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12 Books Series You Should Catch Up on Right Now
Missed the boat on a few awesome book series? (Or caught the boat and then accidentally fell off?) It's never too late to catch up! Use your summer vacation—or your summer commute—to read through a series. The following all have highly anticipated books on the way. Which ones will you be ready for?
Thriller and Mystery
CORMORAN STRIKE SERIES
Written by Robert Galbraith
Start with The Cuckoo's Calling
Upcoming book: Career of Evil (10/22/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Private investigators, unlucky supermodels, competent secretaries, delicious (and dangerous) twists, murder
MILLENNIUM SERIES
Written by Stieg Larsson (and David Lagercrantz)
Start with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Upcoming book: The Girl in the Spider's Web (8/27/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Grisly crime thrillers, misunderstood geniuses, tattoos, Sweden, hackers, mathematics, "Terminator mode"
STEPHANIE PLUM SERIES
Written by Janet Evanovich
Start with One for the Money
Upcoming book: Tricky Twenty-Two (11/17/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 21
For readers who like… Bounty hunters, high jinks, sidekicks (a grandma and a former hooker), brooding love interests who pack heat
Young Adult
RED RISING TRILOGY
Written by Pierce Brown
Start with Red Rising
Upcoming book: Morning Star (1/12/16)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Fantasy space operas, dystopian bad guys, Roman mythology, the colors red or gold, jaw-dropping plot twists
THE LUNAR CHRONICLES
Written by Marissa Meyer
Start with Cinder
Upcoming book: Winter (11/10/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Retold fairy tales, the moon, the future, cyborgs with hearts of gold, teenage hackers, evil space queens
THE 5TH WAVE SERIES
Written by Rick Yancey
Start with 5th Wave
Upcoming book: The Last Star (5/17/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Alien invasions, snarky asides, nail-biting thrills, killers who look human but definitely aren't, journaling, viruses
THRONE OF GLASS SERIES
Written by Sarah J. Maas
Start with Throne of Glass
Upcoming book: Queen of Shadows (9/1/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Teenage assassins, tyrannical terrors, court conspiracies, exclamation points, scars, heartbreaking betrayals
Fantasy and Science Fiction
A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE
Written by George R.R. Martin
Start with A Game of Thrones
Upcoming book: The Winds of Winter (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 5
For readers who like… Epic fantasy, mind-blowing deaths of main characters, winter, dragons, political intrigue, really tall walls, zombies
THE DAGGER AND THE COIN SERIES
Written by Daniel Abraham
Start with The Dragon's Path
Upcoming book: The Spider's War (1/26/16)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 4
For readers who like… High fantasy, smugglers, ancient priesthoods, hungry Goddesses, authors who have collaborated with George R.R. Martin
Romance
CROSSFIRE SERIES
Written by Sylvia Day
Start with Bared to You
Upcoming book: One with You (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 4
For readers who like… Tumultuous relationships, tortured billionaires, healing, swooning, "happily-ever-afters for the f**ked up crowd"
DESPERATE DUCHESSES BY THE NUMBERS
Written by Eloisa James
Start with Three Weeks with Lady X
Upcoming book: Seven Minutes in Heaven (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Regency romance, seductive scoundrels, corsets, time limits, audacious marriage proposals
Historical Fiction
THE TUDOR COURT SERIES
Written by Philippa Gregory
Start with The Constant Princess
Upcoming book: The Taming of the Queen (8/13/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Dramatic historical fiction, royals behaving badly, peasants behaving badly, court deviousness, forbidden romance, Henry VIII
What's your favorite series of all time?
