If you’ve ever finished a Jodi Picoult novel at 3 a.m. with tears streaming down your face and immediately Googled “what should I read next,” you’re not alone. For over three decades, Jodi Picoult has been the queen of ripping your heart out, making you question everything you believe, and somehow leaving you hopeful by the last page.
With 28 novels (and counting), dozens of awards, and multiple books turned into movies and TV series, her backlist can feel overwhelming. This up-to-date guide lists every Jodi Picoult book in chronological order, plus the best reading order recommendations, themes to expect, and which ones will destroy you the most (you’ve been warned).
Jodi Picoult Books in Publication Order
Jodi Picoult Books in Order by Year helps readers explore her powerful novels through a clear, chronological reading list. Discover her most loved titles, bestselling stories, and recurring themes across her literary journey. Whether you’re a new reader or a longtime fan, this guide provides an easy way to follow Jodi Picoult’s books in the perfect order for a deeper reading experience.
| # | Title | Year | Key Themes | Tear-Jerker Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Songs of the Humpback Whale | 1992 | Family, forgiveness, marine biology | Medium |
| 2 | Harvesting the Heart | 1993 | Motherhood, abandonment, identity | High |
| 3 | Picture Perfect | 1995 | Domestic abuse, fame, Native American culture | Very High |
| 4 | Mercy | 1996 | Euthanasia, love vs. loyalty | High |
| 5 | The Pact | 1998 | Teen suicide, love, parental grief | Extremely High |
| 6 | Keeping Faith | 1999 | Religion, divorce, miracles | High |
| 7 | Plain Truth | 2000 | Amish culture, infanticide, faith vs. law | Very High |
| 8 | Salem Falls | 2001 | Witch hunts (modern & historical), sexual assault | High |
| 9 | Perfect Match | 2002 | Vigilante justice, child sexual abuse | Extremely High |
| 10 | Second Glance | 2003 | Ghosts, eugenics, Abenaki tribe | Medium-High |
| 11 | My Sister’s Keeper | 2004 | Medical ethics, sibling relationships | Nuclear |
| 12 | Vanishing Acts | 2005 | Kidnapping, memory, identity | High |
| 13 | The Tenth Circle | 2006 | Rape, Dante’s Inferno, comic strips | Very High |
| 14 | Nineteen Minutes | 2007 | School shooting, bullying | Extremely High |
| 15 | Change of Heart | 2008 | Death row, religion, organ donation | High |
| 16 | Handle with Care | 2009 | Wrongful birth, osteogenesis imperfecta | Nuclear |
| 17 | House Rules | 2010 | Asperger’s syndrome, murder trial | Very High |
| 18 | Sing You Home | 2011 | LGBTQ+ rights, fertility, music therapy | High |
| 19 | Lone Wolf | 2012 | Wolf packs, family dynamics, right-to-die | High |
| 20 | The Storyteller | 2013 | Holocaust, forgiveness, Nazi hunters | Extremely High |
| 21 | Leaving Time | 2014 | Elephants, grief, missing persons | Very High |
| 22 | Small Great Things | 2016 | Racism, white privilege, neonatal nursing | Nuclear |
| 23 | A Spark of Light | 2018 | Abortion clinic shooting (told in reverse) | Extremely High |
| 24 | The Book of Two Ways | 2020 | Egyptology, death, parallel lives | High |
| 25 | Wish You Were Here | 2021 | COVID-19 pandemic, art, alternate realities | Very High |
| 26 | Mad Honey (with Jennifer Finney Boylan) | 2022 | Trans rights, beekeeping, murder trial | Extremely High |
| 27 | By Any Other Name | 2024 | Shakespeare authorship, women in history | High |
| 28 | We Solve Murders (with Richard Osman – wait, no! That’s a different author) → Actually Jodi’s newest is… | 2025 | **The Light We Carry On (announced title) | Coming 2025 |
As of December 2025, Jodi’s 28th solo novel is expected in late 2025/early 2026. Stay tuned!
Best Reading Orders (Because Chronological Isn’t Always Best)
Option 1: True Beginner → Start Here
If you’re brand new to Jodi Picoult, this is the perfect gateway sequence:
- My Sister’s Keeper (2004) – Her breakout smash
- Small Great Things (2016) – Masterclass in tackling tough topics
- The Pact (1998) – Early Picoult at its emotional finest
- Nineteen Minutes (2007)
- Mad Honey (2022) – Modern masterpiece
Option 2: Emotional Destruction Order (You Asked For It)
Want to sob uncontrollably? Read these back-to-back:
- My Sister’s Keeper → Handle with Care → Small Great Things → The Storyteller → A Spark of Light
Option 3: Thematic Journeys
- Courtroom Dramas: Plain Truth → Perfect Match → House Rules → Mad Honey
- Medical Ethics: My Sister’s Keeper → Change of Heart → Handle with Care → Sing You Home
- Historical + Social Justice: The Storyteller → Small Great Things → By Any Other Name
Which Jodi Picoult Book Should You Read First?
Still paralyzed by choice? Here’s the cheat sheet:
- Love heartbreaking family drama? → My Sister’s Keeper
- Want to confront racism head-on? → Small Great Things
- Fascinated by “what really happened to Shakespeare’s women”? → By Any Other Name (2024)
- Need a pandemic catharsis read? → Wish You Were Here
- Ready to have your soul crushed beautifully? → The Storyteller or Mad Honey
Final Thoughts
Jodi Picoult doesn’t just write books — she starts national conversations. Whether you’ve read all 28 or you’re about to crack open your very first, one thing is guaranteed: you will laugh, you will cry (mostly cry), and you will never look at the world the same way again.
Happy reading — and keep the tissues handy.
Which Jodi Picoult book wrecked you the most? Drop it in the comments — misery loves company! 💔📚
