Does this page include every John Irving book?

This catalog lists the John Irving books currently available in Sequencebooks, including standalone titles and series entries when available.

Are John Irving series listed separately?

Yes. Each John Irving series is broken out with book numbers, publication years, and a dedicated reading-order page.

Should I read John Irving books in publication order or chronological order?

Publication order is usually the safest reading path. For series, follow the numbered reading order shown beside each title.

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John Irving Books in Order

Q: What is the best order to read John Irving books?

Start with the series reading order for any connected books, then use the chronological list on this page for the full John Irving bibliography.

Find every John Irving book in order, including standalone titles and complete series reading orders with publication years.

Updated 2026-07-11 / 20 books / 5 series

American novelist John Irving is best known for literary epics like *The World According to Garp* and *A Prayer for Owen Meany*. His books have sold tens of millions worldwide, earning an Academy Award and a National Book Award. This page provides John Irving’s books in order, including both chronological publication and series reading order.

All John Irving Books in Chronological Order

1968 Setting Free the Bears POoSN / 1 Buy

1972 The Water-Method Man POoSN / 2 Buy

1974 The 158-Pound Marriage POoSN / 3 Buy

1978 The World According to Garp POoSN / 4 Buy

1981 The Hotel New Hampshire POoSN / 5 Buy

1985 The Cider House Rules POoCHRB / 1 Buy

1989 A Prayer for Owen Meany POoSN / 6 Buy

1993 Trying to Save Piggy Sneed POoSSC / 1 Buy

1994 A Son of the Circus POoSN / 7 Buy

1996 The Imaginary Girlfriend POoNB / 1 Buy

1998 A Widow for One Year POoSN / 8 Buy

1999 My Movie Business POoNB / 2 Buy

2001 The Fourth Hand POoSN / 9 Buy

2003 A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound POoPB / 1 Buy

2005 Until I Find You POoSN / 10 Buy

2009 Last Night in Twisted River POoSN / 11 Buy

2012 In One Person POoSN / 12 Buy

2015 Avenue of Mysteries POoSN / 13 Buy

2022 The Last Chairlift POoSN / 14 Buy

2025 Queen Esther POoCHRB / 2 Buy

John Irving Book Series Reading Orders / browse all ->

Standalone Books in Reading Order 14 books / 1968-2022

01 Setting Free the Bears 1968 Buy

02 The Water-Method Man 1972 Buy

03 The 158-Pound Marriage 1974 Buy

04 The World According to Garp 1978 Buy

05 The Hotel New Hampshire 1981 Buy

06 A Prayer for Owen Meany 1989 Buy

07 A Son of the Circus 1994 Buy

08 A Widow for One Year 1998 Buy

09 The Fourth Hand 2001 Buy

10 Until I Find You 2005 Buy

11 Last Night in Twisted River 2009 Buy

12 In One Person 2012 Buy

13 Avenue of Mysteries 2015 Buy

14 The Last Chairlift 2022 Buy

Cider House Rules Books in Reading Order 2 books / 1985-2025

01 The Cider House Rules 1985 Buy

02 Queen Esther 2025 Buy

Short Story Collections Books in Reading Order 1 book / 1993

01 Trying to Save Piggy Sneed 1993 Buy

Non-Fiction Books in Reading Order 2 books / 1996-1999

01 The Imaginary Girlfriend 1996 Buy

02 My Movie Business 1999 Buy

Picture Books in Reading Order 1 book / 2003

01 A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound 2003 Buy

Where to start with John Irving

What is the best order to read John Irving books?

Publication order is usually the safest place to start. If a book belongs to a series, follow the numbered series reading order shown on this page.

Are standalone books and series both included?

Yes. Standalone titles appear in the full chronological bibliography, and series are broken out separately with reading-order links when catalog data is available.

More authors

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Source note: Sequencebooks organizes author, book, and series records from its catalog data. Publication years and series order are shown when available.