Miss Julia Books in Order By Ann B. Ross
Be kind to everyone – you don’t know what cross they’re bearing and how sweet that kind word might ring.
― Ann B. Ross, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
1. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (1999)
2. Miss Julia Takes Over (2001)
3. Miss Julia Throws a Wedding (2002)
4. Miss Julia Hits the Road (2003)
5. Miss Julia Meets Her Match (2004)
6. Miss Julia’s School of Beauty (2005)
7. Miss Julia Stands Her Ground (2006)
8. Miss Julia Strikes Back (2007)
9. Miss Julia Paints the Town (2008)
10. Miss Julia Delivers the Goods (2009)
11. Miss Julia Renews Her Vows (2010)
12. Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle (2011)
13. Miss Julia to the Rescue (2012)
14. Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (2013)
14.5. Miss Julia’s Gift (2013) – (Novella)
15. Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover (2014)
16. Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day (2014)
17. Miss Julia Lays Down the Law (2015)
18. Miss Julia Inherits a Mess (2016)
19. Miss Julia Weathers the Storm (2017)
20. Miss Julia Raises the Roof (2018)
21. Miss Julia Takes the Wheel (2019)
22. Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two (2020)
23. Miss Julia Happily Ever After (2021)
An Intro to Miss Julia
Miss Julia, also known as Mrs. Wesley Lloyd Springer, is a Southern woman whose entire world is turned upside down from the secrets of her recently deceased husband coming to light. She is an elderly Southern widow, with a razor-sharp wit and perfect “Steel Magnolia” poise. She is a captivating character to follow through all 22 books, the novel’s plot often depend on points of North Caroline state law, and one of the common themes is the hypocrisy among the clergy.
Who is Ann B. Ross?
Ann B. Ross is an American Author, she was first published with The Murder Cure (1978), which did not do very well. She managed to publish a few more books, nothing making much of a splash and decided to give up writing. Ross went through a few careers since Miss Julia came to be. And in 1991, while she was working as a university instructor at the University of North Carolina, Miss Julia just “came into her head”. Her books are popular for book clubs in America, while also being popular in Germany, Japan and Poland.
I certainly supported a woman’s right to choose, but to my mind the time to choose was before, not after the fact.
― Ann B. Ross, Miss Julia Throws a Wedding
The Order
Below you will find all the books that Ann B. Ross has released for the Miss Julia serie in publication order. This is the best order in which to read through them all. But if you are only wanting to read a handful of them, or even one, then feel free to pick up the first one you find and dive right into this wonderful world. As Ross has stated, she did try to make each book a standalone.
Now, without any further, please find below the best reading order for Miss Julia books.
1. Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind (1999) 
81,900 Words, 273 pages, 5hrs 30mins
Published by William Morrow
3.80 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia’s late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down.
With razor-sharp wit and perfect “Steel Magnolia” poise, Miss Julia speaks her mind indeed-about a robbery, a kidnapping, and the other disgraceful events precipitated by her husband’s death. Fast-paced and charming, with a sure sense of comic drama, a cast of crazy characters, and a strong Southern cadence, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind will delight readers from first page to last.
2. Miss Julia Takes Over (2001) 
92,700 Words, 309 pages, 6hrs 15mins
Published by Viking
3.90 out of 5 on Goodreads
When Miss Julia burst on the scene in her fictional debut, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind, this proper lady of a certain age found her orderly world turned upside down when Hazel Marie Puckett appeared with her nine-year-old son, Little Lloyd, who looked disturbingly similar to Miss Julia’s late husband. Now, in Miss Julia Takes Over, with her sharp tongue and iron backbone intact, Miss Julia must tackle another disruption when Hazel Marie doesn’t return from a dinner date with a fund-raiser who, in Miss Julia’s opinion, wears his shorts too tight. Frantic and unable to persuade the local police that Hazel Marie is in danger, Miss Julia hires J. D. Pickens to investigate, despite her reservations about his taste for beer and women. She and Little Lloyd help search for Hazel Marie, running into adventures ranging from a most indelicate display of fisticuffs to a high-speed car chase on the track of a NASCAR Speedway, all the while standing strong …because if Miss Julia doesn’t take care of things, who will?
3. Miss Julia Throws a Wedding (2002) 
100,800 Words, 336 pages, 6hrs 45mins
Published by Viking
3.98 out of 5 on Goodreads
Readers love Miss Julia, the proper lady of a certain age with a backbone of iron and perfect Steel Magnolia poise, not to mention the sharpest tongue south of the Mason-Dixon Line. In Miss Julia Throws a Wedding, we find her feeling a little wistful when Hazel Marie, once her late husband’s paramour and now her best friend, prepares to move out and live in sin with that marriage-shy Mr. Pickens. Suddenly, to Miss Julia’s delight, a wedding is in the offing: Handsome Deputy Coleman Bates and attorney Binkie Enloe announce their plans to run down to the courthouse and tie the knot. But Miss Julia insists they have a real wedding ceremony and vows to make it happen. When a missing preacher, a crowd of uninvited guests, and a queasy bride threaten the happy event, Miss Julia is there to restore order, confirming her undying motto: if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself!
4. Miss Julia Hits the Road (2003) 
101,700 Words, 339 pages, 6hrs 50mins
Published by Viking
4.04 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia—that Southern spitfire of a certain age who is never less than charming, even when she’s at her most opinionated—has been praised by Fannie Flagg as “one of the most delightful characters to come along in years.” Don’t miss Ann Ross’s newest, Miss Julia Raises the Roof , coming April 2018 from Viking.
In Miss Julia Hits the Road , she is becoming increasingly concerned about her gentleman friend, Sam, who has suddenly started wearing cowboy boots, sending her flowers, and writing bad poetry. And when he shows up on a Harley-Davidson Road King and asks her to hop on, she’s convinced he’s lost his mind. Meanwhile, her invaluable housekeeper, Lillian, has been evicted from her home by her greedy landlord. Deciding that Lillian’s need is greater than her own fear (not to mention loss of dignity), Miss Julia takes Sam up on his offer and sets off on a motorcycle Poker Run to raise some fast cash. She’s ready to risk life and limb in Sam’s sidecar to save Lillian’s home from the bulldozer, but will Miss Julia’s scheme work?
5. Miss Julia Meets Her Match (2004) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
4.06 out of 5 on Goodreads
With devoted fans across the country, Miss Julia—that endearingly sharp-tongued southern belle of a certain age—has no shortage of admirers. But in Miss Julia Meets Her Match, our feisty heroine must come to terms with her most ardent admirer of all: longtime beau Sam Murdoch, who wants to tie the knot. While it’s hard to resist Sam’s charm, Miss Julia isn’t about to give up her independence so easily. After all, there are plenty of other matters that require her attention, including a Holy Land theme park to be built on her property, a possible affair between the mayor and the preacher’s secretary, and the arrival of her housekeeper Lillian’s five-year-old pistol of a great-granddaughter. In the midst of all the commotion, can her cool-as-a-cucumber head help her heart make the decision of a lifetime?
6. Miss Julia’s School of Beauty (2005) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
3.99 out of 5 on Goodreads
In her latest romp, Miss Julia—now Mrs. Sam Murdoch—returns from her whirlwind elopement, only to find herself roped into Hazel Marie’s scheme to raise money by throwing a beauty pageant. Though it all seems a tad distasteful, it’s nothing compared to the revelation that Pigeon Forge, the marriage mill across the state line that wedded Julia and Sam, might not be legitimate. And a flustered Julia can’t help wondering whether she and Sam can keep up appearances before the town finds out they might be living in sin.
7. Miss Julia Stands Her Ground (2006) 
91,800 Words, 306 pages, 6hrs 10mins
Published by Viking
4.10 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia has charmed and captivated fans of humorous Southern tales through six rollicking novels, and now, in Miss Julia Stands Her Ground, she faces her most daunting challenge yet. Hazel Marie’s troublemaking uncle, Brother Vernon Puckett, has just swept into town and questioned Little Lloyd’s paternity. Suddenly Miss Julia’s late husband’s estate is up for grabs, and it’s up to her to prove that the boy’s claim is legitimate. In another hilarious and heartwarming caper, Ann B. Ross proves that a little spunk and Southern charm go a long way.
8. Miss Julia Strikes Back (2007) 
105,600 Words, 352 pages, 7hrs 5mins
Published by Viking
4.08 out of 5 on Goodreads
Having earned a devoted following for her rollicking antics and unshakable poise, Miss Julia’s eighth outing begins with an unfortunate discovery. Her cherished engagement ring-an exact replica of Princess Di’s-turns up missing after a party, making her the latest target of a Florida- based gang who, according to Sergeant Coleman Bates, has been denuding Dixie of its jewelry. Incensed, Miss Julia packs Little Lloyd into the car and heads south to claim what is rightfully hers-and to show the feds that there’s more than one way to do reconnaissance: selling the Good Book!
9. Miss Julia Paints the Town (2008) 
100,800 Words, 336 pages, 6hrs 45mins
Published by Viking
4.05 out of 5 on Goodreads
The sleepy town of Abbotsville is abuzz over the mayor’s plans to replace the old courthouse with luxury retirement condos. On top of that, several of the town’s husbands seem to have flown the coop. As usual, it falls to Miss Julia to save the day-and the courthouse- even if she has to expose a few of the town’s not-so- well-kept secrets.
10. Miss Julia Delivers the Goods (2009) 
105,600 Words, 352 pages, 7hrs 5mins
Published by Viking
4.11 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia’s iron will and kind heart have assured her a spot among the most beloved characters of Southern literature. In her latest adventure, Miss Julia whisks Hazel Marie off to the doctor when the latter admits she’s been feeling poorly. The news floors them both: Hazel Marie is pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, she’s also just sent her beau, Mr. Pickens, packing. Miss Julia needs a plan-and fast. So when Sam’s house is robbed, Miss Julia declares that only J. D. Pickins, P.I., can get his things back. Playing Cupid and solving the crime might seem like a tall order but readers everywhere know that Miss Julia always delivers the goods.
11. Miss Julia Renews Her Vows (2010) 
102,300 Words, 341 pages, 6hrs 50mins
Published by Viking
4.10 out of 5 on Goodreads
Every one loves the irrepressible Miss Julia. Her latest triumph is getting Hazel Marie and J. D. Pickens to the altar before it becomes too obvious that they’re expecting twins! But why has Sam agreed that he and Julia will attend the odious Dr. Fowler’s marital enrichment sessions? Could Sam feel their flames need fanning? Meanwhile, this lady of a certain age must spring Etta Mae from jail when she’s wrongly accused of attacking Francie Pitts. With a fragrant felon to be caught- plus a wedding, babies, and a heaping dose of mischief-it’s fortunate for all that Miss Julia’s on the case.
12. Miss Julia Rocks the Cradle (2011) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
4.12 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia has promised her adoring husband, Sam, to mind her own business. What a relief! Instead of trying to figure out why that dead body was found in Miss Petty’s toolshed, Miss Julia can concentrate on taking care of just-in-time newlywed Hazel Marie as she prepares for her impending due date. But then Miss Julia-who has always balanced her checkbook down to the penny-suddenly finds her checks bouncing all over town. Just this once (as she tells herself), Miss Julia starts investigating and so begin the antics that have made her one of the most beloved and irrepressible ladies-of-a-certain-age in today’s fiction.
13. Miss Julia to the Rescue (2012) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
4.09 out of 5 on Goodreads
As we know from her many trips to the New York Times bestseller list, Miss Julia simply can’t abide sitting idle. And with young Lloyd moving out and husband Sam off to the Holy Land, everybody’s favorite steel magnolia is feeling restless. Maybe it’s time for that long-delayed home makeover. But before Miss Julia can even pick a color swatch, Hazel Marie’s new husband, private eye J.D. Pickens, goes missing—and police in West Virginia have detained an injured man fitting his description. Meanwhile, a religious cult is out to convert the locals—and Miss Julia must pick up the pace to free J.D. and get back in time to stop them.
14. Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (2013) 
106,200 Words, 354 pages, 7hrs 5mins
Published by Viking
3.99 out of 5 on Goodreads
Autumn’s crisp bite is in the air, but Miss Julia soon discovers that, alas, leaves aren’t the only things falling. James, Hazel Marie’s housekeeper, has taken a nasty tumble down some stairs. How can Hazel Marie feed and take care of him—not to mention a husband, son, and twin baby girls—when she barely knows how to boil water? Miss Julia promptly organizes the ladies of Abbotsville to give Hazel Marie cooking lessons. But before she can relax, Hazel Marie’s shady preacher-uncle turns up—just as Miss Julia learns that James has roped young Lloyd into an Internet scam!
14.5 Miss Julia’s Gift (2013) 
13,200 Words, 44 pages, 55mins
Published by Viking
4.05 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia finds herself reminiscing about her first year of marriage to Sam Murdoch. Everything seemed perfect–alarmingly so. Miss Julia feared that Sam would morph from a sweet and loveable man into a replica of her loathsome first husband, the boring and deceitful Wesley Lloyd Springer. Even Sam’s adorable habit of giving her gifts for all holidays and occasions–no matter how minor–caused Miss Julia anxiety. When will the other shoe drop, she wondered? After some soul-searching and valuable advice from her friends, Miss Julia comes to understand that Sam is nothing like Wesley–and never will be. Then, just in time for Valentine’s Day, she thinks up the perfect romantic gift for her husband and realizes which gift she values most of all.
15. Miss Julia’s Marvelous Makeover (2014) 
91,200 Words, 304 pages, 6hrs 5mins
Published by Viking
3.98 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia’s adoring fans sent this novel straight to the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. But everyone’s favorite steel magnolia isn’t one to rest on her laurels. It’s summer in Abbotsville, and Miss Julia’s cousin Elsie calls in an old family debt, asking Miss Julia to teach her granddaughter how to be a lady. When the rude and unkempt Trixie arrives, it’s clear Miss Julia has her work cut out for her. Meanwhile, Sam’s campaign for state senate is in trouble. Miss Julia enlists Lillian, Latisha, Lloyd, and Hazel Marie to whip Trixie and the campaign into shape!
16. Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day (2014) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
3.81 out of 5 on Goodreads
Heart-of-gold, hardscrabble Etta Mae Wiggins has bewitched Miss Julia fans as the steel magnolia’s sidekick in several New York Times–bestselling novels. At last, Etta Mae gets to speak for herself, and longtime readers and newcomers alike will love her story and her opinions of Miss Julia.
Growing up, Etta Mae couldn’t escape her daddy’s no-good name—or the attention of every roving eye in town. But when she becomes the home nurse for an elderly man who is Abbottsville’s wealthiest resident, she sees an opportunity to say sayonara to her trailer-park days once and for all. However, a number of interested parties are less than thrilled by the thought of wedding bells, and she’ll have to work fast to marry Mr. Right on the worst bad-luck day of her life.
17. Miss Julia Lays Down the Law (2015) 
92,100 Words, 307 pages, 6hrs 10mins
Published by Viking
4.00 out of 5 on Goodreads
It’s November and Miss Julia is looking forward to some quiet time before the holidays. That is until snobby Connie Clayborn and her rich husband move to town. At first, Miss Julia and the other ladies are pleased to be invited over for coffee, but the afternoon turns into a slap in the face when their hostess spouts nonstop criticism about Abbotsville. Why, how dare she? Days later, Miss Julia decides to confront Connie woman to woman, but when she arrives, Connie is lying on the kitchen floor—lifeless in a pool of blood. Who could have done this? Miss Julia will need to find out fast—particularly because her fingerprints are now all over the crime scene…
18. Miss Julia Inherits a Mess (2016) 
92,400 Words, 308 pages, 6hrs 10mins
Published by Viking
4.06 out of 5 on Goodreads
When Miss Julia hears that Miss Mattie Freeman has taken a fall and is in the hospital, she wishes she’d spent more time getting to know the woman–and not just because she’s last to hear about the accident! So when the tumble proves fatal, the last thing Miss Julia expects is a phone call from Ernest Sitton, Attorney at Law. Suddenly Miss Julia finds herself the executrix of Miss Mattie’s estate, and from what Ernest has to say, Miss Mattie’s coffers weren’t exactly full.
Determined to find something of value for Miss Mattie’s beneficiaries, Miss Julia is faced with a room full of clutter that’s now hers to disperse. With the lovelorn caretaker Etta Mae Wiggins working overtime, her good friend Mildred Allen on bed rest, and Helen Stroud cataloging Miss Mattie’s furniture, Miss Julia soon realizes she’s got a blue-million things to do to honor her friend’s last wishes. Thank goodness for Miss Mattie’s handsome young neighbor, Nate Wheeler, who’s ever ready to help out, and of course for Sam, who’s always willing to lend an ear.
But when a young man claiming to be Miss Mattie’s great-nephew turns up, demanding to live in her apartment while he writes a family history, Miss Julia will find herself closer to Mattie Freeman and her mysterious family than ever before. In this seventeenth installment in the Miss Julia series, Ann B. Ross delivers another hilarious and big-hearted novel celebrating the South’s favorite steel magnolia and the unforgettable residents of Abottsville.
19. Miss Julia Weathers the Storm (2017) 
84,300 Words, 281 pages, 5hrs 40mins
Published by Viking
4.08 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia’s sweet and generous husband, Sam, has decided to take a big group trip to the beach, inviting family and friends. While Miss Julia prepares for the big trip, her longtime friend LuAnne comes to her with a horrifying discovery–her husband may be cheating on her. Julia invites LuAnne along to the beach to get away and clear her head–and to keep from doing anything rash.
Everyone settles into the rental house and six-year-old Latisha, their beloved housekeeper Lillian’s great-grandaughter, is having a blast searching for seashells when she discovers some much more valuable treasures that have washed up from a strong storm off the coast. As the storm nears, the crew packs up to head back to Abbotsville, and it appears that the three strangers they met on the beach–who seemed a bit too interested in little Latisha’s treasures–have followed them back to their sleepy town.
In Miss Julia Weathers the Storm, another highly entertaining and delightful installment in the series by Ann B. Ross, Miss Julia must rely on her quick wit and strong will to protect Latisha, get to the bottom of LuAnne’s predicament, and once again save the day.
20. Miss Julia Raises the Roof (2018) 
86,400 Words, 288 pages, 5hrs 45mins
Published by Viking
3.91 out of 5 on Goodreads
With her husband Sam off on a trip to Europe, Miss Julia reckons it’s about time to roll up her sleeves and be of some use to her community. It’s then that she hears that the nosy do-gooder Madge Taylor and the new pastor Rucker are embarking on a mission to buy up the vacant house next door to Hazel Marie and establish a group home for wayward teenagers. No stranger to taking in the down-and-out herself, Miss Julia is shocked to learn Madge and the pastor are keeping the project a secret. When Miss Julia and Hazel Marie start investigating, though, they uncover a far less philanthropic plot for the house that even Madge doesn’t know about–one that could change the quiet, peaceful neighbourhood forever.
