Julia Fine Standalone Novels books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series?"

"There are three books in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series, published between 2018 and 2023."

Q: "What is the first book in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series?"

"The first book in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series is What Should Be Wild, published in 2018."

Q: "Are Julia Fine's standalone novels connected to each other?"

"No. Each novel has its own cast of characters and setting. What Should Be Wild takes place in a modern English countryside, The Upstairs House is set in contemporary Chicago, and Maddalena and the Dark is set in 1717 Venice. They share a common interest in gothic atmosphere, fairy tale structures, and the experiences of women, but they can be read in any order."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	What Should Be Wild	2018	Julia Fine	Buy
2	The Upstairs House	2021	Julia Fine	Buy
3	Maddalena and the Dark	2023	Julia Fine	Buy

Julia Fine’s three standalone novels each use supernatural or fantastical elements as a lens for real psychological and emotional experiences. What Should Be Wild (2018) follows Maisie, a girl who can kill or revive living things with her touch, set against a dark forest full of fairy tale echoes. The Upstairs House (2021) takes a sharp turn into contemporary horror, centering on a new mother haunted by the ghost of children’s book author Margaret Wise Brown, using the haunting to explore postpartum depression and psychosis.

Maddalena and the Dark (2023) is set in 1717 Venice at the Ospedale della Pieta music school, where two teenage girls – one a noble outcast, the other a would-be protege of Vivaldi – form an intense bond with dark consequences. All three books were praised for their atmospheric prose and willingness to use genre elements in service of literary themes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series?

There are three books in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series, published between 2018 and 2023.

What is the first book in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series?

The first book in the Julia Fine Standalone Novels series is What Should Be Wild, published in 2018.

Are Julia Fine's standalone novels connected to each other?

No. Each novel has its own cast of characters and setting. What Should Be Wild takes place in a modern English countryside, The Upstairs House is set in contemporary Chicago, and Maddalena and the Dark is set in 1717 Venice. They share a common interest in gothic atmosphere, fairy tale structures, and the experiences of women, but they can be read in any order.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order