Elle Strauss Books in Order

Recommended Reading Paths: Where to Start

Elle Strauss—who now publishes primarily under her USA Today bestselling pen name, Lee Strauss—has created multiple fictional universes that cater to different reader tastes. Because her series span from young adult time-travel and dystopian sci-fi to cozy historical mysteries, your starting point depends entirely on what genre you prefer:

• For YA Romance & Time Travel Fans: Start with Clockwise (2011). This is her signature young adult series, full of humor, historic adventure, and sweet romance.
• For Fairy Tale Reimagining Lovers: Start with Love, Tink (2012), a modern, playful twist on Tinker Bell's adventures set against the backdrop of New York City.
• For Cozy Mystery Buffs: Transition to her Lee Strauss catalog and start with Murder on the SS Rosa (2017), the opening novel of the popular Ginger Gold Mystery series.
• For Dystopian Sci-Fi Readers: Start with Perception (2013), which kicks off a trilogy set in a divided future society.

The Clockwise Series: Time-Travel Romance

The Clockwise series is a young adult time-travel adventure centered on Casey Donovan, a teenager who has to deal with the inconvenient habit of accidentally slipping back to the 19th century. To get the full story of Casey's temporal mishaps and her relationship with Nate, you should read the books in order.

Note: While local database catalogs list five primary books, the complete series including all official releases features six books, with "Clockwiser" serving as the second volume. We recommend the following complete sequence:

1. Clockwise (2011) - Casey first slips back to 19th-century America.
2. Clockwiser (2012) - The second full-length novel, following Casey's continued temporal struggles.
3. Like Clockwork (2012) - Casey finds herself dealing with a brand new set of time-travel rules and romantic complications.
4. Clocked (2012) - A companion novella (often numbered as Book 3.5) that offers a side look into the series' characters.
5. Clockwork Crazy (2015) - The stakes rise as Casey tries to balance regular life with her wild trips through history.
6. Counter Clockwise (2015) - The thrilling continuation that tests Casey's abilities and her future.

The Love, Tink Series: Tinker Bell in the Big Apple

Originally published under the Elle Strauss name, the Love, Tink series is a whimsical YA fantasy series that takes the classic Peter Pan lore and drops it into modern-day New York. Tink finds herself in the human world, dealing with magic, mortals, and unexpected romance. You should read this series in order to follow her character growth and overarching plot across the six primary works:

1. Love, Tink (2012)
2. New York, New York (2012)
3. Love Stinks (2012)
4. Peter Panelli (2013)
5. Dazed & Befuddled (2013)
6. Fairy Madness (2013)

For convenience, the early volumes are also available compiled within the Love, Tink Collection (2012).

Dystopian & Sci-Fi: The Perception Trilogy

Writing as Lee Strauss, the author created a dystopian sci-fi world set in Sol City, where the population is divided by genetic modifications and climate devastation. Following Zoe Vanderveen, the story blends romance, societal rebellion, and corporate intrigue. Read this trilogy in chronological order, starting with the prequel if you want the backstory:

• Ambition (Prequel Novella #0.5)
• Perception (Book 1, 2013)
• Volition (Book 2, 2013)
• Contrition (Book 3, 2014)

Cozy Historical Mysteries: The Ginger Gold Series

Under her Lee Strauss pen name, the author has written a massive cozy mystery catalog. Her most famous creation is the 1920s historical cozy series featuring Ginger Gold, a young war widow who travels to London and becomes a fashion-forward private detective. With over 30 titles in this series, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order to track the unfolding personal relationships and recurring characters. Start with the first few books:

1. Murder on the SS Rosa (2017)
2. Murder at Hartigan House (2017)
3. Murder at Bray Manor (2017)
4. Murder at Feathers & Flair (2017)

Standalone YA and Middle-Grade Novels

If you are looking for quick, self-contained stories that do not require committing to a series, Elle Strauss has written several standalones that showcase her range from fantasy to coming-of-age:

• It's a Little Haywire (2012) - A fun, lighthearted middle-grade story full of comedic mishaps.
• Seaweed (2016) - A YA merfolk romance following a competitive swimmer who discovers a hidden underwater world in her coastal village.
• Playing with Matches (2015) - A historical coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of wartime struggles.

Additionally, you can find her festive contributions in the anthology Winter Wonders (2012).

What to Know Before You Start

Elle Strauss and Lee Strauss are the same author. While she began her career writing whimsical YA urban fantasy and time-travel romance as Elle Strauss, she has since rebranded her entire catalog under the name Lee Strauss. When looking for physical or digital copies, you may see works like the Clockwise series or the Love, Tink series credited to either name depending on the printing edition. The cozy mystery series, such as Ginger Gold, Rosa Reed, and Higgins & Hawke, are exclusively published under Lee Strauss.