Anna-Marie McLemore Books in Order

Where to Start with Anna-Marie McLemore

If you are new to Anna-Marie McLemore’s lush, lyrical storytelling, the first thing to know is that all of their novels are standalones. You do not need to worry about complex series order or chronological storylines. However, choosing the right entry point can help you appreciate their unique blend of magical realism, queer romance, and Latinx folklore.

For the ultimate introduction to their style, start with When the Moon Was Ours (2016). This Stonewall Honor Book and James Tiptree Jr. Award winner is widely considered McLemore’s masterpiece. It follows the deep friendship and romance between Miel, a girl who grows roses from her wrists, and Sam, a transgender Pakistani-American boy who paints moons. It perfectly showcases the author’s ability to weave extraordinary magical elements into deeply authentic human experiences.

Alternatively, you can start at the very beginning with their debut novel, The Weight of Feathers (2015). This story presents a modern-day rivalry between two performing families—one Mexican-American and one Romani—laced with folklore and forbidden love. It is a fantastic starting point if you want to trace their evolution as a writer from the chronological start of their publishing career.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

While their novels are independent of each other, reading them in publication order allows you to experience how their themes and styles have expanded over time. Here is the chronological list of Anna-Marie McLemore's standalone novels:

• The Weight of Feathers (2015): A story of family feuds, wing-wearing acrobatics, and magical realism.
• When the Moon Was Ours (2016): A tender, magical tale of identity, trans identity, and love.
• Wild Beauty (2017): Follows the cursed Nomeolvides women who can grow gardens from the earth but lose anyone they love.
• Blanca & Roja (2018): A Latinx retelling of "Snow White and Rose Red" and "Swan Lake," exploring sisterhood and transformation.
• Dark and Deepest Red (2020): A dual-timeline historical fantasy inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes" and the 1518 dancing plague.
• The Mirror Season (2021): A poignant, contemporary magical realism story dealing with trauma, healing, and consensual magic.
• Lakelore (2022): Centers on two neurodivergent, nonbinary teens pulled into a magical world beneath a lake.
• Flawless Girls (2024): A Southern Gothic-inspired mystery about two sisters and the dark secrets of a restrictive finishing school.
• We Could Be Anyone (2026): A historical thriller set in Golden Age Hollywood, featuring sibling con artists posing as spiritualists.

Co-Authored and Collaborative Novels

McLemore has also written fantastic collaborative novels that are excellent additions to their bibliography:

• Miss Meteor (2020): Co-authored with Tehlor Kay Mejia, this fun, emotional contemporary novel centers on a small-town beauty pageant and two girls fighting to make their voices heard.
• Venom & Vow (2023): Co-authored with their spouse, Elliott McLemore. This romantic fantasy features enemy kingdoms, hidden identities, and nuanced representation of transgender and bigender characters.

The Remixed Classics Series

You might see Anna-Marie McLemore's name associated with the Remixed Classics series. It is important to note that this is a multi-author collection curated by Feiwel & Friends, rather than a single-author series. The books do not share a plot or characters. McLemore wrote the fifth book in this series, but you do not need to read the others to enjoy it.

McLemore's contribution is Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix (2022). It is a transgender reimagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic, following a trans boy named Nicolás Caraveo who arrives in New York in 1922 and falls into the orbit of his transgender neighbor, Jay Gatsby. If you wish to read the full multi-author series, the order is:

1. A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee (2021)
2. So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow (2021)
3. Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi (2022)
4. What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri (2022)
5. Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore (2022)
6. My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron (2023)
7. Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig (2023)
8. Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline (2023)

Anthologies and Short Stories

McLemore is a prolific contributor to young adult anthologies. While these are collections of stories by different authors, they offer short-form glimpses of McLemore's magical prose. Some of their notable contributions include:

• All Out (2018): Contributed to this collection of queer historical fiction.
• The Radical Element (2018): An anthology featuring stories of girls standing up for their beliefs throughout history.
• Hungry Hearts (2019): A collection of interconnected stories focusing on food, culture, and magic.
• Body Talk (2020): An anthology exploring themes of body image and physical identity.
• That Way Madness Lies (2021): Shakespeare retellings, where McLemore reimagines "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
• Reclaim the Stars (2022): A collection of science fiction and fantasy stories showcasing Latine voices.
• The Collectors (2023): Contributed the story "Play House" to this collection edited by A.S. King.
• Faeries Never Lie (2024): Contributed the story "Blue Amber" to this folklore-rich anthology.

What to Know Before You Start

McLemore's writing is highly atmospheric and uses magical realism as a tool to explore real-world issues. The magic in their books is rarely explained with structured magic systems; instead, it exists as a natural part of the characters' lives. Their stories are deeply character-driven, focusing on themes of queer and trans identities, neurodiversity, Latinx heritage, and generational family dynamics. Approach these books looking for rich atmospheres and emotional truths rather than action-packed fantasy plots.