What order should I read Bret Easton Ellis's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with American Psycho.

What is Bret Easton Ellis's most famous book?

American Psycho (2012) is Bret Easton Ellis's most widely read book.

Which Bret Easton Ellis books have been adapted?

4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Less Than Zero (film, 1987), The Rules of Attraction (film, 2002), American Psycho (film, 2000) and The Shards (TV).

Bret Easton Ellis books in order

American novelist, screenwriter

Born: 1964
Country: United States
Books: 10

Bret Easton Ellis has published 8 novels, 1 short story collection and 1 non-fiction book, beginning with Less Than Zero (1985). The best-known is American Psycho (2012). The latest is The Shards (2023).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Bret Easton Ellis

Start here
American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis's most-read book, rated by 104 Open Library readers.
Shortest way in
Less Than Zero
One of the most-read, at about 208 pages.
Newest
The Shards
Published January 2023.

Standalone novels in order

Less Than Zero (1985)
208 pages★ 3.4 (15 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
The Rules of Attraction (Sep 1987)
286 pages★ 3.5 (6 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
American Psycho (Mar 1991)
Adapted for film
Buy
Glamorama (Dec 1998)
496 pages
Buy
Lunar Park (Aug 2005)
380 pages
Buy
Imperial Bedrooms (Jun 2010)
210 pages
Buy
American Psycho (2012)
477 pages★ 3.8 (104 ratings)
Buy
The Shards (Jan 2023)
Adapted for TV
Buy

Short story collections in order

The Informers (1994)
240 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

White (2019)
272 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

Less Than Zero (1987)Film · from Less Than Zero
The Rules of Attraction (2002)Film · from The Rules of Attraction
American Psycho (2000)Film · from American Psycho
American Psycho 2 (2002)Film · from American Psycho
The ShardsTV · from The Shards

About Bret Easton Ellis

Bret Easton Ellis is an American author and screenwriter. Ellis was one of the Literary Brat Pack and is a self-proclaimed satirist whose trademark technique as a writer is the expression of extreme acts and opinions in an affectless style. His novels often share recurring characters.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Bret Easton Ellis FAQ

How many books has Bret Easton Ellis written?: Bret Easton Ellis has published 8 novels, 1 short story collection and 1 non-fiction book that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Bret Easton Ellis's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with American Psycho.
What is Bret Easton Ellis's latest book?: The Shards (2023).
What is Bret Easton Ellis's most famous book?: American Psycho (2012) is Bret Easton Ellis's most widely read book.
Which Bret Easton Ellis books have been adapted?: 4 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Less Than Zero (film, 1987), The Rules of Attraction (film, 2002), American Psycho (film, 2000) and The Shards (TV).