Jane Costello Books in Order (Updated March 5, 2026)

Jane Costello is a UK romantic-comedy novelist. She also publishes emotional love stories under the name Catherine Isaac, which is a separate shelf (different branding and not part of the Jane Costello reading order).

Under Jane Costello, her novels are standalones rather than a numbered series. Reading in publication order isn’t required for continuity, but it’s the simplest way to follow how her tone and themes shift over time.

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The three easiest ways to read Jane Costello

1) One-and-done sampler (lowest commitment):
Start with Bridesmaids (2008) if you want classic early rom-com energy, or It’s Getting Hot in Here (2024) if you want her newer, midlife-focused comedy.

2) Smooth “career arc” route (best for most readers):
Read the novels in publication order (list below). No continuity traps, no hidden prerequisites.

3) “I only want the newest storyline” route:
Read It’s Getting Hot in Here (2024) now, then move to Forty Love (2026) when you want a follow-up release in the same modern rom-com lane.

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Jane Costello novels in publication order

1. Bridesmaids (2008): A wedding-party pressure-cooker where friendship, jealousy, and last-minute chaos turn “supporting roles” into the real drama.
2. The Nearly-Weds (2009): A wedding-day derailment becomes a fresh-start pivot, forcing the heroine to rebuild her life fast and on unfamiliar ground.
3. My Single Friend (2010): A friendship-and-romance tangle where “helping” someone’s love life exposes what the narrator is avoiding in her own.
4. Girl on the Run (2011): A lively reset story where momentum (literal and emotional) pushes the heroine into choices she can’t keep postponing.
5. All the Single Ladies (2012): A singles-scene comedy that turns independence into a challenge rather than a slogan, as expectations collide with real-life needs.
6. The Wish List (2013): A life-audit premise where what sounds like a fun checklist starts demanding actual change, not just brave talk.
7. The Time of Our Lives (2014): A relationship crossroads novel where the past and present compete, and the heroine has to decide what she’s truly committing to.
8. The Love Shack (2015): A forced-proximity romantic setup that uses close quarters to speed up honesty, awkwardness, and the consequences of pretending you’re fine.
9. Summer Nights at the Moonlight Hotel (2016): A summer setting with enemies-to-lovers tension, where the glossy atmosphere keeps rubbing against real vulnerability.
10. It’s Getting Hot in Here (2024): A modern rom-com built around midlife reinvention, where the “new chapter” arrives with complications that won’t be polite or convenient.
11. Forty Love (2026): A tennis-club–sparked second-chance setup that treats new passion as both liberation and a direct threat to old insecurities.

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Short fiction (optional, best placed after you’ve tried a novel)

These aren’t required for any reading order. They’re extras that fit nicely as palate cleansers.

• The Mini Break (2014): A short getaway that spirals into comedic trouble, built for quick chemistry and fast consequences.
• The Little Things (2015): A career-and-relationship wobble in novella form, where a seemingly manageable change forces a sharper re-think than expected.

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Notes that prevent common mix-ups

• Not a series: the novels are designed to stand alone, so you can safely pick by premise.
• Different name, different lane: Catherine Isaac books are not “later entries” in the Jane Costello list; they’re a separate identity with a different tone.
• Edition dates vary: some listings show different month/day releases by format and territory, but the years above are the most consistently reported reference points.

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The practical recommendation

If you want the cleanest, least fussy approach: start at Bridesmaids (2008) and read forward. If you only want her most current style, begin with It’s Getting Hot in Here (2024) and then go to Forty Love (2026).

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Sources consulted (not part of the article)

Jane Costello official website; Fantastic Fiction; Simon & Schuster (regional site listing for the novella); retailer/publisher catalog pages; Goodreads and library/bookseller listings for cross-checking publication years.