Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Jan Karon Reading Order

8 series · 30 books · Born 1937

Non-FictionYoung Adult

Jan Karon is an American author celebrated for her warmly rendered fiction spanning both adult and children's literature. Best known for her bestselling Mitford series, she has created an enduring fictional community anchored by Father Timothy Kavanagh, an Episcopal clergyman, whose gentle adventures and relationships anchor multiple interconnected books that have delighted readers since the 1990s. Across thirty titles, Karon brings depth and humor to small-town life while exploring themes of faith, community, and human connection.

Children's Series

Complete

2 books (1993–2000)

Start with Miss Fannie's Hat and read in order.

Start this series with Miss Fannie's Hat

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Miss Fannie's Hat
Miss Fannie's Hat
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Father Tim Series

Complete

2 books (2007–2010)

Start with Home to Holly Springs and read in order.

Start this series with Home to Holly Springs

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Home to Holly Springs
Home to Holly Springs
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of In the Company of Others
In the Company of Others
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Mitford Series

Ongoing

15 books (1994–2025)

Start with At Home in Mitford, the first of 15 books in the Mitford series.

Start this series with At Home in Mitford

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
At Home in Mitford
1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of A Light in the Window
A Light in the Window
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of These High, Green Hills
These High, Green Hills
1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Out to Canaan
Out to Canaan
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of A New Song
6
Cover of A Common Life
A Common Life
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of In This Mountain
In This Mountain
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Shepherds Abiding
Shepherds Abiding
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of Light from Heaven
Light from Heaven
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of Home to Holly Springs
Home to Holly Springs
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of In the Company of Others
In the Company of Others
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of Come Rain or Come Shine
Come Rain or Come Shine
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of To Be Where You Are
To Be Where You Are
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15

Mitford Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2018–2018)

#Title
1
Cover of Bathed in Prayer
Bathed in Prayer
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Mitford For Children Series

Complete

2 books (2006–2007)

Start with Violet Comes to Stay and read in order.

Start this series with Violet Comes to Stay

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Violet Comes to Stay
Violet Comes to Stay
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Violet Goes to the Country
Violet Goes to the Country
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Mitford Gift Books Series

Complete

6 books (2001–2006)

Start with Patches of Godlight, the first of 6 books in the Mitford Gift Books series.

Start this series with Patches of Godlight

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Patches of Godlight
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Mitford Snowmen
The Mitford Snowmen
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Esther's Gift
Esther's Gift
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Trellis and the Seed
The Trellis and the Seed
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Mitford Bedside Companion
The Mitford Bedside Companion
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Complete

1 book (1997–1997)

#Title
1
Cover of The Mitford Years Reading Guide
The Mitford Years Reading Guide
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2005–2005)

#Title
1
Cover of A Continual Feast
A Continual Feast
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Jan Karon written?
Jan Karon has written 30 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1993 to 2025.
What is the first book in each Jan Karon series?
Here are the first books in Jan Karon's series: Children's: Miss Fannie's Hat; Father Tim: Home to Holly Springs; Mitford: At Home in Mitford; Mitford For Children: Violet Comes to Stay; Mitford Gift Books: Patches of Godlight.
What order should I read Jan Karon's books?
We recommend reading Jan Karon's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Jan Karon still writing new books?
Yes, Jan Karon has 1 ongoing series: Mitford.

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