The Recommended Reading Path
If you want to dive into the quirky, supernatural-filled town of Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, the absolute best place to start is at the very beginning with the Jane Jameson series (often called the Nice Girls series). This series introduces the core rules of Molly Harper's paranormal universe, the local setting, and the beloved characters who frequently pop up in later spin-offs.
Readers generally choose between two primary paths:
- The Jane Jameson Core Run: Focuses strictly on Jane Jameson's journey from a newly turned vampire librarian to a seasoned shop owner. This includes the four main novels and one essential bridge short story.
- The Complete Half-Moon Hollow Chronology: Continues past Jane's personal storyline into the wider Half-Moon Hollow spin-off series. While these books shift focus to new protagonists—such as half-vampires, witches, and werewolves—Jane, Gabriel, and other fan favorites like the vampire Dick Cheney make frequent, delightful appearances. For the best experience, we recommend following the complete chronological sequence to appreciate the natural evolution of the town and its residents.
The Core Jane Jameson Books
Jane's story is told across four full-length novels and a short story that should be read in strict chronological and publication order:
1. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (2009)
This is where it all begins. Jane Jameson is a polite, mild-mannered librarian in Half-Moon Hollow who gets fired, drowns her sorrows at a local bar, and is mistakenly shot by a deer hunter. To save her life, a mysterious and incredibly attractive vampire named Gabriel Nightengale turns her into an undead creature of the night. Jane must navigate the awkward transition into vampirism, deal with her meddling Southern family, and solve a local murder mystery.
2. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (2009)
Now adjusting to her new life, Jane is busy working at her occult bookstore and trying to figure out her complicated relationship with Gabriel. Things get chaotic when she is drafted to help plan her werewolf best friend Zeb's wedding, all while trying to clear Gabriel's name when he is accused of murder.
3. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (2009)
Jane faces a new set of challenges when she begins receiving threatening letters from an anonymous stalker. She must deal with the emotional fallout of a temporary break with Gabriel and the arrival of a handsome new vampire in town, all while trying to keep her occult bookshop afloat.
3.5. Nice Girls Don’t Sign a Lease Without a Wedding Ring (2010)
This critical short story bridges the gap between the third and fourth novels. Originally published for free on Molly Harper's official website, this story covers the hilarious and domestic struggles of Jane and Gabriel as they attempt to move in together and merge their households.
4. Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (2012)
In the final book focusing strictly on Jane as the main protagonist, Jane must deal with the ultimate domestic nightmare: hosting her vampire sire's ancient, aristocratic family. As family drama erupts and threats to the vampire community emerge, Jane and Gabriel must work together to secure their future.
Expanding into the Half-Moon Hollow Spin-offs
After wrapping up Jane's main story arc, Molly Harper expanded the universe with the Half-Moon Hollow series. These books focus on other supernatural and human residents of the town. Because the plots overlap and characters cross over, reading them in order is highly recommended:
- Driving Mr. Dead (2012): A novella featuring Miranda and vampire driver Jane.
- The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires (2012): The first official spin-off novel, centering on Iris Scanlon, a human who cleans up supernatural messes, and the newly turned vampire she finds on her floor.
- Undead Sublet (2012): A fun novella published in the Undead in My Bed anthology.
- A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses (2013): Shifting the focus to magic, this novel follows Nola Leary, a witch who arrives in Half-Moon Hollow and immediately gets caught up in local drama.
- I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas (2013): A cozy holiday novella set in the Hollow.
- The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire (2015): Centering on Iris's sister Gigi Scanlon, who must deal with local politics and a new romantic interest.
- The Single Undead Moms Club (2015): Follows Libby Stratton as she navigates single motherhood, vampire parenting support groups, and a surprising romance.
- Fangs for the Memories (2015): A novella that continues the town's comedic exploits.
- Where the Wild Things Bite (2016): Spotlighting Anna Greer as she deals with shapeshifting secrets and romantic tension.
- Big Vamp on Campus (2016): A collegiate-themed novella.
- Accidental Sire (2017): Focuses on Ben, a newly turned vampire trying to find his footing in the Hollow.
- Peace, Blood, and Understanding (2019): A novella wrapping up several loose ends in the community.
- A Farewell to Charms (2020): A transitional novella leading into the later books.
- Nice Werewolves Don't Bite Vampires (2020): Focuses on pack black sheep Tylene McClaine and vampire music teacher Alex Bonfils as they try to save local businesses from mysterious attacks.
What to Know Before You Start
Molly Harper's Half-Moon Hollow is a lighthearted, comedic take on paranormal romance. Unlike darker urban fantasies, these books focus heavily on Southern charm, cozy mystery elements, and laugh-out-loud humor. While the spin-offs feature different couples and can technically be enjoyed as standalones, you will miss out on the rich world-building, recurring jokes, and character arcs of the supporting cast if you jump in mid-series. Always start with Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs to build a solid foundation.