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There’s nothing better than reading a book you love by a new-to-you author and finding out that they have six previously published books that all sound just as interesting.
After falling in love with How to Read a Book by Monica Wood last year, I knew I wanted to read more books by Monica Wood. As far as I knew, she had only written one other book because that was all I ever heard other readers talk about.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she’s written a total of seven books: six novels and one memoir. She also has three plays that are scheduled to be published this year!
And they all sound so good!
One reader on Goodreads described Wood’s writing as “poetic, succinct, humorous, natural, and filled with heart.”
I think that’s a perfect description.
One thing I loved about How to Read a Book is how authentic and human the characters are. They are endearing and flawed all at the same time (just like us). This seems to be a theme in all of her books.
This post is all about books by author Monica Wood.
Books by Monica Wood (in Publishing Order)
01
Secret Language (1993)
Wood’s debut novel tells the story of two sisters, Faith and Connie, who are the children of self-absorbed actors who were largely neglected as children. While they both learn to cope with their family life in very different ways, they also rely heavily on each other. Later, as adults, they are living very different lives and aren’t quite as close. After several events, which are shocking and eye-opening, the sisters are brought back together again.
Readers say that the book starts out a bit depressing, but it unfolds into a lovely story.
- Book Length: 284 pages
- Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction
- Pub Year: 1993
Where to Buy:
02
My Only Story (2000)
Rita Rosario is a multi-talented hair stylist who owns a salon in an area of town that locals are trying to turn into an outlet mall. Rita is the last holdout. Besides cutting hair, Rita also has a talent for telling fortunes in addition to an ability to see through people (figuratively, not literally). When she’s not doing that, she’s reading classic literature. After a fortuitous dream, Rita begins helping John Reed, a lonely man who was disconnected from his niece, Aileen.
Aileen became an orphan after John’s brother killed his wife and himself. As Rita works to help John, their lives slowly become intertwined. Rita is also facing her own family troubles as she finds herself in a bit of a rut.
This is a book about complicated sibling relationships, forgiveness, and how sometimes, when we are trying to help others, we may find that we need help ourselves.
- Book Length: 293 pages
- Genre: Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
- Pub Year: 2001
Where to Buy:
03
Ernie’s Ark: The Abbott Falls Stories (2002)
Wood’s third book is a collection of entwined stories that all focus on the town of Abbott Falls, Maine, which is a fictional paper-mill town that goes on strike. Ernie is a local pipefitter for the paper mill whose wife is gravely ill. When the paper mill went on strike eight months earlier, he was just weeks away from his retirement. With time on his hands and as a gesture for his wife, Ernie decides to build a gigantic ark, reminiscent of Noah’s ark.
The stories in the book also focus on other characters in the town, such as 13-year-old Francine and Dane Little, the local building inspector. Each chapter focuses on a different character, with Ernie’s as the main story.
Readers describe this book as “comfort food for the mind and heart” with universal themes in a thought-provoking read.
As of this writing, Ernie’s Ark is included with Kindle Unlimited.
- Book Length: 190
- Audiobook Length: 6 hours 29 minutes
- Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction
- Pub Year: 2002
Where to Buy:
04
Any Bitter Thing (2005)
When Lizzy was nine years old, she was separated from her uncle, a Catholic priest, who had raised her from age two. The separation came as a result of false accusations from a bitter parishioner that he had abused Lizzy. Her life up until that point has been rather idyllic. As a result of the accusations, he left the ministry, and she went to boarding school. She is now 30 years old with a marriage that is going downhill, and she was nearly killed in a car accident.
In the hospital post-accident, she thinks she sees her uncle in a vision, whom she was told died years ago. The story is told by working its way back to her childhood, and it is told in alternating points of view. Readers describe this as a story with rich characters and an absorbing plot. This is a book about the impact of trauma, the strength of vulnerability, grace, and redemption.
- Book Length: 356 pages
- Audiobook Length: Not available on audio
- Genre: Literary Fiction, General Fiction
- Pub Year: 2005
Where to Buy:
05
When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir from Mexico, Maine (2012)
In this memoir, Wood takes her readers back to her childhood in April 1963, when she was nine years old and her dad died suddenly at the age of 57. It’s a story about the grief she experienced and the isolating effect his death had on the whole family, but especially her mother. This book explores how brutal the death of a breadwinner was on the spouse who was left behind at this time.
Seven months later, President Kennedy was assassinated, which is one of the reasons she ties the death of her father to the Kennedys. There are several scenarios in this book that are reminiscent of plots in her other books, such as the fact that she grew up in a paper-mill town in Maine, where her dad was employed (see Ernie’s Ark), and she had an uncle who was a Catholic priest (see Any Bitter Thing).
As of this writing, We Were the Kennedys is included with Kindle Unlimited.
