Ann Patchett Books in Order and Ranked
Since 1992, Ann Patchett has wowed readers with her fantastic books- both fiction and nonfiction. In my eyes, she can do no wrong as a writer. She is to books what Meryl Streep is to movies. If you have never read an Ann Patchett book, I wanted to make a list of the Ann Patchett books in order of publication to help you pick your next Ann Patchett Book.
I also wanted to provide you with a list of Ann Patchett’s books ranked so that you can decide where you want to start. If you are looking for a book to read with your book club, Jackie has a summary of Whistler and book club questions to go with it. It is the perfect place to start.
Ann Patchett Books in Order of Publication
- The Patron Saint of Liars (1992)
- Taft (1994)
- The Magician’s Assistant (1997)
- Bel Canto (2001)
- Run (2007)
- State of Wonder (2011)
- Commonwealth (2016)
- The Dutch House (2019)
- Tom Lake (2023)
- Whistler (2026)
Ann Patchett Nonfiction Books in Order
- Truth and Beauty: A Friendship (2005)
- What Now? (2008)
- Nashville (2018)
- This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (2014)
- These Precious Days (2022)
Children’s Books by Ann Patchett
- Lambslide (2019)
- Escape Goat (2020)
- The Verts (2024)
- Button at the Bookstore (2/2/27)
Top 5 Ann Patchett Books Ranked
Kirsten and I often rank our favorite books by authors and usually agree on the order. Ann Patchett books ranked is the one exception to that! We are firm believers that everybody’s favorite Ann Patchett book is their first book. We polled a number of our friends and family on which Ann Patchett book is their favorite, and this list is the consensus.
5.
The Dutch House
4.
Tom Lake
3.
Whistler
2.
Common Wealth
1.
Bel Canto
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Ann Patchett Books Ranked
5.
The Dutch House
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
More info: October 2019 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Ann Patchett has done it again with this tale of sibling devotion that is a testament to the love that holds a family together. Danny and Maeve are victims of an abandoned mother and father who all but ignores them. Danny narrates the story of their lives as it ties into The Dutch House – a storied mansion their father purchased in Elkins Park. The home that is both a blessing and a curse, symbolizes how the mistakes parents make can impact children for a lifetime.
Why Kirsten loves it
I couldn’t put this story down. I did a mix of reading and listening, but ultimately I got swept into Tom Hank’s incredible narration. I was so fully drawn into the story that the world seemed to fall away.
Find this book in: Coming-of-age Books for Adults / Family Sagas / Cozy Fall Books / Best Books of 2019 / Best Books About Siblings / Best Read With Jenna Books /
4.
Tom Lake
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction (Dual Timeline)
More info: August 2023 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 15+
Plot
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return home and beg their mother to tell the story of her romance with a movie star from long ago.
Throughout their Mom’s telling of her summer theatre experience at Tom Lake, the daughters get the long-awaited answers to questions they’ve asked for years. The whole family also re-examines their lives and relationships through the new lens of information. While this is a pandemic story, it’s more of a plot device to get the family together than anything else. So don’t expect to be triggered!
Trigger Warnings
Pandemic
Why Kirsten loves it
Ann Patchett is an amazing storyteller and I love all her books, so it’s no surprise that this story is one of my best books of 2023 picks! I was completely enchanted by this story, especially because Meryl Streep reads the audiobook version.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Novels Set on a Lake / Family Dramas / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2023 / The Best Audiobooks of All Time / The Best Queen Camilla Book Club Books
3.
Whistler
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2026
Genre: Fiction
More info: Prize-winning, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Age Range: 15+
Plot
When Daphne and her husband are at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice Eddie Triplett. He was married to her mother for just over a year when Daphne was nine. Daphne is now 53 and has not seen Eddie in many years. The two of them reconnect as adults and look back over their lives and their choices. Their relationship had been brief but important to both of them.
Trigger Warnings
Car Accident
Why Kirsten loves it
There has never been an Ann Patchett book that I haven’t liked, and Whistler is no exception. I was enamored with Daphne’s relationship with Eddie, and I adored watching them reconnect in this charming, character-driven novel. The dual timeline in this book also reveals the tale of Whistler told by Eddie to Daphne long ago.
Find this book in: Books Set in Museums
2.
Commonwealth
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2016
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Commonwealth explores the dynamic of a family where two people commit adultery, separate their families, and then attempt to bring their various kids together. When one child grows up and begins an affair with a novelist, her family story becomes the basis of his wildly successful novel.
Trigger Warnings
Child death, Cancer, Infidelity
Why Kirsten loves it
This complex book spins a tale of love, family, and the ties that bind. This was my first Ann Patchett book and it made me a lifelong fan of hers!
1.
Bel Canto
Author: Ann Patchett
Year: 2005
Genre: Fiction
More info: Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, Winner of the Orange Prize
Spice Rating:💋
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Somewhere in South America, the Vice President is throwing a birthday party. The guest list includes elite guests, including a revered opera singer. The night is going perfectly until armed gunman take the party hostage. What was supposed to be a quick reolutions turns into months.
As the guests and hostage takers form relationships, this becomes more complicated than anyone imagined.
Trigger Warnings
Hostage
Why Jackie loves it
Ann Patchett writes like no other author. Kirsten and I agree that whatever your first Ann Patchett novel is, will be your favorite. This is mine. I love how Patchett crafts the relationships between the hostages and their captors.
Find this book in: Novels About Music
Expert Tip
Every one of Ann Patchett’s books is a standalone novel. She has also written numerous non-fiction. Her books are very much character-driven stories. There is no correct order for reading Patchett’s books. Have a look at the descriptions of our top 5 books. See if any of them appeal to you. If not, check out her other books. My theory is that whichever Patchett book you read first will be your favorite!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular Ann Patchett Book?
The Dutch House was a Read with Jenna pick in October 2019, and Tom Lake was a Reese Book Club pick in August 2023. The Celebrity book clubs help boost visibility of books, and these are two of Patchett’s most popular books. However, there is no definitive answer to this question. Ann Patchett is a powerhouse of a writer and can do no wrong, in my opinion.
Related Content
- Summary of Whistler
- Whistler Book Club Questions
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Epilogue
What is your favorite Ann Patchett book? Was it the first book of hers you have read?
