E.L. James is ready to say goodbye to Christian Grey

E.L. James took the book world by storm with her novel Fifty Shades of Grey. The 2011 erotic novel follows the emotionally complicated relationship between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. The book became a hit and sold 15.2 million copies in the United States.

After the success of the first novel, James published two sequels and wrote three companion novels from Christian’s perspective. While the Fifty Shades series made  James famous, the author is ready to branch out to her next project.

E.L. James says goodbye to her first literary leading man Christian Grey

Christian Grey is the first romantic leading man that James wrote. Christian is a handsome and successful businessman with a scarred past. His traumatic childhood impacts his life, including his relationship with Ana.

Readers followed Christian’s journey throughout James’ books and for the film adaptions, in which Jamie Dornan played the role.

While Christian will always be Jame’s first leading man, the author has since moved on to her next hero. In 2019, she released her novel The Mister, which follows the love story of a playboy aristocrat Maxim Trevelyan and his housemaid Alessia Demachi.

The Mister proved to be another hit for James, and the author released its sequel The Missus in June 2023. The new series was a welcome relief for James who needed a break from the Fifty Shades saga.

Although Christian is her first literary hero, James has a soft spot for Maxim. In an interview with Today, the author reveals why she’d pick Maxim as a suitor over Christian.

"“I would marry Maxim. He’s a resonable human. I think you’d have to have the patience of a saint to marry someone like Christian. I just find Christian mentally exhausting, physically exhausting. Utterly exhausting. Maxim is much more reasonable.”"

Like many authors, James’ books have come under criticism. But the author says the point of her stories is to offer escapism for readers.

"“It’s about disappearing into a world and getting swallowed up in it. This is one of the best things you can do: If you find a book and it doesn’t let you go. If you’re consumed by it.”"

Which E.L. James book is your favorite?