a touch of wonder in equal measure.Publication date14 October 2014Amazon rating4.1/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Griffin
- Tagsshort-storiesyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionThe sun hangs heavy and golden over the lake, promising a season where the rules of the school year dissolve into something hazier and more thrilling. In these pages, teenagers are already in motion, navigating the humid, breathless maze of first romance. It’s that specific time of year when a single glance can feel life-altering, and the air is thick with secrets waiting to be shared under the cover of twilight. Stephanie Perkins has curated a collection that captures the electric confusion of falling hard for the first time. The stories swing from deeply heartfelt moments that tug at your insides to scenarios that are wonderfully outlandish. You never know where the next spark will fly from—a chance encounter at the beach or a quiet confession in a car parked too far from home. What makes this anthology sing is its refusal to settle for just one shade of summer love. Passion is found in the most unexpected places, turning mundane summer jobs and lazy afternoons into the backdrop for life-changing memories. Each narrative is a distinct little world, yet they all pulse with the same restless, hopeful energy. This is the perfect companion for long days and even longer nights, a book that invites you to dream of sunset strolls and the dizzying rush of a new crush. It’s a warm, intimate embrace of a read. Pick it up, find a patch of shade, and let yourself fall in love with the possibilities all over again.Publication date17 May 2016Amazon rating4/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherSt. Martin's Griffin
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tagsyoung-adulthorrorromancesuspensechildrenthrillerDescriptionThe students of Osborne High are dying one by one. The murders are gruesome, each killing displaying a new level of grotesque flair. Fear grips the hallways as the body count rises and the terror hits closer to home. No one feels safe, and everyone is a suspect in a place that used to feel familiar. As the hunt for the killer intensifies, the dark secrets among the students must finally be confronted. The killer isn’t just ending lives; they are exposing the hidden truths that these teens tried to keep buried. Trust fractures under the pressure, and the line between friend and enemy blurs with every passing day. This is a tense, bloody thriller that grabs you from the first page. The stakes are life and death, and the mystery drives the narrative forward with relentless speed. You will find yourself racing through the chapters, desperate to unmask the murderer before they strike again.Publication date26 September 2017Amazon rating4.1/5Print length304LanguageEnglishPublisherDutton Books for Young Readers
- Tagsyoung-adulthorrorsuspensethrillerDescriptionStephanie Perkins proves that the transition from contemporary romance to horror is not only possible but potent, delivering a story that grips you by the throat and refuses to let go. This is not merely a slasher tale set in the wilderness; it is a masterclass in atmospheric dread that turns the familiar concept of a summer camping trip into a claustrophobic nightmare. Perkins understands that true terror often stems from the isolation of the deep woods, where the rules of civilization dissolve and primal instincts take over. The forest here is a character in its own right—ancient, indifferent, and suffocatingly alive. As best friends Neena and Josie embark on what should be a final bonding adventure before college, the trees seem to close in around them, distorting their perception of safety and reality. The air grows heavy with the scent of pine and decay, creating a sensory experience that makes the reader hyper-aware of every snapped twig and rustling leaf. It is a setting that breathes malice, turning a scenic hike into a desperate struggle for survival against an unseen force. Beneath the visceral scares lies a poignant exploration of a friendship straining under the weight of impending separation. The external threat of the woods mirrors the internal tension between the two girls, forcing them to confront their changing dynamic even as they fight to stay alive. The pacing is relentless, oscillating between quiet, dread-filled moments and bursts of chaotic violence. Perkins has crafted a sharp, emotionally resonant thriller…Publication date31 August 2021Amazon rating4/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherMacmillan Children's Books
- TagsromanceDescriptionThe rain lashes against the library windows, turning the world outside into a gray blur, but inside, the silence is heavy with secrets. It’s the perfect setting for a story that starts with a simple mistake and spirals into something much darker. You can almost smell the old paper and feel the chill of the air conditioning as the atmosphere tightens around you, promising that this quiet night won’t stay peaceful for long. Stephanie Perkins, known for her swoon-worthy romances, takes a sharp turn into thriller territory with Overdue. It’s a jarring but electrifying shift, like finding a razor blade in a bowl of cherries. The protagonist, usually the one solving problems with wit and charm, finds herself trapped in a situation where her usual tricks won’t work. The stakes are life and death, and the tension is palpable from the very first page. What makes this book unputdownable is how it plays with your expectations. Just when you think you’ve got the rhythm figured out, the plot twists, leaving you breathless. The pacing is relentless, a heartbeat that never slows down, dragging you deeper into the mystery. It’s a reminder that even the most familiar places can hide the most terrifying truths. By the end, you’ll be left questioning everything you thought you knew about trust and survival. Overdue isn’t just a thriller; it’s a masterclass in suspense that lingers long after you’ve closed the book. If you’re looking for a story that grabs you by the throat and…Publication date7 October 2025Amazon rating4.1/5Print length397LanguageEnglishPublisherSaturday Books
Frequently Asked Questions about Stephanie Perkins
The books in the Anna and the French Kiss series are best read in the order they were published: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. The standalone novels and anthologies can be read independently of this series and each other. The Woods Are Always Watching was published in 2021, and Overdue is scheduled for 2025. Summer Days and Summer Nights is another anthology.
A good starting point is Anna and the French Kiss, the first book in the series of the same name. It introduces readers to the characters and world that Perkins often revisits in subsequent books within that connected universe. Following this with Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After will provide a full picture of that narrative arc. After that, readers can explore her standalone novels.
The Anna and the French Kiss series has interconnected characters and storylines, so reading them in order is recommended to fully appreciate the character development and relationships. However, her standalone novels, such as There's Someone Inside Your House, The Woods Are Always Watching, and Overdue, do not need to be read in any particular order and can be enjoyed on their own. The anthologies can also be read independently.
Stephanie Perkins writes both standalone novels and series. The Anna and the French Kiss series includes three interconnected books. She has also written several standalone novels, including There's Someone Inside Your House, The Woods Are Always Watching, and the upcoming Overdue. Additionally, she has contributed to anthologies like My True Love Gave to Me and Summer Days and Summer Nights.
As of late 2023, Stephanie Perkins has written three novels in the Anna and the French Kiss series, three standalone novels, and contributed to two anthologies. This brings the total count of her published books to eight, with an additional novel planned for release. The standalone novels are There's Someone Inside Your House, The Woods Are Always Watching, and Overdue.
The first book Stephanie Perkins wrote was Anna and the French Kiss, published in 2014. This novel kicked off the connected series that also includes Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After. This book introduced readers to the setting of an international boarding school and the characters that would go on to feature in the subsequent novels of the series.
Stephanie Perkins's most recent book published is The Woods Are Always Watching, released in 2021. This is a standalone horror novel. Her upcoming book, Overdue, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Readers interested in her earlier work can explore the Anna and the French Kiss series and her contributions to anthologies.
Stephanie Perkins writes young adult novels, often focusing on romance and contemporary themes. Her work spans both series and standalone books. She has also ventured into the horror genre with books like There's Someone Inside Your House and The Woods Are Always Watching. Her writing often features themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery in realistic settings.
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We verified the reading order for Stephanie Perkins's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Stephanie Perkins Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/stephanie-perkins