9 Must-Read Jilly Cooper Books, Ranked
- Joao Nsita
- 7 hours ago
- 17 min read
It’s a Sunday evening in late September, and a new, more decadent mood is beginning to settle over London. The sun is dipping below the skyline earlier, the air is cooler, and the cozy, introspective season of autumn is upon us. It is a time for turning inward, for seeking out stories that are not just comforting, but are also witty, glamorous, and gloriously, unapologetically fun. In the vast and often very serious world of literature, there is no author who more perfectly captures this spirit of indulgent, intelligent escapism than the undisputed, national treasure and queen of the "bonkbuster," Jilly Cooper.
For decades, Jilly Cooper’s novels have been more than just books; they are a cultural institution, a rite of passage, and a joyous, champagne-soaked romp through the hilariously scandalous world of the British upper class. And in 2025, her legacy is more vibrant and more relevant than ever. On social media platforms like TikTok and Pinterest, the "old money aesthetic" and the "English countryside" trends are a dominant and powerful force. We see a new generation falling in love with the aspirational, tweed-and-pearls glamour of a world that Jilly Cooper has so masterfully and so lovingly satirized for years. The upcoming, star-studded Disney+ adaptation of her legendary novel, Rivals, has ignited a massive, global resurgence of interest in her work, proving that the appeal of her stories is truly timeless.
To rank the ten “best” Jilly Cooper books is to take a journey through the glorious, gossip-filled, and deeply addictive world of the Rutshire Chronicles. It is to celebrate the literary universe that has given us some of the most iconic, beloved, and deliciously badly behaved characters in modern fiction. This is not just a list of books; it is a deep dive into a cultural phenomenon, an exploration of the stories that have made us laugh, made us cry, and have kept us turning the pages late into the night.
This is your definitive, in-depth guide to the essential works of a true literary legend. We will take a deep dive into each of these ten masterpieces of wit and romance, presented in descending order, exploring the unforgettable characters, the scandalous plots, and the enduring magic that has made them modern classics. So, pour yourself a large G&T, and prepare to be utterly, completely, and joyfully seduced.
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The Vibe: A glorious and triumphant return to the world of jump-racing, packed with all the classic Jilly Cooper ingredients: high-stakes drama, heartbreaking tragedy, and a huge, sprawling cast of unforgettable characters, both human and animal.
The Premise: Jump! plunges the reader back into the notoriously dangerous and incredibly glamorous world of jump-racing. The story centres on the legendary, but now aging, racehorse trainer, Etta Bancroft, and the discovery of a beautiful, wild, and incredibly talented young horse named Mrs. Wilkinson. The horse is a potential champion, but she is also deeply traumatized. The novel follows Etta's journey as she tries to heal the horse and to guide her to victory, all while navigating the complex, and often very messy, lives and loves of the huge cast of characters who surround her. And, of course, the impossibly handsome and legendarily caddish Rupert Campbell-Black is never far from the action.
Why It's a Classic: After a detour into the world of music with Score!, Jump! was Jilly Cooper's triumphant return to the world that she writes about with such unparalleled passion and expertise: the world of horses. The book is a masterpiece of research, a deep and incredibly detailed dive into the world of jump-racing that is both fascinating and thrilling. The book is also a powerful and moving exploration of the incredible, and often very therapeutic, bond between humans and animals. It is a story that is full of a deep, genuine, and infectious love for its subject.
Iconic Character: Mrs. Wilkinson, the horse herself, is the true star of this novel. Her journey, from a traumatized and misunderstood creature to a triumphant champion, is one of the most moving and powerful in the entire Rutshire Chronicles. Jilly Cooper's ability to write about animals with such empathy and such profound, human-like depth is a work of pure genius. For a real-life look into the world of British jump-racing, the official Cheltenham Racecourse website is a fantastic resource.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Jump! by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
The Vibe: A glamorous, dramatic, and wonderfully over-the-top dive into the high-stakes, high-passion, and deeply competitive world of classical music. It’s the Rutshire Chronicles, but with cellos instead of stallions.
