How to Start Reading Americana
Janet Dailey's massive 50-book Americana project is a legendary feat in romance history, earning her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Because every single novel features a completely standalone story with its own couple and set of characters, there is no required reading order. You can pick and choose books in any sequence you like without missing any plot connections.
If you want a fun way to navigate the series, here are the three best ways to read them:
- The Hometown Tour: Start with your home state, or states you have visited, to see how Dailey captures the local landscapes and culture.
- Alphabetical (State-by-State) Order: Work your way alphabetically through the states, starting with Alabama (Dangerous Masquerade) and finishing with Wyoming (Darling Jenny).
- Original Publication Order: Follow the author's writing journey by starting with the very first book she published in the sequence, Savage Land (Texas), in 1974.
The Classic 50-State Series: Two Ways to Track
Depending on which book list or library catalog you use, you will see the classic Americana books organized in one of two ways. Neither is 'correct' or 'incorrect'—it just depends on how you want to track your reading journey.
1. Original Publication Order
This is the order in which Janet Dailey wrote and published the novels between 1974 and 1982. Reading this way lets you experience the evolution of her writing style. This order begins with Savage Land: Texas (1974) and concludes with Northern Magic: Alaska (1982).
2. Alphabetical State Order (Often called "Chronological")
Many collectors and databases organize the books alphabetically by U.S. state. It begins with Alabama (Dangerous Masquerade) and works all the way through to Wyoming (Darling Jenny). Note that despite being called 'chronological' in some databases, the stories do not share a timeline or recurring characters, so the dates inside the books do not build a single continuous narrative.
The New Americana Series
Decades after finishing her 50-state tour, Janet Dailey launched the New Americana series in 2016. It is important to know that these are not updates to the original 50-state stories. Instead, this is a separate, contemporary series focusing on modern romances set in close-knit communities. While they are also standalones, reading them in publication order starting with Sunrise Canyon is the best way to enjoy the recurring community feel.