Jill Mansell Books in Order (It Started with a Secret, Maybe This Time, Promise Me)

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British author of romantic comedy, Jill Mansell used to work at the Burden Neurological Institute in Bristol for many years before she became a full-time writer in 1992. Since then, she became a well-known chick-lit author who wrote more than 30 books like “And Now You’re Back,” “It Started With A Secret,” “Maybe This Time,” “This Could Change Everything,” “The One You Really Want” and “You And Me, Always.”

Jill Mansell’s books have sold over fourteen million copies worldwide. On her website, we learn that Jill’s hobbies include buying stationery, particularly magical new colors of ink for the fountain pen she uses to write all her books. She lives in Bristol with her family.

How to read Jill Mansell’s Books in Order?

What follows is a guide to all of Jill Mansell’s books in order of publication.

• Fast Friends (1991) – When bored 90s housewife and mother Camilla Stewart impulsively invites her old school friends for dinner, she hardly imagines that the evening will shatter her comfortable existence. But Roz Vallender and Loulou Marks are no ordinary guests. Both successful in their own ways, stunning and self-assured Roz and reckless Loulou reveal that Camilla’s husband Jack has been playing around. It’s time, they declare, that Camilla made some changes.
• Solo (1992) – When Tessa Duvall, a struggling artist, reluctantly agreed to accompany her best friend Holly to a party at the elegant Charrington Grange Hotel, she had every intention of sneaking off early. For parties full of strangers bored the knickers off Tessa and this one proved to be no exception – until she encountered Ross Monahan, whose wicked reputation was as high profile as the hotel he owned and ran with such panache. But while Holly set about ensnaring his reluctant brother Max, Tessa simply accepted Ross for what he was, a sensational one-night stand…until she realized, weeks later, that one-night stands can have far-reaching consequences…
• Kiss (1993) – When Izzy is knocked off her motorbike she doesn’t just lose her dignity – she loses as a result, not one but two long-term boyfriends, her job and, to boot, her extremely bijou flat. Gina, who caused the accident, has more important things to worry about – her husband’s mistress is pregnant and she’s suddenly on her own. Why should she care about Izzy? Yet somehow the well-heeled Gina finds herself opening her home to Izzy and her spirited teenage daughter.

• Sheer Mischief (1994) – It’s not that Janey Sinclair isn’t pleased to see her sister… It’s just that being woken at 7:00 a.m. by Maxine, complete with a police escort, isn’t quite how she’d planned to spend her Sunday. Even so, Janey, who’s trying to rebuild her life after her husband disappeared, is delighted to have her sister back home with her in Cornwall. That is, until Maxine sets her sights on an impossibly glamorous fashion photographer, who happens to be new to town. Janey knows there’s no limit to the mischief her sister will create to dispatch her romantic rivals.
• Open House (1995) – Nell O’Driscoll has known Marcus Kilburton for years – according to her diary, she even had a crush on him as a teenager. When he decides to open Kilburton Castle to the public, Nell takes a job as his assistant – and soon sparks are flying between them. But is Nell free to pursue Marcus, when a figure from her past refuses to let go?
• Two’s Company (1996) – Jack and Cass Mandeville are a dream couple, ridiculously happy together and successful to boot – Jack as a journalist and Cass with her own hugely popular radio show. Indeed, almost every member of the Mandeville family is famous in their own right: from stunning Cleo, a supermodel with attitude, to Sean, the rising star of the comedy circuit. Incredibly good-looking and likable, the family has captured the hearts of the nation – and the nation’s press. But on the day that Jack hits the big 40, their proverbial bubble is about to burst…

• Perfect Timing (1997) – Poppy Dunbar is out on her hen night when she meets Tom Kennedy. With his dark eyes and quirky smile, he could lure any girl off the straight and narrow, but what really draws Poppy to him is the feeling that she’s known him all her life. She can’t go through with the meeting they arrange – but she can’t go through with the wedding either.
• Mixed Doubles (1998) – As the 90s draw to a close, Liza wants to get married, Dulcie wants a divorce, and Pru wants things in her relationship to stay exactly the same. Those are the New Year’s resolutions these three best friends have vowed to keep this year. But if you want to change your mind about your resolutions―and who doesn’t?―you probably shouldn’t have told your closest pals. Regardless of good intentions, every effort to help each other only gets things more mixed up. Fortunately for all concerned, Fate has got a few tricks of her own in store…
• Head Over Heels (1998) – Interior designer Jessie Roscoe has kept the identity of her son’s father a secret for years. But when her old flame and actor Toby Gillespie moves in next door, it doesn’t take long for the truth to be revealed, and for Tony to meet the son he never knew he had. Toby’s wife, Deborah, seems to take its stride. But would she be so composed if she knew that the chemistry between Toby and Jessie was flaring up again?

