The Recommended Reading Order
Candace Ganger’s novels are contemporary young adult standalones, meaning you can read them in any order without losing track of plot points or character developments. However, if you want to experience her evolution as a novelist, we recommend starting with her debut and moving chronologically through her works.
1. The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash (2017)
Start your journey with Ganger’s debut novel. This story follows two teenagers, Birdie and Bash, whose lives are thrown together by a tragic accident. The book uses alternating perspectives to explore how they cope with grief, romance, and the heavy consequences of decisions made in the wake of tragedy. It establishes the emotionally raw, dual-perspective style that Ganger is known for.
2. Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles (2018)
After her debut, read this young adult mental health anthology. While not a novel, Ganger contributes a deeply personal essay sharing her real-life experiences with mental illness. Reading this piece provides immense context for her fiction, showing the personal vulnerability that drives her storytelling.
3. Six Goodbyes We Never Said (2019)
Conclude with Ganger’s second novel, which follows two grieving teens, Naima and Dew. Both are dealing with devastating losses and their own mental health battles, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It is a poignant, beautifully crafted look at healing and finding connection in the darkest times.
A Closer Look at the Books
The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash (2017)
Inspired in part by a real family tragedy from 1979, this novel presents a dual narrative. Birdie is a math genius dealing with family strain, and Bash is a boy trying to find his footing amidst chaos. When a tragedy links their families, they find solace in each other, unaware of the connection that binds them. The book is praised for not shying away from the complex, messy realities of teenage grief and guilt.
Six Goodbyes We Never Said (2019)
This novel features Naima, who is shut down after the death of her parents, and Dew, who is trying to survive the loss of his brother while managing severe anxiety and OCD. When Dew's mother steps in to foster Naima, the two are forced into the same orbit. Ganger utilizes her personal experience with OCD and GAD to write an authentic, respectful representation of these struggles, showing that healing is not linear.
Life Inside My Mind (2018 Anthology)
Edited by Alire Azeem and Jessica Burkhart, this collection of essays is aimed at destigmatizing mental health issues for young adults. Ganger's contribution is a candid look at her own life, serving as an excellent bridge between her two novels and demonstrating why she is such a passionate mental health advocate.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, readers should be prepared for heavy themes. Ganger’s work deals directly with death, grief, panic attacks, depression, and severe anxiety. However, her novels are also filled with hope, humor, and a deep appreciation for the small victories in life. Her background as a freelance journalist—writing about pop culture, parenting, and entertainment—shines through in the natural, modern dialogue of her teenage characters.
Are There Any Order Disagreements?
Because Ganger’s books are standalone novels set in separate universes, there are no order disputes. Some readers prefer to read Six Goodbyes We Never Said first because of its focused and highly praised representation of neurodiversity and mental health. Others prefer starting with The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash due to its fast-paced, high-stakes emotional mystery. You cannot go wrong either way.