How to Read Camille Di Maio's Novels
Camille Di Maio is celebrated for her rich, dual-timeline historical fiction featuring resilient female protagonists, complex family secrets, and meticulously researched period details. If you are new to her work, the most important thing to know is that all of her books can be read as standalones. You do not need to follow a strict chronological sequence, but reading her standalone novels in publication order remains the most popular way to experience her growth as a storyteller.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Di Maio's standalone novels traverse different eras, from the Gilded Age to the 1960s jet-set era. Here is the list of her standalone books in order of publication:
- The Memory of Us (2016) – Set in 1960s and wartime Liverpool, this debut was famously inspired by the Beatles' classic track "Eleanor Rigby," following a Protestant socialite and a Catholic priest during the Blitz.
- Before the Rain Falls (2017) – A dual-timeline mystery set in a Texas border town where a woman released from a 70-year prison sentence reveals the truth behind her sister's death.
- The Way of Beauty (2018) – A multi-generational story centered on the rise and fall of New York's original Pennsylvania Station, tracking a mother and daughter through decades of love, activism, and change.
- The Beautiful Strangers (2019) – Set in 1958 at San Diego's famous Hotel del Coronado, a young woman uncovers family secrets during the filming of the movie Some Like It Hot.
- The First Emma (2020) – Biographical historical fiction based on the real life of Emma Koehler, who ran the Pearl Brewery in San Antonio, Texas, through the challenges of Prohibition and a scandalous murder.
- Until We Meet (2022) – Follows three friends working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1943 as they navigate the home front, changing roles for women, and personal crises during World War II.
- Come Fly with Me (2025) – A glamorous journey into 1962 following two women who become Pan Am stewardesses to escape their pasts and find independence.
The Wishing Tree Series (Shared Universe)
In 2022, Camille Di Maio participated in a multi-author collaborative project called The Wishing Tree series. Set in the cozy, fictional town of Linden Falls, Vermont, the series revolves around a legendary tree where residents and visitors tie ribbons containing their deepest wishes. While the series is written by several authors, Di Maio co-authored the introductory book and wrote the sixth installment:
- The Wishing Tree (Book 1, 2022) – Collaborative introductory novel written by the series' key contributors to establish the town and its folklore.
- A Parade of Wishes (Book 6, 2022) – Camille Di Maio's solo contribution, which follows Liz Guidry, a New York City nursery muralist who travels to Linden Falls for a mysterious commission and finds unexpected love.
Although the series features recurring settings and themes, each novel stands on its own and can be enjoyed independently. If you only want to read Di Maio's contribution, you can jump straight into A Parade of Wishes without reading Books 2 through 5.
Chronological Setting Guide
For readers who prefer to read historical fiction based on the era in which the stories are set, Di Maio's books can be mapped out chronologically. Use this table to navigate her eras:
- Late 1890s to 1940s: The First Emma (Covers Emma Koehler's life from Gilded Age San Antonio through Prohibition)
- 1900s to 1960s: The Way of Beauty (Spans the construction of Penn Station in the early 20th century to its demolition in the 1960s)
- 1940s (WWII): Until We Meet (Home front Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1943) & The Memory of Us (Wartime Liverpool Blitz)
- Late 1940s to Present: Before the Rain Falls (Dual timeline spanning a 1940s Texas border town murder mystery and modern-day aftermath)
- 1958: The Beautiful Strangers (Set during the filming of Some Like It Hot at the Hotel del Coronado)
- 1962: Come Fly with Me (The golden era of Pan Am jet travel)
Where to Start Reading Camille Di Maio
If you are unsure where to begin, we recommend two starting points based on your reading preferences:
- For Music and Romance Lovers: Start with The Memory of Us. It is her bestselling debut and captures the bittersweet emotion of wartime England with a unique Beatles connection.
- For Fans of True History: Start with The First Emma. It brings real-life Texas history to life and reads like an addictive drama full of ambition, betrayal, and resilience.