Thriller and Mystery
Written by Robert Galbraith
Start with The Cuckoo's Calling
Upcoming book: Career of Evil (10/22/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Private investigators, unlucky supermodels, competent secretaries, delicious (and dangerous) twists, murder
Written by Stieg Larsson (and David Lagercrantz)
Start with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Upcoming book: The Girl in the Spider's Web (8/27/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Grisly crime thrillers, misunderstood geniuses, tattoos, Sweden, hackers, mathematics, "Terminator mode"
Written by Janet Evanovich
Start with One for the Money
Upcoming book: Tricky Twenty-Two (11/17/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 21
For readers who like… Bounty hunters, high jinks, sidekicks (a grandma and a former hooker), brooding love interests who pack heat
Young Adult
Written by Pierce Brown
Start with Red Rising
Upcoming book: Morning Star (1/12/16)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Fantasy space operas, dystopian bad guys, Roman mythology, the colors red or gold, jaw-dropping plot twists
Written by Marissa Meyer
Start with Cinder
Upcoming book: Winter (11/10/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Retold fairy tales, the moon, the future, cyborgs with hearts of gold, teenage hackers, evil space queens
Written by Rick Yancey
Start with 5th Wave
Upcoming book: The Last Star (5/17/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Alien invasions, snarky asides, nail-biting thrills, killers who look human but definitely aren't, journaling, viruses
Written by Sarah J. Maas
Start with Throne of Glass
Upcoming book: Queen of Shadows (9/1/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Teenage assassins, tyrannical terrors, court conspiracies, exclamation points, scars, heartbreaking betrayals
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Written by George R.R. Martin
Start with A Game of Thrones
Upcoming book: The Winds of Winter (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 5
For readers who like… Epic fantasy, mind-blowing deaths of main characters, winter, dragons, political intrigue, really tall walls, zombies
Written by Daniel Abraham
Start with The Dragon's Path
Upcoming book: The Spider's War (1/26/16)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 4
For readers who like… High fantasy, smugglers, ancient priesthoods, hungry Goddesses, authors who have collaborated with George R.R. Martin
Romance
Written by Sylvia Day
Start with Bared to You
Upcoming book: One with You (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 4
For readers who like… Tumultuous relationships, tortured billionaires, healing, swooning, "happily-ever-afters for the f**ked up crowd"
Written by Eloisa James
Start with Three Weeks with Lady X
Upcoming book: Seven Minutes in Heaven (TBD)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 2
For readers who like… Regency romance, seductive scoundrels, corsets, time limits, audacious marriage proposals
Historical Fiction
Written by Philippa Gregory
Start with The Constant Princess
Upcoming book: The Taming of the Queen (8/13/15)
Book(s) to read to catch up: 3
For readers who like… Dramatic historical fiction, royals behaving badly, peasants behaving badly, court deviousness, forbidden romance, Henry VIII
What's your favorite series of all time?
Comments Showing 1-50 of 145 (145 new)
I don't think I have an all time favorite but currently it's Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
How is Diana Gabaldons Outlander series not listed here?! Best series EVER.
Stephanie wrote: "How is Diana Gabaldons Outlander series not listed here?! Best series EVER." second that. And all the Orson Scott Card Ender books
Sean wrote: "Favorite series? Give me a good detective story by Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, or Raymond Chandler. That's at least four series to catch up on. Still not happy? Try Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: 55 ..."
I love love love the 87th precinct series! I'm amazed at how little mention these novels get. I would also recommend Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache books.
I agree Diana's Outlander series should be here. Best ever. And better with rereads.
The Stephanie Plum series has gotten VERY tired and so BORING. How about the Sue Graftin Alphabet series? The Stieg Larsen books were great, but very violent. The Game of Thrones books are impossible. What about the loveoy Mitford series by Jan Karon? How cou ld thise be left out.
All this proves is that these lists are utterly poiontless.
For Young Adult I really loved the Ranger's Apprentice series (12 books), Artemis Fowl series (8 books), and Demon King series (4 books).
The Song of Ice and Fire series was fantastic! Looking forward to the new one!
How about something different? I'd recommend the "Frank Friendship" series by RG Manse. Unlike anything you've read before because it will shock you (until...), make you laugh (hard) and cry (somewhat). 3 books are published and ready to be read. 4th and 5th are on the way. I know everyone who read those books, including myself, really started to love the MC Frank :)
I think the witcher series should be added to that list, it's never late to start reading it it's not all published in english yet anyway but it's AWESOME and the universe of aen Seidhe or Aen elle is catchy
I'm currently addicted to the Johannes Cabal series by Jonathan L. Howard. I'm putting off reading the 4th so it's not over too quickly and collecting all the short stories I can find :-)I also love the Hexslinger Series by Gemma Files!
I'd add the Gabriel Allon thriller series by Daniel Silva, and the "All Creatures Great and Small" series by James Herriot.
The Unwind series by Neal Shusterman. He has another book in the series coming out in December 2015.
I really enjoy the series by J.A. Jance, hard to find though, I just keep searching thrift stores.
Stephanie wrote: "How is Diana Gabaldons Outlander series not listed here?! Best series EVER."My thoughts exactly!!
Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars. And Diana Gabaldon's series
I loved and trully adored All Soul's Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I've always hoped there would be another book or a spin off with a story of one other main character like Gallowglass.I also enjoy reading Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole though I much preferred the earlier books until Lothaire. The succeeding ones after that were not as enjoyable.
Agree about the Sue Grafton Alphabet series...what about the Miss Julia series by Ann Ross? Miss Julia is hilarious series!!
Where is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon??? Def should be on this list!
The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. And Harry Potter, of course. Wheel of Time.
I usually have a certain perspective when choosing what is a good series or not but I like the Travis Chase Trilogy (Patrick Lee). That would be a good one to read and catch up on even though I haven't heard any more word when the first movie will finally come out.
I second Unwind and Thursday Next. I'm currently reading Throne of Glass and book 3 in the Tudor Court series :D
James Patterson, Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club, Michael Bennett series are so good. Oh and the Private series is good too.T.R Ragan series are good too.
I am reading right now the Joe Dillard series by Scott Pratt so good too. There are many more I love. Obsessed with series books.
Joan Hess' Maggody series with Chief Arly Hanks is filled with colorful characters and their hijinks.
You are missing several excellent series: Foundation, Dresden Files, Mistborn, Malazan, Iron Druid, and Stormlight Archive to name a few.
The Pink Carnation series (romance/historical fiction)Maisie Dobbs series (historical fiction/mystery)
Lady Emily (historical fiction/mystery)
I agree Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone should have been on the list.
Also, Susan Howatch's Church of England series is very under-read but absolutely stunning.
Haidee wrote: "I loved and trully adored All Soul's Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I've always hoped there would be another book or a spin off with a story of one other main character like Gallowglass.I also enjo..."
I enjoyed one and three...two--not so much.!
Michelle wrote: "Agree about the Sue Grafton Alphabet series...what about the Miss Julia series by Ann Ross? Miss Julia is hilarious series!!"Love Sue Grafton series.
Aja wrote: "For Young Adult I really loved the Ranger's Apprentice series (12 books), Artemis Fowl series (7 books), and Demon King series (4 books)."I would recomend the Demon king series to everyone! I loved it.
Louise Penny's Detective Armaund Gamache series...can't wait for the next one!
no thanks. I don't like being told what I should read.
I recommend the Tana French "Dublin Murder Squad" series, and the Jussi Adler-Olsen "Department Q" series.
After reading the comments by other readers, I have to agree on the following:Definitely the Diana Gabaldon series should be on this list.
Or Louise Penny's Detective Armaund Gamache series..excellent stories.
Or All Soul's Trilogy by Deborah Harkness.
What about the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine! Outstanding series.
Or my favorite of all time:Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles.
My all-time favorite series is about Special Agent A. Pendergast, written by Douglas Preston & Lee Child. Also love the Anna Pidgin series by Nevada Barr, there's a Forest Ranger, Joe Pickett series that I like & the facial restorer, Eve Duncan series...having an alzhiemers moment for those 2 authors.
Eric wrote: "You are missing several excellent series: Foundation, Dresden Files, Mistborn, Malazan, Iron Druid, and Stormlight Archive to name a few."Just finished the Dresden Files. Love that one.
I would suggest Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series and Michelle West Sun Sword & House Wars series.
Body Mover series by Stephanie Bond, Laura Caxton series by David Wellington, Barbara Holloway series by Kate Wilhelm, Border trilogy by Cormac McCarthy, Takeshi Kovacs series by Richard K. Morgan, Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey, Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony, MaddAddam trilogy by Margaret Atwood, Abarat series by Clive Barker, The Sharing Knife series by Lois McMaster Bujold, Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray, The Newford Collection by Charles de Lint, Last Werewold series by Glen Duncan, Nathaniel Cade series by Christopher Farnsworth, Inkworld Trilogy by Cornelia Funke, Newsflesh trilogy and Parasitology series by Mira Grant, Fourth Realm trilogy by John Twelve Hawks, Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn, Joe Pitt series by Charlie Huston, Dark Tower series by King, The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry, Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell, Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness, Gormenghast trilogy by Mervyn Peake, His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, Sparrow series by Mary Doria Russell, Hyperion Cantos series by Dan Simmons, The Hot Flash Club series, by Nancy Thayer, Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani, YaYas series by Rebecca Wells, The Hybrid trilogy by Kat Zhang
Love the Travis McGee mystery series by John D. MacDonald.
YES! Why is nobody talking about Red Rising?! It's a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!
For YA, I'm a fan of The Raven Boys series.Agree about Outlander and Dresden Files.
Aja wrote: "For Young Adult I really loved the Ranger's Apprentice series (12 books), Artemis Fowl series (7 books), and Demon King series (4 books)."Artemis Fowl is awesome :) (although there are 8 books)
My favorites of all time are Harry Potter by JK Rowling and Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan, although Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Warrior cats by Erin Hunter, and Septimus Heap/TodHunter Moon by Angie Sage are definitely some of my favorites too.
Has anyone read the "Flavia de Luce" series by Alan Bradley?The first one in the series is "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie".
Still not happy? Try Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: 55 Novels. That'll keep you busy for a while.