Where to Start with Andrew Sean Greer
For most readers, the absolute best place to start is with his 2017 masterpiece, Less. This brilliant, satirical, yet deeply moving novel won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and introduced the world to Arthur Less, a lovable, mid-list novelist traveling the globe to escape his ex-boyfriend's wedding. It perfectly showcases Greer's signature style: lighthearted comedy masking profound reflections on aging, love, and identity.
If you prefer a high-concept, historical drama with a touch of magical realism, a fantastic alternative starting point is The Confessions of Max Tivoli (2004). Praised by John Updike, this book tells the story of a man who is born with the body of an old man and physically ages backward, experiencing love at different stages of his life. For those craving a sun-drenched, witty Italian getaway, his 2026 novel Villa Coco is also an excellent standalone entry point.
The Arthur Less Series in Order
Unlike his standalone novels, the Arthur Less books follow a strict chronological continuation and should be read in order:
- Less (2017) – We meet Arthur Less as he accepts every bizarre international literary invitation he can find to avoid facing his heartbreak at home.
- Less Is Lost (2022) – The sequel follows Arthur as he embarks on a hilarious, soul-searching road trip across the United States in a rusty camper van, accompanied by a giant pug.
Complete Publication Order of Standalone Novels
If you want to track Greer's evolution as a novelist, reading his standalones in publication order highlights his transition from atmospheric, melancholic dramas to sparkling, humorous stories:
- The Path of Minor Planets (2001) – Greer's debut novel follows a group of astronomers observing a comet over several decades, charting their tangled relationships and personal tragedies.
- The Confessions of Max Tivoli (2004) – A sweeping, tragic romance set in San Francisco that utilizes a reverse-aging premise to explore the timing of love.
- The Story of a Marriage (2008) – A deeply intimate story set in 1950s San Francisco, centering on a housewife named Pearlie whose marriage is upended by the return of a figure from her husband's past.
- The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells (2013) – A time-bending drama in which the protagonist moves between three different versions of her own life in 1918, 1941, and 1985.
- Villa Coco (2026) – A coming-of-age charm novel set in the Tuscan countryside, where a young American archivist handles chaotic chores and eccentric guests for an elderly aristocrat named Lisabetta "Coco."
Short Stories, Memoirs, and Anthologies
Beyond his novels, Greer has written several short pieces and non-fiction works that are well worth exploring:
- How It Was for Me (2000) – His debut short story collection, containing poignant tales of human connection, sacrifice, and growth.
- Calypso's Guest (2023) – A standalone digital short story and audiobook inspired by The Odyssey, following an immortal man in exile on a remote planet.
- My Mother and Other Wild Animals (2024) – A touching non-fiction road-trip memoir detailing a journey Greer took with his mother from Kansas to San Francisco.