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A Good Girl’s Guide Series: Books, TV Show & Season 2 Guide

Ethan Caleb Patterson Fraser • 2026-05-14 • Reviewed by Sofia Lindberg

It’s rare for a young adult mystery series to capture the kind of cross-platform momentum that Holly Jackson’s Pip Fitz-Amobi stories have generated. In just a few years, the books have sold widely and spawned a Netflix adaptation that landed with an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score (Wikipedia (reference site)).

Books in series: 4 (including prequel) · TV seasons: 1 (renewed for season 2) · Rotten Tomatoes score (Season 1): 88% · Age rating: TV-14 · Author: Holly Jackson · Streaming platform: Netflix (outside UK), BBC iPlayer (UK)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Season 2 in development, expected to cover the second book (Radio Times)
  • No further books planned – series is complete

Here is a quick reference for the series specifications.

Attribute Value
Author Holly Jackson
Books 4 (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Good Girl, Bad Blood, As Good as Dead, Kill Joy)
TV series premiere July 1, 2024 (UK), August 1, 2024 (Netflix)
Seasons 1 (Season 2 renewed)
Streaming (US/Global) Netflix
Streaming (UK) BBC iPlayer
Age rating TV-14

Is there a season 2 for A Good Girl’s Guide series?

The network confirmed season 2 in late 2024, and the show is officially in development (Radio Times). Early reports pointed to a May 2025 release window, but as of May 2026 no exact premiere date has been announced (Deadline).

When will season 2 be released?

  • Season 2 has been confirmed by the network (Radio Times)
  • Release window originally targeted May 2025 (per Rotten Tomatoes), but no official date as of 2026

What will season 2 be about?

Bottom line: Season 2 is coming, but the wait continues without a firm date. Fans of the books can expect the adaptation to follow the second novel closely.

The implication: viewers are caught between a completed book series and a slow-moving TV production schedule.

Is A Good Girl’s Guide series worth watching?

Season 1 earned an 88% approval on Rotten Tomatoes (Wikipedia (reference site)), and viewers praise the tight mystery and Emma Myers’s performance as Pip. But the show’s TV-14 rating means it’s not for every teen – the mystery involves mature themes, violence, and moderate language (Common Sense Media (parental review platform)).

What is the critical reception?

  • Rotten Tomatoes season 1 score: 88%
  • The adaptation is widely considered faithful to the first book’s plot (BBC Media Centre)

Is the series appropriate for teenagers?

How does the TV series compare to the books?

Bottom line: For mystery fans, the TV series delivers. Parents should check the age rating before younger teens start watching.

What this means: the show earns critical praise but carries content restrictions that narrow its teen audience.

How many books are in A Good Girl’s Guide series?

The series includes three main novels and one prequel novella, all written by Holly Jackson (Wikipedia (reference site)).

What are the books in order?

  • A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019)
  • Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)
  • As Good as Dead (2021)
  • Kill Joy (prequel novella, 2021)

Is there a prequel?

  • Kill Joy is a prequel novella set before the events of the first book (Cosmopolitan UK)
Bottom line: The book series is complete with four titles, so readers can start without worrying about unfinished storylines.

In what order should I read A Good Girl’s Guide series?

  • Chronological story order: Kill Joy (prequel) → A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder → Good Girl, Bad Blood → As Good as Dead (Cosmopolitan UK)
  • Publication order: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2019) → Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020) → As Good as Dead (2021) → Kill Joy (2021) (Fantastic Fiction (book database))
  • You can start with Kill Joy or the first novel – it’s personal preference.
The trade-off

Reading Kill Joy first gives you backstory without the mystery tension of the main series. Most fans recommend starting with the first novel for maximum suspense.

Where can I watch A Good Girl’s Guide TV series?

The show streams on Netflix in most countries, including the US, Canada, and Ireland (IMDb (film database)). In the UK, it’s available on BBC iPlayer. Irish viewers also have access via RTÉ Player (Wikipedia (reference site)). Season 2 will follow the same distribution pattern.

Is it on Netflix?

  • Yes, Netflix holds global streaming rights outside the UK (BBC Media Centre)

Can I watch in Ireland?

  • Yes, Netflix (global) and RTÉ Player (local) both carry the series
Bottom line: Netflix is the simplest option for most viewers. UK residents should head to BBC iPlayer.

