Cathy Bramley Books in Order

Where to Start with Cathy Bramley

Cathy Bramley's warm, comforting storytelling has made her a Sunday Times bestseller. While the majority of her novels are standalone stories set in charming English villages, several books feature delightful character crossovers. To get the absolute best experience, we recommend starting with Ivy Lane. This breakout book established her popular serialization format and introduces characters who directly transition into her next novel, Appleby Farm.

If you prefer a cohesive holiday series, another fantastic starting point is The Merry Christmas Project, which kicks off her only true, multi-book character-focused trilogy (the Merry Shaw series).

The Ivy Lane and Appleby Farm Duology

While written to stand alone, these two novels are closely linked by character and setting. Reading them in order offers a satisfying sense of continuity:

• Ivy Lane (2014) – Follows Tilly Parker as she seeks peace and community in a local allotment. In this book, readers are introduced to Freya Moorcroft, who appears briefly toward the end of the story.
• Appleby Farm (2015) – Stars Freya Moorcroft as she leaves her life in Kingsfield (the setting of Ivy Lane) to return to Cumbria and help rescue her family's struggling farm. Several familiar faces from the Ivy Lane allotments make cameo appearances here.

The Merry Shaw Trilogy

For readers looking for direct sequels, the Merry Shaw books follow the romantic and personal life of protagonist Merry Shaw in the cozy village of Coleton. This series should be read in chronological order:

1. The Merry Christmas Project (2021)
2. Merrily Ever After (2022)
3. A Merry Little Christmas (2024)

Understanding the Serialized Novels

A signature aspect of Cathy Bramley’s publishing career is her use of digital serialization. Many of her full-length novels were originally published as four-part monthly e-novellas. While you can still purchase these digital parts individually, we strongly recommend reading the collected full-length novels instead. The story remains exactly the same, and the collected books are much easier to track down. The serialized books and their original parts include:

• Ivy Lane (2014) – Serialized as Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
• Appleby Farm (2015) – Serialized as A Blessing in Disguise, A Family Affair, Where the Heart Is, and Love is in the Air.
• Wickham Hall (2016) – Serialized as Hidden Treasures, Summer Secrets, Sparks Fly, and White Christmas.
• The Plumberry School of Comfort Food (2016) – Serialized as Food, Glorious Food, Cooking Up A Storm, Taking Stock, and The Magic Ingredient.
• The Lemon Tree Café (2017) – Serialized as Cup of Ambition, Storm in a Teacup, Tea and Sympathy, and Fresh Brew.
• A Match Made in Devon (2018) – Serialized as The First Guests, The Hen Party, The Frenemies, and The Leading Lady.
• A Patchwork Family (2020) – Serialized as Moving On, Dreaming Big, Taking Chances, and Coming Home.
• Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery (2018) – Published in four digital parts before being collected into a single volume.

Chronological Publication Order of Standalone Novels

If you want to read Cathy Bramley's work in the order it was written, here is the complete chronological list of her standalone novels (using their collected publication years):

1. Conditional Love (2013) – Cathy Bramley's self-published debut.
2. Ivy Lane (2014)
3. Appleby Farm (2015)
4. Wickham Hall (2016)
5. The Plumberry School of Comfort Food (2016)
6. White Lies and Wishes (2017)
7. The Lemon Tree Café (2017)
8. Hetty's Farmhouse Bakery (2018)
9. A Match Made in Devon (2018)
10. A Patchwork Family (2020)
11. My Kind of Happy (2021)
12. The Merry Christmas Project (2021)
13. The Summer That Changed Us (2022)
14. Merrily Ever After (2022)
15. The Sunrise Sisterhood (2023)
16. A Merry Little Christmas (2024)
17. Somewhere Only We Know (2025)
18. Not Just for Christmas (2026)

Novellas, Anthologies, and Companion Works

In addition to her main novels, Cathy Bramley has contributed to several short story collections and charity anthologies. These are entirely optional reads, but they offer extra doses of her signature village charm:

• Rescue Me (2020) – A standalone quick-read short story.
• Love Stories (2022) – A romantic fiction anthology featuring a contribution by Bramley.

What to Know Before You Start

Cathy Bramley's books are famous for their strong, relatable female leads who often find themselves rebuilding their lives or careers in cozy settings like bakeries, allotments, cafes, and historic halls. Her books reflect real-life challenges—like grief, career changes, and complex family relationships—but always maintain an uplifting, comforting, and romantic tone. You do not need to worry about rigid continuity timeline issues outside of the Merry Shaw trilogy and the Freya Moorcroft transition from Ivy Lane to Appleby Farm. Pick up the book with the setting that appeals most to you, grab a hot drink, and enjoy the escape!