Where to Start with Abigail Johnson
Because all of Abigail Johnson's novels are written as standalones, you do not have to worry about missing crucial backstory or reading a specific prequel first. However, depending on what subgenre you prefer, there are two primary entry points that readers recommend:
- For Contemporary Romance & Drama: Start with Every Other Weekend (2020). This is widely considered one of her most beloved books, detailing the lives of two teens who meet in the lobby of a apartment building during their parents' court-mandated custody weekends. It is a brilliant introduction to her signature blend of emotional trauma, family dynamics, and sweet romance. Alternatively, you can start at the very beginning with her debut, If I Fix You (2016), which introduces her recurring Mesa, Arizona setting.
- For Mystery & Thrillers: Start with Girl on the Run (2020). If you prefer fast-paced suspense, this was Johnson's first venture into the YA thriller genre. It follows a girl who accidentally exposes her mother's hidden past via an online dating profile, forcing them both to flee for their lives.
Abigail Johnson Books in Publication Order
Reading Abigail Johnson's bibliography in publication order is a great way to watch her growth as a storyteller as she transitions from heavy contemporary grief to fast-paced thrillers and atmospheric summer mysteries. Here is the chronological list of her YA novels:
- If I Fix You (2016)
- The First to Know (2017)
- Even If I Fall (2019)
- Every Other Weekend (2020)
- Girl on the Run (2020)
- Every Time You Go Away (2023)
- If You Were Here (2026)
A Closer Look at the Books
If I Fix You (2016)
Johnson's debut novel introduces Jill Whitaker, a Mesa, Arizona teenager whose life is upended when her mother walks out on the family. Seeking a distraction, Jill throws herself into fixing cars and trying to rebuild her social circle, but soon realizes that healing herself must come before trying to fix everyone around her.
The First to Know (2017)
This novel centers on Dana Fields, who buys a DNA test for her father as a birthday surprise. Instead of simple ancestral details, the test reveals a massive family secret: her father has a teenage son she never knew existed. Dana has to navigate the emotional fallout of this discovery and the secrets she must now keep from the rest of her family.
Even If I Fall (2019)
A Junior Library Guild selection, this emotionally heavy romance follows Brooke, whose brother was convicted of murdering his best friend. When Brooke forms an unexpected, secret bond with the victim's brother, Heath, they must both navigate intense guilt, grief, and the complicated feelings of falling for the one person they are supposed to avoid.
Every Other Weekend (2020)
Adam and Jolene are both dealing with broken homes. Adam is struggling with the death of his brother, while Jolene is dealing with an abusive home life. Forced to spend every other weekend at their parents' apartment complex, the two form an intense, life-changing friendship that slowly grows into something deeper.
Girl on the Run (2020)
Marking a shift into suspense, this thriller follows Katelyn. After creating a dating profile for her widowed mother, Katelyn accidentally alerts dangerous people from her mother's past. The two are forced to run, leading Katelyn on a high-stakes search for the truth about her family's identity.
Every Time You Go Away (2023)
Told in dual points of view, this novel follows childhood friends Ethan and Rebecca. Rebecca is adjusting to life as a wheelchair user after a car accident that claimed her father's life, while Ethan has spent years acting as a caregiver for his mother who struggles with addiction. When Ethan returns after a long departure, they must confront their shared past and personal traumas.
If You Were Here (2026)
Set on the island of Nantucket, this summer mystery and romance follows seventeen-year-old Lili Gardner. After inheriting her late father's house, she discovers an unfinished investigation into a maligned ancestor. To complete it, she team up with Wren McCleave, a history enthusiast, sparking a grumpy-meets-sunshine romance.
What to Know Before You Start
Abigail Johnson's books are highly emotional and regularly tackle intense, real-world struggles, including addiction, divorce, murder, and physical trauma. However, she balances these heavy subjects with a strong undercurrent of hope, resilience, and sweet romance. Because Johnson is a tetraplegic and a wheelchair user herself, her representation of physical recovery and disability—particularly in Every Time You Go Away—is written with authentic, lived-in detail that resonates deeply with readers.
Note on Author Identity: Be careful when searching for her books online. There is another contemporary fiction author based in the UK who also publishes under the name Abigail Johnson (writing books like The Secret Collector and The Memory Keeper). The author covered in this guide writes exclusively young adult fiction and is based in the United States.