Miss Julia by Ann B. Ross is a mystery-romance series collection of humorous and heartwarming novels. The books center around Miss Julia, a wealthy Southern widow in the fictional town of Abbotsville, North Carolina. The series began with the publication of “Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind.” Since then, multiple books have been added to the series.
The Miss Julia series covers a variety of characters who join Miss Julia in her adventures, including her friends, family, and townsfolk. We see the exploration of Southern culture, small-town life, and a delightful protagonist who faces various challenges and mysteries while learning valuable life lessons. You are on the right track if you are waiting for Miss Julia’s books to be in order. Let’s go!
Miss Julia Books In Order (Series Reading Guide)
Each book in the Miss Julia series is standalone. Still, I recommend reading the books to learn about character development and the ongoing storylines throughout the series. This is especially true for readers who are starting the series and want to get a good understanding of the characters and their relationships. Reading the books in order will also help readers avoid spoilers and confusion regarding events and plot points in previous books.
So, if you plan to read the Miss Julia series, I recommend starting with the first book, “Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind,” and reading the books in order from there. This will provide the best reading experience and allow you to enjoy the series entirely. Here is the reading order:
- Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (1990).
- Miss Julia Takes Over (2001).
- Miss Julia Throws a Wedding (2002).
- Miss Julia Hits the Road (2003).
- Miss Julia Meets Her Match (2004).
- Miss Julia’s School of Beauty (2005).
- Miss Julia Stands Her Ground (2006).
- Miss Julia Strikes Back (2007).
- Miss Julia Paints the Town (2008).
- Miss Julia Delivers the Goods (2009).
- Miss Julia Renews Her Vows (2010).
- Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle (2011).
- Miss Julia to the Rescue (2012).
- Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (2013).
- Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover (2014).
- Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day (2014).
- Miss Julia Lays Down the Law (2015).
- Miss Julia Inherits a Mess (2016).
- Miss Julia Weathers the Storm (2017).
- Miss Julia Raises the Roof (2018).
- Miss Julia Takes the Wheel (2019).
- Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two (2020).
- Miss Julia Happily Ever After (2021).
Checkout my list: Miss Julia Books List
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (1990): The first book in the series introduces the character of Miss Julia. She is a wealthy and proper Southern widow challenged by unexpected circumstances. After her husband’s death, she discovers he has a son with his former lover Hazel Marie. Miss Julia takes them in and finds herself at the center of town gossip.
Miss Julia Takes Over (2001): Miss Julia takes charge when her late husband’s illegitimate son shows up on her doorstep, causing a stir in her small town. She discovers her resourcefulness and strength.
Miss Julia Throws a Wedding (2002): Miss Julia’s friend gets married. The bride’s ex-husband turns up. Miss Julia helped diffuse the situation. Amidst the chaos of wedding planning, she also contends with a preacher’s attempts to replace her beloved pastor and the return of her husband’s former lover.
Miss Julia Hits the Road (2003): Miss Julia goes on a road trip to save her pastor’s job but finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a missing person.
Miss Julia Meets Her Match (2004): A charming, mysterious newcomer to Miss Julia’s town catches her eye, but she soon learns that he may not be what he seems.
Miss Julia’s School of Beauty (2005): Miss Julia’s efforts to start a beauty school. For this, she struggles to handle a group of rowdy students and a fight with her neighbor.
Miss Julia Stands Her Ground (2006): This is a charming addition to the Miss Julia series. Miss Julia works to get her friend Hazel Marie and her son Little Lloyd accepted by the church community. However, trouble arises when Hazel Marie’s cousin claims that Little Lloyd is not the son of Miss Julia’s late husband. The novel is a heartwarming and entertaining read with a strong sense of community and Southern charm.
Miss Julia Strikes Back (2007): A con artist targets Miss Julia! He wants to steal her fortune, but she uses her intelligence to turn the tables.
Miss Julia Paints the Town (2008): Miss Julia involves in a local art competition, but her enthusiasm soon turns to suspicion when she suspects foul play.
Miss Julia Delivers the Goods (2009): In this book, Miss Julia takes over a local store. A delivery truck goes missing! She finds herself in the middle of another mystery.
Miss Julia Renews Her Vows (2010): This book features a Southern lady of a certain age who jumps to conclusions but takes action to help those in need. Miss Julia deals with a Christian psychologist hired by her pastor to hold marriage enrichment sessions and a false accusation of theft against her friend Etta Mae. She manages to solve the mystery and clear Etta Mae’s name. It’s an enjoyable read, and the characters highlight the series.
Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle (2011): Miss Julia cares for a young baby but must handle family drama and an unexpected visitor.
Miss Julia to the Rescue (2012): Miss Julia helps a friend struggling with addiction, but her efforts to assist him may have unintended consequences.
Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (2013): Miss Julia becomes involved in local politics, but her good intentions lead to mishaps and misunderstandings.
Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover (2014): Miss Julia’s efforts to update her home lead to unexpected consequences and a surprising discovery.
Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day (2014): A spinoff novel featuring Miss Julia’s friend, Etta Mae Wiggins. She navigates a series of misadventures.
Miss Julia Lays Down the Law (2015): Miss Julia takes on a new challenge as a magistrate judge but soon finds herself involved in a controversial case.
Miss Julia Inherits a Mess (2016): Miss Julia inherits a dilapidated mansion from a distant relative, but the legacy comes with several unexpected challenges.
Miss Julia Weathers the Storm (2017): Miss Julia faces a series of disasters, including a hurricane and a family crisis, with her trademark humor and grace.
Miss Julia Raises the Roof (2018): Miss Julia is again involved in a fundraising effort for her local church but must deal with various unforeseen challenges, including a mysterious donor and a troublesome teenager.
Miss Julia Takes the Wheel (2019): Miss Julia’s friend Sam convinces her to buy a sports car. She discovers a hidden compartment and a mysterious object when she takes it for a spin.
Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two (2020): Miss Julia’s husband’s former mistress moves back to town. She decides whether or not to forgive her.
Miss Julia Happily Ever After (2021): In this final book, Miss Julia’s marriage to Sam faces its biggest challenge yet as they face unexpected family drama and a life-changing decision. The book focuses on several of Miss Julia’s friends getting married or wanting to get married. The book’s highlight was a plot twist involving an exhibitionist targeting single women at night.
Overall, I enjoyed the Miss Julia series but felt some books were not as strong as others. Each book presents a new challenge for Miss Julia to overcome with the help of her loyal friends and family. Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries or light-hearted Southern fiction will enjoy this series.
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