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series Reading Order

Chesapeake Diaries Books in Order

12 Books
2010 – 2018 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start Reading the Chesapeake Diaries

For the best experience, readers should start with the first book, Coming Home (2010). While each novel features a self-contained romance focusing on a different couple, the residents of St. Dennis grow, marry, and interact across the books. Reading them in order allows you to watch the community evolve and understand the recurring characters who pop up to offer advice, gossip, or support.

Chesapeake Diaries Books in Publication Order

Although some online listings swap the order of the third and fourth novels, the official publication and recommended checklist order from author Mariah Stewart's bibliography is as follows:

  1. Coming Home (2010) — Follows Vanessa Keaton and FBI agent Grady Shields.
  2. Home Again (2010) — Follows Hollywood actress Dallas MacGregor and veterinarian Grant Wyler.
  3. Almost Home (2011) — Follows Steffie Wyler and local entrepreneur Wade Sterling.
  4. Hometown Girl (2011) — Follows Brooke Madison Hadley and her childhood friend, builder Connor Devlin.
  5. Home for the Summer (2012) — Follows Lucy Sinclair and modern-day nomad Clay Beck.
  6. The Long Way Home (2013) — Follows Ellie Jenkins and landscape architect Mitchell Granger.
  7. At the River's Edge (2014) — Follows Sophie Enright and restaurateur Jason Devlin.
  8. On Sunset Beach (2014) — Follows Carly Summit and developer Ford Sinclair.
  9. That Chesapeake Summer (2015) — Follows Jamie Valentine and attorney C.J. Barlow.
  10. Driftwood Point (2016) — Follows Lisbeth Cole and sports agent Alec Sterling.
  11. The Chesapeake Bride (2017) — Follows architect Cassidy Logan and adventurer Owen Parker.
  12. Dune Drive (2018) — Follows Chrissy Jenkins and park ranger Jared Sterling.

The St. Dennis Connection: Last Words

Before launching the Chesapeake Diaries, Mariah Stewart wrote Last Words (2007), the second book in her romantic suspense Last trilogy. This thriller first introduced the fictional bayside town of St. Dennis. While you do not need to read this dark romantic suspense series to enjoy the cozy, beachy romance of the Chesapeake Diaries, it is a fun easter egg for completionist readers who want to explore the town's origins.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Chesapeake Diaries?

We recommend reading the series in publication order, starting with Coming Home and concluding with Dune Drive, to follow the town's timeline and character growth.

QDo I need to read the suspense novel Last Words before starting the series?

No. While Last Words introduces the town of St. Dennis, it is a darker romantic suspense novel. The Chesapeake Diaries is a separate, lighthearted contemporary romance series.

QAre the Chesapeake Diaries books standalones?

Each book features a self-contained romance with a happy ending, but because recurring characters and town events build on each other, they are best enjoyed in order.

QWhere does the title 'Chesapeake Diaries' come from?

The series name is inspired by Grace Sinclair, a longtime resident who owns the local newspaper and writes diary entries that appear throughout the novels.

QWhere is the series set?

The stories are set in the fictional, scenic bayside town of St. Dennis and nearby Cannonball Island on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

QIs the Chesapeake Diaries series finished?

Yes, the series is complete with 12 novels, concluding with Dune Drive in 2018.