Robyn Harding Books in Order (Updated February 22, 2026)

Robyn Harding is a Vancouver-based Canadian author whose career splits cleanly into two eras: earlier contemporary fiction (including a YA novel and a nonfiction book) and later psychological thrillers. There’s no numbered series to follow, so reading order is mostly about which era you want first, not continuity.

A “pick-your-start” menu (no continuity required)

If you want the modern thriller voice, start here:

• Small group + social pressure + fallout: The Party
• School-gate tension and status games: Her Pretty Face
• High-concept relationship bargain: The Arrangement
• Secrets inside a blended family: The Perfect Family
• Sunlit setting, messy adult choices: The Swap
• Two women, one rescue, nothing straightforward: The Drowning Woman
• Fame, obsession, and a darker public spotlight: The Haters

If you want the earlier, lighter/real-life side, start here:

• Cringe comedy with heart: The Journal of Mortifying Moments
• Domestic life with sharper edges: The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom (also published as Secrets and Wives)
• Teen/YA perspective: My Parents Are Sex Maniacs

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How the catalog fits together (in plain terms)

No detective. No shared timeline. No “Book 1, Book 2” requirements.

Instead, think of Harding’s books as two shelves you can browse independently:

• Shelf A: Contemporary/relationship-driven fiction (2004-2009). Earlier titles that lean more into life complications, relationships, and social comedy (plus one YA and one nonfiction).
• Shelf B: Psychological thrillers (2017-present). Standalone suspense novels with new casts each time.

One small note that does matter for collectors: one novel has two commonly used titles, The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom was also published as Secrets and Wives, so you may already own it under the other name.

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Publication order (every book gets one line)

Contemporary fiction, YA, and nonfiction (early career)

1. The Journal of Mortifying Moments (2004): A dating-and-life mess journal becomes a running record of embarrassment, growth, and bad decisions you can’t untangle neatly.
2. The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom (2006): A suburban mother’s dissatisfaction turns combustible as secrets spread through a neighbourhood that thrives on appearances.
3. Secrets and Wives (2006): The same novel as The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom, published under an alternate title in some markets.
4. Unravelled (2007): A break-up and a fragile social reset spiral when a new circle of friends starts to feel less supportive and more risky.
5. Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis (2008): A relationship fracture is examined from the inside out, with the emotional debris landing on the whole family.
6. My Parents Are Sex Maniacs (2009): A teen’s life implodes when adult behaviour becomes public, humiliating, and impossible to ignore.
7. Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs? (2009) (Nonfiction): A funny, anxious, real-life look at trying to “live green” as a parent without losing your mind.

Psychological thrillers (standalones)

8. The Party (2017): A “simple” teen birthday gathering detonates a family’s friendships and reputation, with consequences nobody can talk their way out of.
9. Her Pretty Face (2018): A new friendship at school gates becomes a pressure test for marriage, status, and what people will do to stay included.
10. The Arrangement (2019): A sugar-baby setup that starts as rules-and-boundaries turns into a trap when the power dynamics shift.
11. The Swap (2020): Two couples flirt with a one-night decision that refuses to stay “one night,” especially with a teen watching the cracks.
12. The Perfect Family (2021): A blended family tries to project calm while threats and secrets make the “perfect” façade dangerous to maintain.
13. The Drowning Woman (2023): A rescue sparks an intense connection, but the story keeps asking whether the people involved are victims, predators, or both.
14. The Haters (2024): Public attention becomes fuel for cruelty, and the line between private life and performance turns sharp enough to cut.
15. Strangers in the Villa (publishes March 3, 2026): A couple tries to reset their relationship in Spain, but the visitors they welcome feel less like guests and more like an occupation.

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Recommended reading orders (choose a rule, not a route)

Rule 1: “I’m here for the thrillers”

Read from The Party → Strangers in the Villa in publication order to watch the suspense style tighten and the themes darken.

Rule 2: “I want one taste, then I’ll roam”

Start with The Party (classic entry), or The Arrangement (high-concept hook), then jump to whichever premise grabs you next.

Rule 3: “I’m curious about the whole career”

Do the early shelf first (2004-2009), then switch to the thrillers (2017 onward) so the tonal shift feels deliberate rather than jarring.

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Latest release status

• Most recent published novel (as of February 22, 2026): The Haters (2024).
• Next upcoming novel: Strangers in the Villa (March 3, 2026).

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FAQs

Do Robyn Harding’s thrillers need to be read in order?
No. They’re standalones, and there’s no recurring investigator or continuing plotline you can spoil.

Why do I see both The Secret Desires of a Soccer Mom and Secrets and Wives?
They’re the same book under different titles in different markets/editions, so treat them as duplicates when building your reading list.

What’s the safest “first Robyn Harding” if I don’t know my tastes yet?
The Party is the cleanest starting point: straightforward setup, fast escalation, and it represents the thriller era well.