Jan Karon chronicles the everyday lives of the residents of Mitford, a fictional North Carolina town, in the series that is often described by readers as heartwarming and life-affirming. The books follow Father Tim, the town’s bachelor rector, who is surrounded by an eccentric ensemble of supporting characters that readers come to view as their friends.

Jan Karon is often praised for her beautiful writing and how she expertly brings humour and compassion to the characters that her readers grow to love and care for. As the characters age and mature throughout the series, fans laugh and cry alongside them.

Readers strongly recommend reading the books in order, as each novel expands on the lives of the characters in Mitford, and they develop considerably over the course of the series. There are also a number of companion books to the series, including Karon’s Mitford Bedside Companion, a cookbook, and several volumes of Father Tim’s prayers and quotes. These books can be read at any point in the series.