The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked
While shopping at a local bookstore, years ago, the cover of Jenny Colgan’s The Bookshop on the Corner caught my eye. I bought it out of pure instinct, and it set me on a course of super fandom. After finishing the book, I shoved it into Jackie’s hands, and she joined in my obsession with books by Jenny Colgan.
So now, Jackie and I decided to turn our love for Jenny Colgan’s novels into a fun blog post, and we thought – why not rank them? Could we rank them? Surely it would be impossible to create a list of the best Jenny Colgan Books ranked! But if you want a complete list of all the Jenny Colgan books in Order, I have that as well.
The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked
1.
The Cafe by the Sea
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2017
Genre: Fiction
More info: Mure Island #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Jenny Colgan churns out another light beach read with heart. Cafe by the Sea is set on the gorgeous island of Mure in Scotland. Scotland shines in this story about life in a town set in its ways and trying to resist the pull of modern life. Flora has returned home because her boss, Joel – who she is secretly in love with – asks her to. She thought she needed to leave Mure to be who she was destined to be, but being back and reconnecting with her family has her questioning who she really wants to be.
Why Kirsten loves it
There is a romance in this story, but the pull was also on the heroine reconnecting with her old life and family.
Find this book in: Bakery Romance Novels / Office Romances / Best Jenny Colgan Books / Books About Food
2.
The Bookshop on the Corner
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2016
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Bookshop on the Corner #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This contemporary fiction book was the first book I read by Jenny Colgan and is different from her others. It is not centered around food but rather, books.
When Nina, a librarian, finds herself without a job, she embarks on a journey with a mobile bookshop in Scotland. There is nothing not to love in this sweet and cozy book.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you are ever in a reading slump, please pick up this story! I felt like I was with Nina puttering around the lanes of Scotland in her bookmobile. The romance in the story was charming as well! This remains my favorite Jenny Colgan story.
Find this book in: The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked / Novels About Scotland / Books About Books / Books about Bookstores / British Books
3.
The Little Beach Street Bakery
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2014
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Little Beach Street Bakery #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Jenny Colgan is known for her heartwarming tales of self-discovery, and this book is no different. Our main protagonist loses her job and boyfriend, so she heads to Cornwall to lick her wounds.
Soon, with the help of a charming seaside community and a cute little bakery, she’s back on her feet. Throughout her time in Cornwall, she finds love, a new job, and
Why Kirsten loves it
Like all of Colgan’s books, the community takes the book to another level. These characters come to life, creating a town I wish was real!
Find this book in: Bakery Romance Books / Jenny Colgan Books in Order / Books set at the Beach
4.
Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2015
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Little Beach Street Bakery #2
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The continuation of Jenny Colgan’s Little Beach Street Bakery series is another hit. I loved the continuation of Polly, Huck, and Neil’s story. Polly gets fired from the bakery and needs to figure out a new business plan.
Why Kirsten loves it
We get to catch up with all the lovable characters in the small Cornish town, see inside Polly’s new lighthouse home, and have delectable bakery items described throughout. This story also uses a climate event as a major plot point and I found it so interesting to see how hurricanes are dealt with in other countries.
Find this book in: Jenny Colgan Books / Books About Weather/ Books with Summer in the Title
5.
The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2013
Genre: Fiction Romance
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Anna, the supervisor of a chocolate factory, has an incredible opportunity to travel to Paris to learn how to make chocolate from an elite chocolatier. But are they gonna learn more about the chemistry of one another than how to create delicious treats?
Why Jackie loves it
Jenny Colgan delivers every time. Her books follow a formula that is tried and true. The girl goes to a new place, starts a chocolate shop/ cafe/ bakeshop/ bookshop, and meets a man, falls in love, etc. I read her books because I need an escape and she delivers every time. This book was no exception.
Find this book in: Books Set in Paris / The Best Jenny Colgan Books
6.
Meet Me at The Cupcake Cafe
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: Fiction
Genre: Romance
More info: Cupcake Cafe #1
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Warning:
I am never surprised or disappointed in her books. Even though this is ranked lower in our list of Jenny Colgan books in order, it is still a delightful read.
Why Kirsten loves it
I love Jenny Colgan’s books and this was no exception. It is a quick and lovely romance book
Why Jackie loves it
Like Kirsten, I find comfort in reading Jenny Colgan’s sweet romance novels. They always leave me with a smile because of the sweet stories and in this case, I got to day dream about food as well!
Find this book in: Books With Food in the Title / Jenny Colgan Books Ranked and In Order /10 Delicious Bakery Romance Novels
Jenny Colgan Christmas Books Ranked
7.
