Where to Start Reading Cynthia Hand
Cynthia Hand has built a diverse bibliography spanning paranormal romance, comedic historical fantasy, and poignant contemporary realism. Because her catalog is split into distinct series and standalone novels, your ideal starting point depends on your favorite genre:
- For Fantasy and Supernatural Fans: Start with Unearthly (2011). This is the author's debut novel and the beginning of her popular angelic YA trilogy. It is the perfect entry point if you enjoy high stakes, destiny-driven plotlines, and sweet romance.
- For Comedy and Reimagined History Lovers: Begin with My Lady Jane (2016). Co-written with Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows, this book kicks off "The Lady Janies" series. It is a witty, irreverent, and fantastical spin on history that will immediately hook readers who appreciate humor and banter.
- For Emotional Contemporary Fiction Readers: Start with The Last Time We Say Goodbye (2015). This standalone novel deals with grief and recovery in the wake of a family tragedy and showcase's Hand's ability to handle heavy, real-world issues with deep sensitivity.
The Unearthly Series Reading Order
The Unearthly series is Cynthia Hand's signature solo fantasy project. The story follows Clara Gardner, a teenager who discovers she is a "quarter-angel" (or part-angel) and must decipher her purpose on Earth while navigating a love triangle, high school, and ancient supernatural conflicts. The series should be read in its official narrative order, which includes a crucial novella:
- Unearthly (2011) - Clara Gardner discovers her angelic heritage and starts having visions of a handsome stranger in a forest fire, leading her family to move to Wyoming to fulfill her destiny.
- Hallowed (2012) - Clara struggles to accept her angelic purpose as it conflicts with her feelings for her boyfriend, Christian, and her family's safety.
- Radiant (2012) - A companion novella (Book 2.5) that shifts focus to Clara’s friend Angela, who is also part-angel. Reading this between books 2 and 3 provides valuable context for the grand finale.
- Boundless (2013) - The epic conclusion where Clara faces her final trials, resolves her romantic choices, and attempts to stop the dark forces threatening the world.
Note: There is also a brief promotional piece titled "Lost Scene from Hallowed" (2012) that can be read immediately after finishing Hallowed for a bit of extra character depth.
The Lady Janies & The Marys Reading Order
One of Cynthia Hand's most popular ventures is her collaborative work with fellow YA authors Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows. Working together as a trio, they write revisionist history novels that take famous historical figures, insert magical elements (like people turning into animals), and give their protagonists the happy endings they were denied in real life. These books are divided into two main cycles: "The Janes" and "The Marys."
The Jane Books
This initial trilogy tackles historical figures and classic literary heroines named Jane. While they share a comedic tone, they are completely standalone stories set in different universes and can be read in any order:
- My Lady Jane (2016) - A comical retelling of the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen, featuring shapeshifters (Eðians) and political intrigue. This book was also adapted into a streaming television series.
- My Plain Jane (2018) - A supernatural retelling of Charlotte Brontë's classic novel Jane Eyre, featuring ghosts, ghost hunters, and a fictionalized Charlotte Brontë as a main character.
- My Calamity Jane (2020) - A wild west adventure that features the famous gunslinger Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley, and Wild Bill Hickok, reimagined in a world plagued by garou (werewolves).
The Mary Books
Following the success of the Janes, the co-authors launched a companion cycle focusing on historical figures named Mary. Like the Janes, these are standalones and can be read in any order, though they are usually listed by publication date:
- My Contrary Mary (2021) - A story centering on Mary, Queen of Scots, who must navigate court politics, arranged marriages, and her secret status as a shapeshifting beast.
- My Imaginary Mary (2022) - A historical fantasy that follows Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, who discovers she has the actual magical ability to bring her creations to life.
- My Salty Mary (2024) - A pirate adventure centering on the real-life historical pirate Mary Read as she navigates the high seas with magic, romance, and buccaneers.
Cynthia Hand’s Standalone Novels
Outside of her collaborative histories and her angel series, Cynthia Hand has written several widely acclaimed standalone contemporary novels. These books do not share any characters or plotlines and can be read in any order:
- The Last Time We Say Goodbye (2015) - A realistic, emotional look at a girl named Alexis who is dealing with the aftermath of her brother's suicide. The novel explores grief, guilt, and healing, drawing on some of the author's personal experiences.
- The Afterlife of Holly Chase (2017) - A modern, young adult retelling of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. The story follows Holly Chase, a selfish girl who is visited by three ghosts, fails to change her ways, dies, and is forced to work as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the afterlife.
- The How and the Why (2019) - A dual-narrative novel exploring the complexities of adoption. It is told through letters written by a pregnant teen to her unborn child, and the present-day perspective of that child, now eighteen and searching for her roots.
- With You All the Way (2021) - A contemporary coming-of-age story about a teen girl named Ada who is navigating family drama, friendship shifts, and her first major romantic relationship while discovering who she is.
Anthology Contributions
For readers who want to explore every piece of Cynthia Hand's writing, she contributed a highly personal essay to the mental health anthology Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles (2018), edited by Jessica Burkhart. In this essay, Hand reflects on her personal encounters with the devastating impact of suicide, offering an intimate look at the real-life emotions that helped shape her novel The Last Time We Say Goodbye.