If you’ve ever laughed out loud at a young adult novel, felt seen by a memoir about growing up awkward in a small town, or devoured a quirky mystery set on a wellness resort, chances are you’ve already fallen in love with Susan Juby. This award-winning Canadian author has a gift for blending razor-sharp humor, heartfelt coming-of-age moments, and social satire that feels both timeless and urgently now.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovered her through The Republic of Dirt or the hilarious Alice, I Think series, this up-to-date guide has every Susan Juby book in chronological publication order, plus the recommended reading order for each series.
Let’s dive in!
Susan Juby Books: Complete Series List in Order
Below is a comprehensive table of all Susan Juby’s books, organized by series (including standalones as a “series” for completeness). Each series is listed with books in internal publication order. This is based on her full bibliography as of November 2025, including the newly released Contemplation of a Crime. Standalones can be read in any order.
| Series Name | Book # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice MacLeod | 1 | Alice, I Think | 2000 |
| 2 | Miss Smithers | 2004 | |
| 3 | Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last | 2005 | |
| Republic of Dirt | 1 | The Woefield Poultry Collective (aka Home to Woefield) | 2011 |
| 2 | Republic of Dirt | 2015 | |
| Helen Thorpe Mysteries | 1 | Mindful of Murder | 2022 |
| 2 | A Meditation on Murder | 2024 | |
| 3 | Contemplation of a Crime | 2025 | |
| Standalones | – | Another Kind of Cowboy | 2007 |
| – | Getting the Girl (aka Nice Recovery) | 2008 | |
| – | Bright’s Light (aka The Truth Commission) | 2012 | |
| – | The Fashion Committee | 2017 | |
| – | Me Three | 2022 | |
| – | Don’t Stand So Close to Me | 2024 |
Susan Juby Books in Publication Order
- Alice, I Think (2000) – The book that started it all.l The cult-classic beginning of the Alice MacLeod series. Sixteen-year-old Alice is homeschooled, obsessed with The X-Files, and ready (maybe) to re-enter public high school. Pure early-2000s gold.
- Miss Smithers (2004) – Alice MacLeod #2 Alice enters the Miss Smithers beauty pageant… for feminist reasons, obviously. Chaos, hilarity, and unexpected growth ensue.
- Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last (2005) – Alice MacLeod #3 Graduation looms, boyfriends complicate everything, and Alice finally figures out who she wants to be (sort of).
- Another Kind of Cowboy (2007) A heartfelt standalone about two teens from very different worlds who bond over dressage and secrets. One of Susan Juby’s most tender novels.
- Getting the Girl: A Guide to Private Investigation, Suicide, and Other Things (2008) Originally published under the title Nice Recovery in some markets. A raw, funny, and deeply moving YA novel about recovery, identity, and the messiness of growing up.
- The Woefield Poultry Collective (2011) – Republic of Dirt #1 (Published as Home to Woefield in the US) A failed New York writer inherits a rundown farm on Vancouver Island. Add a young rap-obsessed farmhand, an aging celebrity blogger, and a sheep named Bertie—this book is pure joy.
- Bright’s Light (2012) – Originally titled The Truth Commission in some editions. A speculative satire about a future where partying is mandatory. Wildly inventive and underrated.
- Republic of Dirt (2015) – Republic of Dirt #2 Return to Woefield Farm! New chickens, new disasters, and the same lovable misfits trying to keep their community together.
- The Fashion Committee (2017). Two teens compete for a fashion-school scholarship in this dual-POV masterpiece. If you loved Project Runway and sharp teen dialogue, this one’s for you.
- Mindful of Murder (2022) – Helen Thorpe #1 The start of Susan Juby’s cozy(ish) mystery series. A former Buddhist nun turned professional butler solves crimes at luxury estates. Yes, it’s as delightful as it sounds.
- A Meditation on Murder (2024) – Helen Thorpe #2 Helen is back, this time at a wellness resort where someone definitely did not die of natural causes.
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me (2024) A razor-sharp campus novel about power, consent, and comedy in the #MeToo era. Early reviews call it her most ambitious adult novel yet.
Recommended Reading Order by Series
Alice MacLeod Series (YA – start here if you love quirky coming-of-age)
- Alice, I Think (2000)
- Miss Smithers (2004)
- Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last (2005)
Republic of Dirt Series (Adult feel-good comedy – perfect comfort reads)
- The Woefield Poultry Collective / Home to Woefield (2011)
- Republic of Dirt (2015)
Helen Thorpe Mysteries (Cozy-adjacent with bite)
- Mindful of Murder (2022)
- A Meditation on Murder (2024) (Book 3 expected 2026 – fingers crossed!)
Standalones (pick any order – all brilliant)
- Another Kind of Cowboy (2007)
- Getting the Girl / Nice Recovery (2008)
- Bright’s Light (2012)
- The Fashion Committee (2017)
- Don’t Stand So Close to Me (2024)
Where to Start If You’re New to Susan Juby
- Want laugh-out-loud teen humor? → Alice, I Think
- Craving quirky adult comedy? → The Woefield Poultry Collective
- In the mood for mystery with depth? → Mindful of Murder
- Love fashion and rivalries? → The Fashion Committee
No matter where you begin, you’ll finish with that warm, slightly wiser feeling only Susan Juby can deliver.
Happy reading—and welcome to the cult of Susan Juby! 🐔📚
Which Susan Juby book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments—I’m always looking for fellow fans!