J. Courtney Sullivan Book order (chronological)

A deeply satisfying novel about family, secrets, ghosts, and homecoming unfolds around a Victorian house perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, steeped in a century of mysteries. When Jane Flanagan stumbles upon the abandoned house as a teenager, it becomes her refuge from her tumultuous home life. Two decades later, now a Harvard archivist, Jane returns to her Maine roots after a career and marital crisis, only to find the house transformed into a glossy, unrecognizable version of its former self by new owner Genevieve. Convinced of its haunting, Genevieve enlists Jane to research the house's history and the women who once lived there. As Jane delves into the past, she uncovers a tapestry of lost lovers, artistic awakenings, and the lingering effects of colonialism, revealing a narrative that predates even Maine itself. The novel is described as entrancing and compulsively readable, blending humor with heartbreak, making it an engaging exploration of personal and historical legacies.

Elisabeth, an accomplished journalist and new mother, is struggling to adjust to life in a small town after nearly twenty years in New York City. She neglects her work, losing untold hours to her Brooklyn moms' Facebook group, her "influencer" sister's Instagram feed, and text messages with the best friend she never sees anymore

From the New York Times best-selling author comes a sprawling novel exploring the complexities of marriage—those fueled by passion, those seeking comfort, and those who choose to love without the confines of a wedding. Evelyn has been married for forty years, a journey that began when her husband replaced her first wedding ring with his own. Delphine experiences the highs of seduction and the lows of heartbreak. James, a night-shift paramedic, grapples with his wife’s family's opinions about their relationship, while Kate, in a decade-long partnership with Dan, has vowed to avoid the traditional wedding altogether. As these lives intertwine, we meet Frances Gerety, a young advertising copywriter in 1947 tasked with creating a signature line for the De Beers campaign. One night, she pens “A Diamond Is Forever,” a phrase that transforms the perception of love and commitment. This rich, layered narrative spans nearly a century, capturing four distinct marriages and tracing the impact of diamonds in America, illustrating how these precious stones symbolize our deepest aspirations for enduring love.

What if the person you love the most hurt you more than any other? What if that person was your own mother?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The New York Times best-selling author of Maine brings us a sparkling tale of friendship and a fascinating portrait of the first generation of women who have all the opportunities in the world, but no clear idea about what to choose. "Inviting ... Strong, warmly believable three-dimensional characters who have fun, have fights and fall into intense love affairs." —The New York Times Assigned to the same dorm their first year at Smith College, Celia, Bree, Sally, and April couldn’t have less in common. Celia, a lapsed Catholic, arrives with a bottle of vodka in her suitcase; beautiful Bree pines for the fiancé she left behind in Savannah; Sally, preppy and obsessively neat, is reeling from the loss of her mother; and April, a radical, redheaded feminist wearing a “Riot: Don’t Diet” T-shirt, wants a room transfer immediately. Written with radiant style and a wicked sense of humor, Commencement follows these unlikely friends through college and the years beyond, brilliantly capturing the complicated landscape facing young women today.