The Christmas Bookshop
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2021
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Jenny Colgan is back with a stand-alone Christmas romance book about a failing bookshop and the woman who saves it. Carmen is stuck with no boyfriend, no job, and living at home, while her sister Sophie seems to have it all – a beautiful house, a great husband, a killer job, and 3 kids with one more on the way.
When she realizes her client is going to lose his bookshop and home, she overs Carmen up for the job of turning the shop around, offering her a room at her house to boot.
But the long-standing rivalry between the sisters is out in full force, Carmen seems to sabotage her own happiness in the romance department, and her bookstore boss might be hiding some family secrets that need uncovering.
Why Kirsten loves it
A charming contemporary fiction Christmas tale in true Jenny Colgan fashion, this heartwarming holiday book also has some appearances from beloved characters from previous books.
Find this book in: Best Christmas Books Of All Time / Best Holiday Books / Christmas Novels 2021 / Books About Bookstores
8.
The Secret Christmas Library
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2025
Genre: Holiday Mystery
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 14+
Plot
One of our favorite authors, Jenny Colgan, is back with a holiday story set in the Scottish Highlands! Mirren Sutherland is an amateur antiquarian book hunter who has been hired by Jamie McPherson to find a book worth so much that it could save his crumbling estate. But his grandad was known for both collecting rare books AND being a lover of treasure hunts. Together, the duo, plus Mirren’s rival book hunter, Theo, must work to find the book!
Over the course of a snowed-in holiday, Mirren and the crew work together to decode the clues left by Jamie’s grandfather as they traverse the grounds in search of the mysterious book.
Why Kirsten loves it
Jenny Colgan is back! I adored this story and the scavenger hunt mystery to find the rare book around the grounds. The clues were laid out engagingly and the slow-burning romance going on in the background added to the story in a delicious way. It was the perfect cozy mystery with a hint of Christmas cheer!
Find this book in: Jenny Colgan Books in Order / Christmas Mystery Books / Giftable Books / Books with Secret in the Title
9.
Christmas at the Island Hotel
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2020
Genre: Fiction
More info: Mure Island Series #4
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This was a happier book in the series than the last one. We get to see Flora and Joel’s new baby, check in with Fintan, and meet a new cast of characters as the residents of Mure prepare for the new hotel opening.
Why Kirsten loves it
There were cute love stories laid out while Colgan wrapped up some longstanding plotlines, but there was also space for more books in the series to be written.
Find this book in: The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked
10.
Midnight at the Christmas Bookstop
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2023
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Christmas Bookshop #2
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This Christmas book is the sequel to The Christmas Book Shop, a New York Times bestseller from Jenny Cogan. Once again, the story takes place at Edinburgh bookstore run by Carmen and her flighty boss. This time around, Carmen needs a new living arrangement and is broken up with Oke. She’s also angry with her sister for forcing her our of her guest room and trying, once again to keep the bookstore afloat despite outside forces.
Why Kirsten likes it
This particular sequel wasn’t my favorite though. It had all the same characters as the first story, but while the setting was still just as enchanting, I didn’t love the characters as much this time around. Oke was barely in it, Carmen was infantile, but the new “stacks” of the bookstore and Carmen’s new living situation were wonderfully described. Plus I loved the quest to save the bookstore once again. #gifted
Find this book in: Jenny Colgan Books / New Christmas Books of 2023
Expert Tip
There are so many books by Jenny Colgan, both series and standalones, that it can be hard to pick which book to read next. Here are a few tips to help
- Read the next book in a series. It is always so much fun to follow your favorite characters
- Pick a new series or a standalone. If you are not sure what books are in which series, head over to my Jenny Colgan Books in Order post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order do Jenny Colgan Books go in?
Jenny Colgan has six different series in addition to her stand-alone novels. You can read books by Jenny Colgan in any order you want but, we suggest that you read the books from each series in order!
Are the Jenny Colgan books clean?
Yes, Jenny Colgan’s books are considered closed-door romances. Meaning, all the intimacy happens behind the door, but the romance leading up to that point is yours to enjoy!
Are Jenny Colgan’s books a Series?
YES and no. Jenny Colgan has written a number of book series in addition to her stand-alone novels. Her series are:
1. School by the Sea
2. Cupcake Cafe
3. Rosie Hopkins
4. Beach Street Bakery
5. Bookshop on the Corner
6. Mure Island
Related Content
Epilogue
So that, dear friends, is our final line-up of Jenny Colgan books ranked. Do you agree with us?
500 Miles From You is book 3 in the Bookshop on the Corner series, and it is fantastic! I gave it 5 stars! I would totally read it next.
It’s sitting on my bookshelf! I can’t wait to read it!