Order of Kristin Harmel Books

If you’ve ever turned the final page of a Kristin Harmel novel and sat there, stunned, heart thrumming with the weight of a story both historic and personal, you already know: Kristin Harmel isn’t just an author — she’s a time traveler disguised as a writer.

Kristin Harmel was born on May 4, 1979, a spring child destined to breathe life into the echoes of the past. She grew up in a world filled with books and imagination, largely shaped by her upbringing in New England and later in central Florida. From an early age, words were not just a tool for communication for her — they were a bridge between worlds.

Unlike many authors who trudge through countless odd jobs before finding their voice, Kristin’s trajectory was almost prophetic. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism, a discipline that trained her to seek the truth behind the story — a talent that would later seep into her novels like water through ancient stone.

Kristin’s literary career didn’t begin with sweeping World War II dramas, though. Her early work leaned into contemporary women’s fiction and young adult novels, each tinged with humor, hope, and heart. She cut her teeth at People magazine, where she worked as a reporter covering everything from celebrity profiles to human-interest stories that whispered the quiet resilience of ordinary people. That foundation — the human story underneath the glitz — would eventually become her signature as a novelist.

Her pivot into historical fiction wasn’t a stumble; it was a calling. As she dove deeper into themes of memory, survival, and love against impossible odds, Kristin discovered her true literary voice. Novels like The Book of Lost Names, The Sweetness of Forgetting, and The Winemaker’s Wife are not mere historical fiction — they are emotional archeology, excavating the forgotten sacrifices and small rebellions that shaped history. Readers don’t just read her books; they live them, caught between heartbreak and hope.

Though she writes with the gravitas of someone who seems intimately familiar with the wars and heartaches of the 20th century, Kristin Harmel is very much alive and thriving today. (No tragic death date here, readers — only more books to anticipate.) She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her family, balancing the worlds she creates with the life she's built.

Harmel’s writing style is often described as poignant, lyrical, and hauntingly beautiful. But perhaps the real magic lies in her ability to whisper to the reader, “Remember. Feel. Hope.” Her research is meticulous, her character work vivid, and her plots a seamless weave of fact and fiction that make you question — what if this had been me?

Beyond the page, Kristin has also co-founded and co-hosts the Friends & Fiction Facebook group and live web show, alongside other bestselling authors like Mary Kay Andrews and Kristy Woodson Harvey — building an extraordinary community for readers and writers alike.

Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have topped bestseller lists around the world. But more importantly, they have found homes in hearts, passed from hand to hand, mother to daughter, friend to friend, often with tear-stained pages.

And here's the irony: Kristin Harmel writes so masterfully about forgetting — but if you read her once, you will never forget her.