UPDATED MAY 12th 2020!!!
MUCH LOVED VAMPIRE SERIES/HUGE LOVE TRIANGLE ALERT!! This was one of the very first that I read, back in 2009 when I fell head over heels with Twilight and wanted to read more angsty vampire love stories like it! I wanted that feeling back and this one worked for me, big time (at least the few books). I haven’t read the others yet.
Molly: I got into the Vampire Diaries series, and was not disappointed!! I am turning 48 it his month and I am not ashamed to admit that I love these books!!
Tanya: I am so surprised so many people started reading PNR and vampire ones in general because of Twilight being their first taste of it. I will say the original teen love triangle was the Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith that came out way before Twilight ever was thought of.
Vampire Diaries is good and Damon in the book mmm delicious (Ian definitely makes him even more so) however they’re juvenile/teen (and not like the TV series, it doesn’t follow the books) compared to what is out there nowadays but to me will always be better than Twilight. Vampire Diaries was what made bad boy vampires with hearts of gold my favorite thing in a paranormal series…
Niyati: Vampire Diaries… thats a very passionate series which combines love, friendship, action, mystery and all emotions in one series.
About book #1:
The first book in L.J. Smith’s New York Times bestselling Vampire Diaries series, the basis of the hit CW TV show starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder.
Elena Gilbert is a high school golden girl, used to getting what she wants. And who she wants. But when the boy she’s set her sights on—the handsome and haunted Stefan—isn’t interested, she’s confused. She could never know the real reason Stefan is struggling to resist her:
Stefan is a vampire, and Elena’s in danger just by being around him. What’s more, Stefan’s dark, dangerous vampire brother Damon has just arrived in town. And wherever Damon goes, trouble always follows.
Fans of The Vampire Diaries TV show will find this book packed with the same kind of heart-stopping suspense, fierce romances, and jaw-dropping surprises that they know and love, all brought to life by New York Times bestselling author L.J. Smith.
SERIES READING ORDER (by order of original publication date):
The original start of the series written by author L.J. Smith directly. Per L.J. Smith’s Goodreads page: L. J. Smith wrote books 1-7 of The Vampire Diaries series. After that, a ghostwriter took over the rest of the series.
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
- The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle: 2
- The Vampire Diaries: The Fury
- The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion
- The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall
- The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls
- The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight
The official series (per the publisher of the original books and these below, continues after “The Return: Midnight“) continues below – written by an LJ Smith ghostwriter to coincide with the TV series:
NOTE: …L. J. did not write any of the Originals or Stefan’s Diaries. These were written by Kevin Williamson and/or various ghostwriters.
IN ORDER:
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #1: Origins (Vampire Diaires- Stefan’s Diaries)
- The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #2: Bloodlust (Vampire Diaires- Stefan’s Diaries)
- The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #3: The Craving (Vampire Diaires- Stefan’s Diaries)
- The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #4: The Ripper (Vampire Diaires- Stefan’s Diaries)
- The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #5: The Asylum
- The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries #6: The Compelled (Vampire Diaires- Stefan’s Diaries)
- The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Phantom
- The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Moonsong
- The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters: Destiny Rising
The Salvation: Unseen (The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation Book 1)
- The Salvation: Unspoken (The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation Book 2)
- The Salvation: Unmasked (The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation Book 3)
PS: Here are my reviews of the first books in the series written by author LJ Smith:
- Book Review – Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle
- Book Review – Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion
- Book Review – Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall
ALSO NOTE:
The original author (LJ Smith) DID continue her vision of the series via “fan fiction” a few years ago, however I can no longer find these stories on line to link to.
If you wanted to continue on with the original author’s book vision of this story, she used to have her “fanfic” “…based on The Vampire Diaries book series—also by L. J. Smith—and takes place after the volume Midnight” posted on Amazon – however it’s gone for now. If these go back up, I will link them.
The author LJ Smith says:
“This means that I can continue to write my version of The Vampire Diaries. (Remember, these books are written as fan fiction and are not part of the official series.)
The Evensong arc will pick up more or less where Midnight left off and takes place in an alternate world from the official books that follow Midnight. The three books in this arc are Paradise Lost, The War of Roses, and Into the Wood.”
- The Vampire Diaries: Evensong: Paradise Lost
- The War of Roses
- Into the Wood
➔➔➔ Love this trope? Browse more vampire romance features and reviews on my blog. 😀
thanks soo much for posting this! I’ve been wanting to read the books in order and not one website that I saw had them in order! So thanks:) and btw could you check out my fan made Tvd vids?? (On youtube) my user name is Marikashamman 🙂 Thanks:)
is there going to be an 8th book???????? i’ve seen some yes some no i’m confused can anyone help???
Hi Natasa, did you get the 8th book if yes please post the name and site of the book please
best novels i ever read takes you to total new reality waiting for the next book!!!!!
Love this series. Who wouldn’t?
