If you’ve ever closed a book with your heart racing and tears streaming down your face, chances are Emma Donoghue had something to do with it. The Irish-Canadian author has an unmatched gift for turning ordinary lives into unforgettable stories—whether it’s the harrowing true-inspired tale of Room, the queer historical romances that feel like secret love letters from the past, or the twisty psychological thrillers that keep you up all night.
With over 20 books (and counting), figuring out where to start—or how to read them in order—can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve put together this complete, up-to-date Emma Donoghue books-in-order guide (including her brand-new 2025 release!).
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovered her because of the Room movie, this list has you covered.
Emma Donoghue Books in Series Order: Complete List
Emma Donoghue, the acclaimed Irish-Canadian author behind heart-wrenching tales like Room and lush historical romances, has crafted a diverse body of work spanning standalone novels, short story collections, and her beloved children’s series, The Lotterys. While most of her books are standalone masterpieces that don’t require a specific reading order, her Lotterys series is the exception—a delightful middle-grade adventure following a multicultural family with four parents, nine kids, and one grandad.
If you’re diving into her world, this table breaks down all her books grouped by series (or standalone category for non-series works). I’ve included publication years for easy chronology within each group. For the Lotterys series, read in the order listed to follow the family’s chaotic, loving escapades. Standalones can be enjoyed in any order, but I’ve sorted them by publication date for a natural progression.
| Series/Category | Book Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| Lotterys Series (Children’s Fiction) | The Lotterys Plus One | 2017 |
| Lotterys Series (Children’s Fiction) | The Lotterys More or Less | 2019 |
| Standalone Novels | Stir-Fry | 1994 |
| Standalone Novels | Hood | 1995 |
| Standalone Novels | Slammerkin | 2000 |
| Standalone Novels | Life Mask | 2002 |
| Standalone Novels | Landing | 2007 |
| Standalone Novels | The Sealed Letter | 2008 |
| Standalone Novels | Room | 2010 |
| Standalone Novels | Frog Music | 2014 |
| Standalone Novels | The Wonder | 2016 |
| Standalone Novels | Akin | 2019 |
| Standalone Novels | The Pull of the Stars | 2020 |
| Standalone Novels | Haven | 2022 |
| Standalone Novels | Learned by Heart | 2023 |
| Standalone Novels | The Wren, the Sparrow | 2025 |
| Short Story Collections | Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins | 1997 |
| Short Story Collections | The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits | 2002 |
| Short Story Collections | Touchy Subjects | 2006 |
| Short Story Collections | Astray | 2012 |
| Short Story Collections | Three and a Half Deaths | 2017 |
| Short Story Collections | What Remains | 2024 |
| Non-Fiction | Passions Between Women: British Lesbian Culture 1668–1801 | 1993 |
| Plays & Other | I Know My Own Heart (Play) | 1993 |
| Plays & Other | Ladies and Escorts (Play) | 1993 |
| Plays & Other | Trespasses (Play) | 2000 |
| Plays & Other | The Lost Seed (Play) | 2002 |
| Plays & Other | Don’t Send Lettuce Spray (Play) | 2007 |
| Plays & Other | Room (Stage Adaptation) | 2017 |
Quick Reading Tips
- Start with the Lotterys Series if you’re reading with kids (ages 8–12): It’s whimsical, inclusive, and full of family hijinks. No prior knowledge needed!
- For Adult Standalones: Begin with Room (her breakout hit) or The Wonder for gripping historical suspense.
- Short Stories: Kissing the Witch is a feminist fairy-tale gem—perfect for quick, enchanting reads.
This list is up-to-date as of November 2025, pulling from reliable sources like Donoghue’s official site and comprehensive bibliographies. If a new release drops, I’ll update this guide. Which series (or book) are you tackling first? Share in the comments! 📖
Emma Donoghue Books in Publication Order
Here’s every novel and short story collection in the order they were first published:
- Passions Between Women (1993) – Non-fiction / Lesbian history Her bold, academic debut exploring female same-sex desire in 18th-century Britain.
