Lia Louis Books in Order (Updated: February 27, 2026)

Lia Louis is a UK author of uplifting contemporary fiction with a romantic core. Her novels are standalones, so reading order is about taste and tone rather than continuity.

The only “order” problem you’re likely to run into is edition timing: several titles released in the UK first and later in the US, so you’ll see different publication years depending on the market.

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Start here if you just want one book

Best all-around entry point:
Dear Emmie Blue (2020): A decades-long friendship built on emails and a balloon message gets stress-tested by adult secrets, forcing Emmie to finally name what she wants instead of settling for what she’s always had.

If you want something more “high-concept”:
Eight Perfect Hours (2021): A blizzard traps two strangers in a once-in-a-lifetime night, then fate keeps nudging them back together until the “coincidence” starts demanding choices.

If you want a quieter, recovery-focused story:
The Key to My Heart (2022): A young widow starts receiving messages that shouldn’t exist, forcing her to grieve honestly while deciding whether her next chapter can be real again.

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Do Lia Louis books need to be read in order?

No. There isn’t a numbered series, and there are no required recurring-plot threads across the novels.

Pick the premise you like. You won’t spoil another book by reading “out of order.”

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Lia Louis publication order

(Years below reflect first publication; some US editions may appear later.)

1. Somewhere Close to Happy (2019): A woman who feels stuck in her own life is pushed into change by new connections and uncomfortable truths, forcing her to define “happy” on her own terms.
2. Dear Emmie Blue (2020): A long-distance bond that once felt safe becomes emotionally complicated, forcing Emmie to re-evaluate the love story she assumed she was living.
3. Eight Perfect Hours (2021): One magical night becomes a multi-year pattern of near-misses and second chances, forcing two people to decide whether timing is an excuse or a test.
4. The Key to My Heart (2022): After sudden loss, unexpected messages and small kindnesses build a fragile bridge forward, forcing Natalie to risk hope when it feels most dangerous.
5. Better Left Unsent (2024): A woman’s private thoughts and secrets start leaking into the open at the worst possible time, forcing her to choose honesty before it’s chosen for her.

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A clean “reader’s path” that matches mood

Use this if you want a steady ramp from grounded to more playful:

1. Somewhere Close to Happy (2019): The most “fresh-start” foundation.
2. Dear Emmie Blue (2020): The emotional centerpiece and the most common first pick.
3. The Key to My Heart (2022): Grief-to-hope arc with a gentle mystery thread.
4. Eight Perfect Hours (2021): A fate-and-coincidence structure that leans more romcom.
5. Better Left Unsent (2024): The most openly chaotic-comedic premise in the current lineup.

(You can swap 3 and 4 based on whether you want “tender” or “high-concept” next.)

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Upcoming release

The Phone Swap (August 25, 2026): An accidental phone swap on a flight pulls a celebrity and an ordinary woman into a private connection that won’t stay private, forcing them to decide what they owe each other when the world starts watching.

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FAQ

Why do I see different years for the same book?
Lia Louis is published in multiple markets. UK and US editions can release in different years, so the “published” date depends on which edition your store displays.

Are there novellas or required short stories?
Nothing commonly treated as required reading for her main novels. If a shorter work shows up in retailer listings, treat it as separate unless it’s clearly marketed as part of a specific novel’s story.

What’s the safest first book if I’m picky about tone?
Choose Dear Emmie Blue if you want more emotional weight, or Eight Perfect Hours if you want a more romcom-forward structure.

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Conclusion

If you want the simplest answer: start with Dear Emmie Blue (2020), then read any other Lia Louis book whose premise fits your mood. There’s no continuity penalty for jumping around, just different flavors of the same warm, character-led style.