Where to Start with Ellen Goodlett
For most readers, the best entry point into Ellen Goodlett's work depends on which medium you prefer. If you love high-stakes young adult fantasy filled with royal intrigue, blackmail, and multiple points of view, start immediately with her debut duology, beginning with Rule. If you prefer contemporary speculative fiction and psychological drama, your best starting point is Everything We Never Knew, her high-profile novel co-authored with Julianne Hough.
The Rule Duology (Young Adult Fantasy)
This is Ellen Goodlett's signature YA fantasy series. The story revolves around three girls—Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren—who discover they are the illegitimate daughters of the dying king of Kolonya. Vying for the throne while hiding deadly secrets, they are targeted by a mysterious blackmailer who threatens to expose them. Because this is a continuous story with a cliffhanger, these books must be read in order:
- Rule (2018)
- Rise (2019)
Collaborations and Standalone Novels
Everything We Never Knew (2024)
Co-authored with Emmy Award-winning performer Julianne Hough, this novel represents a shift into speculative adult contemporary fiction. The story follows Lexi Cole, a woman living in small-town Utah whose life is upended when she starts sensing the raw emotions and hidden memories of those around her after an encounter at a realty awards banquet.
Important Note on "The Light She Holds": You may see database listings or rights guides referring to a book titled The Light She Holds, copyrighted or scheduled around 2023. This was the working title for the project during its development phase. It was retitled prior to release, meaning The Light She Holds and Everything We Never Knew are the exact same book. You do not need to search for a separate copy of The Light She Holds.
Audio Fiction and Podcast Series
Goodlett has also established herself in the realm of audio drama, co-creating highly rated fiction podcasts with Pretty Little Liars author Sara Shepard for the Realm network. These can be listened to on most major podcast platforms, and some have been released in serialized text formats:
- Elixir (2020) – A speculative fantasy romance podcast set in a world of magical underground speakeasies. Co-created with Sara Shepard.
- Memory Lane (2021) – A psychological road-trip thriller focusing on memory implantation, a mother-daughter relationship, and an unsolved murder. Goodlett co-wrote the first season with Sara Shepard (Shepard wrote the second season solo).
Anthology Contributions
- Athena's Daughters, Vol. 2 (2015) – Features one of Goodlett's early speculative short stories in a collection dedicated to showcasing female science fiction and fantasy writers.