While Hannah’s best-known books are Firefly Lane (which inspired the popular Netflix series) and the international blockbuster The Nightingale (adapted for an upcoming film), she has more than two dozen stories for readers to escape into. Ready to dive in? Here is everything you need to know about how to read Kristin Hannah’s books in order.
When did Kristin Hannah publish her first novel?
Hannah—who was an attorney in Seattle before becoming a full-time author—released her first book, A Handful of Heaven, in 1991.
How many books has Kristin Hannah written?
Hannah has written 24 books to date.
Does Kristin Hannah have any books that are part of a series?
Just two of Hannah’s books have a connecting storyline that make them part of a series: Firefly Lane and its sequel, Fly Away. Her other books are standalone stories.
Have any of Kristin Hannah’s books been turned into a television show?
Yes, the Firefly Lane books were the inspiration for the hit Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke.
Will there be a second season of Firefly Lane on Netflix?
There is a second season of Firefly Lane coming to Netflix… but the streaming service hasn’t yet announced when that will be. Heigl shared on social media that the cast wrapped production in April, and that the new episodes would be available on Netflix sometime in 2022.
Are there any movies adapted from Kristin Hannah’s books?
Yes! Real-life sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning will star as sisters Vianne and Isabelle in the upcoming movie The Nightingale, based on Hannah’s 2015 novel by the same name. Set during World War II, the story explores the relationship between the sisters as they struggle to survive during Germany’s occupation of France. The release of the movie had been pushed back several times, and it is currently scheduled to premiere on December 22, 2022. Additionally, Home Front and The Great Alone have also been optioned for films, but no casting announcements or production starts have been made for those.
Does Kristin Hannah have a new book coming out?
Hannah’s most recent novel was the 2021 release The Four Winds. But on Instagram, the author has shared that she’s been editing drafts for her next book. Hopefully, that will be in her readers’ hands very soon!
What is the reading order for Kristin Hannah’s books?
Excluding her two Firefly Lane books, the rest of Hannah’s books are standalone stories. While there are small connections between characters from several of her books, you don’t have to read them in the order that they were published in order to enjoy the stories! Here is a list of all the books Hannah has published.
A Handful of Heaven (1991)
It’s the winter of 1896 and Devon O’Shea has applied to become a partner at a Yukon Territory trading post. But Stone McKenna was expecting Devon to be a he, not a she, and the Alaskan gold mining towns are no place for a lady. Despite Stone’s attempts to drive Devon away, this unlikely pair (of course!) fall in love instead. Hannah’s debut novel is currently out of print, but you might be lucky enough to find it at your local library!
The Enchantment (1992)
After losing everything in the stock market crash of 1893, Wall Street financier Emmaline Harris takes a risk with her life and joins Dr. Larence Digby on an archaeological quest to find a lost city Native American city in New Mexico. Will these two broken people find the literal and figurative treasure together? This book is unfortunately also out of print.
Once In Every Life (1992)
In this reincarnation/time travel romance, lonely, deaf research scientist Tess Gregory gets a second chance at life—in 1873 as the estranged wife of a Civil War veteran suffering from PTSD. Not only can she now hear, but “Amarylis” has a husband who can’t stand her, two daughters who are frightened by her, and a newborn baby. All Tess has ever wanted was a husband and a child. But is the family she’s now a part of fractured beyond repair, or will Tess’ second chance be a second chance for them all?
If You Believe (1993)
Set in 1890s Washington, Mariah Throckmorton is hiding from a scandalous past on a remote farm. Mad Dog Stone is a hardened drifter who never stays in one place long enough to form emotional attachments. Yet in this romantic tale of love and healing, these two lonely souls, a runaway, and a dying father make a ragtag family and make peace with the demons of their pasts in this moving historical novel.
When Lightning Strikes (1994)
One stormy night, romance writer Alaina Costanza goes back in time to the Western world of her latest novel—where she is kidnapped by her own character, the ruthless outlaw Killian. Although they get off on the wrong foot, Lainie and Killian soon realize their love is too magical to last just one lifetime. Will Lainie be able to time-travel back to her daughter in 1990s? And is the love she and Killian share truly strong enough to transcend time?
Waiting for the Moon (1995)
In 1892 Maine, a botched suicide attempt lands an amnesiac young woman in a mental asylum. With no memories of her prior life, Selena finds comfort in Dr. Ian Carrick, the tormented and reclusive former surgeon who runs Lethe House. As his passion for Selena grows, Ian begins to live life again… but a mysterious figure from her past threatens to destroy any future they may have together.
Home Again (1996)
Romance sparks again between Madelaine Hillyard, a renowned cardiologist, and Angel DeMarco, the famous actor who broke her heart when they were teenagers, when he comes home to Seattle in dire need of a heart transplant. But Angel has no idea he shares a 16-year-old daughter with Madelaine, or that she’s remained close friends with his brother, Francis. This tear-jerker novel explores love lost and found again, redemption and forgiveness, and whether a person can genuinely change for the better.
On Mystic Lake (1999)
Devastated by the end of her marriage, Annie Colwater retreats to her small hometown where she reunites with her first love, Nick Dealcroix. A recent widower, Nick is struggling to keep his life afloat while caring for his emotionally scarred young daughter. Just as the three of them help each other begin to heal and Annie opens herself up to falling in love again, a ghost from her past reappears—forcing Annie to make an impossible decision.
Angel Falls (2000)
When Liam Campbell’s wife, Mikayla, falls into a coma, he spends every day by her side, sharing stories of the life they’ve built together. Despite warnings from Mikayla’s doctors that she may never recover, Liam is steadfast in his belief that their love will pull her through. That is, until he discovers his wife’s hidden first marriage to movie star Julian True. Is Liam desperate enough to bring Mikayla back that he’ll ask her ex-husband for help?
Summer Island (2001)
Struggling comedienne Ruby Bridge hasn’t spoken to her mother, Nora, a successful talk show host, in more than a decade. But when she’s given the opportunity to write an explosive tell-all about her mother’s scandalous past, Ruby reluctantly returns to her family’s home on Summer Island under the guise of caring for her injured mother. What begins as an expose evolves into a poignant story of never-forgotten love, a sick best friend—and Ruby learning that Nora is nothing like the mother she’s hated all these years for abandoning her.
Distant Shores (2002)
After more than two decades of marriage, Elizabeth and Jackson Shore have grown apart. While Jackson, a former Superbowl MVP, chases down a story that can revive his career as a sportscaster, Elizabeth retreats to her family home in Tennessee in the wake of her father’s death—and realizes just how much of herself she’s lost in her marriage.
Between Sisters (2003)
Estranged sisters Meghann Dontess and Claire Cavenaugh lead very different lives, each harboring hurt and resentment toward the other stemming from decisions made in the past. During a summer spent in the Pacific Northwest, Meg and Claire learn to put aside their differences and get to know each other again—and maybe even nurture the sisterly bond they’ve both been craving.
The Things We Do For Love (2004)
In this touching and bittersweet novel, Angie DeSaria Malone befriends teenager Lauren Ribido, a young girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Their friendship fills a void for them both: Angie desperately longs for a child and Lauren has been abandoned by her mother. As Angie becomes Lauren’s surrogate parent, a dramatic turn of events will test their relationship even further.
Comfort & Joy (2005)
The magic of the Christmas season helps divorcée Joy Candellaro find a second chance at happiness in Hannah’s only holiday-themed story. Marketed as “a fable,” this sweet novella—complete with a widowed single dad, a grieving little boy who surrounds himself with imaginary friends, and the lesson of pursuing your dreams—has all the feels of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Magic Hour (2006)
Two estranged sisters—one, a police chief, the other a renowned child psychiatrist recovering from a scandal that ruined her career—try to help a feral little girl who mysteriously appeared out of the untamed forest of the Pacific Northwest in this gripping novel about the resiliency of the human spirit.
Firefly Lane (2008)
The book that inspired the hit Netflix show! Spanning three decades, best friends Tully and Kate navigate love, loss, promises, secrets, betrayals—and the power of their friendship—in this poignant coming-of-age novel.
Fly Away (2013)
Although this book was not the next one Hannah released, it is the sequel to Firefly Lane should you want to read these two novels back-to-back. Set after the devastating event that happens at the conclusion of the first book, this novel focuses on Tully and her relationships with her estranged mother and Kate’s teenage daughter, Marah.
True Colors (2009)
The lives of sisters Winona, Aurora, and Vivi Ann Gray are changed forever after an act of jealousy and betrayal pits them against each other, testing their love and loyalty in ways they never imagined.
Winter Garden (2010)
A family’s hidden secret turns into an epic, sweeping story of love and survival in this haunting family saga about two estranged sisters and their emotionally distant Russian-born mother. After their father’s death, Meredith and Nina Whitson learn shocking truths about their mother Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad that will forever change the dynamic of the complicated relationships between the three women.
Night Road (2011)
A tragic accident one hot summer’s night not only tears apart Jude Farraday’s family, but leaves foster child Lexi Baill without her best friend, boyfriend, or the family that’s welcomed her as one of their own. When Lexi returns to town years later, will a broken Jude find the courage to forgive the younger woman… and herself?
Home Front (2012)
As Jolene and Michael Zarkades’ marriage is falling apart, a deployment sends her to Iraq while he struggles to hold down the homefront as a single parent to their two daughters. But when Jolene is severely injured in war, Michael must face his darkest fears for the sake of keeping his family together.
The Nightingale (2015)
Arguably Hannah’s most popular book, this World War II novel tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, living in Nazi-occupied France. While Vianne is desperately trying to protect her daughter from the German captain who has requisitioned their home, her younger sister has joined the Resistance, courageously risking her life to save others.
The Great Alone (2017)
Struggling to reacclimate to life, Vietnam War POW Ernt moves his family to the wilderness of Alaska, planning to live off the grid in hopes of leaving his PTSD behind. But when the darkness of an Alaskan winter falls, Ernt’s fragile mental state unravels, fracturing his family. Out in the wild, there is no one to save them except themselves.
The Four Winds (2021)
In 1934 Texas, the Dust Bowl drought has absolutely savaged the Great Plains, leaving the area’s struggling farming community even further devastated by the Great Depression. Elsa Martinelli makes the agonizing decision to travel west to California in search of new opportunities and a better life for her daughter. But life in California is far from the promised land Elsa believed it would be. Next, before the final season of Chesapeake Shores begins, check out the series of books by Sherryl Woods that the television show is based on!
