Where to Start Reading Alexa Donne
Alexa Donne has carved out a unique space in young adult literature, moving effortlessly between futuristic classic retellings and suspenseful contemporary thrillers. If you are new to her work, your starting point depends entirely on which genre you prefer.
For readers who love mysteries, secrets, and high-stakes drama, the best starting point is The Ivies. This novel captures the cutthroat world of elite college admissions and prep school rivalry, making it an engaging and fast-paced introduction to her thriller style. If you prefer science fiction, romance, and gothic atmospheres, you should start with her debut novel, Brightly Burning, which reimagines a beloved classic in a futuristic setting.
The Sci-Fi Companion Duology
Donne's first two novels are young adult science fiction stories that take classic 19th-century romance novels and transport them onto spaceships in a frozen future. While they are set in the same universe and share elements of world-building, they feature different characters and independent plots, meaning they function as companion novels rather than a strict series.
Brightly Burning (2018)
Her debut novel is a retelling of Charlotte Brontë's classic gothic novel Jane Eyre. In this futuristic version, Earth has been devastated by a new ice age, forcing the remnants of humanity to live aboard a fleet of spaceships. Stella Ainsley, a young and resourceful engineer, secures a job as a governess on a private, luxurious ship called the Rochester. There, she encounters the moody and mysterious captain, Hugo Rochester, and discovers that the ship harbors dark secrets. The book blends classic romantic tension with survival sci-fi elements.
The Stars We Steal (2020)
Her second novel moves from Brontë to Jane Austen, reteling Persuasion with elements of other Austen novels and modern reality dating shows. Set in the same orbital universe as her debut, the story follows Princess Leonie "Leo" Kolburg, whose family is financially ruined. To save them, she must participate in the Valgarda, a high-society matchmaking tournament resembling a space-age courtship ritual. Her plans are complicated when her first love, Elliot Croft—whom she was forced to reject years ago—returns as a wealthy suitor. The novel focuses on second-chance romance, class dynamics, and social politics.
The YA Mystery Thrillers
Following her sci-fi retellings, Donne transitioned into writing dark, contemporary young adult mystery thrillers. These books are completely standalone and do not share any characters or settings.
The Ivies (2021)
Set at the elite Claflin Academy, this thriller focuses on a secret clique of five girls known as "The Ivies" who will stop at nothing to get accepted into their dream Ivy League schools. Each girl is assigned a specific target university to avoid competing against one another. However, when one member breaks the rules and gets into Harvard over another, the competitive tension turns deadly. It is a sharp exploration of toxic competition, privilege, and ambition.
Pretty Dead Queens (2022)
This novel moves to the small, coastal town of Seaview, which has a dark history. Fifty years ago, a homecoming queen was murdered, and the tragedy inspired a famous true-crime book written by the protagonist's grandmother. When Cecelia Ellis moves to town to live with her grandmother, she expects a quiet life. Instead, a new copycat murder occurs, and the current homecoming queen is found dead. Cecelia takes it upon herself to investigate, uncovering long-held town secrets and family history in the process.
The Bitter End (2024)
Donne's fifth novel is a locked-room thriller set in a remote ski chalet in Colorado during a winter blizzard. Eight wealthy, image-conscious seniors from Warner Prep in Los Angeles embark on what they expect to be a luxury excursion, only to find themselves redirected to a digital detox cabin with no phone reception or internet. As a severe storm cuts them off from the outside world, students begin to die. The survivors realize the killer is inside the cabin with them, forcing them to confront past betrayals and secrets to survive.
Alexa Donne Books in Publication Order
Because almost all of Alexa Donne's books are standalones or companion novels, reading them in publication order is a straightforward way to experience her growth as a writer. Here is the chronological list of her published works:
- Brightly Burning (2018) — YA Science Fiction / Jane Eyre Retelling
- The Stars We Steal (2020) — YA Science Fiction / Persuasion Retelling
- The Ivies (2021) — YA Mystery Thriller
- Pretty Dead Queens (2022) — YA Mystery Thriller
- The Bitter End (2024) — YA Mystery Thriller
What to Know Before You Start
Donne's books are highly structured and fast-paced, which reflects her background in the writing community and her work sharing advice with aspiring authors. Here are a few key points to keep in mind before you read:
- Classic Adaptations: You do not need to have read Jane Eyre or Persuasion to enjoy her sci-fi books, though fans of those classics will enjoy spotting the Easter eggs and structural parallels.
- Tone and Themes: Her thrillers explore dark themes like academic pressure, class disparities, small-town secrets, and toxic friendships, but they maintain a highly accessible, classic young adult mystery tone.
- Standalone Nature: Every single book she has written can be read as a standalone. Even if you start with the second sci-fi companion, you will not lose any plot continuity from the first.