True !!! Its like the best thing one can grt
next two are…
phantom
moonsong
I was wondering what was The Hunters about and is it with this series and where in the series does it belong it says it is vol 1 and so I am confused now.
i was just wondering if you could post the stefan’s diaries books in order on here for me please i really want to read them but i dont know which 1 is first second or third nd so on… i am goin got start reading your books the vampire diaries series when im done with this other series im reading. the books look amazing nd i cant wait to start reading them. 🙂
If you find them online they are labelled stefans diaries #1 etc
I started reading Stephen’s diaries and then i came across the books listed on your website, Where do i start?
I would read Stefan’s diaries first…it starts in 1864 and how they met Katherine.
I disagree with Dawn. It doesn’t really matter when you read Stephens Diaries because they do not follow along with the rest of the books. They follow along with the show on CW. That is just my opinion though and mean no offence to Dawn. On the show the boys lived during Civil War times and that is when they met Kathrine. In the books they lived much longer ago. Katherine is portrayed completely different from the book to the show. I love both but please do not read the books expecting it to be like the show or vice versa. Character names and the fact that they are Vampires are about the only thing that stays the same. I read the first original ones when they came out way back when and was very excited when they started making more. Hope that helps. 🙂
Some of the names aren’t even the same. Bonnie’s last name in the show is Bennet, but in the book Vickie has that last name. Also, Meredith is a doctor I believe, Meredith Fell. But I agree with Beth, there is very little that is the same. Not meaning to offend anyone. 🙂
The book and the seasons are inevitably different
Where exactly does the book Stefan’s diaries fall into order with the series?
it does not fall at all as its completely different . it is the same as the seasons
Love the series
hey cool books!!!
OMG! love the shows. started watching them wayy before i knew there were any books. But now I am super addicted only on the fourth book but it is sooo awesome! And you guys are right. the books are wayy different than the show. Like, Elena has a 2- year old sister, Margaret, and in the show she has a teenage brother, Jeremy, plus he’s a vampire hunter! SUPER different! and wayy different than i was expecting. (not that I’m complaining.)
Glad I found the list. I feel in love with the show first, then looked up the books. Needless to say I was horrible disappointed in the first 3 books I read. As a avid reader and book lover it is the only series I have ever said the show/movie is better. Ever. and Im sure I’ll never say it about any other book.
For me what makes the CW show great is all the depth and detail. All the interesting family and community connections that tie everyone together in some way. The books lack that completely. The book is not detailed and doesn’t have much depth. There is a reason the publishers replaced the author with a ghost writer.
That being said, Its been 2 years since I read them and Ive been picking them up whenever I see them on clearance at BooksAMillion, I think I’ve collected 4 or 5 of them now for about $2 a piece so I am about to give them a second try. Maybe the wont be as bad as I remember.
I totally agree with you. I always say books are better. They always have so much more detail and go so much more deep into facts. Like in the Twilight series they go so much more into detail. But in these books I would really deffinately say the show is way better!
Does Damon have his own series of books like Stefan?
m realy happy that some directors are able to produce thier own innovation in the series nt just copy of the books and cn change th meaning of the book nd endings also….
I like the CW show but its so different the the books For one day completely changed the characters like Elena has blonde hair blue eyes in the book in on the show she has she’s a Burnett and has brown eyes bonnie is a small little redhead in the book in the show she’s black And their 3rd friend Meredith doesn’t even exist in the show and that really made me mad I mean come on Caroline isn’t even really their friend in the book I mean the show is good and all but the books are so much better and the books their characters are so different than the characters on the show that’s the only thing I don’t like about it
does anyone know if…when Katherine took over elena’s body if elena really died?
Can’t wait 4r the third trilogy- THE SALVATION!!!!
Completely awesome series!!
I have one seen the tv show but i wanted to know in which book is season 6 based on?
i love the books
i want to start reading the vampire diaries and stefan’s diaries and I wanted to know which one is better to start with first?
please update the list… I want to know if there is any book released after The salvation: unmasked
beth,,nicola,,samantha and brittany..i totally agree wid u guys. Those r exactly my feelings too!! by da way i looove damon!!u rock
The vamp is a very good series i love it a lot.
I can’t get enough of Vampire Diaries!! I’m getting the last two Hunter books and the last two Stephans diaries to complete my collection, and I want to know should I bother with the salvation series?? Your input would be appreciated. Thank you….Molly Fink
Thank you so much for putting all the Vampire Diaries in order.
I am a big fan and hoping for something more in the future. Any other series you would recommend? Even though I don’t think I’ll tire of listening to this series again and again. I do listen to other books.
Oh I so agree with Nicola! I am a huge fan of reading books compared to watching their TV shows/Movies. I always feel the TV version does not do justice to all the details in the books. But this is probably the first series where I too felt like TVD show is much better than the books. Honestly I only read these novels because I don’t like to leave any book half way, but I just love the way the show turned out. For a change (and I never thought I would say this ever), I cannot say the same for the novels.
Brittany.. exact same feels!
The books of the horro book
Thank you so much for posting this it really helped me find the order but your missing the salvation series of 3 books. Which goes before the prequel of The Stephen Diary’s.
