Sugar Sun series reading order

I am often asked which book in the Sugar Sun series is meant to be first, and my answer so far has been either one—an ambiguity not appreciated amongst fans of series romance. And I don’t blame you. It’s a crap answer. I like to read in order, too.

The main books of the Sugar Sun series—Under the Sugar Sun (published 2015), Sugar Moon (coming in late 2016), and Sugar Communion (look for it in early 2017)—should be read in order. Do not pass go. Do not collect 9430 pesos (US$200 as of this posting).

But the novellas have more flexibility. While they fit into specific moments on the timeline, there are no spoilers, nor do they propel major plot points. They are pure fun—my chance to redeem some side characters, like Rosa Ramos, or explore some minor heroes in more depth, like Moss North. You will be able to read these novellas at any time without worry of ruining the overall hacendero experience.

However, if you want more guidance, I made the graphic below to help new readers.

And for those of you who want even more details, here’s the chronology: Hotel Oriente is set in 1901; Under the Sugar Sun picks up next in 1902-1903; an upcoming novella on Rosa follows in 1904; and then Sugar Moon very deliberately continues through 1905-1906, when the proverbial shit is hitting the fan again in Samar. Sugar Communion spans the longest period yet, going back through Andrés’s childhood (yay!), with the main part of the action happening between 1906-1913. (As I’ve said before, it’s complicated. The man’s a priest, after all. He does “not go gentle into that good night,” to borrow from Dylan Thomas.)

If you are unfamiliar with Philippine-American history in general, start with Hotel Oriente. Its American hero and heroine are meant to quite literally orient my Stateside readers to Manila. It will warm you up—see what I did there?—for the more immersive historical experience in Under the Sugar Sun. By then, you’ll be like, “Bring on the historical smooching, bitches!” (And, yes, they do more than smooching. Yay!)