Tom Perrotta Reading Order

3 books (2006–2012)

Tom Perrotta edited three complete anthologies between 2006 and 2012, each featuring curated collections from established and emerging writers. These standalone volumes should be read in publication order: The Best American Erotica 2006, What's Your Exit?: A Literary Detour Through New Jersey, and The Best American Short Stories 2012. Each anthology offers independent selections and can be enjoyed individually, though reading them chronologically provides a view of Perrotta's editorial choices across this six-year period.

Start with The Best American Erotica 2006 and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Best American Erotica 2006 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	What's Your Exit?: A Literary Detour Through New Jersey 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Best American Short Stories 2012 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

8 books (2020–2021)

The Currency series comprises eight young adult books published between 2020 and 2021, each written by a different author. These standalone entries should be read in publication order, beginning with Me and Carlos by Tom Perrotta and continuing through works by Justin Torres, Jia Tolentino, Yiyun Li, Emma Cline, Kiley Reid, Cristina Henriquez, and Curtis Sittenfeld. The series appears to be complete.

Start with Me and Carlos, the first of 8 books in the Currency series.

2 books (2011–2013)

Tom Perrotta's short stories and novellas collection consists of two volumes published between 2011 and 2013. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Senior Season followed by Grade My Teacher. These works are part of Perrotta's young adult writing.

Start with Senior Season and read in order.

2 books (1994–2013)

Tom Perrotta's two short story collections span nearly two decades of his career. Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies was published in 1994, followed by Nine Inches: Stories in 2013. Both collections should be read in publication order. The series is complete.

Start with Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies and read in order.

#	Title
1	Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Nine Inches: Stories 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (1997–2026)

Tom Perrotta has written seven standalone novels published between 1997 and 2026, with the series remaining ongoing. Each book operates as its own complete story with distinct characters and settings, so readers can approach them in any order, though publication order is recommended to experience Perrotta's evolving style across The Wishbones, Joe College, Little Children, The Abstinence Teacher, The Leftovers, Mrs. Fletcher, and Ghost Town. These works span young adult and adult fiction, offering contemporary explorations of American life across different decades and communities.

Start with The Wishbones, the first of 7 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Wishbones 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Joe College 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Little Children 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Abstinence Teacher 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Leftovers 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Mrs. Fletcher 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Ghost Town 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2007–2007)

#	Title
1	Little Children: The Shooting Script(With: Todd Field) 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1998–2022)

Tom Perrotta's Tracy Flick series consists of two young adult novels following the same protagonist across decades. The series began with Election in 1998 and continued with Tracy Flick Can't Win in 2022, with a significant time gap between installments. Both books should be read in publication order to follow the character's development from high school through adulthood. The series appears to be complete.

Start with Election and read in order.

#	Title
1	Election 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Tracy Flick Can't Win 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible