The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

28. A crossover (set in a shared universe)

A shared universe is when two or more standalone stories take place in the same world setting with the same continuity. This means that one story has the potential to influence events in another story, or that characters from one standalone novel may bump into characters from another standalone novel. (Note: This is different than books in the same series, although books from separate series may share a universe.)

A shared universe may be created by one author, or may have multiple authors contributing to it. The fun part of a shared universe is that it allows readers to deeply invest in that universe, uncovering subtle crossovers, connected plots, and Easter Eggs.

For this prompt, you may pick a book with a character crossover or character cameo (For example: the main character in book one enters a coffee shop and bumps into the main character from the author’s previous novel). You might choose a location crossover (For example: the main character in one book visits or references a bar owned by a character in another book), or the book may reference events or information from another book. Books in a shared universe may or may not share characters.

Some author’s are very intentional and open about shared universes they have created (such as Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Universe) while others may leave more subtle Easter Eggs, cameos, or crossover mentions.

As a creative interpretation, any non-fiction read would technically be set in a shared universe. Or you could read two memoirs by people in the same movie/experience, like Harry Potter's Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, or Evanna Lynch


Click here for our Goodreads List of suggestions

I would be so grateful if you would like to share some examples and explain in what way they share universe. Thank you

Elizabeth Strout's Amgash series and Olive series both take place in the "Maine-verse" and have some overlapping characters

A lot of historical romance “series” have this. Same world and overlapping characters but standalone books.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack

Cloud Atlas and Ghostwritten by David Mitchell.

I believe Alex Michaelides' books: The Silent Patient, The Maidens, and The Fury would fit these prompts as they are all stand-alone books AND without giving away spoilers: there is character cross-over/tie-in between the books. I've read The Silent Patient twice (2019 when it was published & again in 2021 for a local book club read). I've only read the other two books once and may re-read them for this. :-)

Teri wrote: "I believe Alex Michaelides' books: The Silent Patient, The Maidens, and The Fury would fit these prompts as they are all stand-alone books AND without giving away spoilers: there is character cross..."

Really? I've read both The Silent Patient which I liked a lot and The Maidens which I found utterly lousy and I don't remember any common characters. Which characters were in both those books?

Lindsey wrote: "28. A crossover (set in a shared universe)

A shared universe is when two or more standalone stories take place in the same world setting with the same continuity. This means that one story has the..."

I would be so grateful if you would like to share some examples and explain in what way they share universe. Thank you

I will be reading some books in Elizabeth Strout’s world. In her new book I believe Lucy Barton meets Olive Kitteridge.

Nike wrote: "Teri wrote: "I believe Alex Michaelides' books: The Silent Patient, The Maidens, and The Fury would fit these prompts as they are all stand-alone books AND without giving away spoilers: there is ch..."

I believe there is a shared therapist between The Silent Patient and The Fury. I read it early this year and don't remember exactly but I remember thinking that The Fury was hinting at The Silent Patient. I haven't read the other one.

Theo the main Character in The Silent Patient has a smaller supporting role in The Maidens and is mentioned in The Fury. The main character of The Maidens has a supporting role in The Fury

Hope that helps

A lot of Tamora Pierce's books would work for these two prompts. She has a number of series all set in the same world (Tortall). Some of them take place in in different time periods, but the three series Song of the Lioness, Immortals, and Daughter of the Lioness definitely have recurring characters.

I think Benjamin Percy's The Comet Cycle series would also work. Although they are technically a series, each book is a standalone novel in a shared universe. Events from one book might be passingly referenced in another one, but there is no continuity from one to the other. One character shows up in all three books.

What book does an abundance of Katherine’s share a universe with? Thank you 🙂

The John Boyne Elements quartet books work for this prompt.
The first three books are all excellent WATER, EARTH, FIRE and the final book AIR will publish May 2025
Highly recommend

I’m likely to go controversial and read two Kingsbridge books. While often marketed as a series they are all books which can be read as stand alones with the link of being set in the same fictional town and with characters in one being sometimes related to characters in another ( all books set in different time periods)

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

I'm using retellings of Frankenstein - The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kirsten White and Frankisstein by Jeanette Winterson.

So many Stephen King books overlap in varying ways. The Regulators & Desperation have the most in common (one of those he wrote under the Richard Bachman pen name.

The Dark Tower series has overlap with the most, including Salem’s Lot, Insomnia, The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon, Black House…and many more.

Nearly everything Michael Connelly has written since The Poet in 1995 has been shared universe. Not all, but close to it.

So my 'A' book for this will be The Poet, because we meet a bunch of characters who will be important later in the Bosch series, particularly in The Narrows...which will be my 'B' book in the next prompt.

Denise wrote: "A lot of historical romance “series” have this. Same world and overlapping characters but standalone books."

I have read all 16 books of The Steepwood Scandal Series - www.goodreads.com/series/53091-the-st..., and have kept one as a favourite.

I'm thinking Leah Bardugo, Terry Pratchett or Jodi Taylor - fantasy seems to work well for this prompt

I am confused. I was under the impression that it excludes a series, but many of the suggestions are series including the Amgash series by Elizabeth Strout. Of course, “your challenge, your rules”.