- Book Length: 256 pages
- Audiobook Length: 7 hours 21 minutes
- Genre: Memoir
- Pub Year: 2012
Here’s an interesting video of her talking about this book:
Where to Buy:
06
The One-in-a-Million Boy (2016)
Ona, who is 104-years-old has started to develop a friendship with an unnamed 11-year-old boy who comes to her house every Saturday morning to help her with chores such as refilling the bird feeders and keeping the garden clean and tidy. Slowly, she starts sharing details about her life. Some are private details she hasn’t shared for decades. He writes down the stories for one of those school projects where you are supposed to interview someone about their life.
But one Saturday, the boy’s father shows up instead of the boy, which causes Ona to second-guess what she thought about the boy. Fans say this book is a tear-jerker. They describe it as both sad and uplifting at the same time. This is a story about friendship, grief, loneliness, and second chances.
Wood also wrote a short story that is a prequel to this book about Ona titled, A Woman in a Million. However, this story is really hard to find.
As of this writing, The One-in-the-Million Boy is included with Kindle Unlimited.
- Book Length: 416 pages
- Audiobook Length:
- Genre: Literary Fiction, Found-Family
- Pub Year: 2016
Where to Buy:
07
How to Read a Book (2024)
How to Read a Book was the first book I read by Monica Wood, and the reason I fell in love with this author. There are three main storylines in this book that slowly become very intertwined. First, there’s Harriet, who is a retired English teacher who runs a book club in a local women’s prison near where she lives in Portland, Maine. (These book club scenes were honestly my favorite part of the book.) Next, you have Violet, who is one of the inmates in the prison and who is about to be released.
Last, you have Frank, who is a retired widower, who has a new job as a handyman at the local bookstore. (There are other characters we learn about as well.) Explaining how these three become involved would definitely be a spoiler, so you’re going to have to read the book to find out. I loved this very human story. I would also describe this book as found-family, which is one of my favorite literary tropes.
Read my full How to Read a Book review here.
- Book Length: 416 pages
- Audiobook Length: 10 hours 18 minutes
- Genre: Literary Fiction, Found-Family
- Pub Year: 2016
Where to Buy:
08
Three Plays by Monica Wood (Coming Sept. 23 2025)
As the title implies, this forthcoming volume includes three plays written by Wood. According to the publisher, all three plays have been performed with “critical acclaim” and have shattered attendance records.
Here are the plays that are included with the descriptions from the publisher:
Papermaker. A labor dispute becomes personal when a mill owner and his daughter confront the human cost of their decisions.
The Half-Light. A rational college professor questions everything she believes about life and death after meeting an unusual psychic.
Saint Dad. Three siblings navigate love, guilt, and family bonds as they try to protect their father from a difficult truth.
None of the plays are available on audio yet, but I would love to see at least one with a full cast.
- Book Length: 238 pages
- Audiobook Length: Not available on audio
- Genre: Dramas & Plays
- Pub Year: 2025
Where to Buy:
Monica Wood’s Books on Writing
Monica Wood has also written three books about writing.
Description (1995)
Description, as the name suggests, focuses on how to write effective descriptions. Wood says that in this book, you’ll learn how detail, plot, style, and point of view relate to the use of description and how they help move a story along by tapping into the reader’s five senses.
The Pocket Muse: Ideas and Inspirations for Writing (2002)
Let Wood be your writing coach with The Pocket Muse. Her advice includes allowing writers to take pleasure in the craft with advice such as, “Treat yourself! Buy an expensive pen, a box of colorful paperclips, a fine, handmade notebook, or a leather bookmark.” But she will also teach about the importance of discipline and avoiding distractions. These are just a few of the writing tips you can expect. She has many more!
The Pocket Muse 2: Endless Inspiration for Writers (2006)
The Pocket Muse 2 is a variation on a theme. This book focuses on prompts and advice for writing in a variety of genres, from fiction and nonfiction to poetry. Fans say this book is a great reference when you need some inspiration.
Monica Wood FAQs
Where is Monica Wood from?
Monica Wood is from Maine, which is also the setting for many of her books.
Do you have to read Monica Wood’s books in order?
Monica Wood’s books are not part of a series and do not have to be read in order. The only books that are connected are The One-in-a-Million Boy and the short story, A Woman in a Million. A Woman in a Million is a prequel to The One-in-a-Million Boy.
What are the best Monica Wood books?
“Best” is relative, but if you look at Goodreads, Wood has three fiction books with an average rating of 4 stars or more. These include: How to Read a Book, The One-in-a-Million Boy, and Ernie’s Ark. (Goodreads reviewers can be a tough crowd to please, so to have a 4-star average rating over there is very good!)
Are Monica Wood’s books good for book clubs?
When I’m looking for a book that will be good for a book club, there has to be A LOT to talk about. There also needs to be good characters and maybe a bit of controversy. Based on my reading of Wood so far, I think her books would make great book club picks.
If you’re looking to pick How to Read a Book for your next book club, I’ve put together this book club discussion guide that you can use.
Have you read any of Monica Wood’s Books? I would love to hear what you thought of them.
