Where to Start Reading Eleanor Brown
If you are new to Eleanor Brown's writing, the absolute best place to start is her spectacular debut novel, The Weird Sisters (2011). This book put her on the literary map, showcasing her trademark wit, deep interest in complicated family dynamics, and love for Shakespearean literature. It serves as the perfect introduction to her narrative style, which balances rich character development with warm, conversational humor.
However, because all of Eleanor Brown's novels are standalone stories set in entirely different universes with unique characters, you are free to begin with whichever premise catches your eye. If you love historical dual-narratives set in the romance of Jazz Age France, you might prefer starting with The Light of Paris. If you are drawn to contemporary stories about non-traditional or adoptive family bonds, Any Other Family is a fantastic alternative launchpad.
Eleanor Brown Books in Publication Order
For readers who prefer tracking an author's growth and progression over time, reading in publication order is highly recommended. Though their plots are independent of one another, you can feel Brown's perspective on motherhood, sisterhood, and identity mature with each release. Below is the complete list of Eleanor Brown's works in order of their release:
- The Weird Sisters (Novel, 2011)
- WOD Motivation: Quotes, Inspiration, Affirmations, and Wisdom to Stay Mentally Tough (Nonfiction, 2013)
- The Light of Paris (Novel, 2016)
- A Paris All Your Own: Bestselling Women Writers on the City of Light (Anthology, 2017)
- Any Other Family (Novel, 2022)
An In-Depth Guide to the Novels
The Weird Sisters (2011)
Eleanor Brown's debut novel introduces us to the Andreas sisters: Rosalind (Rose), Bianca (Bean), and Cordelia (Cordy). Named after Shakespearean heroines by their eccentric, Shakespeare-quoting professor father, the three sisters have spent their adult lives trying to escape their small college town of Barnwell, Ohio, as well as the expectations placed upon them. When their mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, all three sisters find themselves back under the same roof, each secretly harboring her own personal failures and life crises.
The novel is famously written in the first-person plural perspective ("we"), representing the collective voice of the sisters. This unique choice perfectly captures the way siblings share a history, finish each other's sentences, and judge each other's choices. It won the Colorado Book Award and remains a favorite for book clubs worldwide.
The Light of Paris (2016)
Shifting focus to a dual-timeline structure, The Light of Paris follows Madeleine in 1999 Chicago and her grandmother Margie in 1924 Paris. Madeleine is trapped in a sterile, loveless marriage with an overbearing husband, feeling like she has constantly disappointed her high-society mother. When she returns to her childhood home in Ohio to help her mother pack, she uncovers a hidden diary written by her grandmother Margie.
The diary reveals that before Margie became a proper, reserved Midwestern matriarch, she lived a vibrant, passionate, and artistic life in Jazz Age Paris. As Madeleine reads her grandmother's words, she finds the strength to break free from her own unhappy life and reclaim her personal independence. This novel is a gorgeous tribute to art, historical Paris, and the hidden depths of the women who came before us.
Any Other Family (2022)
In her latest novel, Eleanor Brown tackles the beautiful, messy realities of modern open adoption. The story centers on three very different adoptive mothers—Tabitha, Ginger, and Elizabeth—who have adopted four biological siblings. Though they are not related by blood, the women have committed to raising the children as one large, interconnected family so the siblings can grow up together.
The tension builds when they embark on a two-week summer vacation in Aspen, Colorado. The close quarters force the mothers to confront their vastly different parenting styles, personal insecurities, and hidden jealousies. The dynamic shifts dramatically when their children's birth mother calls to announce she is pregnant again and wants them to help place the new baby. Told from the alternating perspectives of the three adoptive mothers, the novel is a compassionate and realistic look at what truly makes a family.
The Companions: Anthology and Nonfiction
A Paris All Your Own (2017)
If you fell in love with the atmosphere of The Light of Paris, you should immediately pick up this edited anthology. Brown curated personal essays from eighteen acclaimed women writers—including Paula McLain, Therese Anne Fowler, and M.J. Rose—chronicling their own relationship with the City of Light. Brown also contributes her own essay, making it a wonderful companion piece for travelers and dreamers alike.
WOD Motivation (2013)
An unexpected but fascinating addition to Brown's bibliography is her nonfiction release, WOD Motivation. As a passionate CrossFit enthusiast and regular contributor to the CrossFit Journal, Brown compiled this book of affirmations, quotes, and mental strategies to help athletes build resilience during high-intensity training. While not a narrative work, it offers a fun glimpse into the author's real-life interests and philosophy on mental toughness.
What to Know Before You Start
Eleanor Brown's books are classified as upmarket commercial fiction. They are accessible, engaging, and easy to read, yet they possess significant emotional depth and literary charm. You do not need to read her books in any specific order to understand them, as they share no overlapping characters or settings. Instead, think of them as thematic companions: they all explore how women find their voice, navigate the expectations of their loved ones, and define their identity within a family unit. Whether you begin with the theatrical, sisterly bonds of The Weird Sisters, the dual-timeline romance of The Light of Paris, or the contemporary dynamics of Any Other Family, you are in for a moving and relatable literary journey.