Books On Board

Wishful Books in Order

  • 24 Books
  • 2013 – 2019 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

Where to Start with the Wishful Series

Fictional Wishful, Mississippi, is the ultimate cozy small-town setting: a place full of sweet tea, front-porch gossip, and close-knit community ties. If you want to dive into Kait Nolan's RITA® Award-winning world, the first question is always where to start. While every single book in the Wishful series is written to work as a standalone contemporary romance with its own satisfying happily-ever-after, the recurring characters, town events, and evolving relationships make reading them in order highly rewarding.

For the best introduction to the town, we recommend starting with To Get Me To You. Although it was the second book published, it introduces the core economic struggle of Wishful and establishes the main setting and major town figures. If you want to trace the absolute beginning of the town's romance timeline, you can optionally begin with the prequel novella Once Upon A Coffee, which introduces the town's beloved coffee shop and recurring secondary characters.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Because Kait Nolan published the books in a slightly different sequence than they fall chronologically, readers often debate the best sequence. The biggest point of divergence is Be Careful, It's My Heart. Published first in 2013, this book is chronologically the third full-length novel in the series timeline. In the chronological list, it sits after To Get Me to You and Know Me Well, where the backstory details line up more cleanly.

Publication Order of the Wishful Books

If you prefer to read the books in the order they were written and released, follow this list. This sequence allows you to see how Kait Nolan developed her style and built the town's lore from the ground up:

  1. Be Careful, It's My Heart (2013)
  2. To Get Me To You (2014)
  3. Know Me Well (2015)
  4. Just For This Moment (2016)
  5. Turn My World Around (2016)
  6. Wish I Might (2016)
  7. Dance Me A Dream (2017)
  8. See You Again (2017)
  9. The Christmas Fountain (2017)
  10. You Were Meant For Me (2018)
  11. A Lot Like Christmas (2018)
  12. Dancing Away With My Heart (2019)

Chronological Reading Order of the Wishful Books

This is the author-recommended order for chronological progression, which places the character relationships and community developments in their proper sequence. Novellas and companion short works are also integrated here to give you the complete Wishful experience:

  1. Once Upon A Coffee (Prequel Novella - Wishful Moments #1)
  2. To Get Me To You (Wishful Book 1)
  3. Know Me Well (Wishful Book 2)
  4. Be Careful, It's My Heart (Wishful Book 3)
  5. The Matchmaker Maneuver (Novella - Wishful Book 3.5)
  6. Just For This Moment (Wishful Book 4)
  7. Wish I Might (Wishful Book 5)
  8. Turn My World Around (Wishful Book 6)
  9. Dance Me A Dream (Wishful Book 7)
  10. See You Again (Wishful Book 8)
  11. The Christmas Fountain (Wishful Book 9)
  12. You Were Meant For Me (Wishful Book 10)
  13. A Lot Like Christmas (Wishful Book 11)
  14. Dancing Away With My Heart (Wishful Book 12)

Understanding Novellas and Crossovers

In addition to the main twelve novels, Kait Nolan has written several companion pieces under the Wishful Moments banner. These shorter stories focus on side characters or provide seasonal updates on previously established couples:

  • Once Upon A Coffee: Focuses on Dillon Lange and Avery Cahill, providing the earliest look at Wishful.
  • The Matchmaker Maneuver: A prequel novella to Just For This Moment, centering on Myles Stewart and Piper Parish.
  • Once Upon A Rescue: A crossover novella featuring characters from Wishful alongside elements from Nolan's other series.
  • Who I Am with You: A crossover novelette bridging the gap between the Wishful Romance series and the Wishing for a Hero series.

The Wishing for a Hero Spin-Off Series

If you finish the main Wishful books and aren't ready to leave the universe, Kait Nolan has written a complete spin-off series titled Wishing for a Hero. This collection leans slightly more into light romantic suspense but maintains the same small-town heart and charm. It features siblings and friends connected back to characters in Wishful. The reading order for the spin-off is:

  1. Make You Feel My Love (Judd and Autumn)
  2. Watch Over Me (Nash and Rowan)
  3. Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Ethan and Miranda)
  4. Burn For You (Sean and Delaney)

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Wishful, keep in mind that the books feature heavy themes of second chances, community support, and strong, independent Southern heroines. The setting of Wishful itself acts as a main anchor; places like the local pharmacy, the historic theater, and bustling diners serve as recurring spots where couples meet and interact. While the author has completed the main Wishful series, characters frequently make brief cameo appearances in her newer works, such as The Misfit Inn, making the broader Kait Nolan bibliography highly satisfying for long-time fans.

Frequently Asked

Do I need to read the Wishful books in order?

No. Every book in the Wishful series functions as a standalone romance with a complete resolution. However, reading them in chronological order provides a richer experience as you watch the town grow and see recurring characters progress in their lives.

Which Wishful book should I read first?

The best starting point is To Get Me To You (Book 1), which introduces the town's central community setting. Alternatively, you can start with the prequel novella Once Upon A Coffee to see where the town's timeline begins.

Is Be Careful, It's My Heart the first book?

Yes, Be Careful, It's My Heart was the first book published in the series (2013). However, chronologically, its events occur after the events of To Get Me To You and Know Me Well, making it Book 3 in the story timeline.

What is the Wishing for a Hero series?

Wishing for a Hero is a complete 4-book spin-off series by Kait Nolan. It features light romantic suspense and focuses on characters connected to the main Wishful series.

Are there any co-authored books in the Wishful series?

No. Kait Nolan is the sole author of the Wishful series, though she has participated in multi-author shared worlds in other separate projects.