The Premise: Score! takes a break from the equestrian world and instead focuses on the fictional Corinium Symphony Orchestra. The story is centred on the arrival of a brilliant, tempestuous, and incredibly handsome young conductor, the Rannaldini-lookalike Tristan, who is determined to whip the orchestra into shape. His arrival sends shockwaves through the lives of the orchestra's musicians, particularly the beautiful and talented violinist, Flora, and the orchestra's powerful and manipulative patron, Sir Roberto. The novel is a sprawling, operatic saga of love, of rivalry, and of the all-consuming passion for music.
Why It's a Classic: Score! is a brilliant and audacious book that proves that the classic Jilly Cooper formula can be successfully transplanted into any high-stakes, and highly-strung, world. The novel is a masterpiece of research, a deep and fascinating dive into the world of a professional orchestra that is full of incredible, authentic detail. It is a book that is bursting with a genuine love and appreciation for classical music. But, of course, it is also packed with all the classic Jilly Cooper ingredients: a huge cast of memorable characters, a series of scandalous affairs, and a deeply, profoundly romantic central love story. The book’s incredible soundtrack is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of Top 10 Best Disney Soundtracks of All Time.
Iconic Character: Sir Roberto, the orchestra's powerful and deeply villainous patron, is a classic Jilly Cooper creation. He is a man of immense wealth, of terrible taste, and of a deep and abiding cruelty, a perfect and utterly hiss-able villain. For a real-life deep dive into the world of classical music, the Classic FM website is a fantastic and accessible resource. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Rom-Coms of the Last 25 Years, Ranked.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Score! by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
7. Appassionata (1996)
The Vibe: A direct and brilliant sequel to Score!, this is a story that continues to explore the dramatic and passionate world of classical music, but this time with a full-blown, epic, and incredibly satisfying central romance.
The Premise: The story picks up with the Corinium Symphony Orchestra as they are about to embark on a major European tour. At the heart of the novel is the brilliant but deeply troubled concert pianist, Abby. She is a musical genius, but she is also haunted by a crippling stage fright and the long shadow of her famous, and very cruel, musical family. Her journey is intertwined with that of the orchestra's new, and very handsome, horn player, the Viking-like Fen. As the orchestra travels through the beautiful and romantic cities of Europe, a deep and powerful love begins to bloom between the two, but a dark secret from Fen's past threatens to destroy everything.
Why It's a Classic: Appassionata is a masterpiece of the "tortured artist" romance. It is a deep, powerful, and incredibly moving exploration of a woman's journey to overcome her own, internal demons and to find her own voice, both literally and metaphorically. The central romance between Abby and Fen is one of the most beautiful, tender, and deeply satisfying in the entire Jilly Cooper canon. The European tour setting provides a wonderfully glamorous and romantic backdrop for the story.
Iconic Character: Abby, the brilliant but deeply anxious pianist, is a fantastic and incredibly relatable heroine. Her journey of learning to manage her severe anxiety and to reclaim her love for music is a powerful and inspiring one. For more on the power of music to heal, you can check out our article on The Top 5 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Appassionata by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
6. The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1993)
The Vibe: A sharp, witty, and incredibly funny standalone novel that is a perfect, biting satire of the battle of the sexes.
The Premise: While it is set in the world of the Rutshire Chronicles and features some beloved, recurring characters, this novel can be read as a complete standalone. The story follows the impossibly handsome, charming, and deeply broke Lysander Hawkley. To make some much-needed cash, he comes up with a brilliant and slightly diabolical business idea: he will set himself up as a professional "decoy," a man who can be hired by neglected wives to make their husbands jealous and to reignite the spark in their marriages. His business is a huge success, but his own, very messy, romantic life is thrown into chaos by the arrival of the beautiful, and deeply unimpressed, Kitty.
Why It's a Classic: This is Jilly Cooper at her absolute, wittiest, and most satirical best. The book is a hilarious and often very insightful exploration of the complexities of marriage, of infidelity, and of the strange and often very silly games that men and women play. Lysander is a fantastic and incredibly charming "himbo" of a hero, a man whose good looks are matched only by his complete and utter cluelessness. The central, "enemies-to-lovers" romance between Lysander and Kitty is a pure, unadulterated, rom-com delight.
