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Standalone Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Standalone books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Standalone series? Start with "You Must Be Sisters" (1978) and follow publication order through all 25 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
You Must Be Sisters
1978
Close to Home
1979
A Quiet Drink
1980
Hot Water Man
1982
Porky
1983
To Have and to Hold
1986
Driving in the Dark
1988
Stolen
1990
The Stand-in
1991
The Ex-Wives
1993
Seesaw
1996
Close Relations
1997
Tulip Fever
1999
Final Demand
2001
These Foolish Things / The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2004
In the Dark
2007
Heartbreak Hotel
2013
Something to Hide
2015
The Carer
2019
The Black Dress
2022
Fool for Love: The Selected Short Stories
2023
Great Escapes
2008
Because I am a Girl
2010
At the Pond
2019
A sequel, The Second best Exotic Marigold Hotel, was released in 2015.
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