How to Read the Summer Series
C.J. Duggan’s Summer series transport readers to the sun-soaked town of Onslow, Australia, centering on the local Onslow Hotel and a tight-knit group of friends known as the "Onslow Boys." The series is written in a lighthearted, nostalgic 1990s style, capturing the essence of coming-of-age, first love, and lasting friendships.
Because the series contains both full-length novels and fractional companion novellas (such as Book 1.5 or Book 2.5), readers often wonder whether they should follow the order in which the books were published or follow the chronological numbering. We highly recommend the Chronological (Numbered Companion) Order. This path allows you to experience the side stories and character perspectives exactly when they fit best into the overarching narrative timeline.
Chronological Reading Order (Recommended)
Reading the companion novellas in their designated slots is the best way to understand the evolving relationships and supporting characters before they step into the spotlight of subsequent novels. Here is the chronological path:
- The Boys of Summer (Book 1) – Focuses on Tess McGee and Toby Morrison. Tess takes a summer job at the hotel, only to find herself falling for one of the local boys.
- Stan (Book 1.5 Novella) – Focuses on Stan Remington and Bel Evans. Stan’s weekend plans are upended when the local doctor’s daughter arrives.
- An Endless Summer (Book 2) – Focuses on Amy Henderson and Sean. Amy returns to Onslow to help save the local hotel alongside Sean, who has a complicated past.
- Max (Book 2.5 Novella) – Focuses on Max Henry and Mel Sheehan. Max tries to deal with his past catching up with him, with Mel caught in the middle.
- That One Summer (Book 3) – Focuses on Tammy and Chris. This book follows the pair on a road trip filled with unexpected turns and revelations.
- Ringer (Book 3.5 Novella) – Focuses on Ringo "Ringer" James and Miranda Henry. Ringer attempts to escape the romance in Onslow by working in Ballan, only to meet the boss’s daughter.
- Forever Summer (Book 4) – Focuses on Ellie and Adam. A friends-to-lovers story that wraps up the major storylines in Onslow.
Publication Order
If you prefer to read the books in the exact order C.J. Duggan released them, you will notice that the companion novellas were published out of numerical order. For instance, the novella Stan (Book 1.5) was published after That One Summer (Book 3). Here is how the publication timeline looks:
- The Boys of Summer (2012)
- An Endless Summer (2013)
- That One Summer (2013)
- Ringer (2014)
- Stan (2014)
- Max (2015)
- Forever Summer (2015)
What to Know Before You Start
Set in rural Australia during the 1990s, the Summer series relies heavily on nostalgia, local culture, and small-town charm. The dialogue features authentic Australian slang, and the backdrop of cassette tapes, sweltering lake days, and local hangouts makes the setting feel like a character in its own right.
While each book spotlights a different couple, the characters frequently cross over, and events in earlier books directly influence later ones. For this reason, reading them as standalones is not recommended if you want to avoid spoilers and fully appreciate the community dynamics of Onslow.