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Nicola May Books in Order

Browse Nicola May books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, and clear advice on where best to start with her warm, heartfelt fiction.

Last updated: June 7, 2026

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22 books

Better Together

by Nicola May

2011

Jess is 39 when she falls for Dan, a man sixteen years younger, and the timing could not be worse. Ten years later they meet again, older and changed, with unfinished feelings still between them.

Star Fish

by Nicola May

2011

Amy Anderson turns to an astrology dating agency after giving up on finding love the usual way. Her comic tour through the zodiac is full of bad dates, surprises and one big question, who is actually right for her?

Working It Out

by Nicola May

2011

After losing her job, Ruby Matthews gives herself twelve jobs in twelve months to find work she truly loves. The plan takes her through chaos, comedy and unexpected romance as she tries to rebuild her life.

The School Gates

by Nicola May

2012

At Featherstone Primary, a handful of parents become bound together by gossip, secrets, heartbreak and daily school-run drama. Over one turbulent year, friendships deepen as each of them faces problems they can no longer hide.

Christmas Evie

by Nicola May

2013

Two days before Christmas, Evie Harris is suddenly single and out of work. A shift at a homeless shelter and an unlikely friendship send her into a season of reflection, change and possible new love.

Let Love Win

by Nicola May

2013

Ruby Matthews is reeling from a shocking bereavement when a chance meeting with author Michael Bell stirs feelings she is not ready for. Volunteering at the Bow Wow Club helps her face grief, secrets and the possibility of love again.

The Bow Wow Club

by Nicola May

2013

Ruby is grieving, adrift and trying to work out what life looks like after loss. When she starts helping at the Bow Wow Club, a support group for widows and widowers, she faces buried secrets and an unexpected new romance.

How to Create & Maintain Your Author Profile

by Nicola May

2014

This short nonfiction guide shares Nicola May's practical advice on building an author profile and using marketing tools well. It is aimed at writers who want straightforward tips on visibility, promotion and boosting book sales.

The SW19 Club / The Women of Wimbledon Common

by Nicola May

2015

After devastating news about her future and a painful breakup, Gracie Davies is at her lowest. New friends, risky choices and the SW19 Club slowly help her rebuild a life that still feels worth wanting.

Love Me Tinder / It Started with a Click

by Nicola May

2017

With her marriage falling apart, Cali Summers steps into the world of app dating and starts taking risks she never expected. Sex, lies and several tempting men force her to decide what kind of life she really wants.

The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

2018

Rosa Larkin inherits a crumbling corner shop in a Devon village, but there is a catch, she cannot sell it. As she tries to rebuild the shop, she also untangles a mystery about the inheritance and her own past.

Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

2019

Newly married Rosa thinks life in Cockleberry Bay is finally settled, until jealousy, addiction and suspicion throw everything off course. A mystery fire and more village secrets keep the whole community on edge.

Christmas in Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

2020

Christmas brings fresh chaos to Cockleberry Bay as Rosa focuses on Ned's Gift and a charity concert. Around her, pregnancies, romance and a possible poisoning keep the festive season busy and unpredictable.

The Gift of Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

2020

Rosa is running the Cockleberry Café and ready to pass on the corner shop, but the unusual terms of her inheritance make that choice far from simple. Newcomers, family secrets and village gossip turn the decision into a storm.

Starry Skies in Ferry Lane Market

by Nicola May

2021

Teen mum turned jewellery stall owner Star Bligh has built a good life in Hartmouth, until two very different men pull at her heart. Then a revelation threatens the future she has made for herself and her daughter.

Welcome to Ferry Lane Market

by Nicola May

2021

Kara Moon has spent years putting her dreams aside for family, then her cheating boyfriend steals her savings. An anonymous postcard and a plane ticket push her toward change, travel and the chance of a very different life.

Rainbows End in Ferry Lane Market

by Nicola May

2022

Gallery owner Glanna Pascoe is trying to stay sober, single and steady when a reclusive local artist unsettles her plans. A theft, an old flame and long-buried feelings force her to ask what happiness really looks like.

The Hub

by Nicola May

2022

Jilted crime writer August Saunders heads back to rural Wiltshire and joins a shared workspace in a converted barn. What starts as a bid to get her writing spark back turns into a mystery involving the handsome, secretive owner.

