In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past three years, the hit Netflix show is an adaptation of the 11-book romance series by bestselling author Sherryl Woods. Starring JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Hadley, the show is loosely based on events in the first three books, with other storylines and characters made up specifically for television. “I’m never offended by the idea that they’re adding to my storylines,” Woods, who is also an executive producer for the TV show, told Parade. “I think that’s the joy of having a series, is that it keeps getting fresher and different.” But in the Sweet Magnolias books, we meet lots of other quirky characters who call the charming and quintessential Southern small town of Serenity, South Carolina, home. And with nearly a dozen different couples to read about, the romance novels will keep you entertained while you wait for Sweet Magnolias Season 3 to drop on Netflix! Ready to binge-read? Grab a margarita and check out the complete series of Sweet Magnolias books!
Who writes the Sweet Magnolias books?
Sherryl Woods is the author of the Sweet Magnolias series of books that the Netflix hit drama is based on. Woods also serves as an executive producer on the television show, which premiered in 2019.
What else has Sherryl Woods written?
Since publishing her first book in 1982, Woods has penned over 100 romance and mystery novels.
Have any of Sherryl Woods’ other books been adapted into TV shows?
Yep! Woods is also the author of Chesapeake Shores, which is a series on Hallmark Channel. Set in a small beach town in Maryland, the series explores the lives of the O’Brien family after eldest daughter Abby returns home following her divorce. Starring Meghan Ory, Robert Buckley, Treat Williams, Barbara Niven, Diane Ladd, Laci Mailey, Brendan Penny, Emilie Ullerup, Andrew Francis and Jesse Metcalfe, the sixth and final season of Chesapeake Shores will premiere on Sunday, August 15.
What is the Sweet Magnolias book series about?
Based on Woods’ popular series of books, Sweet Magnolias follows three South Carolina women—Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen—who have been best friends since childhood as they support each other while juggling relationships, family and careers.
Does the Netflix series follow the Sweet Magnolias books?
The first season of the Netflix series loosely followed the storylines that took place in the first three Sweet Magnolias books: Stealing Home, A Slice of Heaven, and Feels Like Family. Some events in the show’s first season (like the cliffhanger car accident in the finale) did not happen in the books. And showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson told TV Line that Season 2 did not follow the books at all. “While we deeply appreciate, admire and respect Ms. Woods and the books, we did move away from them a bit in Season 2 through a combination of characters we added to the show and incidents that we added,” she said. So far, there’s been no official word from the Sweet Magnolias team if Season 3 will depart from the books as well, but there are plenty of storylines for the producers to draw inspiration from if they so choose!
Does Sherryl Woods have other book series?
Yes! In addition to the best-selling Sweet Magnolias series and Chesapeake Shores series, Woods has written many other books that are part of a series. Those collections are as follows, plus she’s authored more than a dozen standalone books. Adams Dynasty Molly DeWitt Mysteries Rose Cottage Sisters Trinity Harbor Seaview Key Perfect Destinies Whispering Wind Ocean Breeze The Calamity Janes Devaney Brothers The Bridal Path The Vows The Charleston Trilogy
Where does Sweet Magnolias take place?
Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen call Serenity, South Carolina home.
Is Serenity a real town?
Unfortunately, bookworms, Serenity is a completely made-up location, and the charming small Southern town only exists in Woods’ imagination. But Woods has shared that another idyllic South Carolina town—that of Sumter—was her inspiration for Serenity. She used to visit the town every summer to see an old family friend.
Where is Sweet Magnolias filmed?
The Netflix Original Series is mainly filmed in two cities in Georgia: Covington and McDonough. In fact, Covington has been dubbed “Hollywood of the South” because nearly 300 movies and series have been filmed there, including The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off Legacies, My Cousin Vinnie, and Sweet Home Alabama.
How many books are in the Sweet Magnolias series?
There are 11 books in Woods’ Sweet Magnolia series. The first, Stealing Home, was originally published in 2007, and Woods released the final novel in the series, Swan Point, in 2014. There is also a Sweet Magnolias cookbook, which includes 150 Southern recipes “shared” by Dana Sue, the character who owns Sullivan’s restaurant in the series.
What is the reading order for the Sweet Magnolias books?
While each Sweet Magnolias book focuses on a different couple, there are storylines that carry from one novel to the next. To get the most enjoyment out of the series and the characters who live in Serenity, the reading order for the Sweet Magnolias series is as follows:
Stealing Home
A Slice of Heaven
Feels Like Family
Welcome To Serenity
Home In Carolina
Sweet Tea At Sunrise
Honeysuckle Summer
Midnight Promises
Catching Fireflies
Where Azaleas Bloom
Swan Point
Next, check out why Sweet Magnolias star JoAnna Garcia Swisher says the show hits a soft spot in viewers’ hearts!
