Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies Books in Order

The Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies books take Jen Turano's usual Gilded Age comedy and add a castle, a school, and a stronger streak of adventure. The setup is instantly fun. Two sisters are trying to build something useful and respectable in a place that seems determined to produce strange happenings, difficult students, and the occasional brush with danger.

So far the series includes A Lesson in Propriety and In Pursuit of Civility. The first book follows Drusilla Merriweather after her father's death, the loss of her fortune, and the collapse of her engagement. Her solution is not to retreat quietly but to open a finishing school in the allegedly haunted castle left to her by an eccentric aunt. That alone tells you what kind of series this is going to be. The second book shifts to Annaliese Merriweather, who takes over as temporary headmistress and immediately finds herself chasing students, working with an inventor, and getting pulled into a treasure hunt.

Order and chaos are in a constant tug-of-war here.

That is the heart of the series. The academy is supposed to teach polish, discipline, and social usefulness, but the world around it keeps refusing to behave. Developers want the property. Odd incidents ripple through the grounds. Students disappear at exactly the wrong moment. Animals, inventions, rumors, and old secrets all have a way of turning a formal lesson into a minor catastrophe. Turano clearly enjoys every bit of that tension.

The romances fit neatly into the school setting without taking it over. Drusilla is paired with architect Rhenick Wittenbecker, who wants to help protect what she is building but cannot simply take charge of it for her. Annaliese's story brings in Seth McCormick, an inventor whose offbeat energy matches the series well. In both books, affection grows through shared problem-solving rather than long, dreamy pauses. These are people who have things to do.

The castle setting matters more than it might in a simpler historical romance. It gives the books a slightly gothic look, but never enough to make them heavy. Instead, it creates a playful mix of haunted-house atmosphere, school story rhythm, and romantic comedy timing. There are ghostly rumors and strange sights, yes, but there is also a steady sense that this place could become a real home and refuge if the sisters can keep it standing.

If you like Turano when she leans into high-concept premises, this is a very enjoyable series. It is newer than her other runs, but the core appeal is familiar: determined women, lively dialogue, light mystery, and plots that move fast without losing warmth. Read these in order. The shared setting, sister dynamics, and growing life of the academy are part of what make the series feel special.