Are you a Kristin Hannah fan? If so, you’ve come to the right place! And if you’ve yet to read her work, let this be you’re starting point. In this ultimate reading guide to Kristin Hannah books, we’ll explore her best-sellers, her backlist books in order, and her popular series.
Kristin Hannah Book Themes
As we examine Kristin Hannah’s entire library, you’ll see how her work has evolved over time. She began as a romance novelist before shifting to contemporary women’s fiction, and, most recently, historical fiction. What has remained consistent throughout is her focus on strong female characters. Her novels continue to have threads of romantic love, but this theme is usually secondary to the bonds of family and friendship. In her recent works, her characters often face challenges and tragedies set against different backdrops throughout history.
Throughout this guide, you’ll get to know the very best of Kristin Hannah’s work, from her #1 New York Times bestsellers to her deep backlist. We start with a complete list of Kristin Hannah books in order of publication. We clear up confusion about books that have been republished under new titles and which books should be read in order.
Next, we take a closer look at her most popular novels, as ranked by a vote of hundreds of our readers. Throughout this guide, we offer our insights about the themes, characters, and settings in her books. Finally, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about author Kristin Hannah and her novels.
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Kristin Hannah Books In Order Through 2023
Kristin Hannah is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 full-length novels spanning three decades. Her books have been translated into more than 40 languages and have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Nearly all of her books are stand-alone novels, and can be read in any order, with the exception of the Firefly Lane series discussed in the next section. Below we’ve listed all of her books in order of publication:
- A Handful of Heaven (1991) out of print
- The Enchantment (1992) out of print
- 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); soon to be rereleased as Another Life (6/22/23)
- Comfort & Joy (2005)
- Magic Hour (2006); still available as Magic Hour, but also rereleased in print-only as Wild
- Firefly Lane (2008)
- True Colors (2009)
- Winter Garden (2010)
- Night Road (2011)
- Home Front (2012)
- Fly Away (2013)
- The Nightingale (2015)
- The Great Alone (2018)
- The Four Winds (2021)
Printable Kristin Hannah Book List
Looking for a printable version of this chronological Kristin Hannah book list? Our Buy Me a Coffee BFF’s have access to a cute one-page printable tracker featuring the covers of all her novels! Join our membership site today for instant access to your copy, along with some other fun perks!
Firefly Lane Book Series
While the vast majority of Kristin Hannah’s works are stand-alone novels, she has authored one popular series. Firefly Lane (2008) and its sequel, Fly Away (2013), should be read in order. These books explore the relationship between two best friends, Kate and Tully, beginning in 1974 through the mid-2000s.
This book series was also adapted into a smash-hit Netflix series, starring Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl. Season 1 and the first half of season 2 of Netflix’s Firefly Lane are streaming now. The second half of season 2, referred to as “the final chapter,” will be available on Netflix on April 27, 2023.
As you probably already know, we’re of the opinion that the book is always better. But there’s no denying the popularity of the adaption. It was the #1 Netflix series around the world the week it came out. While portions of the television series are faithful to the novels, there are also quite a few key differences. While the novels follow a linear timeline, the television show jumps back and forth. Additionally, there are major plot points from the novels missing in the adaptation, and others created solely for the television series.
Kristin Hannah Best Books Ranked
Are you looking for a captivating and entertaining read? Do you need a book that will keep you hooked until the very last page? Look no further! Whether you’re drawn in by the characters, the themes, or simply the storytelling, it’s hard not to become a fan once you pick up a Kristin Hannah book.
Kristin Hannah is a gifted author who has earned her spot as one of the most beloved contemporary writers. While all of her books are worth reading, we asked our readers to vote on their favorites. We received more than 300 responses to our survey, and based on those votes, the novels below were the crowd favorites.
Our readers had the option to tell us why they voted for each of their picks, so we’ve included some of their words as a part of each synopsis. Some readers had beautiful quotes but preferred to remain anonymous, so you’ll notice that some quotes have attribution and others do not, but they all came from our reader survey in early April 2023.
When the books have been a part of one of our reading challenges, we also included reader ratings from the book logs our challenge participants submitted.
THE #1 BEST KRISTIN HANNAH BOOK
With so many highly-rated bestsellers, we worried it would be hard to objectively choose the best Kristin Hannah book. However, the data from readers was clear!
Although 20 different Hannah books were mentioned in our reader survey, 66% selected The Nightingale as one of their top 3, with the majority of those selecting it as #1. These results are backed up by the book's average GoodReads rating of 4.6 out of 5, with over 1 million reviews (as of 4/4/23).
The Nightingale
Setting: 1939, France
The Nightingale tells the story of French sisters Vianne and Isabelle, who have always been at odds. Vianne is a rule follower, and Isabelle is more rebellious and willing to speak her mind. As WWII expands, Isabelle intends to fight for France. Vianne simply wants to survive the war with her family intact - even if it means cooperating when a German officer arrives to live in her home.
Isabelle, who refuses to live passively under German authority, joins the French resistance and guides Allied airmen out of France after their planes are shot down - work for which she adopts the codename the Nightingale. As the war wages on, both sisters learn who they are and what they can do.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
I don't think I can adequately put into words the power this novel had to move me emotionally. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre. I read this book years ago, and it remains to this day the best WWII Historical Fiction book I've read. I still have deep feelings for each character. If you want a book that has all the feels look no further than Hannah's The Nightingale. -Kathy R.
This is probably one of the best books about WW2, I have ever connected with. The story of these two sisters and the different paths they chose to survive, to resist, wrecked me with sobs and left an impression that lasted long after the last page was turned. - Nikki L.
Really good story, with lots of emotions and made me feel like I knew the characters. The story was very powerful and showed me different sides of WW2 I didn’t know much about.
This book is one of my all-time favorites. It was master storytelling and completely drew me in - the characters, the setting, the story. This book got me reading fiction again. -Kristi C.
This book was my intro to Kristin Hannah years ago and not only has it stayed on my top 5 but it also made me read all her others. I love her books. - Angie C.
Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
98% Would Recommend to a Friend
Notable Awards for the Nightingale:
2015 Goodreads Best Historical Fiction Novel
2015 People's Choice Award for Fest Fiction
2015 Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week
2016 Audie Award for Fiction
Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, March 2023
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Books for Fans of the Nightingale
WW2 Historical Fiction – The Resistance & Other Helpers
Books Set in the 1930s
Books Set in Western Europe
KRISTIN HANNAH BOOKS RANKED
Although it was clear that The Nightingale won Best Kristin Hannah Book in the eyes of our readers, there was plenty of love for her other titles as well.
Second place went to another of our favorites, The Great Alone. You'll find the synopsis for that book below, followed by the other favorites ranked in order of votes received from highest to lowest.
The Great Alone
Setting: 1974, Alaska
Returning home from Vietnam after being held as a POW, Ernt is not the same person he was before he left. When he impulsively decides to move his family to Alaska to live off the grid, his 13-year-old daughter Leni is hopeful that it will be the fresh start the family needs for a better future.
But when the harsh reality of an Alaskan winter without proper preparation begins to set in, Leni and her mother realize there is no one to save them but themselves.
We both loved this book despite it being a bit of a tear-jerker. It's devasting to read one account of how a soldier's return from Vietnam affected those around him. We know this fiction is very much based on reality for too many families.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
I loved the setting of this book. I remember feeling actual fear for the main character as I read. This is not a book I will forget. -Kelly J.
I can relate to so much of the mixed emotions, chaos, embarrassment, struggle and turmoil expressed in this book because I grew up with an abusive, alcoholic stepfather who was also a veteran - WWII. I took dreamed of escape. I loved her strong will and spirit. -Penny P.
I feel like the setting in this book was as important as the characters. It may have almost been a character in itself. Alaska can be brutal and Hannah did an amazing job with description to make this clear. The characters tore at the heart. This was the first book I read by her and I absolutely loved it! -Patty C.
The setting was so vivid! I could feel the muck, the mosquitos biting and of course the cold. Loved the characters, and felt that they fit well in that setting. -Gara R.
This book made me fall in love with reading. I read every Kristen Hannah book after reading this book on vacation. Now I read 4 books a month and can't get enough. - Sherry J.
Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
100% Would Recommend to a Friend
Notable Awards for The Great Alone:
2018 Goodreads Best Historical Novel of the Year
2018 Book of the Year Finalist - Book of the Month
2020 Longlist for Dublin Literary Award
#1 New York Times Bestseller
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Best Books to Read in Winter
Books Set in the 1970s
Books For Fans of It Ends With Us
The Four Winds
Setting: 1934-1936, Texas & California
As the Dust Bowl drought gripped the Great Plains, millions were out of work, crops were failing, water was drying up, and farmers were fighting to keep their land. This is the story of Elsa Martinelli, who is forced to make an agonizing choice: fight for her land in Texas or move west, to California, in search of a better life.
She, like so many of her neighbors, courageously faces the hardship and sacrifices that came to define an entire generation during the Great Depression as they fought for the American Dream.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
I grew up in West Texas and was reminded that my grandparents survived the Dust Bowl years. The book was so real in its depiction of that time. -Dawn V.
It seems so realistic and really puts me in the setting of the book. The characters came alive as I read. Although the book was sad, this novel will stay with me for a long time. - Juli B.
While very sad, it was a great story and I learned a lot about the Dust Bowl and how those people were treated after they got to California. -Louise F.
You could feel the desperation in those that lost everything in the Dust Bowl. I was cheering them on traveling to California but then felt their hope evaporate with those in charge of the labor camps. I could feel, smell, and see the story unfolding. - Deb K.
Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
98% Would Recommend to a Friend
Notable Awards for The Four Winds:
Read with Jenna Book Club Pick - February 2021
2021 Book of the Year - Book of the Month
2021 USA Today Bestselling Hardcover Adult Fiction
2021 Goodreads Nominee for Best Historical Fiction
#1 New York Times Bestseller
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Unforgettable Dust Bowl Books
Books Set in the 1930s
Best Books of 2021
Winter Garden
Setting: 1941 Russia; 2000 Alaska
This story opens in the modern-day with two adult sisters, Meredith and Nina, who are as different as can be. But they remain connected by their beloved father and by the Russian fairy tale their cold, disapproving mother sometimes told them at night.
When their father falls ill, he makes the three women promise that the fairy tale will be told one last time - all the way to the end. What unfolds is the true story of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad. The sisters are about to learn a secret that will change everything.
Many WWII historical novels focus on the region of France and Germany, but The Winter Garden illuminates the experiences of those in Russia and left us with a much better understanding of the Eastern Front. But this is much more than just another WWII story. It's a compelling and moving family story as well.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
This tugged at my mama heart strings. You do the best you can, but inevitably make mistakes along the way. The characters were so real. I’m not a huge mystery fan, but this felt like a mystery in disguise and I loved trying to figure out as I read. -Kristin R.
This memorable and well-told story evokes strong emotions and reminds readers that the pain of war is a burden suffered by people on both sides; there truly are no winners.
I was drawn in by reading about the life experiences of a survivor as a means to understand her present-day life. We as outsiders can never judge a person by who he/she is today, without understanding the past. - Tammy W.
It seemed to be a very human story, a story that explains some of why we do what we do. I read it years ago when the split narrative wasn't quite so popular and I enjoyed being presented with present day and a time long ago. -Nancy F.
Book Girls' Readers Rate This Book ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
90% Would Recommend to a Friend
Notable Awards for Winter Garden:
2010 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Books Set in the 1940s
Best Audiobooks Included with Kindle Unlimited
Best Books to Read in Winter
Books Set in Eastern Europe & Russia
This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 4/3/2023.
Firefly Lane
Setting: 1974 - 2000s, Pacific Northwest
From 8th grade, Kate and Tully cycle through the highs and lows of long-term friendships as they try to figure out what they want from the world and what they need from each other.
Tully seems to have both beauty and brains while Kate feels doomed to be uncool forever. However, Tully doesn’t have it all. She longs to fill the void left when her mom abandoned her, and she funnels all her feelings into ambition at work. Kate is equally driven, but her life looks different as she becomes a wife and mother.
In Firefly Lane, Kristin Hannah uses her descriptive talent to share the story of three decades between friends.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
Hannah’s writing flows so well for the story that she tells. She brings in real life struggles the characters face and doesn’t always leave the ending in a happy way. Firefly Lane is a tale of best friends who go through the struggles of real life and I think almost everyone can find some way to relate to Tully or Kate.
It made me cry buckets. Friendships are powerful and this book gets it right. -Sarah B.
Loved the friend relationship and how people from different backgrounds have more in common than differences. Like twists and turns relationships take through the years. -Kath M.
Notable Awards for Firefly Lane:
Turned in the #1 Netflix Series Worldwide
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Books About Friendship for Adults
The second book in this series, Fly Away, was also a top pick by our readers. Since it’s part of this series, we’re not listing it separately, but don’t miss it! Reader Kim B. said, “Fly Away gave the reader a final look into the healing that can come after the loss of someone that was your world for so long.”
Night Road
Setting: Contemporary, Small Town US
Stay-at-home mom Jude has always put everyone else’s needs first, including those of her twins, Mia and Zach. When Lexi, a former foster child, becomes close to both Mia and Zach, Jude is supportive of the relationships, but also overprotective.
However, during senior year for the teens, a tragic accident changes everything. Jude’s perfect family is shattered, and their small town is torn apart. Blame is placed on Lexi, and she gives up everything meaningful in her life to leave town.
However, when Lexi returns a few years later, she demands a reckoning. Will Jude be able to forgive Lexi, and herself?
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
The way Kristin Hannah writes just pulls you in, and you can’t let go until the book is finished. -Chrissy B.
This is a wonderful story about motherhood., love and forgiveness. This one made me cry. -Kathy E.
Often It is impossible to foresee the life-long effects of a decision made in one moment.
Kristen Hannah’s book develops this theme beautifully. -Tammy W.
Notable Awards for Night Road:
2011 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Fiction
Home Front
Setting: 2005, US & Iraq
This book starts on Jolene’s 41st birthday. She’s been married 12 years and a member of the National Guard for even longer as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot. When she’s sent to Iraq, her husband, who doesn’t understand her dedication to her career and country, tells her he no longer loves her.
She’s heartbroken when she arrives in Iraq but thankfully has her best friend Tami by her side. The two encounter situations just as heartbreaking during their deployment. After reading about Jolene and Tami's time deployed, some readers say they have a greater appreciation for our modern-day troops.
While many of us know Kristin Hannah for her fantastic and heart-wrenching historical fiction, she also has a gift for writing stories of friendship. Unfortunately, some reviewers do not enjoy the narration on this one, so it may be better in print or ebook form.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
I loved the characters. My son was in the AF so I related well to the book. But the twist I never saw coming. It has stuck with me for years.
I could not put this book down. I liked how it was about so many different things but was really an exploration of family. I thought the characters were realistic and appreciated the growth and change they went through. -Rhonda C.
I love books about the issues people have when returning from wars. It brings home the reality of how harsh it is and how it affects not just one person, but the whole family, and more! -Barbara T.
Notable Awards for Home Front:
2012 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Fiction
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Books With Characters in Their 40s
This book is included with Kindle Unlimited as of 4/4/2022
Magic Hour (Also Published as Wild)
Setting: Early 2000s, Washington State
When a 6-year-old girl appears from the rugged terrain of Olympic National Forest, she is alone and unable to speak. No one knows where she came from or who she is.
Dr. Julia Cates is a child psychiatrist who returned to her western Washington hometown after a scandal that destroyed her career. She is determined to discover the truth about the mysterious little girl’s past, and to help her heal and prepare for a better future. Unfortunately, that means working with her estranged sister, a police officer, along the way.
While this book was originally written in 2006, it has been more recently republished under the original title of Magic Hour and as a print-only edition with the title of Wild.
NOTE: Because this book was originally written almost two decades ago, some of the terms used related to autism are now outdated.
Why Our Readers Love This Book…
It hooked me from the first chapter and I loved the multiple characters. -Rachel T.
This book and Mystic Lake are my two early written favorites. Troubled children integrated into society despite their difficult circumstances. No holds barred in the court of public opinion of what is viewed as best for the kids.
Also Featured in These Book Lists:
Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Notable Awards for Magic Hour:
2017 RITA Award by Romance Writers of America Nominee for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
Will There Be a New Kristin Hannah Book in 2023?
On June 22, 2023, publisher Pan MacMillan, will rerelease Kristin Hannah’s 2004 novel, The Things We Do For Love, under the title Another Life.
Another Life (formerly The Things We Do For Love) is a moving and uplifting story of family and what it means to be a mother. Angie struggled for years to struggling to get pregnant, and her marriage crumbled under the strain. After her divorce, she relocates back to her coastal hometown in the Pacific Northwest to rejoin her boisterous family. She hopes to help rescue the failing family restaurant – and to find herself again, as well.
Lauren is a high school senior with big dreams of escaping her small hometown, and her alcoholic mother. She has her sights set on an Ivy League education. When Angie hires Lauren to work at the restaurant, they form an immediate connection. Angie has been longing for a child, while Lauren longs for motherly love. When Lauren’s mom suddenly leaves town, Angie offers Lauren a place to stay. What seems like a simple act of kindness will lead to so much more. Together they’ll be tested in unexpected ways, causing both to question what it truly means to be a family.
Kristin Hannah’s New Book in 2024
On May 9, 2023, Kristin Hannah announced the title and revealed the cover of her upcoming book, The Women. This historical fiction novel currently has an expected publication date of February 6, 2024, and it’s available for pre-order now. You can watch the promo video released by St. Martin’s Press, and then read on for a synopsis of Kristin Hannah’s new book.
Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a 21-year-old nursing student who has been raised by her conservative parents to always do “the right thing.” But when her brother ships out for Vietnam in 1965, she begins to change her views of right and wrong. Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam. As she tends to the green and inexperienced young men who have been sent to fight the war, she is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction. Returning home to a changed America doesn’t prove to be any easier.
While The Women is the story of Frankie going to war, it also shines a light on the story of all women who risk everything to help others. The publisher’s description describes this book as “a novel of searing insight and lyrical beauty” that is “profoundly emotional” and “richly drawn.”
Have Any of Kristin Hannah’s Books Been Made Into Movies?
Several of Hannah’s books have been optioned for films, but none have yet been released. TriStar Picture’s film adaptation of The Nightingale, however, appears to be moving forward, although it is far behind schedule. Starring real-life sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, the movie was originally scheduled for release on Christmas Day, 2020. Production of the WWII period drama was halted due to the pandemic, and the release date has since been pushed back several times. There is no current word on when (or if) the film will be released.
Reese Witherspoon selected The Nightingale as her March 2023 Reese’s Book Club pick. This led to some speculation regarding whether Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, might now be involved with the adaptation. We’ll continue to follow future developments and keep you posted!
Other Works By Kristin Hannah
In addition to her full-length novels, Kristin Hannah published a short romance/mystery novella titled The Glass Case in 2011. She also contributed a short romance story to a 1993 collection called Harvest Hearts, and to a 2002 collection titled With Love. Both of these titles are currently out of print.
After shifting her focus to historical fiction, Hannah wrote the introduction for the 2020 collaborative work titled Stories from Suffragette City. All of the stories in this book are set on October 23, 1915, when millions of women marched for the right to vote in New York City. Hannah also wrote the introduction to a 2014 historical romance anthology titled Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love and Reunion, set at the close of WWII.
Authors Like Kristin Hannah
If, like many of our readers, the WWII historical fiction The Nightingale is your favorite Kristin Hannah novel, be sure to check out our list of Books Like the Nightingale. And if you loved The Four Winds, you may also want to browse our list of more unforgettable dust bowl books.
For fans of the historical fiction genre, other authors similar to Kristin Hannah that we highly recommend include Kelly Rimmer, Kate Quinn, Fiona Davis, Hazel Gaynor, Beatriz Williams, Kristin Harmel, and Susan Meissner.
If you like Kristin Hannah’s more contemporary-styled women’s fiction work, we think you’ll also enjoy authors like Viola Shipman, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Liane Moriarty, Katherine Center, and Jodi Picoult.
Kristin Hannah Biography
Kristin Hannah was born in Garden Grove, California, in 1960. Her family relocated to the Pacific Northwest when she was eight. She received an undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Washington. She also studied law at the University of Puget Sound School of Law.
During her final year of law school, Hannah’s mother was in the advanced stages of breast cancer. One day, while visiting her mom, Hannah complained about her classes. Her mother replied, “Don’t worry about it, you’re going to be a writer anyway.” That launched a plan for the mother-daughter duo to spend their precious time together working on a book. Hannah originally wanted to write a horror, but her mother insisted on historical romance, saying “I’m sick, I pick.” Hannah and her mother wrote side-by-side in her mom’s hospital room up until her final days.
After her mother’s death, Hannah packed their drafts and notes away in boxes and began her legal career. When she and her husband, Benjamin, were expecting their first child, she was put on bed rest for five months. That’s when she began writing again, completing the draft of a new book by the time her son was born. She decided to put her legal career on hold and sold her first novel before her son turned two. Her son has since graduated college and started a family of his own, and Hannah has never stopped writing. She lives with her husband on beautiful Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington.
Whether you’re just starting out, or diving deep into Kristin Hannah’s backlist, we hope this guide has been helpful. We’d love to hear which of her novels is your favorite in the comments below.
Kristin Hannah Books in Order
Thursday 18th of May 2023
[…] we also have a comprehensive author guide for Kristin Hannah, we know some of you want a quicker way to reference just her back catalog of novels. This concise […]
Shelly
Saturday 8th of April 2023
Loved this Guide to Kristin Hannah! What a treat to see all her books in order with a synopsis and comments. Thanks for putting this together and hopefully there will be more Guides in the future!
Angela Hobby
Saturday 8th of April 2023
I have read most of Kristin Hannah's books and enjoyed them all. I LOVED The Nightingale! And I especially liked The Great Alone. Thanks for the bio; I had wondered about how she got into writing. There seem to be a number of authors who have law degrees.
Susan
Friday 7th of April 2023
What a special bond with her mom! Love the shift in her career life & that she has mastered several genres…..I will look for her older work. Thank you for the new feature….love your work on our behalf, ladies!
Michele Kilday
Friday 7th of April 2023
Excellent. I have enjoyed reading many of Kristin Hannah's books but see there are plenty I have missed. I really enjoyed her biography especially the story of her and her mom. What a special bond she must have to her writing because of that. I will look forward to your next author guide. Sure am happy I found y'all. I am enjoying the Across the USA challenge. Michele