How to Read the Middlefield Family Series
If you are looking to dive straight into the Middlefield Family trilogy, the best way to read these books is in their original publication order. While each book focuses on a different couple's journey toward love, faith, and second chances, the character arcs and community dynamics flow naturally from one novel to the next. Reading them in sequence ensures you won't encounter minor spoilers about who ends up with whom in the close-knit Amish town.
- Treasuring Emma (2011): The series kicks off with Emma, who is left heartbroken when her first love, Adam, leaves the Amish community for the English world. When he returns, and a new suitor enters the picture, Emma must decide where her heart truly belongs.
- Faithful to Laura (2012): This second book focuses on Laura Stutzman, who is seeking answers from a man who broke his promise. She finds comfort in Sawyer Thompson, a man torn between the Amish way of life and the modern Yankee world.
- Letters to Katie (2013): The trilogy wraps up with Katie's story, weaving a gentle tale of letters, misunderstandings, and hidden feelings between Katie and Johnny.
The Greater Middlefield Universe: All Series in Order
Kathleen Fuller has written multiple interconnected series set in her fictionalized version of Middlefield, Ohio—which is inspired by the real-world Middlefield, home to one of the largest Amish populations in the United States. To experience the full evolution of the town and see recurring characters grow up, you can expand your reading to the entire Middlefield Universe. Here is the recommended order for exploring the different series that share this cozy setting.
1. Hearts of Middlefield Series
This is the first Amish romance series Kathleen Fuller set in Middlefield. It primarily follows the trials and triumphs of the Byler family and can be read completely independently of the other series, though it introduces readers to the setting's warm tone and community elders.
- A Man of His Word (2009)
- An Honest Love (2010)
- A Hand to Hold (2010)
2. Mysteries of Middlefield Series
This is a middle-grade and young adult mystery series. While the tone is slightly different from her adult romance novels, it is a crucial piece of the Middlefield timeline. This series introduces a group of young Amish friends who face local secrets and learn about trust and community.
- A Summer Secret (2010)
- The Secrets Beneath (2010)
- Hide and Secret (2011)
3. Middlefield Family Series
The core series of our guide, which takes place after the events of the Mysteries series. If you read the Mysteries series first, you will get the unique pleasure of seeing characters like Sawyer, Johnny, Katherine, Bekah, and Caleb grow up and search for love as adults.
- Treasuring Emma (2011)
- Faithful to Laura (2012)
- Letters to Katie (2013)
4. Standalone Middlefield Novel
After completing the main trilogies, you can check out Fuller's standalone novel set in the same community, which offers a fresh perspective on the town's residents.
- A Faith of Her Own (2015)
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats
For the most part, publication order matches the chronological timeline of the universe. However, the most significant choice readers face is whether to start with the youth-oriented Mysteries of Middlefield series or the adult romance Middlefield Family series.
Because characters like Sawyer and Johnny are introduced as children and teenagers in the Mysteries of Middlefield, reading those three mysteries first provides a deep backstory for their adult counterparts in Faithful to Laura and Letters to Katie. However, because the mysteries are written for younger readers, adult romance fans may prefer to skip straight to Treasuring Emma. If you choose to skip the middle-grade books, you will still easily understand the romances, as Kathleen Fuller provides enough context within the adult novels to fill in any blanks.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you open the first book, here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of your visit to Middlefield:
- Standalone Viability: Each novel in the Middlefield Family series can technically be read as a standalone. Kathleen Fuller wraps up the primary romance of each book by the final page. However, because characters appear as secondary figures in other books, reading them in order offers a much richer experience.
- A Different Kind of Amish Romance: Unlike some Amish fiction that relies heavily on formulaic plots, Fuller is known for writing deeply flawed, highly relatable characters who struggle with heavy themes like betrayal, self-doubt, and the difficult path to forgiveness.
- Authentic Setting: Fuller drew inspiration from her time living near the real Middlefield, Ohio. Her writing reflects a deep respect for Amish culture and traditions while showing that community members deal with universal human struggles.