While you may be very familiar with her multiple award-winning television shows - such as Stella and Gavin & Stacey - Ruth Jones' books have been similarly successful.
Ruth Jones has written four fiction novels so far, one of which is being released in May of this year. Her debut novel - Never Greener - was chosen as the WHSmith Fiction Book of the Year 2018, while her second novel sold almost a quarter of a million copies. Her first three works of fiction were all featured on the Sunday Times bestseller list. She has also written a non-fiction book about friendship and Gavin & Stacey with best pal James Corden, after they bid farewell to their beloved sitcom in December 2024.
The best Ruth Jones books at a glance:
Each of the screenwriter's stories is packed with the same warmth and heart that you'll find in her shows, so if you fancy reading some books by Ruth Jones (or listening to the audiobook versions), we've listed them below, along with a synopsis. If you'd like more information about the author's work, scroll to the bottom of the buying guide to the FAQs!
The best Ruth Jones books in order:
Ruth Jones's first book
AmazonRuth Jones' debut book, Never Greener, is a tale about an intense love affair between a young woman and a married man that gets rekindled 17 years later. It became the number one Sunday Times bestseller and received acclaim from authors such as Jojo Moyes and Jane Fallon.
Best book about friendship
AmazonLana, Judith, and Catrin have been best friends since primary school and enjoy a trip of a lifetime that brings the trio even closer together. However, something happens that puts their seemingly unbreakable bond to the test.
Best multigenerational book
AmazonMeet Grace. She's almost ninety and wants to heal her relationship with her daughter Alys, whom she hasn't seen for 30 years, but it comes at the risk of hurting her granddaughter Elin. Meanwhile, her great-granddaughter Beca is harbouring secrets of her own.
Speaking about Love Untold, James Corden said: "Ruth Jones writes with such warmth you can't help but fall in love with the characters she creates. It's always grounded, always real, always comforting, always ultimately full of love" and we couldn't agree more!
4.
By Your Side
Best latest Ruth Jones book
AmazonRuth Jones' new book By Your Side has a release date of the 22nd May 2025. You'll follow Lisa Standish who works for the council's Unclaimed Heirs Unit, as she tracks down living relatives of people who've died alone.
Her final case before early retirement involves travelling with her arch nemesis to a remote Scottish island, where she discovers clues about a Welshman's life. And, in the process, discovers a few things about herself...
Best Ruth Jones and James Corden book
AmazonAvailable to pre-order now, When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between is the must-have book for fans of the show. It not only explores the sitcom's success, into the programme, but also the friendship between it's two co-creators, Ruth and James.
FAQs
Do you have to read Ruth Jones' books in order?
Not at all! You don't need to read each one to understand what's happening in the next book, as they are all standalone novels (although it's always nice to see an author's progression by going through them chronologically). You can read Ruth Jones' books in any order you'd like, so check out the synopsis above to find the ones that are most appealing to you!
How many books has Ruth Jones written?
Ruth Jones has written a total of six books, including four fiction books and two Gavin & Stacey books with the show's co-creator, James Corden (who she met when and became close to while filming the ITV drama Fat Friends).
When is Ruth Jones' new book out?
With two new books in the pipeline, it's a busy year for Ruth Jones. The author's fourth novel, By Your Side, is out in hardback on the 22nd May 2025.
Ruth has also co-written a non-fiction book with her close friend James Corden, titled, When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between, about how they met and came to write one of the most-watched sitcoms of all time. This will be published on the 16th October 2025.
Both books are available to pre-order now.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.