I am thinking of a non-fiction book and historical fiction like Lincoln in the Bardo paired with And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and a Lincoln biography. Lots of books (fiction and non-fiction) books that have Lincoln as a character. 🤷‍♀️

A lot of Abby Jimenez’s books have characters and locations that appear in other books in a different series!

Carol wrote: "I am confused. I was under the impression that it excludes a series, but many of the suggestions are series including the Amgash series by Elizabeth Strout. Of course, “your challenge, your rules”...."

A common theme in romance novels in recent years is to have a "series" where there are some common characters. A perfect example is Jasmine Guillory's Wedding Date series. The first book is about a specific couple, then the second book focuses on someone related to or friends with that couple. The first couple makes an appearance in the book, but isn't the focus. This would be a shared universe.

This is different from a series where the main characters stay the same in each, e.g. Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Armand Camache, or the Flavia de Luce books.

And of course many of Stephen King's books are in the same universe, set in Derry, Maine, or related to the Dark Tower.

My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry

Carol wrote: "I am confused. I was under the impression that it excludes a series, but many of the suggestions are series including the Amgash series by Elizabeth Strout. Of course, “your challenge, your rules”...."

The Poet by Michael Connelly is a standalone book that didn't have a sequel until long after The Narrows (which is a series book) came out.

But if one wants to be literal about the shared universe with Connelly, then Void Moon and Blood Work will fill the bill. Both standalones, both with ties to the Harry Bosch 'universe': Terry McCaleb, the hero of Blood Work tangles with Bosch in a later book (A Darkness More Than Night), and the heroine of Void Moon crosses paths with Bosch in his ultimate crossover/shared universe book, The Narrows. The Narrows also has McCaleb as a pivotal character.

So Connelly still works.

Jenny Colgan's series The Bookshop on the Corner, The Bookshore on the Shore, and 500 Miles from You is a crossover series. The first book's couple become side characters in the second book, and the pattern continues in the third.

I wanted to catch up on Taylor Jenkin Reid books, since the main ones are all set in the same universe and there is character crossover, so I'll be doing Malibu Rising and Carrie Soto Is Back, which I both haven't read yet

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series and his Nursery Crimes series are set in the same universe. There are just a few indirect references to the other series' characters. Technically the main characters are in different areas of law enforcement within the same country.

The Neighbor Favor and The Partner Plot by Kristina Forest! The main characters from the 2 novels are sisters, and each book is about a different sister's love life. The one from The Neighbor Favor appears in The Partner Plot

Carol wrote: "I am confused. I was under the impression that it excludes a series, but many of the suggestions are series including the Amgash series by Elizabeth Strout. Of course, “your challenge, your rules”...."

I was slightly confused also at first....then I read your comment. Thank you!!

I believe I will go the same route as your suggestion of Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders and then a non-fiction like: Lincoln by David Herbert Donald or Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly

Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse works. There are four different series that have characters in common, as well as a few novellas.

If anyone likes comics, they are perfect for shared universes! I've been wanted to read this Marvel crossover comic where it's The Predator vs Wolverine. There are also plenty of Wolverine, Predator, and Alien comics, so I can choose between any of them!

Hope that helps!

I always try to read books that I have on my own bookshelves first when I pick books for the challenges...

For this prompt I will be reading two books on President Lincoln:


Lincoln by David Herbert Donald

HAPPY READING!!

Kerie Lynn wrote: "My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry"

Can you tell me how this book fits the prompt? I have it on my TBR so I want to include it, but then which other book does it share a universe or characters with?

Most of Charlie Donleas books are stand alone in a shared universe.

Sarah wrote: "I wanted to catch up on Taylor Jenkin Reid books, since the main ones are all set in the same universe and there is character crossover, so I'll be doing Malibu Rising and [book:Car..."

Which other books are set in the same universe?

I have only read a few Elin Hilderbrand books, but they are all set in Nantucket, and while that might not be enough to share a universe, the Quinn family in the Winter Street series are mentioned several times in 28 Summers (an unrelated book).

I've read those, but wanted to recommend 28 Summers for this prompt, and Winter Street for the other prompt!

The Cassandra Clare series.

I was thinking Brandon Sanderson- Mistborn and The Way of kings

Kristen Ashley's Fantasyland series is perfect for this prompt.

Quite a few of the books by Taylor Jenkins Reid are part of a shared universe! Malibu Rising has supporting characters or locations found in "Carrie Soto is Back," "Daisy Jones and the Six," and "The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"

Jewnifer wrote: "Kerie Lynn wrote: "My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry"

Can you tell me how this book fits the prompt? I have it on my TBR so I want to include it, but then which other book does it sh..."

I think Britt-Marie from Britt-Marie Was Here ( by Fredrik Backman) lives in the same apartment building as My Grandmother.
Both of those books are excellent.

I read "That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf" by Kimberly Lemming

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Stephanie Garber wrote the Caraval trilogy and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

When I read the second trilogy I don't understand the existence of 2 characters.

So, if you have problem with 28 and 29, I recommends Stephanie Garber.

I read The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. It shares a universe with her other book The Bodyguard.

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson