Kristin Hannah is an award-winning author whose works have claimed the top spot on bestseller lists like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly—and countless book club groups. Over the past 30 years, the prolific author has penned an impressive 25 novels, starting with the bodice-rippers she wrote in her early career to the captivating historical novels and sweeping family sagas she's known for today.
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 into which readers love to escape. 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 25 published 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 makes 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.
Are there any movies adapted from Kristin Hannah's books?
Yes! Real-life sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning 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 after first being delayed during the pandemic in 2020. As of August 2024, no official release date has been announced.
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 February 2024 release The Women. No word yet on her next project.
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.
Girls Of Firefly Lane Books In Publication Order
Standalone Novels In Publication Order
- A Handful of Heaven (1991)
- The Enchantment (1992)
- Once in Every Life (1992)
- If You Believe (1993)
- When Lightning Strikes (1994)
- Waiting for the Moon (1995)
- Home Again (1996)
- On Mystic Lake (1999)
- Angel Falls (2000)
- Summer Island (2001)
- Distant Shores (2002)
- Between Sisters (2003)
- The Things We Do for Love (2004)
- Comfort and Joy (2005)
- Magic Hour (2006)
- True Colors (2009)
- Winter Garden (2010)
- Night Road (2011)
- Home Front (2012)
- Nightingale (2015)
- The Great Alone (2018)
- The Four Winds (2021)
- The Women (2024)