Ann Hood Books in Order

Where to Start with Ann Hood

Ann Hood is celebrated for her ability to weave profound emotional experiences, resilience, and recovery into gorgeous, accessible narratives. Because almost all of her adult fiction is comprised of standalone novels, there is no single "correct" chronological sequence to follow. Readers can dive in wherever their interests lie. However, if you are looking for the best entry points to her work, we recommend beginning with one of these three highly regarded books:

• The Book That Matters Most (2016): This is a perfect starting point for book lovers. It follows a woman named Ava who, in the wake of a painful divorce, joins a library book club and finds comfort and self-discovery in the novels she reads, even as old family secrets begin to unravel.
• The Knitting Circle (2006): Inspired directly by Hood's own experience of losing her young daughter, this powerful novel tells the story of Mary Baxter, a mother who joins a local knitting circle to cope with overwhelming grief. Through the community of other women, she slowly finds a way forward.
• Comfort: A Journey Through Grief (2008): If you prefer to begin with non-fiction, this critically acclaimed memoir is an unforgettable exploration of loss and the healing power of writing and family. It was named one of Entertainment Weekly's top ten non-fiction books of 2008.

The Treasure Chest Series: Time-Travel Adventures for Middle-Graders

The only traditional multi-book series in Ann Hood's catalog is The Treasure Chest, a charming historical fantasy series written for middle-grade readers. The series follows twins Felix and Maisie, who discover a mysterious chest in their family home that transports them through time to meet famous historical figures when they were children. To fully appreciate the overarching mystery of the chest and the growth of the twins, it is recommended to read these in their publication order:

1. Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield (2011) - The twins meet the future founder of the American Red Cross.
2. Alexander Hamilton: Little Lion (2011) - A journey back to the childhood of one of America's founding fathers.
3. Pearl Buck: Jewel of the East (2012) - The twins visit Pearl Buck during her upbringing in China.
4. Harry Houdini: Prince of Air (2012) - An encounter with the legendary escape artist in his youth.
5. Crazy Horse: Brave Warrior (2013) - Felix and Maisie meet the legendary Oglala Lakota leader.
6. Queen Liliuokalani: Royal Prisoner (2013) - The twins meet Hawaii's last reigning monarch.
7. Alexander Graham Bell: Master of Sound (2013) - Exploring the early life of the telephone's inventor.
8. Amelia Earhart: Lady Lindy (2014) - A high-flying encounter with the pioneer aviator.
9. Leonardo da Vinci: Renaissance Master (2014) - The twins visit 15th-century Italy to meet the ultimate Renaissance man.
10. Anastasia Romanov: The Last Grand Duchess (2014) - A journey to imperial Russia to meet the Romanov princess.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

For readers who wish to see how Hood's style evolved from her 1987 debut to her recent works, reading her standalone novels in chronological order is a rewarding journey. Her books shift smoothly from intimate domestic dramas to expansive historical canvases.

• Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine (1987): Hood's debut novel, written during layovers when she worked as a flight attendant, follows three women who graduated from college in the 1960s and explores their lives over the next two decades.
• Waiting to Vanish (1988): A story tracing how a family copes with sudden tragedy, showcasing early elements of the grief and healing themes that would define Hood's later works.
• Three Legged Horse (1989): An intimate look at a musician, his wife, and their daughter as they navigate complicated relationships and personal aspirations.
• Something Blue (1991): Follows three friends in New York City trying to find their path in art, love, and life.
• Places to Stay the Night (1993): Set in a quiet Massachusetts town, this novel deals with the dissolution of marriages and the search for freedom.
• The Properties of Water (1995): A family drama exploring the deep bonds and betrayals between two sisters in a small Rhode Island town.
• Ruby (1998): The story of a young woman who goes to extreme lengths to protect the child she gave up for adoption.
• The Knitting Circle (2006): A landmark book for Hood, transforming personal tragedy into a beautiful story of communal support.
• How I Saved My Father's Life (And Ruined Everything Else) (2008): A young adult standalone novel about a girl whose father believes he was saved by a miracle, complicating their family dynamics.
• The Red Thread (2010): Inspired by Hood's adoption of her daughter from China, this novel follows a group of aspiring parents preparing to adopt Chinese infants and the red threads of fate that connect them.
• The Obituary Writer (2013): A dual-timeline novel contrasting the lives of a woman writing obituaries in 1919 with a housewife questioning her choices on the eve of the Kennedy administration in 1961.
• An Italian Wife (2014): An multi-generational saga tracking Josephine Rimaldi from her youth in Italy through her life as a mother and matriarch in America.
• The Book That Matters Most (2016): A celebration of literature, reading, and friendship amidst life transitions.
• She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) (2018): A nostalgic middle-grade novel set in 1966 focusing on a twelve-year-old girl desperate to meet the Beatles.
• Jude Banks, Superhero (2021): A middle-grade novel exploring a young boy's journey through grief following the death of his older sister.
• The Stolen Child (2024): A historical novel tracking an unlikely duo—an elderly WWI veteran and a young college dropout—as they travel through 1970s Europe to locate a child lost during the Great War.

Memoirs and Non-Fiction Books

Ann Hood's non-fiction works are just as popular as her novels, providing readers with real-life context for the themes of loss, knitting, food, and travel that pop up throughout her fiction.

• Creating Character Emotions (1998): A practical reference guide for aspiring writers seeking to capture genuine feelings on the page.
• Do Not Go Gentle: My Search for Miracles in a Cynical Time (2000): A personal travelogue exploring spiritual healing and faith.
• Comfort: A Journey Through Grief (2008): A beautifully written memoir about the sudden death of her five-year-old daughter, Grace, from a virulent strep infection.
• Knitting Pearls: Writers Writing About Knitting (2015): A curated non-fiction anthology exploring the comforting, meditative, and social roles of knitting.
• Morningstar: Growing Up With Books (2017): A charming memoir about Hood's childhood books and how reading shaped her worldview.
• Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love, and Food (2018): A collection of personal essays paired with recipes, reflecting on how food connects families.
• Fly Girl: A Memoir (2022): A memoir detailing her years working as a TWA flight attendant in the late 1970s and 1980s, offering a window into the golden age of air travel.

What to Know Before You Start

While Ann Hood writes across multiple genres—from adult contemporary fiction to middle-grade history and adult memoirs—there are common threads linking all her work. Readers should expect an emphasis on emotional vulnerability and family relationships. Her work often addresses profound grief, but it is rarely dark for the sake of being dark. Instead, she focuses heavily on recovery, the support of close communities (like book clubs or knitting circles), and finding hope after loss. Keep in mind that her middle-grade works, including Jude Banks, Superhero, are also suitable for young readers handling themes of family transitions and grief, while The Treasure Chest serves as an educational time-travel tool.