Erica James Standalone Novels books in order

Erica James's standalone novels span more than thirty years of British women's fiction, each a self-contained story of relationships, family, and personal change, mostly set in the English countryside.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Holiday 1993 Erica James Buy
2 A Breath of Fresh Air 1996 Erica James Buy
3 Time for a Change 1997 Erica James Buy
4 A Sense of Belonging 1998 Erica James Buy
5 Act of Faith 1999 Erica James Buy
6 Airs and Graces 2001 Erica James Buy
7 Precious Time 2001 Erica James Buy
8 Hidden Talents 2003 Erica James Buy
9 Paradise House 2003 Erica James Buy
10 Love and Devotion 2004 Erica James Buy
11 Gardens of Delight 2006 Erica James Buy
12 Tell It To The Skies 2007 Erica James Buy
13 It’s the Little Things 2009 Erica James Buy
14 The Queen of New Beginnings 2010 Erica James Buy
15 Promises, Promises 2010 Erica James Buy
16 The Real Katie Lavender 2011 Erica James Buy
17 The Hidden Cottage 2012 Erica James Buy
18 Summer at the Lake 2013 Erica James Buy
19 The Dandelion Years 2014 Erica James Buy
20 Song of the Skylark 2016 Erica James Buy
21 Coming Home to Island House 2017 Erica James Buy
22 Swallowtail Summer 2019 Erica James Buy
23 Mothers and Daughters 2022 Erica James Buy
24 A Secret Garden Affair 2023 Erica James Buy
25 An Ideal Husband 2024 Erica James Buy

With 25 standalone novels published between 1993 and 2024, Erica James has maintained an unusual consistency. Her books don’t follow a house style in the way some commercial fiction does; each has its own characters and setting, though they share a tone that is warm without being saccharine and emotionally honest without tipping into melodrama.

The village settings are a constant, and James writes them with enough specificity that they feel real rather than generic. Gardens of Delight, Paradise House, and Hidden Talents show her facility with place as much as character. Readers who enjoy authors like Katie Fforde or Joanna Trollope tend to find her work fits easily into the same reading life.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Erica James Standalone Novels series?

There are 25 books in the Erica James Standalone Novels series, published between 1993 and 2024.

What is the first book in the Erica James Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Erica James Standalone Novels series is The Holiday, published in 1993.

Where should I start with Erica James's novels?

Most readers recommend A Breath of Fresh Air or Precious Time as good entry points. The Holiday is also popular and gives a strong sense of her style. Since all her novels are standalone, you can start wherever the description appeals to you most.

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