E.N. Joy Books in Order

How to Read E.N. Joy's Books

E.N. Joy (writing also as Joylynn M. Jossel and N. Joy) has captured the hearts of readers with her self-described 'soap operas in print.' The absolute best way to experience her work is to follow the chronological development of her primary setting: the New Day Temple of Faith church in Malvonia, Ohio. Across four interconnected subseries, characters grow, relationships shift, and church drama unfolds in a continuous timeline. Reading these series in publication order ensures you do not encounter major character spoilers.

Recommended Reading Path: The New Day Chronicles

To follow the main church saga from start to finish, read the subseries in the following order:

1. New Day Divas Series (5 books) — The foundation of the series, introducing the core congregation.
2. Still Divas Series (3 books) — Continues immediately after the events of the first series, focusing on new and returning characters.
3. Always Divas Series (3 books) — Expands on the drama and tests the faith of some of the church's more controversial members.
4. Forever Divas Series (3 books) — Bringing the overarching stories of love, betrayal, and spiritual redemption to a head.

The New Day Temple of Faith Subseries Breakdown

1. New Day Divas Series

This is where the story begins. The books introduce us to the complex lives of church members who struggle to balance their personal desires with their Christian faith.

• She Who Finds A Husband (2010)
• Been There Prayed That (2010)
• Love, Honor, or Stray (2010)
• Trying to Stay Saved (2011)
• I Can Do Better All By Myself (2011)

2. Still Divas Series

Picking up where the New Day Divas left off, these novels dive deeper into the struggles of keeping up appearances versus living a truly faithful life.

• And You Call Yourself a Christian (2012)
• The Perfect Christian (2012)
• The Sunday Only Christian (2012)

3. Always Divas Series

This trilogy focuses on character testaments, showcasing the trials and temptations faced by the characters of the New Day Temple of Faith.

• I Ain't Me No More (2013)
• More Than I Can Bear (2014)
• You Get What You Pray For (2015)

4. Forever Divas Series

The final core installment of the church saga resolves the long-standing arcs of the Malvonia congregation.

• When All Is Said and Prayed (2015)
• One Sunday At A Time (2016)
• Lady of the House (2016)

The Sinners Series

E.N. Joy also compiled and edited a series of gritty, faith-grounded anthologies. Unlike the New Day Divas series, these are compilations of stories written by various urban and street literature authors (such as Nikki Turner and Noire) exploring the spiritual side of characters living raw lives in the streets.

• Even Sinners Have Souls (2007)
• Even Sinners Have Souls Too (2009)

Standalone Novels and Collections

If you want a break from the multi-book drama of the New Day congregation, E.N. Joy has penned standalone novels, short stories, and collections that offer distinct perspectives on relationships, survival, and faith.

Standalone Novels

• Me, Myself and Him (2008)
• Ordained By the Streets (2011)
• She's No Angel (2014)

Short Stories & Anthologies

• Flower In My Hair (2011)
• A Woman's Revenge (2013)
• Behind Every Good Woman (2014)
• The Miserable Wives Club (2016)
• His Only Son, Her Only Regret (2017)

What to Know Before You Start

E.N. Joy's work successfully bridges the gap between gritty urban fiction and uplifting Christian literature. Readers should note that she also writes under different pen names depending on the genre. Her secular urban fiction (like Dollar Bill) was published under her real name, Joylynn M. Jossel, while her award-winning children's literature (including the Coretta Scott King Honor book The Secret Olivia Told Me) is published under N. Joy. When diving into the New Day Temple of Faith universe, expect fast-paced, soap-opera-style pacing where characters make real, messy mistakes before finding their way back to their faith.