How Do I Tell You?

by Nicola May

2025

Victoria Sharpe wants more from life, then one reckless night is followed by news that changes everything. With friends and family rallying around, she has to rethink love, loss and what a hopeful future might look like.

How to Fix a Broken Heart

by Nicola May

2025

After a devastating loss and a betrayal she did not see coming, Gracie Davies hits rock bottom. With help from her sister, friends and a few unexpected connections, she starts to imagine healing and love again.

New

Escape to Seahaven Bay

by Nicola May

2026

After her husband dies, Rita Jory is left with grief, debt and a struggling Cornish farm. Turning it into a healing retreat gives her a new purpose, but old secrets and a growing attraction to a neighbouring farmer complicate everything.

New

Marry Me in Seahaven Bay

by Nicola May

2026

Rita's new life at Seahaven Bay is finally taking shape when Jago's ex-wife arrives with a young daughter and plenty of drama. Wedding plans, retreat guests and a life-changing secret put Rita's second chance under real strain.

Where should I start?

If you want the big seaside community series: The Corner Shop in Cockleberry BayMeet Me in Cockleberry BayThe Gift of Cockleberry BayChristmas in Cockleberry Bay
If you love Cornish market-town stories: Welcome to Ferry Lane MarketStarry Skies in Ferry Lane MarketRainbows End in Ferry Lane Market
If you want Nicola May's early career-and-chaos heroine: Working It OutLet Love Win
If you prefer emotional standalones with more bite: How Do I Tell You?How to Fix a Broken Heart
If you want a fresh new seaside reset: Escape to Seahaven BayMarry Me in Seahaven Bay

Author bio

Nicola May is from Ascot in Berkshire, and she has built her writing career the long way round, with plenty of grit behind the success. She writes funny, heartfelt contemporary fiction that mixes romance with real-life bruises, and that balance has clearly struck a chord. Her books have sold more than a million copies worldwide, been translated into fifteen languages, and twice reached the top of the Kindle charts.

Her route into fiction started with a training diary.

In 1996, while preparing for a half-marathon, May began jotting down notes about the run, then found herself drifting into observations about people, relationships and the odd little details of everyday life. Friends and family thought the pages were funny, so she tried writing a novel. She landed an agent after a long round of submissions, but a book deal still did not arrive, and she kept writing anyway.

That stubbornness mattered. In 2010, after losing twins and going through the end of a relationship, May turned even more firmly toward her work. She has spoken openly about using writing to process grief, infertility, heartbreak and bereavement, and those experiences helped shape the emotional core of her books. In 2011 she chose the self-publishing route, and her background in marketing and PR helped her find readers directly.

She writes about hard things, but she does not leave the light out.

A good place to see that mix is Working It Out, where Ruby Matthews tackles twelve jobs in twelve months while trying to sort out the rest of her life. Then came books like Star Fish and The School Gates, which show May's taste for messy relationships, lively ensembles and everyday comedy. Her big breakout was The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, a warm Devon-set story about Rosa Larkin, a mystery inheritance and a seaside village full of meddlers, helpers and one very memorable dachshund.

She followed that with the Cockleberry Bay books and the Ferry Lane Market series, both of which lean into the kind of place readers want to spend time in, coastal towns, small businesses, strong female friendships and communities where everyone knows everyone else's news. More recent novels such as How Do I Tell You?, How to Fix a Broken Heart and the Seahaven Bay books bring a little more ache alongside the romance. Second chances, family secrets, friendship, loss and starting over are themes she returns to again and again.

May's career has also made her an important figure in the indie publishing world. She helped push for better visibility for self-published authors in ebook charts, and her success showed that a writer could build a large readership outside the usual route. These days she is published by Storm, and a screen version of Working It Out is in development.

She still lives near Ascot racecourse, and her off-the-page life sounds a lot like the softer edges of her fiction, walks in nature, cream teas in Devon and a fondness for the horses. That mix suits her books. They are warm without being flimsy, romantic without pretending life is neat, and usually full of women who get knocked sideways and keep going.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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All 22 Nicola May Books in Order (Complete List 2026)