The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
For the best reading experience, you should read the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series in strict publication order. Because the series functions as a continuous family saga, the lives of the Hodges family progress chronologically from one book to the next. Starting with any book other than the first will spoil major character milestones, including relationship updates, career changes, marriages, and new births.
The journey begins with The Nantucket Inn, which introduces the central protagonist, Lisa Hodges, and establishes the cozy Beach Plum Cove Inn as the heart of the community. From there, each sequel introduces new neighbors, guests, and side plots while keeping the core Hodges family at the center of the narrative.
Nantucket Beach Plum Cove Books in Publication Order
Pamela M. Kelley has published nine novels in the series between 2019 and 2024. The publication order matches the chronological order of the story events:
- The Nantucket Inn (2019)
- Nantucket Neighbors (2019)
- Nantucket White Christmas (2019)
- A Nantucket Affair (2020)
- Nantucket Weddings (2020)
- Nantucket Threads (2021)
- Nantucket News (2021)
- Nantucket Homes (2023)
- Nantucket Summer House (2024)
Detailed Breakdown of the Books
1. The Nantucket Inn (2019)
In this series opener, fifty-something Lisa Hodges faces sudden financial ruin after her husband passes away, leaving behind secret gambling debts. Desperate to keep her beautiful waterfront home and stay near her adult children (Kate, Kristen, Abby, and Chase), Lisa converts her house into a bed and breakfast. This book establishes the B&B as a sanctuary for both Lisa and her first guests, including local restaurant owner Rhett Byrne.
2. Nantucket Neighbors (2019)
Lisa's B&B is thriving, but the drama moves to her children. Kristen ends a toxic relationship and catches the eye of a new neighbor, while Chase enters a romance that has the family worried. Meanwhile, Lisa's best friend Paige deals with a troublesome new neighbor, Violet, who previously opposed Lisa’s B&B plans.
3. Nantucket White Christmas (2019)
This holiday entry shifts focus to Angela Stark, a San Francisco maid who loses her job and apartment just before Christmas. After receiving a life-changing inheritance letter, she travels to Nantucket with her orange cat, Sam. Her temporary stay turns permanent as she bonds with the Hodges family and finds a sense of belonging.
4. A Nantucket Affair (2020)
The plot centers on Sue and Curt Hodges, close friends of Lisa who are celebrated for their seemingly perfect 35-year marriage. However, when a younger woman named Brandi Morgan is hired at their insurance agency, rumors begin to swirl. Subplots track Chase and Beth’s stressful house-flipping project, Abby adjusting to motherhood, and Kristen supporting her boyfriend Tyler through a difficult secret.
5. Nantucket Weddings (2020)
Mia Maxwell is a successful Nantucket wedding planner struggling with grief after her fiancé's tragic death. After her house burns down, she takes refuge at the Beach Plum Cove Inn. As Mia navigates planning two weddings for the Hodges family, she finds herself opening her heart to new possibilities and helping her sister Izzy escape a controlling relationship.
6. Nantucket Threads (2021)
This book focuses on Izzy as she navigates a surprise pregnancy and decides whether to reunite with her ex-boyfriend, Rick Savage, or move on with a longtime friend. The Hodges family experiences their own updates, including a major announcement from Kate and Lisa running into zoning issues at the B&B.
7. Nantucket News (2021)
Taylor Abbott relocates from Charleston to work as a junior reporter at the local newspaper. While staying at Lisa's B&B, she finds herself falling for her boss, Blake. Meanwhile, Rhett installs hidden cameras to catch an employee suspected of theft, and the island buzzes with rumors of a celebrity movie production.
8. Nantucket Homes (2023)
Autumn brings new characters to the island. Recently widowed Kay Johnson finds companionship with Walter Sturgess. Walter's son Travis, a tech CEO, moves back temporarily while Chase Hodges builds his new oceanfront home. This setup brings Travis back in touch with his high school sweetheart, Victoria, who is recovering from her own heartbreak.
9. Nantucket Summer House (2024)
The ninth book introduces Lauren, a television producer heading a new reality show called Nantucket Influence. The project gets messy when she realizes one of the cast members is her cheating ex-boyfriend. Lauren navigates her feelings for local production coordinator Hudson, while Lisa faces off against her rival, Violet, in a local lobster quiche competition.
Chronological Continuity and Order Caveats
Because the series spans multiple years, the passage of time is felt in the characters' ages, relationships, and children growing up. While each book introduces a self-contained romance or mystery (such as Mia’s wedding planning or Taylor’s reporting), the overarching family saga of the Hodges family is continuous. Skipping books will result in missing key context, such as how Chase and Beth got together, or why certain characters are married or have children. Readers are strongly advised not to read these as standalone novels.
What to Know Before You Start
Pamela M. Kelley’s style is clean, cozy, and food-centric. The books frequently feature mouthwatering descriptions of seafood, lobster quiches, and baked goods, making them perfect comfort reads. The series is set on the actual island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, using real landmarks alongside fictional locations like the Beach Plum Cove Inn. It shares a similar appeal to the beach reads of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer, but with a lighter, feel-good focus on second chances and community resilience.
Crossovers and Companion Series
While Pamela M. Kelley has written another popular Nantucket-based series called The Nantucket Restaurant Series (beginning with The Restaurant), the two series are independent. They share the same idyllic island setting and cozy tone, and characters may occasionally cross paths or be mentioned in passing, but you do not need to read one series to understand the other. They can be enjoyed completely separately.