Iconic Character: Lysander Hawkley is a brilliant and unforgettable creation. He is a man who is so beautiful that he is almost a different species, and the way he navigates a world that is completely in thrall to his good looks is a source of endless, comedic gold. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 5 Best Comedies With a Flawed But Lovable Protagonist. For a deep dive into the classic "battle of the sexes" trope, the official TV Tropes website is a fantastic and hilarious resource. The show’s complex and often fiery relationships are a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of The Top 5 Best Movies About Marriages.
Where to Buy: You can purchase The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
The Vibe: A sharp, funny, and surprisingly dark standalone novel that is a fantastic and accessible entry point into the world of Jilly Cooper's early, contemporary romances.
The Premise: While her fame rests on the sprawling Rutshire Chronicles, Jilly Cooper's early, standalone romances are brilliant, witty, and often much darker gems. Harriet follows the story of a clever and funny, but deeply insecure, young woman who is in love with a charming, and very wealthy, publisher. When he marries a beautiful but deeply stupid socialite, Harriet finds herself embroiled in their messy and increasingly toxic marriage, a situation that culminates in a surprisingly dark and dramatic twist.
Why It's a Classic: This book is a fantastic example of Jilly Cooper's incredible talent for sharp, social observation and for creating deeply relatable and flawed female characters. Harriet is a brilliant, and often very funny, narrator, and her journey of learning to value her own worth, independent of a man's approval, is a powerful and timeless one. The book is a fantastic, and often very cynical, look at the London social scene of the 1970s.
Iconic Character: Harriet herself is a wonderful and incredibly endearing protagonist. Her sharp wit and her deep insecurities make her a completely real and relatable character that you can't help but root for. For more on the art of a great love story, check out our article on The 9 Elements of All Great Rom-Coms That Keep Us Hooked.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Harriet and many of Jilly Cooper's other classic, standalone romances on Amazon.
The Vibe: A classic, witty, and deeply romantic "ugly duckling" story. This is Jilly Cooper at her most charming and her most heartfelt.
The Premise: Like Harriet, this is another of Jilly's fantastic, early, standalone romances. It follows the story of Imogen, a clever, funny, and deeply bookish librarian who is convinced that she is plain and unlovable. She is in love with a handsome, and very promiscuous, tennis player who barely knows she exists. Her life is turned upside down when a famous, and very demanding, tennis pro comes to her library to research a book, and he takes her on as his assistant for the summer tennis circuit.
Why It's a Classic: Imogen is a pure, unadulterated, and deeply satisfying romantic comedy. It is a book that is full of Jilly Cooper's signature wit, her sharp social observation, and her incredible, heartfelt warmth. The "ugly duckling" transformation of Imogen, from a shy, insecure librarian into a confident and beautiful woman, is a classic and wonderfully executed trope. The glamorous, international world of the professional tennis circuit provides a fantastic and exciting backdrop for the story. For a deep dive into the fashion of the 1970s, the Victoria and Albert Museum's website has some fantastic articles.
Iconic Character: Imogen is one of Jilly's most beloved and endearing heroines. Her journey of self-discovery and of learning to see her own, unique beauty is a powerful and timeless one. The show’s focus on a powerful romance is a key to its success, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 10 Best Love Songs of All Time. This kind of authentic connection is a key to a healthy partnership, a theme we explore in 8 Signs of a Healthy Relationship.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Imogen by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
The Vibe: An epic, sprawling, and incredibly glamorous deep dive into the high-stakes, high-society, and ridiculously sexy world of professional polo.
The Premise: Polo is one of the most ambitious and beloved books in the entire Rutshire Chronicles. The story follows the journey of two very different, and very talented, young polo players. Perdita is a beautiful, kind-hearted, but deeply troubled young woman who is a true, natural genius on a polo pony. She is taken under the wing of the legendary, and legendarily difficult, polo superstar, Ricky France-Lynch. The novel chronicles their journey as they team up to try and win the prestigious Gold Cup, a quest that will take them from the polo fields of England to the glamorous, high-stakes world of polo in Argentina.
