Anne Tyler Reading Order
7 series · 49 books · Born 1941
Anne Tyler is a renowned American author celebrated for her compelling contemporary fiction and insightful explorations of family life. Over her career from 1964 to 2025, she produced a remarkable oeuvre comprising 49 books across seven series, including standalone novels, novellas, and works that reflect on faith and the complexities of human connection. Her most acclaimed novel, Breathing Lessons, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 and remains a standout in her diverse body of work.
Anthologies Series
Complete6 books (1977–1996)
Start with Stories of the Modern South, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.
Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith Series
Complete4 books (1994–2002)
Start with Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins), the first of 4 books in the Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins) 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Listening for God, Vol. 2(With: John Updike,Tobias Wolff,Gail Godwin,Henry Louis Gates Jr.,Kathleen Norris,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,Carol Bly,Andrew Dubus) 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Listening for God, Vol. 3(By: Tillie Olsen,Wendell Berry,John Cheever,Louise Erdrich,Mary Gordon,Tess Gallagher,Reynolds Price,Oscar Hijuelos,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins) 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Listening For God, Vol. 4(By: Robert Olen Butler,Allegra Goodman,James Baldwin,Kent Haruf,SueMiller,Doris Betts,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins,MichaelMalone,Alice Elliot Dark) 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
Hogarth Shakespeare Series
Complete7 books (2015–2018)
Start with The Gap of Time(By: Jeanette Winterson), the first of 7 books in the Hogarth Shakespeare series.
Instaread Summary Series
Complete4 books (2016–2016)
Start with Summary of The Boston Girl(By: Anita Diamant,Instaread Summaries), the first of 4 books in the Instaread Summary series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Summary of The Boston Girl(By: Anita Diamant,Instaread Summaries) 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Summary of The Invention of Wings(By: Sue Monk Kidd,Instaread Summaries) 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Summary of The Light Between Oceans(By: M.L. Stedman,Instaread Summaries) 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | Summary of The Pearl That Broke Its Shell(By: Nadia Hashimi,Instaread Summaries) 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
Picture Series
Complete2 books (1993–2005)
Start with Tumble Tower and read in order.
Short Stories/Novellas Series
Complete2 books (2018–2020)
Start with Half-truths and Semi-miracles and read in order.
Standalone Novels Series
Ongoing24 books (1964–2025)
Start with If Morning Ever Comes, the first of 24 books in the Standalone Novels series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  If Morning Ever Comes 1964Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  The Tin Can Tree 1965Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  A Slipping-Down Life 1969Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Clock Winder 1972Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Celestial Navigation 1974Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Searching for Caleb 1975Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Earthly Possessions 1977Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Morgan's Passing 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant 1982Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  The Accidental Tourist 1985Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  Breathing Lessons 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Saint Maybe 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Ladder of Years 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  A Patchwork Planet 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Back When We Were Grownups 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  The Amateur Marriage 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 | Digging to America 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  Noah's Compass 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  The Beginner's Goodbye 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  A Spool of Blue Thread 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Clock Dance 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  Redhead by the Side of the Road 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 | French Braid 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 | Three Days in June 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Anne Tyler written?
- Anne Tyler has written 49 books across 7 series. Their published works span from 1964 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Anne Tyler series?
- Here are the first books in Anne Tyler's series: Anthologies: Stories of the Modern South; Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith: Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1(By: Flannery O'Connor,Raymond Carver,Alice Walker,Garrison Keillor,Annie Dillard,Richard Rodríguez,Patricia Hampl,Peter Hawkins,Frederick Buechner,Paula J. Carlson,Peter S. Hawkins); Hogarth Shakespeare: The Gap of Time(By: Jeanette Winterson); Instaread Summary: Summary of The Boston Girl(By: Anita Diamant,Instaread Summaries); Picture: Tumble Tower.
- What order should I read Anne Tyler's books?
- We recommend reading Anne Tyler's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Anne Tyler still writing new books?
- Yes, Anne Tyler has 1 ongoing series: Standalone Novels.