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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 "Near to the Wild Heart" (1943) and follow publication order through all 22 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order

Near to the Wild Heart
1943

The Chandelier
1946

The Besieged City
1949

The Apple in the Dark
1961

The Passion According to G.H.
1964

An Apprenticeship, or The Book of Pleasures
1969

Água Viva / The Stream of Life
1973

The Hour of the Star
1977

A Breath of Life
1978
Some Stories
1952
The Imitation of the Rose
1960

Family Ties
1960

The Foreign Legion
1964

The Woman Who Killed the Fish
1966
Covert Joy
1971
The Stations of the Body
1974
Where Were You at Night
1974
Not to Forget
1978
Beauty and the Beast
1979

Soulstorm
1989

Daydream and Drunkenness of a Young Lady
2018

Complete Stories
2018
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