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series Reading Order

Courtship of Nellie Fisher Books in Order

3 Books
2007 – 2008 Published
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Reading order
01
The Parting
The Parting
2007
Amazon
02
The Forbidden
The Forbidden
2008
Amazon
03
The Longing
The Longing
2008
Amazon

Recommended Reading Order

The Courtship of Nellie Fisher is a tightly knit trilogy that must be read in its chronological publication order. Because the narrative spans a single continuous storyline detailing a major division in the Amish community and the progression of Nellie's relationship with Caleb Yoder, reading them out of sequence will spoil key plot points.

  1. The Parting (October 2007)
  2. The Forbidden (May 2008)
  3. The Longing (October 2008)

Why You Must Read in Order

Set in 1960s Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the trilogy is not a collection of standalone novels. The story begins in The Parting, where Nellie Mae Fisher's family begins aligning with the New Order Amish, who embrace salvation by grace rather than strictly adhering to traditional legalism. This shift causes a direct rift between Nellie and her Old Order sweetheart, Caleb Yoder. The subsequent books, The Forbidden and The Longing, follow the emotional, social, and spiritual fallout of this division. Skipping ahead will leave you confused about the community's state and ruin the resolution of their romance.

The Hickory Hollow Shared Universe

While this trilogy is self-contained, it belongs to Beverly Lewis's popular "Hickory Hollow" shared universe. Readers of Lewis's other Lancaster County books will spot exciting connections:

  • Abram's Daughters Connection: Characters from Lewis's earlier Abram's Daughters series, such as Leah and Sadie Ebersol, make cameo appearances or are referenced in Nellie's story, bridging the two series together.
  • Shared Setting: The town of Hickory Hollow serves as the backdrop, linking this trilogy to the later Home to Hickory Hollow series.

What to Read Next

Once you finish The Longing, the natural next step is to explore the Abram's Daughters series (beginning with The Covenant), which explores Hickory Hollow's history starting in the post-WWII era, or dive into the Home to Hickory Hollow series (beginning with The Fiddler) for modern stories set in the exact same community.

Frequently Asked

QCan you read the Courtship of Nellie Fisher books out of order?

No, it is highly recommended to read them in order. The series is a continuous trilogy following Nellie Mae Fisher and Caleb Yoder's relationship and their community's division. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot points and character fates.

QWhat is the first book in the Courtship of Nellie Fisher series?

The first book is The Parting, published in October 2007.

QWhere does the Courtship of Nellie Fisher series take place?

The series is set in Hickory Hollow, a fictional Amish community located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, during the 1960s.

QHow does this series connect to Beverly Lewis's other books?

It shares the Hickory Hollow setting with several other Beverly Lewis series, most notably Abram's Daughters. Characters like Leah and Sadie Ebersol from that series make appearances or are mentioned, tying the stories together.

QIs there a sequel or spin-off series to Nellie Fisher's story?

While Nellie's personal story wraps up in The Longing, you can read the Home to Hickory Hollow series or the Abram's Daughters series to explore other stories set in the same community.

QWhat is the central conflict in the Courtship of Nellie Fisher series?

The trilogy centers on the historical 1960s split between the Old Order and New Order Amish. The main characters, Nellie and Caleb, find their courtship threatened as their families choose opposing sides in this religious division.