Books On Board

Daisy Wood Books in Order

  • 3 Books
  • 2021 – 2024 Published

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How to Read Daisy Wood's Novels

Daisy Wood (who also writes historical fiction under her real name, Jennie Walters) is celebrated for her immersive, dual-timeline World War II novels. Most of her books are standalones that can be enjoyed in any order. However, she has written one direct follow-up companion story, and tracking her bibliography by publication date is the easiest way to experience her growth as an author. Below is the recommended pathway to navigate her historical fiction.

The Paris & Provence Duology (Recommended Order)

While written to be read independently, these two novels share a narrative thread, following the lives of Mathilde and Jacques. To get the full emotional weight of their journey, you should read them in this order:

  • The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris (2022): Set in both 1940s occupied Paris and the present day, this novel introduces a hidden bookshop that serves as a secret hub for the French Resistance. It establishes the central romance and struggle of Jacques and Mathilde.
  • The Secrets of Provence (2026): This follow-up timeline shifts the focus to Provence, where Mathilde is forced to flee after being expelled from Paris by the Nazi occupiers. In the present day, Juliette investigates her grandmother's wartime secrets in a crumbling Southern French château.

Daisy Wood's Standalone Historical Novels

These novels do not share characters or plot lines and can be read in any order. They are listed below by their publication order:

  • The Clockmaker’s Wife (2021): Daisy Wood's debut adult novel. It is a dual-timeline story set in London during the Blitz of 1940 and the modern day, focusing on Nell Spelman, the preservation of Big Ben's clockwork, and a family mystery.
  • The Royal Librarian (2024): Set inside Windsor Castle during the height of World War II, this novel follows a librarian tasked with safeguarding the Royal Library, weaving royal history with personal resilience.
  • The Banned Books of Berlin (2025): A gripping story set in 1933 Berlin, tracking a young woman named Freya as she witnesses the rise of fascism, book burnings, and the early stages of German resistance.
  • A Distant Shore (Expected 2027): Daisy's announced upcoming historical fiction project.

Writing as Jennie Walters (Adult Fiction)

Daisy Wood writes some of her adult historical fiction under her real name, Jennie Walters. The boundaries between these two names are fluid, and publisher listings often attribute this work to both names:

  • What We Did in the War (2024): Set in London during World War II, this novel explores the lives of two very different women who cross paths during a bombing raid and reinvent themselves amidst the chaos of the home front.

The Young Reader Collections: Swallowcliffe Hall

Before transitioning to adult historical fiction, the author published over twenty children's and young adult books under the name Jennie Walters. Her most prominent historical series for younger readers is the Swallowcliffe Hall trilogy, which details the lives of three generations of women connected to an English country estate:

  1. Polly’s Story (2007): Set in 1890, following Polly Perkins as she arrives at the hall as an under-housemaid.
  2. Grace’s Story (2007): Set in 1914, following Polly’s daughter Grace, who works as a kitchenmaid during the outbreak of the First World War.
  3. Isobel’s Story (2007): Set in 1939, focusing on Polly's granddaughter Isobel as the house is transformed on the eve of World War II.
  4. Note: A companion novella, Eugenie's Story, is also associated with this series.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Because Daisy Wood heavily employs dual-timeline structures, a strict chronological reading order is practically impossible. A single book will frequently jump between the 1930s/1940s and the 2020s. For this reason, the author recommends reading her books in publication order. This allows readers to appreciate how she develops her signature style of connecting historical trauma to modern-day healing.

What to Know Before You Start

Daisy Wood’s adult novels are heavily inspired by real history, including her mother's personal childhood memories of American troops stationed in Dorset during World War II. She conducts extensive research at the London Library to ensure the historical timelines are vivid and accurate. Readers can expect emotional depth, themes of everyday resistance, and satisfying resolutions that offer hope despite the dark wartime settings.

Frequently Asked

Where is the best place to start reading Daisy Wood?

Start with her debut novel, The Clockmaker’s Wife, to experience her signature dual-timeline style, or read The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris followed by its companion The Secrets of Provence.

Are Daisy Wood and Jennie Walters the same person?

Yes. Jennie Walters is the author's real name, under which she wrote children's books and the novel What We Did in the War. She uses the pen name Daisy Wood for her adult World War II historical fiction.

Do you need to read Daisy Wood's books in order?

With the exception of The Secrets of Provence (which is best read after The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris), all of her adult novels are standalones and can be read in any order.

What is the Swallowcliffe Hall series?

It is a historical fiction trilogy for young readers written under the name Jennie Walters, following three generations of women working at a grand English country estate from 1890 to 1939.

Does Daisy Wood have any new books coming out?

Yes, her novel The Secrets of Provence was released in 2026, and her next book, A Distant Shore, is anticipated in 2027.