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I don’t usually discriminate between series or stand-alone books – I just read what I’m in the mood for. But there’s something especially fun about starting a book and discovering that there are more books to come, especially when I’ve fallen in love with the characters.
I’ve previously shared my thoughts on stand-alone books vs. series, including the pros and cons of each (see post here). This time, I want to share some of my favorite book series, including historical fiction, Christian historical fiction, classics, and a few series that hold a special place in my heart.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Genre: Classic Fiction, Coming-of-Age
Books in Series: 8
Why I love it: This is one of my mom’s favorite book series, and before I read the books, we watched the movie series together when I was a kid. I loved that Anne had red hair like me! I also loved how spunky she was.
I love how Matthew loved Anne from the start and how Marilla gradually grew to love her, too. Anne wasn’t afraid of challenges or trying new things, and she knew what she wanted out of life. And, of course, she and Gilbert are a classic love story that never gets old, no matter how many times I read the series.
Little House by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Genre: Historical Fiction, Children’s Classic
Books in Series: 9
Why I love it: I believe this is another situation where I saw this story on screen before I read the books for myself. My mom gave me her childhood book set, so I already knew it was special.
This may have been the series that ignited my love for historical fiction. I loved reading about “olden times” – playing with a pig bladder as ball (say what!?), barn raisings, community dances, exploring new land, and putting down roots. The family unit was essential for survival, and the bond that developed from that was so meaningful. I loved following Laura from childhood all the way to her marriage and becoming a mother herself.
Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Books in Series: 3
Why I love it: This was my introduction to Francine Rivers back in the day, and it’s what made her one of my favorite authors of all time.
These books take place in Jerusalem and Rome during the first century. The love story between Hadassa, a Jewish captive, and Marcus, a wealthy Roman aristocrat, is endearing and completely pulls you in, making you eager to see what happens next.
Through it all, Hadassa clings to her faith in God, no matter the consequences.
If you enjoy Christian historical fiction, Francine Rivers is an author I highly recommend, and Mark of the Lion is a great place to start.
Out From Egypt by Connilyn Cossette
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Books in Series: 3
Why I love it: There was a period when I had read all of Francine Rivers’ books and was looking for more books like hers. That’s when I discovered Connilyn Cossette, and this is just one of her fantastic book series. I could really recommend all of them!
These three books follow an Egyptian slave, a Hebrew midwife and a Canaanite captive on the journey out from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel.
While these are works of fiction, they maintain the Biblical account while imagining what life may have been like, particularly from the perspectives of these different women.
Poldark by Winston Graham
Genre: Historical Fiction
Books in Series: 12
Why I love it: My husband and I watched the Poldark series on TV, and I LOVED it. I was enthralled with Ross and Demelza. When I learned the TV series was based on a book series, I knew I would have to read it.
Then I discovered it was a 12-book series.
I had a decision to make: Do I read each book as the library has it available, or do I go ahead and buy the whole series, so I don’t have to wait?
It was a bit overwhelming. Twelve books was a big commitment – and would take up a lot of room on my bookshelves. Practically an entire shelf!
I decided to buy the set. At the time, my husband and I went on a cruise for our 10th anniversary, and I managed to read one book on that five-day cruise. A lot of the mining narrative wasn’t particularly interesting to me, but I loved the characters, intrigue, love interests and suspense.
Wakefield Dynasty by Gilbert Morris
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Books in Series: 7
Why I love it: This was another series I discovered in young adulthood, and it was one I could not consume fast enough.
I love a book series that starts with a family tree spanning multiple generations. The series begins in the early 16th century and ends in the 18th century. It’s best read in order because each book builds upon what earlier generations did.
The story primarily follows two families: the noble and wealthy Wakefields and the lower-class Morgan family.
I love seeing how the choices made by one generation affect the generations that follow, which is one of the things that makes a multi-generational historical fiction series so compelling to me.
Woolsey-Ferriday Trilogy by Martha Hall Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Books in Series: 3
Why I love it: This is a fun series to read because it spans several different time periods – Lilac Girls takes place during WWII, Lost Roses is set during WW1, and Sunflower Sisters takes place during the American Civil War.
Each book could be a stand-alone novel, but reading all three gives you so much more depth. I love seeing how the characters and their experiences connect across generations and how much one generation can impact the next.
If you enjoy historical fiction book series, this is definitely one I recommend.
More Thoughts on Book Series
Thankfully, by the time I read each of these series, all the books had already been published and were complete. I don’t know if I would have enjoyed them as much if I had to keep waiting for the next book to be released!
Which brings up a good book suggestion for publishers and authors:
Include a brief book recap in each subsequent book.
If you don’t read books in a series all back-to-back, it can be surprisingly difficult to remember exactly what happened in the previous book, especially when there are a lot of characters, multiple storylines, or a long gap between releases.
A quick “Previously in this series…” section would be incredibly helpful for readers like me.
What Are Your Favorite Book Series?
These are some of the best book series I’ve read and ones I’m always happy to recommend, but I know there are plenty of great series I haven’t discovered yet.
What’s your favorite book series? And do you prefer reading a series or standalone books?
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