Where to Start Reading Carrie Fisher
Whether you know her as the fierce Princess Leia from Star Wars or as one of Hollywood's most notorious script doctors, Carrie Fisher’s literary voice is unmistakable: sharp, self-deprecating, vulnerably honest, and incredibly funny. For readers looking to dive into her bibliography, the best starting path depends on whether you prefer fiction or non-fiction.
If you want to experience her celebrated semi-autobiographical fiction, start with her debut novel, Postcards from the Edge (1987). It introduces her most famous recurring character, Suzanne Vale, and establishes the biting, satirical tone that defined her career. If you prefer to jump straight into her real-world reflections, start with Wishful Drinking (2008). This memoir, adapted from her acclaimed one-woman stage show, serves as the perfect primer to her life, family history, and battles with addiction and mental health.
The Suzanne Vale Series
Fisher wrote two novels centering on Suzanne Vale, an actress navigating the chaotic waters of Hollywood, substance abuse, recovery, and romance. While both books can technically be read as standalones, they should ideally be read in publication order to appreciate the character's development and long-term journey.
- Postcards from the Edge (1987): Fisher's debut novel is divided into distinct sections reflecting different stages of Suzanne's rehab and subsequent return to acting. It offers a hilarious yet painful look at the entertainment industry and maternal relationships. Fisher famously adapted the book into the screenplay for the 1990 movie starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.
- The Best Awful (2004): Published nearly two decades later, this sequel (sometimes released as The Best Awful There Is) catches up with Suzanne Vale. Now a mother and talk-show host, Suzanne goes off her medication, leading to a manic episode, a bizarre road trip, and a stay in a psychiatric facility. It is a darker but equally funny continuation of her story.
Standalone Novels
Between her Suzanne Vale books, Fisher published two standalone novels that drew heavily from her personal relationships and screenwriter lifestyle.
- Surrender the Pink (1990): This novel centers on Dinah Kaufman, a soap opera writer obsessed with reclaiming the attention of her playwright ex-husband, Rudy. The book explores relationship neuroses, divorce, and the habit of romanticizing unavailable partners. The story is widely recognized as being inspired by Fisher's tumultuous real-life marriage to singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
- Delusions of Grandma (1994): Cora Sharpe is a pregnant Hollywood screenwriter navigating the end of her relationship with her baby's father. To cope, she writes letters to her unborn child. The story shifts gears when Cora, her eccentric mother, and her friends embark on a road trip to break Cora's grandfather out of a nursing home. It explores the transition into motherhood, the bonds of family, and dealing with loss.
The Memoirs and Non-Fiction
In the latter part of her life, Fisher moved away from fiction to write memoirs that detailed her experiences directly. These should be read in order of publication to follow her life chronologically, ending with her look back at where it all began.
- Wishful Drinking (2008): A fast-paced, anecdotal account of growing up with famous parents (Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher), her brief marriage, mental health diagnoses, and the surreal nature of her Star Wars celebrity status.
- Shockaholic (2011): Expanding on the essays in her first memoir, this book details her experiences with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), her relationships with her father and Elizabeth Taylor, and her ongoing efforts to maintain stability.
- The Princess Diarist (2016): Published shortly before her passing, this book is based on the intimate journals she kept in London while filming Star Wars: A New Hope in 1976. It provides a nostalgic, behind-the-scenes look at the production and famously chronicles her brief affair with co-star Harrison Ford.
Complete Publication Order of Carrie Fisher's Books
If you wish to read her works in the exact order she wrote them, follow this chronological publication path:
- Postcards from the Edge (Novel, 1987)
- Surrender the Pink (Novel, 1990)
- Delusions of Grandma (Novel, 1994)
- The Emperor's New Clothes: An All-Star Retelling of the Classic Fairy Tale (Charity Anthology Contribution, 1998)
- The Best Awful (Novel, 2004)
- Wishful Drinking (Memoir, 2008)
- Shockaholic (Memoir, 2011)
- The Princess Diarist (Memoir, 2016)
Practical Reader Advice and Audiobooks
One of the best ways to experience Carrie Fisher's books is by listening to them. Fisher narrated the audiobook editions of Wishful Drinking, Shockaholic, and The Princess Diarist herself. Her smoky, expressive voice and perfect comedic timing add a layer of intimacy and personality that print cannot fully capture. Her work on the audiobook for The Princess Diarist earned her a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2018.
Additionally, while her novels are technically works of fiction, they are so deeply rooted in her real experiences that they read like companion pieces to her memoirs. Reading Postcards from the Edge alongside Wishful Drinking highlights how masterfully she could transform personal tragedy into compelling art.