Candace Bushnell Books in Order

Where to Start with Candace Bushnell

Candace Bushnell revolutionized contemporary women's fiction by blending sharp-witted social satire with the glamour of New York City. Whether you are looking for the origin of the cultural phenomenon that is Carrie Bradshaw or want to dive into her standalone stories of ambition and privilege, there are two main paths you can take to begin your reading journey.

Path 1: The Carrie Bradshaw / Sex and the City Route

If you want to experience the birth of the franchise that redefined modern dating, start with the original Sex and the City (1996). However, keep in mind that this book is not a traditional narrative novel; it is a compiled anthology of Bushnell's real-life columns for the New York Observer. If you prefer a cohesive, character-driven story that fits the tone of the television adaptations, you should start with the prequel duology, beginning with The Carrie Diaries (2010).

Path 2: The Satire and Standalone Route

For readers who want to experience Bushnell's biting social satire outside of the Carrie Bradshaw universe, the best entry point is Four Blondes (2000) followed by Trading Up (2003). These books focus on the ambitious climbs of Manhattan's elite and share a recurring main character, making them a fantastic duology to read back-to-back.

The Carrie Bradshaw Universe

The Carrie Bradshaw universe consists of the column collection that started it all and a young adult prequel duology detailing Carrie's teenage years and her initial transition to New York City. Depending on your preference, you can read these books in two different orders.

Chronological Reading Order

Reading chronologically allows you to follow Carrie Bradshaw's life in order, starting from her senior year of high school in Connecticut to her arrival in the big city, and finally to her dating columns in her thirties.

• The Carrie Diaries (2010) – Focuses on Carrie's life as a high school senior, her friendships, her first love, and her dreams of becoming a writer.
• Summer and the City (2011) – Follows Carrie during her summer internship in New York City, leading directly into her life as a resident writer.
• Sex and the City (1996) – The original collection of columns detailing the lifestyles, dating habits, and friendships of Carrie and her circle in their thirties.

Publication Reading Order

Reading in publication order lets you see how Bushnell's style and Carrie's character evolved over time. You start with the cynical, journalistic roots of the column and look back at a retrofitted backstory later.

• Sex and the City (1996)
• The Carrie Diaries (2010)
• Summer and the City (2011)

Important Universe Caveats

It is important to note that the Carrie Bradshaw in the novels is somewhat different from the character depicted in the famous HBO television adaptation. The original columns in Sex and the City are much darker, more cynical, and less focused on fairy-tale endings than the TV series. Conversely, the YA prequel duology (The Carrie Diaries and Summer and the City) was written after the TV show's success and aligns a bit more closely with the lighter, romance-heavy tone of the screen adaptation, though some continuity differences still exist.

Additionally, Is There Still Sex in the City? (2019) is a spiritual successor to the original book. It does not feature Carrie Bradshaw, but it uses the same column-style observational format to explore dating, friendships, and sex for women in their fifties and sixties.

The Janey Wilcox Novels

While often classified as standalone novels, two of Bushnell's books share a strong character connection. Four Blondes (2000) is a collection of four novellas skewering the relationships and privileges of high-society women. The first novella, "Nice 'N Easy," introduces Janey Wilcox, an ambitious model looking to secure summer rentals in the Hamptons. Bushnell later brought Janey back as the main protagonist of Trading Up (2003), which follows her ruthless climb up the social ladder. Readers interested in Janey's story arc should read these two in order.

Standalone Novels and Co-Authored Work

Outside of her interconnected universes, Bushnell has written several standalone books exploring themes of ambition, friendship, and success:

• Lipstick Jungle (2005) – Follows three high-powered Manhattan career women navigating their professional and personal lives. It was later adapted into a popular television series.
• One Fifth Avenue (2008) – A satirical look at the lives, gossip, and social wars of the wealthy tenants in a prestigious Greenwich Village apartment building.
• Killing Monica (2015) – A meta-fictional satire about a famous writer who becomes trapped by the success of her own creation, a character named Monica.
• Rules for Being a Girl (2020) – Co-authored with Katie Cotugno, this young adult novel focuses on a high school senior navigating systemic sexism and speaking out against a popular teacher.

Anthologies and Collaborations

For completionists, Bushnell has also contributed to a photography collection and a collaborative fiction novel:

• Another Planet: New York Portraits 1976-1996 (2014) – A photography book by Christophe von Hohenberg capturing New York's cultural scene, featuring written contributions and essays by Bushnell and others.
• Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering (2024) – A collaborative novel edited by Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston, set during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Bushnell is one of the many prestigious contributing authors.

Complete Candace Bushnell Publication List

Here is the complete list of Candace Bushnell's books in order of their publication:

1. Sex and the City (1996)
2. Four Blondes (2000)
3. Trading Up (2003)
4. Lipstick Jungle (2005)
5. One Fifth Avenue (2008)
6. The Carrie Diaries (2010)
7. Summer and the City (2011)
8. Another Planet: New York Portraits 1976-1996 (2014)
9. Killing Monica (2015)
10. Is There Still Sex in the City? (2019)
11. Rules for Being a Girl (2020)
12. Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering (2024)