Below is the complete list of Laura Nowlin’s Autumn and Finn books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Autumn and Finn Books
About Autumn and Finn
Autumn Davis and Phineas “Finn” Smith have known each other almost their entire lives, growing up in neighbouring houses with mothers who share a close friendship. Once inseparable, they gradually drift apart as adolescence introduces new friendships, romantic relationships, and feelings neither knows how to express. Laura Nowlin explores their complicated connection in the Autumn and Finn series, a two-book young adult contemporary romance that examines first love, emotional vulnerability, missed opportunities, and the devastating consequences of unexpected loss.
The series begins with If He Had Been with Me (2013), narrated by Autumn as she reflects on the relationship that has shaped much of her childhood and adolescence. Born only days apart, Autumn and Finn spent their early years sharing experiences, family gatherings, and an unusually close friendship.
Their relationship changes during their teenage years. Autumn becomes increasingly conscious of her differences from her classmates, developing an unconventional personal style and surrounding herself with friends who appreciate her individuality. Finn, meanwhile, becomes popular at school, forming new friendships and attracting romantic attention.
Although their lives move in different directions, their family connections ensure that they remain part of each other’s experiences. Holidays, conversations, and unexpected encounters repeatedly remind Autumn of the closeness they once shared.
Autumn’s romantic relationship with Jamie provides a sense of stability, while Finn dates Sylvie, a girl who appears well suited to his increasingly popular social circle. Yet beneath these apparently settled relationships, Autumn continues questioning the significance of her feelings for Finn.
Nowlin develops their story through ordinary teenage experiences rather than elaborate external conflicts. School activities, friendships, family conversations, and changing social expectations gradually reveal how easily emotional distance can develop between people who once understood each other instinctively.
Autumn’s introspective narration gives the novel much of its emotional character. She frequently questions her appearance, relationships, and place among her peers, struggling to reconcile her private feelings with the confident identity she attempts to present.
The story also addresses mental health, loneliness, and the difficulty of communicating emotions that may threaten established relationships. Its central tragedy transforms these experiences into a painful examination of regret and the uncertainty surrounding choices that can never be reconsidered.
Nowlin returned to the characters more than a decade later with If Only I Had Told Her (2024). Rather than introducing an unrelated romantic storyline, the companion novel revisits the original events through perspectives that Autumn’s narration could not fully reveal.
Finn’s viewpoint provides greater insight into his longstanding feelings for Autumn and the internal conflicts surrounding his relationship with Sylvie. His experiences reveal the uncertainty concealed beneath his apparently confident personality, particularly as he struggles between loyalty to his girlfriend and his affection for his childhood friend.
The narrative subsequently shifts to Jack, Finn’s closest friend, whose understanding of the relationship differs significantly from Autumn’s. Jack’s experiences examine the anger, confusion, and helplessness that accompany grief, particularly when someone struggles to accept circumstances beyond their control.
Autumn’s perspective returns as the story explores the emotional aftermath of tragedy. Her experiences reveal the difficulty of continuing everyday life when familiar relationships and expectations have been permanently altered.
This multiple-viewpoint structure is an important distinction between the novels. The first concentrates on Autumn’s understanding of her relationship with Finn, while the companion reveals feelings and motivations that remained hidden from her. It also gives greater attention to the people affected by the central tragedy.
The series’ emotional intensity comes from the contrast between ordinary adolescent concerns and events whose consequences cannot be reversed. Nowlin portrays her characters as imperfect teenagers whose insecurities, misunderstandings, and reluctance to communicate contribute to their difficulties.
Although romance provides the foundation, the books also explore friendship, depression, bereavement, and the complicated process of adjusting to loss. Their treatment of these subjects is frequently painful, making the series considerably more emotionally demanding than a conventional lighthearted young adult romance.
The original novel experienced a major resurgence through BookTok years after its publication, introducing Autumn and Finn’s story to a new generation of readers. The companion novel expanded that success by offering a deeper understanding of characters whose experiences had already generated strong emotional responses.
What distinguishes Autumn and Finn is its attention to feelings that remain unspoken until circumstances make them impossible to ignore. Through contrasting perspectives and deeply personal experiences, Nowlin examines how young people interpret love, friendship, and regret, revealing that the same relationship can carry profoundly different meanings for the people involved.