The Recommended Reading Order for the Falling Series
Jasinda Wilder’s Falling series is a highly emotional, New Adult contemporary romance saga that captured the hearts of readers starting in 2013. The series features heavy themes of grief, recovery, music, and redemption. While the books follow different couples, they are deeply interconnected through family ties and recurring plotlines. For the best experience, readers should follow the order in which the books were published.
Here is the recommended reading path for the series:
- Falling Into You (2013) – Focuses on Nell Hawthorne and Colton Calloway.
- Falling Into Us (2013) – A parallel story focusing on Becca de Rosa and Jason Dorsey.
- Falling Under (2014) – Jump-forwards to focus on Kylie Calloway and Oz Hyde.
- Falling Away (2015) – Focuses on Benjamin Dorsey and Echo Leveaux.
- Falling for Colton (2016) – A prequel novella focusing on Colton Calloway's tragic past.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For most readers, the publication order is the absolute best way to experience the story. However, if you are looking to see how the timelines fit together, there are a few important timeline overlaps and jumps to keep in mind.
The Prequel Novella: Falling for Colton
Falling for Colton was published last in 2016, but it is chronologically a prequel. It details Colton Calloway’s life before he ever met Nell Hawthorne, focusing on his relationship with his first love, India, and the tragedy that subsequently sent him into a dark spiral. While it takes place first chronologically, reading it first is not recommended. It works best as a companion piece after you are already invested in Colton's character arc from the first book.
The Parallel Timelines: Falling Into You & Falling Into Us
The first two books in the series, Falling Into You and Falling Into Us, take place during the same timeframe. The tragic death of Kyle Calloway (Nell's first love and Colton's younger brother) serves as the catalyst for both books. While the first book follows Nell and Colton as they find comfort in one another, the second book shifts focus to Jason Dorsey and Becca de Rosa, who are dealing with their own high school romance and grief. Reading Falling Into You first is essential because it sets up the central tragedy and characters that define the town's dynamics.
The Next-Generation Time Jump: Falling Under & Falling Away
With Falling Under, the timeline jumps forward about seventeen years. The story centers on Kylie Calloway, the daughter of Nell and Colton, as she falls for a mysterious bad boy named Oz Hyde. Falling Away continues this next-generation focus, following Benjamin Dorsey (Jason's brother) as he leaves Nashville, attempts to reconstruct his life after a career-ending football injury, and finds healing with his physical therapist Cheyenne Leveaux and her daughter Echo Leveaux.
A Closer Look at the Books
1. Falling Into You (2013)
This is where the journey begins. Nell Hawthorne has been in love with Kyle Calloway since childhood. But when Kyle dies in a tragic accident, Nell is consumed by survivor's guilt and overwhelming grief. Enter Colton Calloway, Kyle’s estranged older brother. He is hardened, covered in tattoos, and battles his own dark demons. Together, through a shared love of music and mutual understanding of pain, they begin to piece their broken lives back together. It is a raw, intense story that established the emotional blueprint for the entire series.
2. Falling Into Us (2013)
Taking place parallel to the events of the first book, Falling Into Us details how Kyle's death impacted the wider circle of friends. Jason Dorsey was Kyle's best friend, and Becca de Rosa was Nell's closest confidante. As Nell retreats into herself, Jason and Becca find themselves drawn together in their shared grief. Their romance begins in high school and evolves through college, tackling themes of self-harm, healing, and growing up.
3. Falling Under (2014)
The series takes a massive leap forward in time with Falling Under. Kylie Calloway is now a teenager, and she is just as headstrong as her mother, Nell. When she meets Oz Hyde, a boy surrounded by dark family secrets and dangerous circumstances, she falls fast and hard. This book is unique because it is told from multiple perspectives, including Colton’s. Readers get to see Colton adjust to being a protective father, watching his daughter walk a path that reminds him all too much of his own troubled past.
4. Falling Away (2015)
Focusing on Benjamin Dorsey, this installment details a journey of self-loathing, physical recovery, and finding hope. Having spent years harboring regrets over a love he lost, Ben flees Nashville to play minor league football. A career-ending injury forces him to confront his mental and physical limitations. He forms a close bond with Cheyenne Leveaux, his physical therapist. The narrative shifts focus to Cheyenne's daughter, Echo Leveaux, as she and Ben navigate family secrets, heavy emotional baggage, and an unexpected path to healing.
5. Falling for Colton (2016)
This novella is a prequel designed for readers who want to understand Colton's origins. It outlines the formative relationship between Colton and India, the girl who originally inspired him to seek a better life before tragedy took her away. It fills in the gaps leading right up to the funeral scene in Falling Into You, offering a bittersweet look at Colton's state of mind before he met Nell.
Practical Reader Guide: Standalones, Warnings, and Spin-offs
Can these books be read as standalones?
Technically, each book tells a complete romance with a happily-ever-after or resolving arc. However, due to the heavy character crossovers, recurring storylines, and chronological progression (especially the next-generation jump), we highly advise against reading them out of order. Reading the books as a sequence makes the emotional arcs and family connections much more rewarding.
What is the status of Echo the Stars?
Many readers finishing the series search for a rumored follow-up or spin-off series titled Echo the Stars, which was teased to focus on the character Brayden. Author Jasinda Wilder has confirmed in reader Q&As that this project was never completed or published, meaning the Falling series remains a completed five-book saga.
What to know before you start
Jasinda Wilder’s books do not shy away from intense, difficult themes. The characters deal with severe grief, death of loved ones, self-harm, depression, and trauma. If you are sensitive to these topics, go in with caution. The payoff is always a story of healing, recovery, and deep connection, heavily supported by musical themes that act as a therapeutic outlet for the characters.