The pattern: distribution splits cleanly between Netflix for global audiences and BBC iPlayer within the UK.

Five entries, one pattern: the book series and TV adaptation share the same core mystery but differ in execution and target audience.

Here’s how the books and TV series compare across key attributes.

Attribute Books TV Series
Number of titles 4 (3 novels + 1 prequel) 1 season (2nd in production)
Format Young adult mystery thriller Crime drama, TV-14
Protagonist Pip Fitz-Amobi (narrated in first person) Pip Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers)
Publisher / Platform Electric Monkey (UK), Delacorte (US) BBC / Netflix
Year released 2019–2021 2024
Story coverage Complete arc (3 mysteries) First book only

Upsides

  • Faithful adaptation captures the spirit of the books
  • Emma Myers is widely praised as Pip
  • Season 1 is a self-contained mystery – no cliffhanger for viewers who don’t continue
  • Reading the books adds depth to the TV experience

Downsides

  • Some plot details and character relationships are cut or changed for the screen
  • TV-14 rating may be too intense for younger teens
  • Season 2 delay frustrates fans who binge-read the trilogy
  • No option to watch without a streaming subscription outside UK

How to get started with the series

  1. Decide whether you want to read the books or watch the show first. If you prefer the full story, start with the books.
  2. Choose your reading order – either publication order or chronological starting with Kill Joy.
  3. Watch season 1 on Netflix or BBC iPlayer. It adapts the first book faithfully.
  4. If you enjoy it, read books 2 and 3 to get ahead of season 2.
  5. Listen for official season 2 news via BBC or Radio Times updates.

Confirmed facts

  • Season 2 has been officially ordered (Radio Times)
  • Book series is complete with 4 titles (Goodreads)

What’s unclear

  • Exact release date for season 2 (Deadline)
  • Whether season 2 adapts the second book exactly or takes a different creative direction
  • Exact premiere dates for TV series across different regions

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a British mystery thriller television series based on the 2019 novel by Holly Jackson.

Wikipedia (reference site)

With cold case murders and new mysteries looming over her sleepy English town, an average teen becomes an amateur sleuth determined to uncover the truth.

Netflix (streaming platform)

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 Will Solve a New Mystery on May …

Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)

For Holly Jackson and her fans, the challenge is clear: the book series is complete and ready to be read in any order, but the TV adaptation’s future depends on a second season that has yet to land a firm premiere date. Viewers who have only watched season 1 are stuck waiting, while readers can devour the entire trilogy and the prequel. For anyone in Ireland or the US considering the series, the smartest move is to start with the books – they’re self-contained, finished, and available now. Then watch the show to see the story brought to life, with the knowledge that a new season will eventually arrive.

Related reading: Murders In The Building – Seasons, Cast & Hulu Guide · Slow Horses Season 6 – Release Date, Cast, Story & Renewal Status

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

Frequently asked questions

Is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder appropriate for a 13-year-old?

The TV series carries a TV-14 rating in the US and a 12 rating in the UK (BBFC). Common Sense Media suggests it’s best for ages 13 and up due to mature themes and moderate violence.

Who is the author of the A Good Girl’s Guide series?

British author Holly Jackson wrote the series (Wikipedia (reference site)). She published the first book in 2019 through Electric Monkey in the UK and Delacorte Press in the US.

Will there be more books in the A Good Girl’s Guide series?

No. The series is complete with three main novels and one prequel novella (Goodreads). Holly Jackson has no plans for additional books.

Does the TV series follow the book plot closely?

Yes. Season 1 adapts the first novel faithfully, with some changes in pacing and minor character details (BBC Media Centre).

What is the difference between the book series and the TV series?

The books have a first-person narrative from Pip’s perspective and include more internal monologue and detail. The TV series condenses events, adds visual mystery, and changes some supporting character arcs (Cosmopolitan UK).

Is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder based on a true story?

No. The series is entirely fictional, created by Holly Jackson (Wikipedia (reference site)).

Where can I buy the books in the series?

The books are available at major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, and independent bookstores. Omnibus editions also exist (Fantastic Fiction).



Ethan Caleb Patterson Fraser

About the author

Ethan Caleb Patterson Fraser

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