Where to Start with Chris Cannon
If you are new to Chris Cannon’s work, your ideal starting point depends on your favorite genre. For fans of young adult paranormal fantasy with a heavy dose of snark, starting with the Going Down in Flames series is a must. If you prefer contemporary young adult romance filled with witty banter and fake-dating tropes, kick off your journey with Blackmail Boyfriend, the first book in the Boyfriend Chronicles.
Going Down in Flames Series (Dragon YA Fantasy)
This is Chris Cannon's signature paranormal series. It centers on Bryn McKenna, a teenager who discovers she is a rare hybrid dragon. She is whisked away to a magical boarding school run by the Directorate, where she must navigate strict clan politics, dangerous conspiracies, and forbidden romance. While the main story is told in five core novels, Cannon later released a companion prequel that shifts the chronological timeline.
The Prequel vs. Publication Order
Star-Crossed Dragons (2021) is a prequel novel that details how Bryn's parents, Sara Sinclair and Ian, fell in love and ran away to escape the Directorate's strict laws. Reading it first gives you rich backstory on the world's politics, but reading it after the main series preserves the mystery of Bryn's origin. We highly recommend starting with the original book, Going Down in Flames, to discover the world alongside Bryn, and then reading the prequel as a companion.
Going Down in Flames Recommended Reading Order:
- Going Down in Flames (2014)
- Bridges Burned (2015)
- Trial by Fire (2016)
- Fanning the Flames (2017)
- Burning Bright (2018)
- Star-Crossed Dragons (2021) (Prequel / Companion Novel)
The Boyfriend Chronicles
If you love sweet, laugh-out-loud romantic comedies, this series of companion novels is a delight. Each book features a different couple navigating high school drama, fake relationships, and social wagers, meaning they can easily be read as standalones. However, reading them in order lets you enjoy the recurring characters and evolving friendships in their school social circles.
- Blackmail Boyfriend (2015) – Haley Patterson blackmails her popular crush, Christian Forbes, into a fake relationship, only for real sparks to fly.
- The Boyfriend Bet (2016) – Follows Lucy and Avery as a high-stakes bet turns their social lives upside down.
- Boomerang Boyfriend (2017) – Focuses on the chemistry and complications between Cooper and Zoe.
Dating Dilemmas Series
Sharing the same fun, lighthearted romance energy as the Boyfriend Chronicles, this duology explores teenage relationships, public expectations, and the thin line between acting and falling in love.
- The Dating Debate (2018) – Nina Barnes and her neighbor West Smith enter into a fake dating agreement to solve their respective social problems, only to realize their feelings are very real.
- 99% Faking It (2019) – Continues the theme of romantic misdirection and humorous high school antics.
Mysteries of Mystic Hills (Paranormal Cozy Mystery)
In 2023, Cannon expanded into cozy paranormal mysteries. This series follows Belinda Harbinger, a preschool teacher who inherits a home and a tearoom in the magical town of Mystic Hills. When she discovers she can speak to the dead, she must team up with a sarcastic talking cat familiar to solve her aunt's murder while dodging magical town politics. Unlike her YA romances, these books should be read in strict publication order to follow the overarching mystery plots.
- Murder in Mystic Hills (2023)
- Double Trouble in Mystic Hills (2023)
- SpellBound in Mystic Hills (2024)
Crossroads Chronicles
For readers who want something a bit darker than her usual lighthearted fare, this paranormal series introduces a town brimming with witches, vampires, and demons.
- Demon Bound (2020) – Book nerd Meena has a summoning go terribly wrong, binding her as a soul-collector to a demon named Bane. She must team up with Jake, a local witch, to survive her new supernatural contract.