All 5 Sullivan's Crossing Books In Order: The Ultimate Reading Guide And TV Show Differences
The *Sullivan's Crossing* book series, penned by the prolific *New York Times* bestselling author Robyn Carr—the creative force behind the global phenomenon *Virgin River*—is a heartwarming journey of second chances, family reconciliation, and finding love in a picturesque, remote setting. As of December 2025, the book series is complete with five main novels, offering readers a deep dive into the lives of the Sullivan family and the various visitors who find healing at the rustic Colorado-based campground.
This ultimate guide provides the definitive reading order, a detailed look at the main characters of each novel, and a crucial breakdown of how the original literary world differs from the popular television adaptation. If you’ve fallen in love with Maggie Sullivan and Cal Jones on screen, prepare to meet their original, and in some ways, very different, book counterparts.
Robyn Carr's Sullivan's Crossing Series: The Complete 5-Book List
The *Sullivan's Crossing* series is a small-town contemporary romance series that follows a new set of characters in each installment, though they are all connected by the central location—the campground and general store run by Harry “Sully” Sullivan. While each book can be read as a standalone, reading them in order provides the most satisfying character arcs and narrative flow. The series concluded with its fifth book in 2020, and there are currently no announcements for a sixth novel in 2025.
Here is the complete and correct reading order for the *Sullivan's Crossing* books:
- Book 1: What We Find (2016)
- Book 2: Any Day Now (2017)
- Book 3: The Family Gathering (2018)
- Book 4: The Best of Us (2019)
- Book 5: The Country Guesthouse (2020)
Book 1: What We Find (2016)
This is where the journey begins. The story centers on Dr. Maggie Sullivan, a brilliant neurosurgeon whose life in Boston is rocked by a malpractice suit and a bitter breakup. Desperate for a respite, she returns to Sullivan’s Crossing, the Colorado campground run by her estranged father, Harry “Sully” Sullivan.
Maggie’s intention is a brief visit, but her stay is complicated by the presence of Cal Jones, a handsome and mysterious hiker who has been working at the Crossing. In the book, the romance between Maggie and Cal is much more immediate and pronounced than the slow-burn tension seen in the TV show, setting the stage for their relationship and Maggie's eventual choice between her high-stakes city life and the quiet healing power of the Rocky Mountains.
Book 2: Any Day Now (2017)
The second book shifts focus to a new character: Sierra Jones, Cal’s younger sister. Sierra arrives at Sullivan’s Crossing looking for a safe haven and a fresh start after putting a troubled past behind her, which includes a struggle with addiction.
She originally only intends for the Crossing to be a brief stopover on her journey to sobriety and a new life. However, the welcoming community and the presence of her brother, Cal, and his new wife, Maggie, gently pull her in. The novel explores themes of recovery, forgiveness, and the challenge of building a clear path forward when your past is still looming.
Book 3: The Family Gathering (2018)
The Jones family saga continues with Dakota Jones, Cal and Sierra's older brother. Dakota, a tall and good-looking former military man, finds himself at a major crossroads after leaving the service. He travels to Sullivan's Crossing to visit his siblings, who are now happily settled in the Colorado community.
Dakota has no definite plans to stay, but the quiet life and the opportunity to reconnect with his family prove to be a powerful draw. The novel explores his search for purpose and, naturally, introduces a new romantic interest, continuing the series’ exploration of how the Crossing acts as a magnet for healing and new beginnings.
Book 4: The Best of Us (2019)
This installment focuses on Helen, a retired teacher who has found unexpected success as a mystery writer. Helen loves to travel and has vowed never to experience a winter again. When she visits her friend Leigh, the story explores the dynamics of long-term friendship, the joy of a late-in-life career change, and the unexpected ways people can find connection and belonging in a small town.
Book 5: The Country Guesthouse (2020)
The final book in the series introduces Hannah Russell, a successful sales manager from Minneapolis whose life is completely upended by tragedy. When her best friend dies suddenly, Hannah becomes the unprepared guardian of her friend’s five-year-old son, Noah.
Terrified she is not equipped for motherhood, Hannah decides to rent a country guesthouse for the summer as a way to regroup and bond with Noah. The novel is a story of loss, love, family, and a little bit of suspense, showcasing how the peaceful, rustic setting of the Crossing can facilitate the creation of an improvised new family.
Book vs. TV Show: The Biggest Differences Fans Need to Know
While the CW's *Sullivan's Crossing* TV show captures the spirit of Robyn Carr’s novels—a focus on healing, community, and romance—it takes several significant creative liberties, similar to the changes made in the *Virgin River* adaptation. Understanding these differences is key for fans transitioning from one medium to the other.
The Location and Core Relationship
The most important difference is the setting. In the books, Sullivan's Crossing is located in rural Colorado, nestled in the Rocky Mountain Range. The TV show, however, places the Crossing in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. This shift changes the entire visual aesthetic and local culture of the backdrop.
Furthermore, the central romance between Maggie Sullivan and Cal Jones is handled differently. In the books, Maggie and Cal’s relationship is immediate, with the couple becoming an item early on in What We Find. The TV series, conversely, adopted a much more "delayed approach," emphasizing the tension and slow-burn of their romance to draw out the storyline over multiple seasons.
Major Character Changes and Omissions
Several secondary characters were significantly altered or reimagined for the screen, impacting the overall narrative:
- Connie and Tom: In the books, the character Connie is a man. In the TV show, Connie is a woman, and the relationship dynamics with Tom are completely different—Tom was never married to Connie in the original novel series.
- Lola: The character Lola is portrayed as older in the books than her TV counterpart.
- Sidney and Rob: The characters of Sidney and Rob are noted by book fans as being "fairly different" in the TV adaptation, with some readers expressing a preference for the book versions of characters like Maggie.
- The Focus: The books do not focus solely on Maggie and Cal's relationship. Instead, the series delves into the separate love stories and healing journeys of other characters, such as Sierra Jones and Dakota Jones, who are the main protagonists of Books 2 and 3, respectively. The TV show keeps Maggie and Cal at the center of the narrative, weaving the stories of the secondary characters around them.
Ultimately, while the television series is a charming and enjoyable watch, book purists will find the original 5-book series offers a deeper, richer, and structurally different narrative that focuses on the individual healing of multiple characters who all find their way back to the restorative embrace of Sully's Crossing. The books provide a complete and satisfying journey, making them the perfect escape for fans of small-town romance and family drama.
Detail Author:
- Name : Lucile Hayes
- Username : janelle80
- Email : mcormier@macejkovic.com
- Birthdate : 2002-09-10
- Address : 6810 Hegmann Drives Marvinburgh, VT 05420
- Phone : (315) 284-5109
- Company : Leannon, Cole and Armstrong
- Job : Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Bio : Qui est necessitatibus ut qui quo. Delectus aut impedit debitis ut. Accusantium est laborum non ipsum dolor omnis iure et. Fugit quos distinctio quis quas.
Socials
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/beaulahblock
- username : beaulahblock
- bio : Consectetur eum sint iusto possimus.
- followers : 5921
- following : 1595
twitter:
- url : https://twitter.com/beaulahblock
- username : beaulahblock
- bio : Debitis a ipsum aut provident beatae voluptas. Beatae eum molestias esse nihil eligendi laboriosam. Molestiae deleniti alias qui ipsam eos.
- followers : 6231
- following : 86
linkedin:
- url : https://linkedin.com/in/beaulahblock
- username : beaulahblock
- bio : Error expedita libero est quos nostrum omnis quo.
- followers : 6174
- following : 2279
