The Recommended Reading Order for the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy
To fully experience the charm of Boonsboro, you should read the trilogy in its strict chronological publication order. Because the narrative spans a continuous timeline centered around the physical renovation of the historic inn and the gradual resolution of a overarching mystery, skipping ahead will spoil key character developments and plot points.
1. The Next Always (2011)
The trilogy kicks off with The Next Always, introducing us to Beckett Montgomery, the architect of the family, and Clare Brewster, a resilient young widow who has returned to her hometown to run the local bookstore. Beckett has harbored a quiet crush on Clare since their youth. As Beckett and his brothers begin the heavy lifting of restoring the dilapidated historic inn, he and Clare slowly navigate the path toward second-place love. This book establishes the cozy small-town setting, introduces the Montgomery family dynamics, and gives readers their first taste of Lizzy, the resident ghost whose presence lingers in the walls of the inn.
2. The Last Boyfriend (2012)
The second installment, The Last Boyfriend, focuses on Owen Montgomery, the highly organized, detail-oriented brother who keeps the family business running smoothly. Owen's life gets delightfully complicated when he reconnects with Avery McTavish, his childhood sweetheart and the energetic owner of the local pizzeria. Having known each other their entire lives, Owen and Avery must transition from friends to lovers while confronting their own deep-seated fears of vulnerability. Meanwhile, the inn's grand opening approaches, and Lizzy the ghost steps up her matchmaking efforts, adding both fragrance and lighthearted drama to the couple's journey.
3. The Perfect Hope (2012)
The trilogy reaches its satisfying conclusion with The Perfect Hope. This final chapter centers on Ryder Montgomery, the rugged, rough-around-the-edges brother who prefers tools to small talk, and Hope Beaumont, the sophisticated, polished former hotel manager from Washington, D.C. Hope has stayed on to manage the newly opened Inn BoonsBoro, but a sudden crisis in her personal life leaves her feeling unanchored. The natural friction between Ryder's blunt nature and Hope's refined demeanor creates plenty of romantic sparks. As they clash and compromise, Lizzy the ghost's own tragic Civil War backstory is finally laid to rest, bringing a heartwarming closure to the entire series.
What to Know Before You Start: The Real-Life Inspiration
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy is how closely it mirrors Nora Roberts' real life. In 2009, Roberts and her husband, Bruce Wilder, undertook the monumental task of restoring a historic, ruined building in Boonsboro, Maryland—a town where Roberts has lived for decades. They transformed it into the actual, operating Inn BoonsBoro, a boutique bed-and-breakfast that still welcomes guests today.
When you read the books, you are reading about a highly detailed, fictionalized version of this real-world passion project. The local businesses mentioned in the trilogy—including the Turn the Page Bookstore and Vesta Pizzeria—are real places owned and operated by Roberts' family members in the heart of Boonsboro. For fans of the books, visiting the real town feels like walking directly into the pages of the novels.
The Literary Themed Rooms of the Inn
In both the novels and the real-life Inn BoonsBoro, the guest suites are named after famous literary couples who achieved their own happily-ever-afters. This whimsical touch highlights Roberts' deep love for storytelling. The themed rooms featured in the series include:
- Elizabeth and Darcy (inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice)
- Jane and Rochester (inspired by Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre)
- Westley and Buttercup (inspired by William Goldman's The Princess Bride)
- Marguerite and Percy (inspired by Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel)
- Nick and Nora Charles (inspired by Dashiell Hammett's The Thin Man)
- Titania and Oberon (inspired by William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream)
- Eve and Roarke (a fun self-reference to the famous couple in Nora Roberts' own In Death futuristic suspense series, written under her pen name J.D. Robb)
Lizzy: The Matchmaking Ghost with a Civil War Heart
While the trilogy is grounded in realistic contemporary romance, it features a light supernatural element in the form of Lizzy. Lizzy is the resident ghost of the inn. In the books, she is depicted as a Civil War-era widow who died young and remains bound to the historic property. Rather than being scary, Lizzy is a warm, benevolent spirit who enjoys the scent of honeysuckle, plays harmless pranks on the brothers, and actively works to push the three couples together. Her search for her lost lover and her ultimate peace form the emotional glue that binds the plot of all three novels together.
Practical Reading Advice
If you are planning to dive into the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy, keep these tips in mind:
- Read them in order: While each book wraps up its primary romance, the renovation of the inn progresses chronologically across the trilogy. Reading them out of order will make the construction progress and family developments confusing.
- Enjoy the slow pace: These books are as much about community, family loyalty, and the satisfying details of carpentry and design as they are about romance. Let yourself sink into the cozy pace of small-town life.
- There are no spin-offs: The trilogy is completely self-contained. Once you finish The Perfect Hope, the story of the Montgomery family is complete, though you can explore Roberts' other trilogy series (like the Chesapeake Bay Saga) if you want a similar family-focused vibe.