Why It's a Classic: Polo is Jilly Cooper at her absolute, epic best. The book is a masterpiece of research, a deep, and incredibly detailed, dive into the world of professional polo that is as thrilling and as action-packed as any sports novel. But it is also a powerful, and often very dark, exploration of the lives of its characters. The book tackles difficult themes of addiction, of abuse, and of trauma with a surprising and powerful sensitivity. And at its heart, it is a glorious, sweeping, and deeply, profoundly romantic love story. For a real-life look into the "sport of kings," the official Guards Polo Club website is a fantastic resource.
Iconic Character: Ricky France-Lynch is one of the most iconic, and most beautifully tragic, characters in the Jilly Cooper universe. He is a man of incredible talent, of immense charm, and of a deep, and deeply destructive, self-hatred. His journey of redemption is one of the most powerful and moving in the entire series. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 7 Best Coming of Age Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Polo by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
The Vibe: The book that started it all. This is a glorious, sweeping, and incredibly sexy epic that is the undisputed, foundational text of the modern "bonkbuster."
The Premise: Riders is the first book in the legendary Rutshire Chronicles, and it is the book that introduced the world to Jilly Cooper's most iconic and unforgettable creation: the impossibly handsome, impossibly arrogant, and impossibly charming show-jumper, Rupert Campbell-Black. The story is a sprawling, epic saga that follows the lives and loves of a group of incredibly glamorous and competitive show-jumpers on the international circuit. It is a story of fierce rivalries, of passionate love affairs, and of the all-consuming, and often very dangerous, pursuit of Olympic glory.
Why It's a Classic: Riders is more than just a book; it is a cultural landmark. It is a book that completely changed the game for popular fiction, a book that was not afraid to be smart, to be funny, and to be incredibly, unapologetically sexy. It is a book that is a perfect, and incredibly addictive, blend of a high-stakes, action-packed sports novel and a glorious, sweeping, and deeply, profoundly romantic saga. It is the ultimate, escapist, "guilty pleasure" read that you will never, ever have to feel guilty about. For a deep dive into the history of this iconic book, The Guardian's retrospective is a fantastic read.
Iconic Character: Rupert Campbell-Black is not just a character; he is a legend. He is the ultimate, and most beloved, literary anti-hero. He is a cad, he is a bully, and he is a deeply, profoundly selfish man. But he is also a man of incredible talent, of immense charm, and of a deep, hidden, and often very surprising vulnerability. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest and most unforgettable characters in modern fiction. The show’s complex hero is a fascinating character study, a theme you can explore in our list of the Top 7 Best Superhero Movies of All Time.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Riders by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
Why It's at the Top: While Riders may have introduced the world to the glorious universe of the Rutshire Chronicles, it is its sequel, Rivals, that perfected the formula and stands as Jilly Cooper's true, undisputed masterpiece. It is a book that takes everything that was brilliant about Riders—the glamour, the drama, the wit, the romance—and turns it up to eleven. It is a sprawling, multi-character, and perfectly plotted saga that is so incredibly addictive, so brilliantly entertaining, and so full of a deep, genuine heart that it is, quite simply, one of the greatest and most purely joyful reading experiences you will ever have. It is the undisputed queen of the bonkbuster.
The Premise: Rivals is the book that truly cemented Jilly Cooper's status as the queen of the genre. The story is set in the fictional, and deeply competitive, world of independent television in the Cotswolds. The novel is centred on the epic rivalry between two television companies who are battling for the same, lucrative franchise. At the heart of the conflict are two of the most iconic characters in the Rutshire Chronicles: the impossibly handsome, charming, and deeply caddish ex-Olympian, Rupert Campbell-Black, and his brilliant, handsome, and deeply honourable rival, Lord Tony Baddingham. The book is a sprawling, multi-character saga of ambition, of betrayal, and of course, of a huge amount of very scandalous sex.
