Carmen Reid Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Carmen Reid?

If you are new to Carmen Reid’s work, the absolute best place to start is with the beloved Annie Valentine series. This is Reid's flagship contemporary chick-lit series that established her as a master of witty, relatable women's fiction. Starting with The Personal Shopper, you will immediately get a taste of her trademark fast-paced humor, fashionable settings, and emotionally resonant themes of career, family, and self-discovery.

For readers who prefer young adult fiction or enjoy school-based drama, the Secrets at St Jude's series is the perfect alternative. Set in Edinburgh, it offers a fun, coming-of-age experience filled with boarding school dynamics and close friendships. Finally, if you want a quick, self-contained story, her standalone bestseller Did the Earth Move? or the award-winning historical novel Cross My Heart are excellent entry points that demonstrate the author's range beyond series fiction.

The Annie Valentine Series in Detail

The Annie Valentine books follow the chaotic, glamorous, and deeply human life of a stylish single mother who works as a personal shopper in London before building a major fashion career. While each book features a self-contained story or setting (like New York or Paris), the personal relationships, children's ages, and romance plots develop continuously. To fully appreciate the character arc, you should read this series in strict publication order.

Here is the recommended reading order for the Annie Valentine series:

1. The Personal Shopper (2007) – Readers are introduced to Annie, a busy single mother juggling kids, bills, and a job helping others look fabulous.
2. Late Night Shopping (2008) – Annie navigates new career heights while managing evolving family and romantic relationships (also published in some markets as Holiday Shopping).
3. How Not To Shop (2009) – Annie deals with client dramas, relationship doubts, and the struggles of raising growing teenagers.
4. Celebrity Shopper (2010) – High-stakes fashion tasks bring Annie closer to the spotlight, testing her limits and priorities.
5. New York Valentine (2011) – The setting shifts across the Atlantic as Annie takes on the competitive shopping scene in New York City.
6. Shopping With The Enemy (2012) – Annie faces professional rivalry and personal complications in another fast-paced adventure.
7. Annie in Paris (2024) – Marking a long-awaited return to the character after a twelve-year hiatus, Annie takes on the ultimate fashion capital of the world.

Secrets at St Jude's Series

If you enjoy lively boarding school dramas, this six-book young adult series is highly recommended. The story centers on Gina Peterson, a rebellious teenager from California who is sent by her mother to St Jude’s, an all-girls boarding school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Over the course of the six books, Gina grows from a homesick outsider into a core member of a tight-knit group of friends, navigating first loves, academic rivalries, and school rule-breaking.

Because the books follow Gina and her roommates semester-by-semester, they must be read in publication order:

1. New Girl (2008) – Gina arrives at St Jude's, experiences major culture shock, and meets her roommates Amy, Niffy, and Min.
2. Jealous Girl (2009) – Friendships are tested by school rivalries, secrets, and romantic interests.
3. Drama Girl (2010) – The girls navigate creative arts, theatrical productions, and personal conflicts.
4. Rebel Girl (2010) – Gina and her roommates test the limits of school rules, leading to dramatic consequences.
5. Sunshine Girl (2011) – Summer-themed adventures bring new environments and fresh challenges for the group.
6. Party Girl (2011) – The final term approaches, bringing celebratory events, reflections on the past, and preparations for future paths.

Carmen Reid’s Standalone Novels

Beyond her series, Carmen Reid has published a wide variety of standalone books. These range from lighthearted contemporary romance to historical young adult fiction and domestic comedies about modern family life. These standalones can be picked up in any order, though they are listed here chronologically by release date:

• Three in a Bed (2002) – Reid's debut novel, written during her transition from journalism to motherhood, highlighting modern relationship dynamics.
• Did the Earth Move? (2003) – A Sunday Times bestseller that firmly established Reid as a household name in modern women's fiction.
• How Was It For You? (2004) – A humorous look at contemporary dating, expectations, and family ties.
• Up All Night (2005) – A comedy exploring the sleep-deprived chaos of parenthood and modern domestic life.
• The Jewels of Manhattan (2011) – Set in New York, this fun, heist-style chick-lit novel follows three Texan sisters who hatch a chaotic scheme to steal high-end jewelry.
• Cross My Heart (2013) – A historical YA novel set during World War II, which won the Angus Book Award in 2015. It showcases a darker, more dramatic side of Reid's storytelling.
• Worn Out Wife Seeks New Life (2021) – A contemporary novel marking the author's return to adult fiction after a writing hiatus, following a woman reclaiming her independence.
• New Family Required (2022) – A warm, witty domestic comedy focusing on mid-life updates and new family beginnings.
• The Woman Who Ran For The Hills (2023) – A contemporary story about starting over, finding peace in the countryside, and leaving city stress behind.

What to Know Before You Start

Carmen Reid’s books are characterized by a conversational, cinematic writing style with heroines who feel like real friends. While the standalone books can easily be read out of order, the Annie Valentine and Secrets at St Jude’s series feature clear linear character growth, so sticking to publication order is highly recommended for those series. There is a notable 12-year publishing gap between Shopping With The Enemy (2012) and Annie in Paris (2024), reflecting a period where Reid focused on other writing pursuits before returning to her most famous character. A newer Annie Valentine book, How to be Fabulous (2026), has also been published, continuing the series sequence.