Thank you for posting this. I have watched all of the vampire diaries and im obsessed. I wanted to read the books and i couldnt have found all of them without you. Thank you so much.
I enjoy ur books they’re the best one I enjoy the shadow soul that’s that one have a good meaning with love n spirit
The humorous thing is I read these books in college as they came out (the covers are quite antiquated, lol), hell, I think my original books are around here still bc I just knew I would have book crazy daughters like myself, and sure enough I did and still have one I’ll need to do some digging to fine the books for since she prefers books to eBooks, which amazes me every time in this day and age…now for whims I’m reading them again, and yes I’m old, the original books began in 1990, if you noticed the dates Bonnie, Meredith and the rest of the gang graduated, of course Elena didn’t in the books, and the lack of cell phones in the first few, those were extreme luxury in those days…the series recommissioned in 2007 I believe and became the spin off of the Stephen Diaries and the TVD series.
Oh, don’t forget to read her series The Secret Circle, which was a short lived series a few years back on CW I believe, the books were written in ’92 then recommissioned when the series came out…all about witches.
But these are only 6 books. Where can I get the seventh book ?? Please tell if you do not mind …
Hi Savera!
The entire list has just been updated with all the books available and in the correct reading order.
They link directly to the books available on Amazon. I hope this helps!
I have one doubt some site says that there are novels called vampire diaries paradise lost and war of rosses but I couldn’t read it
Can anyone help me
Hi Harsha!
Those were fan fiction stories that the original author published a few years ago, but has since taken them all off the Internet.
I have just updated the post above to reflect all the books in the correct reading order (including those at the end) and notes about them.
So hi so like the horror books to
Where can I get the first book from ?
Hi Deshni!
The links of the books in my post go directly to the books available on Amazon. I hope this helps!
Im so confused. Im not sure which one to read first because there are some ‘The Awakening’ books that have Nina Dobrev on the cover which means that they aren’t the original ones because the original was made in the 90’s
Hi Daria!
The entire list has just been updated with all the books available and in the correct reading order.
The covers of the books from the 90s have been changed to reflect the characters in the TV series (so they are still the original stories – just new covers).
I hope this helps!
where can you find them
Hi Anastasia!
The entire list has just been updated with all the books available and in the correct reading order.
They link directly to the books available on Amazon. I hope this helps!
why is The Awakening the only one i can find in Audio book format at my local library?
Hi Sherrie!
The entire list has just been updated with all the books available and in the correct reading order.
They link directly to the books available on Amazon. I hope this helps!
Where can you buy all of these books from
Hi Lisa!
The links up there click over to Amazon where you can purchase the books. I hope that helps!
I asked for the whole series for Christmas and I only have up to the 12th book 😂😂😂
There not showing all the books on here, in what order does the salvation come in after the hunters or after Stefan dairies?
Hi Rebecca!
The reading order has just been completely updated (with notes – and all the books in the series). I hope this helps!
I am still confused what is the exact no. Of books in this series??some say it is 9 some say 6 some say 11 and some say 20…..plz help me!?
Hi Nandini!
The reading order has just been completely updated (with notes – and all the books in the series). I hope this helps!
i saw on a YouTube video the books unseen unspoken,, unmasked,, paradise lost,, the war of the roses are these are a part of the series or what I’m really confused
Hi Jana!
The reading order above has just been completely updated with the available books, in order.
Some of the books (like The Ward of the Roses) were “fan fiction” written by the author a few years ago – but for some reason she took those down off the internet.
See the notes in my post, for details.
Are the spin offs any good
How do I buy them
Hi Sara!
The links above will direct you to the book on Amazon and you can purchase them there.
I love Vampire Diaries, Originals and Legacies! So far the books are great.. you get info that you didn’t get to see in the shows…
I love The Vampire Diaries. I can not get enough of it.
where can you buy the whole Series
Hi Lee. The links for the books list above go to Amazon.
how do i know that this one is in order because there is a other webites that is the same has this one but the books are in different t order and isnt the same books
i love all of thees books and wach the show
what happens if i skip the stefan diaries books and go to the tvd books because i don’t really wanna read them
Hello my name is amber I started watching The vampire diaries show last year and I watched it everyday 24/7 until it ended this month I have an idea for the next vampire diaries because the original cast doesn’t want to be on the show anymore let Ian somerhalder and Paul Wesley directs the show we’ve already seen Caroline and Alaric saltzman’s daughters we’ve seen Klaus Michaelson’s daughter but we haven’t seen Jeremy’s kids or Bonnie’s kids or Damon and Elena’s kids what if they were in the next vampire diaries show it could be like all about them finding out who they are and finding out what happened to their parents and fighting bad guys and saving the world I think another remake of vampire diaries is exactly what the fans want and I think Netflix should bring that vampire diaries because everybody loves watching your show it’s something to think about
I can’t finish the Return: Nightfall. I just find the whole Elena angel thing and acting practically like a child, super annoying. I’m around 1/4 through the book and I’m so bored. Does the Return series get better? Some of the other, later books seem interesting. I watched the show first, if that matters. 😆