Books On Board

Elizabeth Eulberg Books in Order

  • 21 Books
  • 2010 – 2024 Published

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Reading order
5 of 5 reading orders shown

Where to Start with Elizabeth Eulberg

Elizabeth Eulberg writes across two main age categories: contemporary Young Adult (YA) fiction and engaging middle-grade mysteries. Because her books span different styles and universes, your best starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for:

  • For Contemporary YA Romance & Friendship: Start with her smash-hit debut, The Lonely Hearts Club. It is the perfect introduction to her signature style of witty dialogue, strong female friendships, and pop-culture references.
  • For Middle-Grade Mysteries: Start with The Great Shelby Holmes, a clever, modern-day gender-bent Sherlock Holmes adaptation set in Harlem.
  • For Spooky, Fun Middle-Grade Adventures: Start with Curses are the Worst, the opening book in the supernatural Scared Silly series.
  • For Austen Fans: Dive into the standalone novel Prom & Prejudice, which offers a fun, modern boarding-school twist on Jane Austen's classic tale.

The Lonely Hearts Club Series Reading Order

This is Elizabeth Eulberg's most famous YA series. It centers on Penny Lane Bloom, a high schooler named after a Beatles song, who forms a "no-dating" club after getting her heart broken. It quickly grows into a school-wide movement celebrating independence and sisterhood. Between the two main novels, Eulberg released three digital short stories that bridge the gap. For the complete narrative experience, they should be read in chronological order rather than skipping straight to the second book.

Chronological Reading Order:

  1. The Lonely Hearts Club (2010) – The debut novel where Penny Lane Bloom forms the club.
  2. "A Hard Day's Night" (Short Story, 2014) – A bridge story set during Halloween where the club faces its first major conflicts.
  3. "Two of Us" (Short Story, 2014) – A bridge story exploring the club's evolving rules as Penny considers dating again.
  4. "From Me to You" (Short Story, 2014) – A final bridge story focusing on personal growth and friendships before the sequel.
  5. We Can Work It Out (2015) – The full-length sequel where Penny navigates the challenges of keeping the club alive while in a relationship.

The Great Shelby Holmes Series Reading Order

For middle-grade readers (and Sherlockians of all ages), Eulberg created a modern Harlem setting where nine-year-old genius Shelby Holmes solves local mysteries alongside her new friend and neighbor, John Watson. Each mystery is inspired by a classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story. While each mystery is self-contained, the characters' personal growth, school life, and partnership evolve over time, making it highly recommended to read them in publication order.

Publication and Reading Order:

  1. The Great Shelby Holmes (2016) – John Watson moves to Harlem, meets the eccentric Shelby, and helps solve a dog-napping case.
  2. The Great Shelby Holmes Meets Her Match (2017) – Shelby and John encounter a new student who rivals Shelby's intellect while solving a school theater mystery.
  3. The Great Shelby Holmes and the Coldest Case (2018) – A winter mystery that tests the duo's deductive reasoning and their friendship.
  4. The Great Shelby Holmes and the Haunted Hound (2019) – A spooky, atmospheric mystery that pays homage to The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Scared Silly Series Reading Order

Set in the spooky town of Cauldron's Cove, this younger middle-grade series follows four friends—Regan, Sofia, Bennett, and Darius—as they protect their town from weird, supernatural curses. These books should be read in order to follow the overarching curse mystery.

Publication and Reading Order:

  1. Curses are the Worst (2023) – The friends discover their science teacher clone plot and the town's witchy history.
  2. Zombie Wedding Crashers (2023) – The supernatural chaos escalates as a new curse threatens to turn a local wedding into a monster mash.
  3. Vampires Ruin Everything (2024) – A mysterious family moves into Cauldron's Cove, forcing the friends to defend their neighborhood (and Regan's pet bunny).

Elizabeth Eulberg’s Standalone YA Novels

Eulberg has written several highly acclaimed standalone YA contemporary novels. These do not share continuity and can be read in any order. Each focuses on distinct themes, ranging from competitive performing arts to family secrets.

  • Prom & Prejudice (2011) – A modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice set at an elite boarding school. Highly recommended for Jane Austen enthusiasts.
  • Take a Bow (2012) – Follows four students at a prestigious high school for the performing arts as they prepare for their senior showcase.
  • Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality (2013) – A story about identity and family dynamics, following a girl who decides to step out of her pageant-queen sister's shadow.
  • Better Off Friends (2014) – A dual-narrator "will-they-or-won't-they" story about two best friends, drawing inspiration from the classic trope of whether boys and girls can truly just be friends.
  • Just Another Girl (2017) – A contemporary YA drama that explores the toxic side of high school relationships, jealousy, and the power of female solidarity.
  • Past Perfect Life (2019) – A high-stakes contemporary mystery about a girl who discovers a shocking secret about her childhood that changes everything she knows about her father.
  • The Best Worst Summer (2021) – A dual-timeline middle-grade novel linking two girls from different decades (1989 and the present day) through a shared summer space and a hidden mystery.
  • Take a Chance on Me (2025) – A heartfelt romance following a girl who flees to London to escape a viral heartbreak, only to cross paths with a British busker while navigating family abandonment issues.

Anthologies and Short Stories

If you want to read every piece of Elizabeth Eulberg's short fiction, look out for her contributions to these collaborative collections:

  • Who Done It? (2013) – A collaborative YA murder mystery anthology where multiple authors write pieces to solve a crime.
  • Generation Wonder: The New Age of Heroes (2022) – A collection of superhero stories edited by Barry Lyga, featuring Eulberg's writing.
  • Serendipity: Ten Romantic Tropes, Transformed (2022) – A romance anthology edited by Marissa Meyer, containing Eulberg's short story "In a Blink of an Eye."

Frequently Asked

Can the Lonely Hearts Club books be read out of order?

It is not recommended. You should read The Lonely Hearts Club before its sequel, We Can Work It Out, as the sequel relies heavily on the character growth and club rules established in the first book. The three digital bridge short stories should ideally be read in between the two novels.

Is The Great Shelby Holmes series suitable for younger readers?

Yes, The Great Shelby Holmes is written for middle-grade readers (ages 8-12). It is a fantastic, accessible introduction to detective fiction and Holmesian tropes without the darker elements of the original Conan Doyle stories.

Are Elizabeth Eulberg's standalone books connected?

No, her standalones like Prom & Prejudice, Better Off Friends, and Take a Chance on Me are completely independent stories with different characters and settings. You can read them in any order you choose.

What is the best Elizabeth Eulberg book for Jane Austen fans?

Jane Austen fans should start with Prom & Prejudice, which is a clever modern-day teen retelling of Pride and Prejudice set at a prestigious boarding school.

Where are the three Lonely Hearts Club short stories set?

The three short stories—A Hard Day's Night, Two of Us, and From Me to You—are set chronologically between the events of The Lonely Hearts Club and We Can Work It Out, charting Penny's transition back into the dating world.