• Miranda’s Big Mistake (1999) – Miranda is thrilled when she meets Greg at a cocktail party. He’s gorgeous, he’s funny – and he’s very keen. Just what a girl needs to put some sparkle in her life. Heavens, he’s practically perfect! Greg likes Miranda a lot. She’s young, she’s pretty, and she never talks about babies. Of course, he hasn’t told her everything about himself – even the sweetest girls can be a bit funny about a man who’s just left his newly pregnant wife. But there’s no way she’s going to find out – or is there?
• Good at Games (2000) – How does one become accidentally engaged? That’s what Suzy Curtis thinks when she suddenly finds herself very publicly engaged to handsome Harry Fitzallan, the local town hero. Harry wants famous rock star Jaz to be his best man―only he’s Suzy’s ex-husband and a recovering alcoholic. Suzy’s half-sister Lucille loves getting to know the family she’d never met, but she can’t help her attraction to Jaz, nor can Suzy quash her entirely inappropriate feelings for Leo, Harry’s engaged brother!
• Millie’s Fling (2001) – When her dear friend and bestselling novelist Orla Hart invites Millie to spend the summer with her in Cornwall, Millie leaps at the chance to spend the summer alone, recovering from a bad breakup. But Orla has other ideas. Envisioning Millie as the heroine of her next novel, Orla is determined that Millie should meet the man of her dreams this summer. The trouble is, Millie’s taste in men doesn’t match with Orla’s at all.

• Staying at Daisy’s (2002) – When hotel manager Daisy MacLean meets cocky sports hero Dev Tyzack, it’s a no-brainer―stay away. He is arrogant and sarcastic―but also incredibly sexy. Daisy tries her best to steer clear of him, yet soon comes to realize he is the one guest she can’t bear to see leave. Then she learns a devastating truth: most people are not who they seem to be, for better or worse…
• Nadia Knows Best (2002) – When Nadia Kinsella meets Jay Tiernan, and the weather traps them in a remote Cotswold pub, she’s tempted, of course, she is. But Nadia’s already met The One. She and Laurie have been together for years – they’re practically childhood sweethearts and she still gets butterflies in her stomach at the sight of him. Okay, so maybe she doesn’t see that much of him these days, but that’s not Laurie’s fault. She can’t betray him.
• Falling for You (2003) – Maddy Harvey was a bit of an ugly duckling as a teenager, what with her NHS specs, unfortunate hair, and wonky teeth. Thankfully she’s blossomed since then. But when she meets Kerr McKinnon one starry summer’s night and discovers, days later, who he actually is… well, that’s when the problems really start. Because everyone in Ashcombe knows what happened eleven years ago, and as far as her mother’s concerned, Marcella would rather tear that family to pieces with her bare hands than see Maddy associate with a McKinnon.

• The One You Really Want (2004) – When Nancy discovers the expensive jewelry her husband’s been buying isn’t for her, she decamps from the Scottish countryside to her best friend Carmen’s posh Chelsea townhouse to sort things out. Nancy finds herself in a surprising new world, where rock stars are nicer than you thought, social workers are not necessarily to be trusted, and the filthy rich are folks with problems just like you. Everybody falls in love with the wrong people, and the path to true love twists and turns before you discover who you really want.
• Making Your Mind Up (2006) – Lottie Carlyle isn’t looking for love when she meets her new boss, Tyler Klein. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable – sometimes – kids in an idyllic village in the Cotswolds, on good terms with her ex-husband and with friends all around, she’s happy enough with her lot. But Tyler’s perfect for Lottie and quickly she falls for him – and he for her.
• Thinking of You (2007) – Ginny Holland’s daughter Jem has headed off to university, leaving single mum Ginny with a severe case of empty nest syndrome. To make matters worse, the first gorgeous man she’s clapped eyes on in years has just accused Ginny of shoplifting. So Ginny decides to advertise for a lodger but what she gets is lovelorn Laurel, who can only talk about her ex-boyfriend. However, Laurel has a dangerously charming brother, Perry, and add to that the offer of a great new job, and things are looking up…until Ginny realizes that her potential boss is all too familiar.

• An Offer You Can’t Refuse (2008) – Ten years ago, Lola Malone was offered £10,000 – and what seventeen-year-old wouldn’t be happy with that? There was just one catch. The person doing the offering was her boyfriend Dougie’s mother, and it was on condition that Lola broke up with her beloved son. Lola was outraged. Nothing could tear her and Dougie apart . . . but then she discovered a terrible secret. Suddenly, she had no choice but to take the money and run.
• Rumour Has It (2009) – When newly single Tilly Cole impulsively quits her London job for a fresh start in the small town of Roxborough she finds she’s arrived in a hotbed of gossip, intrigue, and rampant rivalry for the most desirable men. Tilly has no intention of joining in – she’s just happy with her new Girl Friday job. Then she meets Jack Lucas. Jack is irresistible… and he’s got his eye on Tilly. But there are shocking rumors about his wicked reputation…
• Take a Chance on Me (2010) – Cleo Quinn doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to men, but now that Will’s come along she’s optimistic. Handsome, attentive and an absolute gentleman when it comes to her questionable cooking skills, he could be her Mr. Right. Things are definitely looking up for Cleo… apart from one small problem with a rather large ego.