- Stir-Fry (1994) – Contemporary fiction / Coming-of-age A funny, tender lesbian coming-of-age story set in 1990s Dublin. Think Normal People meets early-90s queer awakening.
- Hood (1995) – Literary fiction / Grief & queer love A heartbreaking portrait of a woman grieving her female partner in Dublin. One of her most beloved early works.
- Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins (1997) – Short stories / Fairy tale retellings Gorgeous, feminist retellings of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and more—connected like a chain of whispered secrets.
- Slammerkin (2000) – Historical fiction A dark, delicious 18th-century tale of a London prostitute inspired by a real murder case. If you love Sarah Waters, start here.
- Life Mask (2004) – Historical fiction A sweeping saga of love, scandal, and celebrity in 1780s–90s London, starring real-life figures like sculptor Anne Damer.
- Landing (2007) – Contemporary romance A long-distance love story between a Dublin flight attendant and a Canadian archivist. Sweet, funny, and painfully relatable.
- The Sealed Letter (2008) – Historical fiction Based on a sensational 1860s divorce case involving early British feminists. Donoghue does Victorian scandal better than anyone.
- Room (2010) – Literary thriller The book that changed everything. Told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack, held captive in a single room with his Ma. Devastating and life-affirming.
- Astray (2012) – Short story collection Fourteen stunning stories of immigrants, runaways, and wanderers across centuries. Includes the basis for the story “The Hunt” (later adapted).
- Frog Music (2014) – Historical crime A murder mystery set in 1870s San Francisco during a smallpox epidemic, inspired by a real unsolved killing. Burlesque dancers, cross-dressing, and heatwave vibes.
- The Wonder (2016) – Historical mystery An English nurse is hired to watch an 11-year-old Irish “fasting girl” who claims to live without food. Atmospheric, haunting, and morally complex.
- Akin (2019) – Contemporary / Historical An 80-year-old retired professor takes his troubled 11-year-old great-nephew to Nice to uncover family secrets from WWII. Tender and surprising.
- The Pull of the Stars (2020) – Historical fiction Set in a Dublin maternity ward during the 1918 flu pandemic. Written before COVID-19 and published in July 2020—eerily prophetic.
- Haven (2022) – Historical fiction Three monks in the 7th century attempt to found a monastery on a remote Irish island. Claustrophobic, intense, and beautifully written.
- Learned by Heart (2023) – Historical queer romance The true story of Anne Lister’s (“Gentleman Jack”) first love at boarding school in 1805. Exquisitely romantic and heartbreaking.
- The Wren and the Sparrow (2025) – Historical novella (NEW!) Just released! A delicate, devastating story of two elderly women in WWII-occupied Poland protecting Jewish children through coded lullabies and hidden messages.
Short Story Collections & Plays (Bonus!)
- The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits (2002) – Weird and wonderful historical vignettes
- Touchy Subjects (2006) – Contemporary short stories
- Three Wise Men (2016) – Short stories (Christmas-themed)
- What Remains (2024) – Short story collection (limited edition, rare)
Where Should You Start? (Quick Reading Paths)
If you loved Room:
Start with → The Pull of the Stars → The Wonder → Haven (These are her most intense, claustrophobic historical novels.)
If you want queer historical romance:
Start with → Hood or Learned by Heart → Life Mask → Landing
If you’re in the mood for crime/mystery:
Start with → Frog Music → The Sealed Letter → Slammerkin
Just want to binge her best-known books?
The “big five” most readers adore:
- Room
- The Wonder
- Frog Music
- Learned by Heart
- Slammerkin
Final Thoughts
Emma Donoghue doesn’t just write books—she builds entire worlds you never want to leave (even when they terrify you). Whether she’s locked in a shed with a five-year-old narrator, in a 7th-century skellig, or in a 1918 flu ward, her stories always find the humanity in the darkest places.
So which Emma Donoghue book are you picking up first? Drop your favorite in the comments—I need to know I’m not the only one still crying over Learned by Heart two years later.
Happy reading! 📚
P.S. Bookmark this page—I’ll keep it updated with every new release (because we all know another masterpiece is coming).
