Shari Lapena Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Things Go Flying | (2007) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Happiness Economics | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Couple Next Door | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| A Stranger in the House | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| An Unwanted Guest | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Someone We Know | (2019) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The End of Her | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Not a Happy Family | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Everyone Here Is Lying | (2023) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| What Have You Done? | (2024) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
The Canadian author Shari Lapena has been writing for some time now, having brought out a number of thrillers under her name. With a clear gift for suspense and being able to keep her readers on the edges of their seats, she’s been able to craft her own unique niche within the industry. Understanding her genre and her audience, she is one of the most prolific authors working within her particular field to this day.
Early and Personal Life
Born in 1960 she was born and raised in Canada where she spent the large majority of her formative years building both her and her ideas. With a strong passion for both reading and writing, she would come to hone and refine her skills as an author throughout the years. Taking in inspiration from her surrounding environment she would come to put a lot into her and her work, as she was always seeking new material.
Getting an education she would follow this particular pursuit later in life as well, building upon it in the years to come. This would allow her to further establish her voice as an author and as a writer, as she carved herself a niche within the industry. With a clear eye for character and story, she was able to combine the two with her insightful take upon the genre.
Constantly coming back to writing she would continue to work at it throughout her life, it being her prime passion. Gathering experiences and insight, she was able to create more compelling narratives due to her observant nature. This would later allow her to become a writer full-time, as she soon took to it pertinently after her initial début being published for the first time.
Still writing to this very day she is a mother of two teenagers, something which has also allowed her to write for younger readers in the past too. This has carried her through an ever impressive literary career, something which she continues to this very day as a full-time author. With a lot more set to come on the horizon it doesn’t appear that she’s stopping any time soon either, as her career grows from strength-to-strength.
Writing Career
Releasing her first book in 2007 Shari Lapena made her début onto the literary scene with her novel ‘Things Go Flying’. It was a stand-alone title with shades of David Sedaris and Douglas Copeland in it, as it brought their wit and warmth to the forefront of the narrative. With a creative approach to the genre, it manages to take a flight of fantasy that was equally grounded in its sense of character and personality.
Following on from this with another two stand-alone novels, she carried on in much the same vein as before. Writing ‘Happiness Economics’ in 2011 followed by ‘The Couple Next Door’ in 2016, she would feature many similar themes as to what came before. Featuring characters that were well drawn in realistic settings, she managed to gain a sense of realism in her prose unlike any other.
Over the years she has also gained a huge amount of critical acclaim for her work as well, with a number of awards for her books too. Getting on the shortlist for the title ‘Happiness Economics’ in 2011 with the ‘Stephen Leacock Medal for Humor’, she also gained an honorable mention for first fiction in 2008 from the ‘Globe and Mail’. With critical and commercial success, she is revered by both her many peers and contemporaries alike, receiving many favorable reviews over the years too.
Attending a number of events as well, she is also very well known as a spokesperson for her craft as well. Conducting readings of her work she reaches a whole variety of different audiences and readers with her material. This also allows her to express herself and her writing, giving it a unique voice, seeing people respond to it in the process.
With a lot more to come yet, she continues to write to this very day, as an author and as a spokesperson for her craft. Knowing and understanding her format, she has grown to become a confident and articulate writer in charge of her writing and her work. This looks set to continue on into the foreseeable future, as her audience grows day-by-day, with more and more discovering her work, something which will continue for many years to come.
Happiness Economics
Brought out in 2011 on the 3rd of August through the ‘Brindle and Glass Publishing’ label, this was to mark the second title from Shari Lapena as an author. Getting short-listed for an award with the ‘Stephen Leacock Medal for Humor’ it is not without its wit either. Understanding its characters contained within, it manages to draw the reader into its narrative with a strong sense of style and fun.
Starting out with the leading protagonist of Will Thorne, it sees him as a poet stalled within his career, whilst his wife, Judy, is enjoying a successful career as an economist. That’s when he sets about establishing ‘The Poets’ Preservation Society’ on the advice of a starving artist friend of his, as it aims to help those poets in need. Soon, though, he comes into contact with the athletic Lily White who, acting as his muse, leads him into becoming a guerrilla activist involving parkour and cultural clashes. What is the true value of art? Where does inspiration lie? How does one go about achieving happiness economics?
A Stranger in the House
Released on the 15th of August in 2017, this title was published through the ‘Doubleday Canada’ publishing label. Setting up her fourth title it works as a suspense filled thriller that aims to keep the readers on the edges of their seats. Much like her previous title, ‘The Couple Next Door’, which was also a thriller, this seeks to create a compelling narrative that engages and hooks its audience.
One day Karen is at home quietly making tea for herself in the kitchen awaiting her husband’s return, the next she’s waking up in hospital. Apparently she left the house in a completely blind panic, followed by a car crash, but nobody knows why, including Karen herself. Returning home from work her husband finds the house empty with the door wide-open, as he then sets about finding out what happened, along with some hidden truths about his wife. Will he be able to find out the truth? What happened to her? Why was there a stranger in the house?
Book Series In Order » Authors »
Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know!
I’m loving each of Shari’s books. She sure has a way of writting twists and turns that keep the reader in suspense. I am presenting “The Couple Nextdoor” to my monthly Bookworms reading group in March 2024. I plan on presenting a Dinner Party atmosphere. Should be a great discussion.
Just read “The End Of Her”,absolutely loved it!!!Will buy all of her books to keep me company!
I just discovered Shari Lapena.I bought four books,i can not put them down.What a brilliant
writer.You are my summer reading,thank you.
Hi Heather – I love Shari! If you like her, be sure to read https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/b-a-paris/ as well
I discovered both at the same time so they always go together in my head 🙂
I just finished reading The End of Her! The book was great, please tell me there is a sequel?? My book club and I want to find out who killed Erica!
No sequel, unfortunately.
I love reading Shari’s books. I introduced her to my grandmother. Now, my grandmother and I read them together. She is in Pennsylvania and I’m in Alabama.
Shari Lapena has also become my favourite author, I am just about to read her latest and look forward to another next year
You have become my favorite author. I’ve read 4 of your books in the past three weeks! Keep up the good work.
Wow…..I’ve just discovered Shari and I’m hooked!! What a story teller, she makes me guess ‘who dune it’ without success until the very end. Bravo ! I’m on my 4th book now- Someone We Know- and can’t wait to be absorbed into the drama of this thriller! I’m making a list and checking it twice, to make sure I read all of your creations….hahaha You are Brilliant Ms. LaPena!
Shari is one of my favourite standalone thriller authors 🙂
I discovered her around the same time as B.A. Paris and love both of them. When you’ve worked your way through Shari check out B.A.: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/b-a-paris/
I like to read Tara Hunter’s books and they are hard to put down. The background of where they take place is good, too.