How to Read Ellery Lloyd’s Novels
Ellery Lloyd is the writing pseudonym for the London-based husband-and-wife team Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos. Since all of their novels are standalone psychological thrillers, there is no single "correct" chronological sequence or continuous plotline that readers must follow. You can read them in any order you choose without worrying about spoilers or missing character arcs. However, to get the absolute most out of their signature blend of digital-era paranoia and high-society satire, we recommend starting with their breakout hit before moving on to their newer releases.
The Recommended Reading Path
If you are new to the duo's work, here is the most satisfying sequence to experience their storytelling evolution:
- 1. People Like Her (2021): This is the perfect starting point. It introduces you to their sharp, contemporary style, exploring the dark side of social media influencer culture. It is claustrophobic, incredibly tense, and highly relatable to anyone who has ever spent too much time on Instagram.
- 2. The Club (2022): Next, step into the ultra-glamorous, highly exclusive world of a celebrity membership club. It expands their focus from a single family to a larger, star-studded ensemble, playing out like a modern locked-room mystery with Succession vibes.
- 3. The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby (2024): This book marks a departure in style. It is a layered mystery that spans decades, combining a historical 1930s art scandal with a modern-day academic investigation. Read this third to appreciate how the authors stretch their narrative muscles beyond the immediate digital age.
- 4. Time to Burn (2026): Their newest release takes a high-concept turn into sci-fi suspense, focusing on the ethics and terrifying consequences of commercialized time travel for the ultra-wealthy. Save this for last to experience their most ambitious premise yet.
Ellery Lloyd Books in Publication Order
For readers who prefer to watch an author's style develop chronologically, reading in publication order is a fantastic option. Here is the chronological list of Ellery Lloyd's standalone thrillers:
- People Like Her (January 2021)
- The Club (March 2022)
- The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby (June 2024)
- Time to Burn (August 2026)
Deep Dive: The Standalone Novels
Let's take a closer look at each novel to help you decide which story fits your current reading mood.
People Like Her (2021)
Their debut novel is a masterclass in modern suspense. The story centers on Emmy Jackson, a massive Instagram influencer known to her millions of followers as "@the_mamabare." Emmy has monetized her family's daily life, sharing everything from parenting mishaps to raw, vulnerable moments. But while her followers see authenticity, her husband Dan, a struggling novelist, sees a highly curated commodity. Behind the scenes, the pressure to maintain their online brand is fracturing their marriage. More dangerously, Emmy's oversharing has attracted a stalker who knows their daily routine, their home layout, and their deepest secrets. The novel is told through three perspectives—Emmy, Dan, and the stalker—creating an intense, fast-paced game of cat and mouse that explores the terrifying cost of online fame.
The Club (2022)
Selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, this book takes readers to Island Home, an ultra-luxurious, ultra-exclusive resort located off the English coast. Accessible only to a hand-selected group of A-list celebrities and the ultra-rich, the island is designed to be a private playground where the famous can indulge their worst impulses away from the public eye. However, as the star-studded opening weekend gets underway, old rivalries, deep-seated grievances, and corporate greed begin to simmer. Before long, a body is discovered, and the glamorous launch turns into a deadly struggle for survival. By shifting between the perspectives of the club's founders, the staff, and the high-profile guests, the authors deliver a biting satire on celebrity privilege, wealth, and the lengths people will go to protect their reputations.
The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby (2024)
In their third novel, the writing duo moves away from immediate digital commentary to craft a complex, multi-layered literary mystery. The story connects three distinct timelines: the tragic story of Juliette Willoughby, a young surrealist artist in 1930s Paris who died in a studio fire along with her lover; a pair of academic researchers in the 1980s who uncover a long-lost masterpiece attributed to her; and a modern-day scholar who finds himself caught in a web of murder and deception when the painting resurfaces. The book is an atmospheric, gothic-tinged mystery that explores the dark side of the art market, family curses, and obsessive academic pursuits, proving the authors' versatility outside of modern social media thrillers.
Time to Burn (2026)
Scheduled for release in August 2026, this novel introduces a thrilling sci-fi element to their bibliography. The plot centers on Tempus Tours, an elite company that offers time-travel excursions to the ultra-wealthy, letting them visit historical events like the London Blitz. When filmmaker Phoebe Hunt is hired to shoot a documentary about the company, she expects a routine promotional project. However, when a prominent family returns from their journey covered in blood and missing a family member, Phoebe is thrown into a terrifying conspiracy. She discovers that the missing traveler is a figure from her own past who holds a dark grudge. The novel combines a high-concept premise with the duo's classic focus on privilege, secrets, and high-stakes tension.
Inside the Duo: Who is Ellery Lloyd?
Understanding the creators behind the pseudonym adds another layer of appreciation to the books. Collette Lyons is an accomplished journalist and editor who has worked for major publications like The Guardian and Elle UK. Her experience in media and her time as editorial director at Soho House directly inspired the glamorous, exclusive setting of The Club and the influencer culture in People Like Her. Paul Vlitos, on the other hand, is an academic and creative writing professor at the University of Surrey who has published novels under his own name. Their collaborative writing process involves plotting the narratives together in detail, after which they write alternating chapters or perspectives, blending Collette's journalistic eye for cultural trends with Paul's literary structuring and character development.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you dive in, keep these practical points in mind:
- Screen Adaptations: Both People Like Her and The Club have caught the attention of television producers. The film and TV rights for People Like Her were optioned by Parkes + MacDonald, while The Club has also been optioned for a television adaptation. Though no official casting or release dates have been set, their cinematic quality makes them perfect candidates for the screen.
- Tone and Style: Expect multiple perspectives in almost every book. The authors excel at showing how different characters view the exact same situation, which keeps readers guessing about who is telling the truth.
- No Crossovers: Since all of their books are completely self-contained standalones, you can read them at your own pace without worrying about missing any continuity or recurring characters.