Where to Start Reading Daisy Johnson
Because all of Daisy Johnson’s books are standalones, there is no single chronological storyline you must follow. However, depending on what type of reader you are, there are a few recommended paths to guide your introduction to her eerie, mythic style:
- For Novel Lovers: Start with Everything Under (2018). As her debut novel, it serves as the perfect entry point. It is a modern, feminist retelling of the Oedipus myth set on the canals of Oxford, demonstrating her unique ability to fuse ancient folklore with contemporary family dynamics.
- For Short Story Devotees: Start with Fen (2016). This collection of uncanny, interconnected tales is set in the marshy wetlands of East Anglia and provides a quick, atmospheric introduction to her signature style of magical realism and bodily transformations.
- For Fans of Dark Psychological Horror: Start with Sisters (2020). It is a tighter, more claustrophobic, and suspenseful sibling drama that will appeal to fans of Shirley Jackson.
- For Her Latest Evolution: Dive into Long Wave (2026), a haunting, multi-generational story exploring the mysteries of motherhood, secrets, and an abandoned child found on a wild British island.
Daisy Johnson's Novels in Publication Order
Reading Daisy Johnson’s novels in the order they were published allows you to witness her evolution from folk-inspired myths to dark, psychological sibling dynamics, and finally to complex multi-generational structures.
1. Everything Under (2018)
Gretel, a lexicographer, spends her adulthood sorting words. As a child, she lived on a canal boat with her mother, where they invented their own private language. After sixteen years of estrangement, Gretel finally tracks her mother down, forcing them to confront the dark secrets of their past and a creature that haunted the river. This inventive adaptation of the Oedipus myth earned Johnson a spot on the Man Booker Prize shortlist as its youngest-ever nominee.
2. Sisters (2020)
This novel moves away from open water and deep into a claustrophobic cottage on the Yorkshire coast. It follows July and September, two closely bonded teenage sisters who flee to the remote house with their mother after a traumatic incident at school. As September becomes increasingly controlling and July experiences strange occurrences, the boundary between the two sisters begins to erode in a chilling exploration of sibling relationships, grief, and domestic horror.
3. Long Wave (2026)
Daisy Johnson’s third novel is a multi-generational mystery centered around Ori, a woman who was found abandoned on a wild, uninhabited island off the English coast as a child. As an adult, Ori struggles with the intense pressures of motherhood, triggering an obsession with finding her birth mother. The narrative weaves Ori's present struggles with the past story of Ruth and Edith, revealing how long-held secrets and parental control can echo across generations.
Short Story Collections and Stage Experiences
In addition to her novels, Daisy Johnson is highly acclaimed for her short fiction and immersive audio-driven storytelling.
Fen (2016)
This award-winning debut short story collection contains interconnected stories set in the flat, watery landscapes of the English Fens. Men are swallowed by the earth, girls turn into eels, and houses hold grudges. The collection established Johnson as a master of contemporary folklore, winning the Edge Hill Short Story Prize in 2017.
Viola’s Room (2024)
Though not a traditional book, this immersive theatrical production by Punchdrunk featured an audio-driven narrative written by Johnson. Reimagining Barry Pain’s 1901 short story The Moon-Slave, it was narrated by Helena Bonham Carter and guided audience members through a dark, labyrinthine installation. It showcases Johnson’s talent for translating her gothic, sensory prose to the stage.
Anthologies and Collaborative Works
For readers who want to explore every corner of Daisy Johnson’s bibliography, she has contributed short fiction and essays to several notable anthologies:
- Best British Short Stories 2017 (2017) & Year's Best Weird Fiction, Vol. 4 (2017): These anthologies feature some of Johnson’s early, critically acclaimed short fiction, highlighting her rising prominence in contemporary weird fiction.
- Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold (2019): Johnson opens this feminist anthology with "A Retelling," a meta-fictional take on the historical legend of the Green Children of Woolpit.
- In the Kitchen: Essays on Food and Life (2020): Marking a departure from fiction, Johnson contributed a personal essay titled "Ritual," which reflects on food traditions and her family’s Christmas Eve pizza-making.
- Freeman's: Amore (2020): Published in some regions as Freeman's: Love, this volume features a poignant piece by Johnson exploring themes of farewell and connection.
What to Know Before You Start
Daisy Johnson’s writing is heavily atmospheric, relying on the natural environment—rivers, fens, coastal winds, and isolated islands—to mirror the psychological states of her characters. Her narratives frequently play with structure and language, using fragmented timelines and shifting perspectives. Rather than seeking straightforward plot resolution, readers should prepare for lyrical, sensory stories that linger in the gray area between reality and the supernatural.