Hubbard’s Point Books in Order

How to Read the Hubbard’s Point Series: The Recommended Order

If you want to experience the seaside magic of Hubbard’s Point (often referred to as the Black Hall series) the way Luanne Rice intended, reading in publication order is highly recommended. While each book is a standalone story featuring a different couple or family, the community itself grows and evolves over time. Recurring characters—like the marine biologist Sam Trevor or the artist Stevie Moore—grow up, change careers, and support their neighbors across different books, making the overall reading experience much richer if you follow the timeline as it was written.

Here is the recommended reading path for the core Hubbard’s Point books:

1. Firefly Beach (2001) – Introduces the coastal setting, the troubled Renwick sisters, and a young Sam Trevor.
2. Safe Harbor (2002) – Centers on artist Dana Underhill and an adult Sam Trevor as they uncover family secrets.
3. True Blue (2002) – Follows veterinarian Rumer Larkin and her childhood sweetheart Zeb Mayhew.
4. The Perfect Summer (2003) – Focuses on Bay McCabe rebuilding her family after her husband’s betrayal, alongside her old friend Dan.
5. Beach Girls (2004) – Explores the bonds of three childhood friends (Emma, Maddie, and Stevie) and how Emma’s family heals after her death.
6. Last Kiss (2008) – A direct sequel to Beach Girls, focusing on Nell Kilvert and Sheridan Rosslare as they investigate a tragic loss.
7. The Night Before (2014) – A festive holiday novella set on a coastal Christmas tree farm that ties multiple Rice universes together.

Hubbard’s Point Books: A Closer Look

To help you understand the flow of the series, here is a detailed breakdown of each book, the characters you will meet, and how they connect to the larger community.

1. Firefly Beach (2001)

This is where the journey begins. The story centers on the Renwick sisters—Caroline, Clea, and Skye—who return to their childhood home on Firefly Beach in Hubbard’s Point. They are forced to confront the legacy of their late father, a famous and volatile artist, as well as a mysterious stranger named Joe Connor who has arrived with secrets of his own. This book sets the tone for the series, weaving themes of sibling dynamics, artistic passion, and the therapeutic nature of the Connecticut shore. It also introduces a young Sam Trevor, who will play a major role in the next novel.

2. Safe Harbor (2002)

Dana Underhill is an artist living in France when tragedy strikes: her sister and brother-in-law drown in a sailing accident off the coast of Hubbard's Point. Dana returns to the shoreline to raise her orphaned nieces, Julia and Pippa. There, she reunites with marine biologist Sam Trevor, who was a boy in Firefly Beach but has now grown into a compassionate man who has secretly loved Dana for years. Together, they investigate the suspicious circumstances of the drownings while Dana finds a safe harbor for her grief. The book beautifully showcases the ocean as both a source of tragedy and a place of deep healing.

3. True Blue (2002)

Set in the same close-knit community, True Blue focuses on Rumer Larkin, a dedicated local veterinarian who has built a quiet life caring for animals. Rumer’s peace is disrupted when her childhood sweetheart, Zeb Mayhew, returns to Hubbard’s Point with his teenage son. Years ago, Zeb broke Rumer’s heart by marrying her sister, Elizabeth. Now a widower, Zeb seeks forgiveness and a second chance with the woman he always truly loved. The story explores the complexities of sisterly betrayal, parental responsibility, and the possibility of rekindling a lost love.

4. The Perfect Summer (2003)

Bay McCabe thinks she has the perfect coastal life until her husband, Sean, suddenly goes missing after embezzling money from his bank. Left to pick up the pieces for her children, Annie, Billy, and Tilly, Bay finds herself under investigation by the FBI and facing the realization that her marriage was built on lies. She finds comfort in Dan, a childhood friend and widower who has also suffered immense loss. As they search for the truth behind Sean's betrayal, a quiet and healing romance blossoms between them, proving that new beginnings can rise from the ashes of betrayal.

5. Beach Girls (2004)

One of the most beloved entries in the series, Beach Girls centers on three childhood friends: Emma, Maddie, and Stevie, who grew up together on the beaches of Hubbard's Point. Following Emma's untimely death, her husband, Jack Kilvert, and daughter, Nell, return to the coastal town to heal. Their arrival reunites Maddie and Stevie, forcing them to confront old misunderstandings and family secrets. The story is a moving tribute to female friendship, mother-daughter bonds, and the ways we rebuild our lives after devastating loss.

6. Last Kiss (2008)

Serving as a direct sequel to Beach Girls, Last Kiss returns to Hubbard’s Point to deal with a tragic mystery. Nell Kilvert (Emma’s daughter) is devastated by the unsolved Manhattan murder of her boyfriend, young filmmaker Charlie Rosslare. Seeking answers, Nell hires private investigator Gavin Dawson. Gavin happens to be the long-lost love of Charlie’s grieving mother, Sheridan Rosslare. As Gavin and Sheridan work together to find justice for Charlie, they must also confront the unresolved feelings that drove them apart years ago. Stevie Moore also returns in this installment, acting as a crucial bridge of support for the characters.

7. The Night Before (2014)

This cozy holiday novella is set on a Christmas tree farm along the Connecticut shoreline. The story revolves around Lydia Madison, a local artist with a guarded secret, who opens her home to a young couple, Danny Byrne and Sara Castillo, during a massive thunderstorm. While shorter than the other books, it is an essential piece of the universe because it serves as an emotional homecoming to Black Hall and Hubbard’s Point, bringing back the warm community spirit that fans adore.

Chronological Caveats and the Broader Luanne Rice Universe

While the publication order is the easiest path, there are a few universe connections that eager readers should keep in mind. Luanne Rice frequently connects her novels, and characters from other standalones occasionally cross paths with the residents of Hubbard's Point.

The most notable crossover involves the 2014 novella The Night Before. The character Danny Byrne first appears in Rice's 2004 holiday novel, Silver Bells, which is set in Nova Scotia and New York City. Additionally, the novella features tie-ins to The Lemon Orchard (2014), a standalone novel set in California. Because of these connections, reading Silver Bells and The Lemon Orchard before diving into The Night Before will help you fully appreciate the cameos and character paths, though it is not strictly necessary to enjoy the plot.

Furthermore, because Last Kiss deals with the direct aftermath of events and characters established in Beach Girls, it is highly recommended that you do not read Last Kiss out of order. Doing so will spoil major character resolutions from Beach Girls and make the emotional stakes of the sequel far less impactful.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you pack your virtual bags for the Connecticut shore, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Hubbard's Point:

• Black Hall vs. Hubbard's Point: Don't be confused if you see the series referred to by two different names. Black Hall is the name of the broader historic town (inspired by the real-life Old Lyme, Connecticut, where Rice lives), while Hubbard's Point refers specifically to the beach association and coastal community where the characters reside.
• The Lifetime Adaptation: In 2005, Lifetime adapted Beach Girls into a highly successful six-part television miniseries starring Rob Lowe as Jack Kilvert and Julia Ormond as Stevie Moore. If you enjoy the book, the miniseries offers a wonderful visual companion to the coastal atmosphere Rice creates.
• Readability as Standalones: Except for the direct transition between Beach Girls and Last Kiss, these books function exceptionally well as standalone reads. If you happen to pick up Safe Harbor or True Blue first, you won't feel lost, but you will miss the gradual evolution of the community.