Books On Board
author Reading Order

Annie Groves Books in Order

26 Books
6 Series & collections
2003 – 2021 Published
Jump to reading order
Affiliate links: We may earn a commission on purchases made at no extra cost to you.
Reading order

Where to Start Reading Annie Groves

For readers diving into the emotional and historical worlds of Annie Groves, the best place to start depends on your preferred era. If you want a story set in the Edwardian era, begin with Ellie Pride, the first book of the Pride Family series. It introduces you to Groves’s trademark style: strong-willed women navigating family struggles, romance, and societal changes in Liverpool.

If you prefer World War II sagas, the ideal starting point is Across the Mersey, the opening volume of the Campion Family series. This series is widely considered one of her strongest, tracing the lives, loves, and heartaches of a Liverpool family during the Blitz. Alternatively, if you want a London setting, start with London Belles to begin the Article Row series, which follows four very different young women working in a East End munitions factory.

The Pride Family Series (Edwardian Era)

The Pride Family books are set in Liverpool during the early 1900s. These books should be read in order of publication to follow the family's development and changing fortunes:

  • Ellie Pride (2003) – Ellie must support her family after a tragedy, finding work in a Liverpool merchant's office where she meets the complicated Max.
  • Connie's Courage (2004) – Ellie's cousin Connie faces her own trials as she strives to make her own way in the world despite societal expectations.
  • Hettie of Hope Street (2005) – Hettie fights to protect those she loves while coping with the challenges of early 20th-century working-class life.

World War II Standalones and Interconnected Sagas

Published between 2006 and 2008, these wartime novels are set in Liverpool and are largely standalone stories, though they share the same comforting atmosphere and focus on female solidarity during the war years:

  • Goodnight Sweetheart (also published as A Mother's Blessing) (2006)
  • Some Sunny Day (2006)
  • The Grafton Girls (2007)
  • As Time Goes By (2008)

The Campion Family Series

This series moves chronologically through the years of World War II, following the Campions as they face the terrors of the Liverpool Blitz. Readers should follow the publication order for the best experience:

  • Across the Mersey (2008) – Introduces the Campion family as the dark clouds of war gather over Liverpool.
  • Daughters of Liverpool (2008) – Follows the Campion daughters as they take on wartime roles and find romance amidst uncertainty.
  • The Heart of the Family (2009) – Explores how the family copes with rationing, bombings, and personal secrets.
  • Where the Heart Is (2010) – The Campions struggle to keep their spirits up as the war drags on.
  • When the Lights Go On Again (2010) – The emotional conclusion as the family looks toward peace and rebuilding their lives.

The Article Row Series

Set in London during the Blitz, this series centers on the friendship of four young women who move to the capital to do their bit for the war effort, living on Article Row:

  • London Belles (2010) – Introduces the four main characters as they form an unbreakable bond in wartime London.
  • Home for Christmas (2011) – The girls face their first wartime winter and the challenges of love during the Blitz.
  • My Sweet Valentine (2012) – Explores the personal sacrifices and romantic trials of the Article Row residents.
  • Only a Mother Knows (2013) – Focuses on family secrets and maternal bonds tested by the chaos of war.
  • A Christmas Promise (2013) – A heartwarming installment about hope and healing as wartime challenges persist.

The Empire Street Series

Set in Liverpool during the Second World War, the Empire Street series returns to Groves's favorite city, focusing on the lives of neighbors supporting each other through the Blitz. This series was published posthumously:

  • Child of the Mersey (2014) – Follows Rita Watson as she deals with family duties and the outbreak of war.
  • Christmas on the Mersey (2014) – Sagas of love and neighborhood solidarity during a cold wartime winter.
  • The Mersey Daughter (2017) – Explores secrets that threaten to tear a local family apart amidst the war effort.
  • Winter on the Mersey (2017) – A tale of resilience and community spirit during the hardest months of the conflict.

The District Nurse Series

One of the most popular series written under the Annie Groves name, these books focus on the brave district nurses of London's East End during the Blitz. These books should be read in chronological order:

  • The District Nurses of Victory Walk (2018) – Young nurses Alice, Edith, and Kitty begin their duties in London's war-torn East End.
  • Wartime for the District Nurses (also published as The District Nurse 2) (2019) – The nurses face worsening air raids and complex personal choices.
  • Christmas for the District Nurses (2019) – The community comes together to find joy despite rationing and loss.
  • A Gift for the District Nurses (2020) – Traces the nurses' personal growth as new arrivals shake up the clinic.
  • The District Nurses Make a Wish (2021) – The final chapter in the nurses' wartime journeys as they look to the future.

What to Know Before You Start

Annie Groves was a beloved pseudonym of Penelope "Penny" Halsall (née Jones), who was born in 1946 and passed away in 2011. Halsall was an incredibly prolific author, publishing over 200 novels under various pen names, most notably as Penny Jordan for her contemporary Mills & Boon romances. When writing as Annie Groves, she drew heavily on her mother's real-life memories of living through World War II in Liverpool, which lends these books their striking historical accuracy and deep emotional resonance.

Because Penny Halsall passed away in 2011, several of the series published under the Annie Groves name after this date were completed or written by talented continuation authors, such as Jenny Shaw and Sheila Riley. These authors worked closely with the publisher to maintain the warmth, local dialect, and comforting tone that fans of the original novels expected. Consequently, the transition between authors is seamless, allowing readers to enjoy these extended family sagas as a unified body of work.

Frequently Asked

QWho was the real author behind the Annie Groves pseudonym?

Annie Groves was the pen name of Penelope Halsall (1946–2011), who also wrote contemporary romances under the name Penny Jordan and historical fiction under other pseudonyms like Caroline Courtney.

QWho wrote the Annie Groves books published after 2011?

Following Penelope Halsall's death in 2011, authors Jenny Shaw and Sheila Riley continued writing and completing novels under the Annie Groves name to keep her beloved series alive.

QCan the Annie Groves books be read as standalones?

While some of the early World War II books (such as Goodnight Sweetheart and The Grafton Girls) work well as standalones, major series like the Campion Family and the District Nurse books are best read in publication order to follow the character arcs.

QWhere is the best place to start reading Annie Groves?

If you enjoy Edwardian settings, start with Ellie Pride. For World War II sagas, the best starting points are Across the Mersey (for Liverpool) or London Belles (for London).

QAre the Annie Groves books historically accurate?

Yes. Penny Halsall grew up listening to her mother's memories of World War II in Liverpool, and the series are highly praised for their authentic portrayal of rationing, air raids, and wartime community spirit.