21. Miss Julia Takes the Wheel (2019) 
96,000 Words, 320 pages, 6hrs 25mins
Published by Viking
4.03 out of 5 on Goodreads
When Miss Julia’s regular doctor goes on vacation with his wife, leaving a replacement in his stead, Miss Julia is immediately concerned. Never one to miss an opportunity to entertain–or size up–a newcomer, she invites the charming Dr. Don Crawford, and his painfully shy wife, Lauren, to dinner. While Miss Julia and Sam both note Lauren’s obvious lack of social skills, it’s her friends Hazel Marie and Binkie that pick up on some of Dr. Crawford’s less palatable qualities.
Meanwhile, Lloyd has gotten his first car, and LuAnne, fresh off her divorce, has started a job at the local funeral home and is in urgent need of an occupation-appropriate makeover–Miss Julia has enough on her plate. Yet there is just something she can’t place about the Crawfords, and she won’t rest until she gets to the bottom of it.
22. Miss Julia Knows a Thing or Two (2020) 
86,400 Words, 288 pages, 5hrs 45mins
Published by Viking
4.23 out of 5 on Goodreads
Miss Julia has decided to turn over a new leaf — it’s time to stop meddling in other peoples’ lives. But her hands are full before long! Mildred is sent into a tizzy when a grandchild she’s never met shows up on her doorstop. With her husband fighting a mysterious illness, she’s all on her own. Meanwhile, Etta Mae is worried about losing her job now that the retirement care center is closing. Luckily Miss Julia has experience dealing with children dropped on doorsteps, and sweeps in to lend a hand. But there’s something just a bit strange about the child, and Miss Julia can’t quite put her finger on what it is.
23. Miss Julia Happily Ever After (2021) 
99,600 Words, 332 pages, 6hrs 40mins
Published by Viking
4.25 out of 5 on Goodreads
Wedding fever hits Abbotsville and several of Miss Julia’s friends have plans to tie the knot. But, as usual, nothing is so simple. Christy Hargrove suddenly gives up a lifelong dream and drops out of medical school to marry, Helen Stroud and Thurlow Jones decide to change their commercial arrangement into a marital one, and, to Miss Julia’s consternation, Lillian, her housekeeper and closest companion, is considering a less-than-romantic offer to wed a local businessman who turns courting into a job interview. And then there’s LuAnne who just wants to be married, and Janelle who doesn’t.
Miss Julia wants to properly celebrate each ceremony, insofar as anyone will let her. But Helen wants a private, even secretive, wedding; Christy’s fiancé wants a destination wedding, and Lillian can’t decide if she wants a wedding at all. In the middle of it all, a strange figure keeps showing up in town, streaking across lawns and vandalizing the gardens of Miss Julia’s neighbors. Abbotsville’s liveliest resident finds herself trying to solve it all—matters of the heart and petty crime alike—and once again save the day.
Overall
The Miss Julia books make for a great cozy, afternoon read. A lighthearted mystery, with some great wit from Miss Julia herself. These are fun, easy reads and you can, in theory pick up the first one you see and dive right in without any worry of an on-going story that you are missing out on.
If you have enjoyed any of Ann B. Ross’ work and want to learn more about her or any other of her work, then feel free to check out her website.
Which one is your favourite or most looking forward to picking up next?
Let us know!
Happy reading!
Tally Count
- Total words in the Miss Julia series: 2,211,000 words
- Total Pages in the Miss Julia series: 7,370 pages
- Overall Reading time for the Miss Julia series: 147hrs 25mins
More Books in Order:
Things to note:
- Word count is an approximation.
- Amount of pages may differ due to different publications, font style and/or size etc.
- Time spent reading is an approximation based on the word count and the average reading time. The average reader will read 250 WPM (Words Per Minute).
- This is the original publishers of the books.
- The Current GoodReads score at time of writing.
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