What Makes It a Masterpiece: Rivals is a true, pop-culture phenomenon. It is a perfect, and incredibly entertaining, time capsule of the high-glamour, high-stakes, and "greed is good" world of the 1980s. The book is a masterpiece of intricate, multi-character plotting, a brilliant and addictive soap opera in literary form. But it is also a book that is full of Jilly Cooper's signature wit, her sharp social commentary, and her deep, abiding love for her deeply flawed, and deeply human, characters. The upcoming, star-studded Disney+ adaptation of Rivals, starring David Tennant and Aidan Turner, is set to be one of the biggest television events of the year, a testament to the book's enduring, iconic status.
Where to Buy: You can purchase Rivals by Jilly Cooper on Amazon.
This is a key part of building a lasting connection, a theme explored in 10 Habits of Couples Who Stay Deeply in Love for a Lifetime.
Conclusion
In the vast and often very serious world of literature, the work of Jilly Cooper is a glorious, unapologetic, and incredibly intelligent celebration of the pure, simple joy of a great story. The ten books on this list are a testament to her incredible, and enduring, genius. They are a journey through a world that is at once a glamorous, escapist fantasy and a brilliant, witty, and deeply insightful satire of the British class system.
From the muddy, high-stakes world of the show-jumping circuit to the dramatic, back-stabbing world of classical music, these are the stories that have captivated and enchanted a global audience for decades. They are a powerful reminder that a book can be both a smart, literary, and beautifully crafted work of art, and a wild, sexy, and incredibly fun ride. As a new generation discovers her work, one thing is certain: the glorious, gossip-filled, and deeply romantic world of Jilly Cooper is, and always will be, a place we all want to live.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper is one of the most beloved and successful British authors of all time. She is a journalist and a novelist, famous for writing a series of witty, glamorous, and often very raunchy romance novels, most notably the Rutshire Chronicles.
2. What is a "bonkbuster"? "Bonkbuster" is a slang term, coined in the 1980s, to describe a genre of popular, and often very long, novels that are characterized by their glamorous settings, their high-stakes plots, and their frequent, and often very explicit, sex scenes. Jilly Cooper is the undisputed queen of the genre.
3. What are the "Rutshire Chronicles"? The Rutshire Chronicles are Jilly Cooper's most famous and beloved series of books. They are a collection of interconnected, standalone novels that are all set in the fictional, and very glamorous, English county of Rutshire. The series is famous for its huge, recurring cast of characters, most notably the legendary anti-hero, Rupert Campbell-Black.
4. Do I need to read the Rutshire Chronicles in order? While each book can be read as a standalone story, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order to fully appreciate the overarching character arcs and the rich, interconnected world. The recommended starting point is Riders.
5. Are Jilly Cooper's books "chick lit"? While her books are a huge influence on the modern "chick lit" genre, they are often considered to be a genre unto themselves. Her work is celebrated for its incredible depth of research, its sharp, satirical wit, and its complex, literary-level plotting, which sets it apart from many other books in the genre. For a deep dive into the history of the "chick lit" genre, the official Goodreads blog often has fantastic articles.
6. I love the "old money" aesthetic. Are these books for me? Absolutely. Jilly Cooper's books are the literary embodiment of the "old money," English countryside aesthetic. They are a deep and loving dive into a world of tweed, of country houses, of horse shows, and of a certain kind of timeless, upper-class British glamour. For more on this aesthetic, the Tatler website, a magazine that is essentially the real-life version of Jilly's world, is a great resource.
7. Are Jilly Cooper's books being adapted for television? Yes! A major, star-studded adaptation of her iconic novel, Rivals, is coming to Disney+ in the near future. The cast includes David Tennant, Aidan Turner, and Danny Dyer. It is set to be a massive television event.
8. Who is Rupert Campbell-Black? Rupert Campbell-Black is the most famous and most beloved character in the Jilly Cooper universe. He is the central, anti-heroic protagonist of the Rutshire Chronicles. He is an impossibly handsome, incredibly talented, and deeply, profoundly selfish man, and he is one of the greatest and most unforgettable characters in modern fiction.
9. Are her books suitable for all ages? No. Jilly Cooper's novels are famous for their explicit sexual content and their adult themes. They are intended for a mature, 18+ audience only.
10. I've read all of these! What should I read next? If you love the wit, the glamour, and the romance of Jilly Cooper, you might also enjoy the works of authors like Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, and, for a more historical take, the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.
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