The Recommended Reading Order
If you want to experience Tessa and Hardin's turbulent romance with maximum emotional impact, we highly recommend following the publication order. Reading the prequel/companion novel Before first will spoil major plot points and the ultimate resolution of the main series.
- After (2014) – The book that started it all, introducing college freshman Tessa Young and bad boy Hardin Scott.
- After We Collided (2014) – Tessa and Hardin's relationship faces its first major trials and trust issues.
- After We Fell (2014) – Deep secrets and family revelations threaten to tear the couple apart for good.
- After Ever Happy (2015) – The dramatic conclusion to Tessa and Hardin's main journey, spanning several years.
- Before (2015) – A companion novel told primarily from Hardin’s perspective, covering events before, during, and after the main timeline.
- Nothing More (2016) – The first book in the Landon Gibson spin-off, following Hardin's stepbrother as he navigates life and love in New York City.
- Nothing Less (2016) – The conclusion to Landon's story and his own complicated romantic choices.
Reading Caveats: Chronological vs. Publication Order
The primary debate in the After fandom revolves around the placement of Before. Chronologically, the first section of Before takes place before Tessa ever meets Hardin, exploring his childhood and early relationships. However, the rest of the book runs parallel to the events of After and eventually leaps far into the future beyond the timeline of the first four books. Because of these extensive timeline jumps and massive spoilers for the ending of After Ever Happy, reading Before fifth is universally considered the best approach.
Spin-Offs and Graphic Novel Adaptations
The Landon Gibson Duology
Hardin's stepbrother and Tessa's close friend, Landon Gibson, gets his own spotlight in a duology comprising Nothing More and Nothing Less. These books take place after the main events of the After series and are excellent additions for readers who want to stay in the universe while seeing a different, less toxic perspective on love.
After Graphic Novels
For a visual retelling of Tessa and Hardin's romance, Anna Todd collaborated with illustrator Pablo Andrés on a graphic novel adaptation of the first book. While originally envisioned as a longer saga, only two volumes have been published:
- After: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 (2022)
- After: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 2 (2023)