Amanda Prowse Books in Order

How to Start Reading Amanda Prowse

Amanda Prowse is widely celebrated as the "queen of family drama," known for crafting deeply moving stories about ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Because the vast majority of her novels are standalones featuring different characters, there is no single, overarching storyline you need to follow. You can pick up almost any of her books and dive right in without feeling lost.

However, her books are often grouped into thematic collections, a dual-perspective series, and a multi-author collaborative project. Depending on whether you want an emotionally raw "gut-puncher" or a heartwarming holiday read, here is the best way to navigate her work.

The "No Greater Love" Collection

This collection consists of contemporary novels that explore the immense sacrifices people make for those they love. While they are marketed under this banner and share similar emotional depths, each book features a completely different cast of characters and can be read in any order. The publication order for this collection is:

• Poppy Day (2011) – Amanda Prowse's debut novel, inspired by her experiences as an army wife, following a woman who goes to extraordinary lengths to save her captured husband.
• What Have I Done? (2013) – A gripping breakout hit tackling guilt, redemption, and domestic struggles.
• Clover's Child (2013) – A bittersweet story set in the 1960s exploring love across social and cultural divides.
• A Little Love (2013) – A touching narrative centered around self-discovery, body image, and finding romance.
• Will You Remember Me? (2014) – A heartbreaking tale of a young mother facing a devastating diagnosis.
• Christmas For One (2014) – A festive story about finding hope and unexpected romance during the holidays.
• A Mother's Story (2015) – Winner of the Sainsbury’s eBook of the Year Award, detailing a harrowing journey through postnatal depression.

The "No Greater Strength" Collection

Similar to the "No Greater Love" books, the "No Greater Strength" collection features standalone novels grouped around the theme of resilience and overcoming difficult circumstances. You do not need to read these in order, but the publication sequence is:

• Perfect Daughter (2015) – A widely praised World Book Night title that dives into the heavy burdens of family caretaking.
• The Christmas Cafe / The Second Chance Café (2015) – Note that these are the exact same book republished under different titles. It follows a widow finding new hope in a small shop.
• Three-and-a-Half Heartbeats (2015) – A deeply emotional story about sudden loss and a family trying to heal.
• Another Love (2016) – A powerful exploration of alcoholism and its impact on a marriage.
• My Husband's Wife (2016) – A complex look at blended families, stepmother dynamics, and domestic tension.
• I Won't Be Home for Christmas (2017) – A holiday-themed novel about starting over after a sudden separation.

The "One Love, Two Stories" Series

This unique project is Prowse’s only directly connected fiction series. The concept is that there are two sides to every relationship. The first two books tell the exact same love story from the distinct perspectives of the two main characters, while the third book expands the narrative around a key supporting character. For the best experience, you should read these in order:

1. Anna (2018) – The story of Anna Cole and her relationship with Theo, told from Anna's perspective.
2. Theo (2018) – The same events and relationship, but experienced through Theo Montgomery's eyes.
3. How to Fall in Love Again (2018) – Also known as Kitty's Story, focusing on a character who knew Theo from school, wrapping up the emotional themes of the trilogy.

The Wishing Tree Books (Collaborative Series)

In 2022, Amanda Prowse participated in "The Wishing Tree," a collaborative 13-book series set in the fictional town of Linden Falls, Vermont. The series is centered around a historic Linden tree where locals hang ribbons with their wishes. While written by a group of authors (including Kay Bratt, Tammy L. Grace, Ashley Farley, Barbara Hinske, and Camille Di Maio), the books share a setting and a chronological timeline. Prowse contributed two specific entries to the series (Books 2 and 11). If you want to read the entire project in order, follow this list:

1. The Wishing Tree (2022) by Kay Bratt & Tammy L. Grace
2. I Wish... (2022) by Amanda Prowse
3. Wish You Were Here (2022) by Kay Bratt
4. Wish Again (2022) by Tammy L. Grace
5. Workout Wishes & Valentine Kisses (2022) by Ashley Farley
6. A Parade of Wishes (2022) by Barbara Hinske
7. Careful What You Wish (2022) by Camille Di Maio
8. Gone Wishing (2022) by Kay Bratt
9. Wishful Thinking (2022) by Tammy L. Grace
10. Overdue Wishes (2022) by Ashley Farley
11. A Whole Heap of Wishes (2022) by Amanda Prowse
12. Wishes of Home (2022) by Barbara Hinske
13. Wishful Witness (2022) by Camille Di Maio

Standalone Novels, Short Stories, and Non-Fiction

Beyond her collections, Prowse has written a massive list of standalone novels. Notable entries include The Food of Love (2016), which explores a family dealing with an eating disorder, The Coordinates of Loss (2018), covering grief after the loss of a child, and more recent releases like Swimming to Lundy (2024). These standalones can be read at any time.

For readers looking for quicker reads, she has published several short stories and novellas, such as The Game (2013) and Miss Potterton's Birthday Tea (2016). She has also written a children's picture book, The Smile That Went a Mile (2021).

For a deeper look into the author's own life, Prowse has published two highly acclaimed non-fiction books:

• The Boy Between (2020) – Co-authored with her son Josiah Hartley, this book is a raw, dual-perspective account of Josiah's battle with severe depression and how it affected their family.
• Women Like Us (2022) – A candid memoir in which Prowse opens up about her personal struggles with self-esteem, imposter syndrome, and food addiction.

What to Know Before You Start

Amanda Prowse’s books are often divided by fans into two categories: "gut-punchers" and "marshmallows." Her gut-punchers are heavy, gritty contemporary dramas that address tough real-world issues such as addiction, grief, domestic abuse, and mental illness. Her marshmallow books (often her Christmas-themed novels) are lighter, heartwarming comfort reads. Knowing which tone you are in the mood for will help you pick the right book for your current reading mood.