Camryn Garrett Books in Order

How to Read Camryn Garrett’s Books

Because all of Camryn Garrett’s novels are standalone works, there is no single "correct" sequence you must follow to avoid spoilers or plot confusion. However, because she writes across different age demographics (Young Adult and Middle Grade) and styles (contemporary realism, epistolary fiction, and historical fantasy), choosing where to begin depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for.

Path 1: The YA Contemporary Core (For Realistic Fiction Fans)

If you want to experience the modern, sex-positive, and realistic Young Adult fiction that made Garrett a breakout voice in YA, follow this path. It aligns with her publication order and showcases her growth as a contemporary writer:

1. Full Disclosure (2019): Start here to see Garrett's debut. It follows Simone Garcia-Hampton, an HIV-positive bisexual Black teen navigating high school romance, theater drama, and the fear of stigma.
2. Off the Record (2021): Move next to this journalism-centered story. It follows Josie Wright, a teen writer who wins a prestigious contest to profile a rising star, only to uncover a massive Hollywood sexual misconduct scandal.
3. Friday I'm in Love (2023): Follow up with this joyful, low-stakes romantic comedy about Mahalia Harris, a queer teen who throws herself a massive coming-out party to celebrate her identity on her own terms.
4. In Between Days (2026): Conclude with this epistolary novel exploring family secrets, grief, and queer identity through letters, texts, and diary entries.

Path 2: The Historical Fantasy Route (For Younger or Speculative Readers)

If you prefer magical realism, historical settings, or are looking for Middle Grade fiction rather than YA, start here:

1. The Forgotten Summer of Seneca (2025): Garrett's Middle Grade debut. It follows twelve-year-old Rowan, who discovers a portal in Central Park leading to a magical, preserved version of Seneca Village, the historic 19th-century Black community in New York.

Publication Order of Camryn Garrett's Works

For readers who want to experience the evolution of Garrett’s writing voice from her teenage debut at age 19 to her later historical and epistolary works, reading in order of publication is highly recommended. Below is the complete list of her standalone novels and middle-grade works in order of release:

• Full Disclosure (YA Novel) — Published: October 2019
• Off the Record (YA Novel) — Published: May 2021
• Friday I'm in Love (YA Novel) — Published: January 2023
• The Forgotten Summer of Seneca (Middle Grade Novel) — Published: April 2025
• In Between Days (YA Novel) — Published: May 2026

Deep Dive: The Standalone Novels

Full Disclosure (2019)

Garrett wrote her debut novel during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2016 when she was just sixteen years old. Frustrated by the lack of representation for teens thriving with chronic illnesses, she created Simone Garcia-Hampton, a theater-loving teen who is bisexual and HIV-positive. When Simone starts at a new school and begins dating a boy named Miles, she has to decide when and how to disclose her status while facing an anonymous blackmailer who threatens to reveal her secret. It is a sex-positive, compassionate look at modern adolescence that rejects the tragic tropes historically associated with HIV in media.

Off the Record (2021)

Drawing heavily on Garrett's own background as a teen journalist (she began reporting for TIME for Kids at age thirteen), this novel follows seventeen-year-old Josie Wright. After winning a writing contest, Josie gets the chance of a lifetime: joining a press tour for a movie starring a hot new celebrity. However, her dream assignment takes a sharp turn when she uncovers allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against a powerful Hollywood director. Josie is forced to navigate her own anxiety, the responsibilities of investigative journalism, and the personal cost of speaking the truth in the midst of the #MeToo movement.

Friday I'm in Love (2023)

If you are looking for a story focused on "Black queer joy" rather than heavy societal trauma, this is the perfect starting point. The novel centers on Mahalia Harris, a teen who feels left out because her family couldn't afford a traditional Sweet Sixteen. Determined to celebrate herself, she plans a lavish coming-out party instead. Funding the event requires working extra shifts at her afterschool job, and her plans are further complicated when she falls for Siobhan, a new girl at school who already has a boyfriend. It is a sweet, music-infused romance that celebrates self-acceptance and friendship.

The Forgotten Summer of Seneca (2025)

Marking Garrett's first transition into Middle Grade (MG) fiction and speculative elements, this book is set against the backdrop of Central Park in New York City. Twelve-year-old Rowan is grieving the loss of her father and facing a boring summer with her aunt. While taking photos in the park with her father's old camera, she steps through a magical portal into Seneca Village—the actual mid-19th-century community of Black landowners that was destroyed to build Central Park. In this fantasy version, the residents possess magical abilities, and Rowan must help investigate the disappearance of the portal's protector while coming to terms with her own grief.

In Between Days (2026)

This Young Adult novel utilizes an epistolary format, combining diary entries, text messages, and online reviews. The plot centers on seventeen-year-old Mira Howard in the wake of her father's passing. At his funeral, a strange man named Richard is turned away by Mira’s mother. Intrigued, Mira searches her father's things and discovers Richard was her father’s secret boyfriend. In her search for connection and answers about her late father's hidden life, Mira secretly contacts Richard, asking him to guide her through understanding her own emerging queer identity while managing a crush on a co-worker.

Short Stories and Anthology Contributions

In addition to her full-length books, Camryn Garrett has contributed short fiction to several young adult anthologies. These stories offer quick windows into her writing style and are highly recommended for completionists:

• "Up All Night" (in the anthology Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise, edited by Laura Silverman, 2021): This short story captures the energetic, late-night atmosphere of teens sharing secrets and bonding during the overnight hours.
• "Unfortunately, Blobs Do Not Have Ambition" (in the anthology Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales, edited by Ashley Herring Blake and Rebecca Podos, 2021): A charming, romantic short story that subverts traditional romance tropes with Garrett's signature humor.
• "Study Break" (in the anthology Study Break: 11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation, edited by Aashna Avachat, 2023): This story focuses on Ruby, a college student navigating the stresses of her major, her developing sexuality, and a crush on her resident assistant (RA).

What to Know Before You Start

To get the most out of reading Camryn Garrett, keep these points in mind:

• No Shared Continuity: You do not need to worry about read order spoiling other books. Simone, Josie, Mahalia, Rowan, and Mira live in completely separate universes. Feel free to skip between them based on which premise excites you most.
• Age Transitions: Note the difference between The Forgotten Summer of Seneca (aimed at readers aged 8–12, focusing on fantasy, historical education, and grief) and her YA works (aimed at readers aged 14+, featuring mature themes, sex-positive discussions, and real-world issues).
• Themes of Advocacy: Across all of her books, Garrett integrates real-world social issues—such as chronic illness stigma, sexual misconduct, historical erasure of Black communities, fatphobia, and LGBTQ+ representation—with authentic teen humor and warmth.