• To The Moon And Back (2011) – It’s been a year since Ellie Kendall’s husband, Jamie, was killed in an accident, but she’s still grieving. In fact, she finds herself talking to him regularly. At the urging of Jamie’s successful actor father Tony, Ellie moves to London’s glamorous Primrose Hill, where nobody knows her past… But even in her new home―and with her hardworking new boss, Zack McLaren, and Jamie’s best friend Todd to distract her―Ellie can’t seem to leave Jamie behind.
• A Walk In The Park (2012) – It’s been a while, but Lara Carson’s back in Bath and lives are set to change as a result. Because Lara left her family and boyfriend Flynn eighteen years ago without a word to anyone. Why has no one heard from her since? Her childhood best friend Evie is thrilled Lara’s back and able to share her happiness. Evie’s about to walk down the aisle with her dream man, Joel. Or so she thinks…
• Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (2012) – Dexter Yates loves his fun, carefree London life; he has money, looks, and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope? Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood – a much better place to work on his parenting skills – and he and Molly become neighbors.

• The Unpredictable Consequences of Love (2014) – In the idyllic seaside town of St Carys, Sophie is putting the past firmly behind her. When Josh arrives in St Carys to run the family hotel, he can’t understand why Sophie has zero interest in letting any man into her life. He also can’t understand how he’s been duped into employing Sophie’s impulsive friend Tula, whose crush on him is decidedly unrequited.
• Three Amazing Things About You (2015) – Hallie has a secret. She’s in love. He’s perfect for her in every way, but he’s seriously out of bounds. And her friends aren’t going to help her because what they do know is that Hallie doesn’t have long to live. Time is running out… Flo has a dilemma. She really likes Zander. But his scary sister won’t be even faintly amused if she thinks Zander and Flo are becoming friends – let alone anything more.
• You And Me, Always (2016) – Lily’s always been surrounded by love. Ever since her mother died, she’s been cared for by friends who are as close as any family. Coral, her mum’s best friend; Patsy, her old babysitter – and even Dan, Patsy’s incorrigible younger brother – have always been there for her. But when the chance comes to meet the man who was the love of her mother’s life, Lily knows she has to take it. Getting to know him could change everything, and not just for Lily…

• Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay (2017) – When Clemency meets the brilliant Sam Adams, she could just about fall in love with him―if he weren’t married. Three years later, Clemency has settled into her cozy home village of Cornwall to focus on her career. Everything is smooth sailing until Sam upends her entire life…by showing up as her stepsister’s boyfriend.
• This Could Change Everything (2018) – On the one hand, if Essie hadn’t written that letter – the one that only her best friend was meant to see – then she’d still be living like an actual proper grown-up, tucked up with Paul in his picture-perfect cottage, maybe even planning their wedding… On the other hand (if her true feelings hadn’t accidentally taken the internet by storm, that is) she wouldn’t have moved into the attic flat on the square. She would never have met Conor. Or got to know Lucas…
• Maybe This Time (2019) – Mimi isn’t looking for love when she spends a weekend in Goosebrook, the Cotswolds village her dad has moved to. And her first encounter with Cal, who lives there too, is nothing like a scene in a romantic movie – although she can’t help noticing how charismatic he is. But Cal’s in no position to be any more than a friend, and Mimi heads back to her busy London life. When they meet again four years later, it’s still not to be. Cal is focusing on his family, and Mimi on her career. Then Cal dives into a potentially perfect new romance whilst Mimi’s busy fixing other people’s relationships.

• It Started with a Secret (2020) – Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she’s living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired – if far-from-retiring – actor and organizing his charming but chaotic family. It’s definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret. At least Lainey isn’t looking for love. It’s time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor’s grandson, really is rather attractive. There’s growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn’t been honest with him?
• And Now You’re Back (2021) – The old spark is still there, but Didi’s determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she’s happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn’t staying. He’s made a promise to his father. He’s going to keep it. And then he’ll be gone. But Shay’s return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It’s time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone’s intention all along . . .
• Should I Tell You? (2022) – Amber, Lachlan and Raffaele met as teenagers in the Cornish seaside home of kind-hearted foster parents. Years on, the bond between them is unbreakable. But Amber has a secret. She’s in love with Lachlan. She can’t tell him, because that would never work – he’s definitely not the settling-down type. Surely it’s better to keep him as a friend than to risk losing him for good?

• Promise Me (2023) – Lou is reeling from a triple whammy of shocks that have left her loveless, jobless, and almost homeless. Staying for a night with an old friend in the Cotswold village of Foxwell, she lends a helping hand to a spectacularly ungrateful older man with a reputation in the village for being a ‘character’. When Edgar makes a suggestion that would solve two out of three of Lou’s problems in one fell swoop, it’s hard to resist.
• The Wedding of the Year (2024) – It’s set to be a perfect day–until the chauffeur is asked to keep driving the bride around the church. This wedding definitely isn’t going as planned. Lottie is a guest at the wedding when she sees Max. No kiss has ever matched the last one they shared fifteen years ago. They were on the brink of a beautiful love story, until a shocking event tore them apart. Now here he is, still ridiculously good-looking, teasing Lottie in the old way–and that overwhelming electric attraction is back. But Max is way out of bounds.Isla owes Cameron everything. But she doesn’t love him. Which is a shame, because they’re about to be married.

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