Long before it was adapted into a highly successful Netflix show, Virgin River was a popular series of more than 20 novels by New York Times best-selling author Robyn Carr. The audiobooks, all read by Audie Award-winning narrator Thérèse Plummer, are well-loved by a wide audience of listeners. In fact, many fans of the show rave about the books after listening to the debut novel. Said listener Lindsay, "Loved the show. Loved the book more!" And listener Cbelen commented, "I enjoyed the book much better than the series."
Both the book and TV series take place in Virgin River, a remote mountain town in California, and revolve around Melinda Monroe, a nurse practitioner and midwife who takes a job there. When she first arrives in Virgin River, Melinda thinks she's made a huge mistake—but as she soon discovers, there's much more to this sleepy small town than first appearances suggest.
Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Virgin River.
Who are the main characters of Virgin River?
Melinda Monroe (Mel)
Melinda Monroe, also known as Mel, is the main protagonist in the Virgin River series. She moves from Los Angeles to Virgin River to escape the painful memories of her past, including the death of her husband. At first, Mel feels discouraged when she moves and has trouble finding her place at her new practice, where she feels she is treated like an assistant rather than a real nurse practitioner.
Jack Sheridan
Jack Sheridan is Mel's love interest in Virgin River. He was a sergeant in the US Marine Corps but left after he lost one of his men. Although years have passed, he still struggles with PTSD and grief. He now runs a local pub, Jack's Bar. When Mel is frustrated and thinks about leaving the small town, Jack convinces her to stay. He starts fixing up the McCrea Cabin to give Mel somewhere more permanent to live in Virgin River, and he shows Mel a side of the town she might have missed otherwise.
Doc Mullins
Vernon Mullins, also known as "Doc," is the local physician in Virgin River. When Mel first comes to town, Doc is unsure about her working for him and the two immediately clash. Doc is 70 years old and under the impression that Mel thinks he can't do his job because of his age. He also questions her competence. In an effort to show Mel he doesn't need her help, he refuses to let her see any patients and treats her like an assistant. Eventually, Mel proves herself to Doc. He lets up on her, begrudgingly admitting that she is good at her job—and he could use her help.
Hope McCrea
A 76-year-old widow, Hope McCrea is the mayor of Virgin River and the one who hired Mel to work for Doc Mullins. When Doc is doubtful about Mel's ability and fit for the town at first, Hope encourages him to give her a chance. She also offers Mel her cabin, so the young nurse practitioner will have a place to call home in Virgin River.
Liz Anderson
Liz "Lizzie" Anderson is a 14-year-old girl sent to live with her Aunt Connie in Virgin River, after her parents decide she's "too wild" for them to handle. In Virgin River, she meets and falls in love with Rick Sudder.
Rick Sudder
16-year-old Rick Sudder is a surrogate son to Jack Sheridan and the love interest of Lizzie Anderson. The romance between Lizzie and Rick is a major part of the storyline for the first six novels in the Virgin River series.
What happens in The Virgin River series?
After her ER doctor husband is killed in a violent mugging, the newly widowed Melinda Monroe moves to Virgin River, answering an ad for a midwife/nurse practitioner. As soon as she arrives, however, she feels like she's made a huge mistake. But right before she's about to leave, Melinda finds a baby on her doorstep. And then there's Jack Sheridan, who also convinces her to stay.
On one wet October night, John “Preacher” Middleton is closing Jack's Bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the rain. The woman is covered in bruises. As a former US Marine, John recognizes the signs of trauma and danger. This woman stirs up emotions in him. He wants to protect her—and punish whoever hurt her.
After nearly losing her life at the hands of a crazed criminal, Brie Sheridan comes to Virgin River for a fresh start. Although she is brave and has overcome a lot, she's finding it difficult to trust again. Mike Valenzuela is a decorated Marine reservist and former LAPD officer who was badly wounded in the line of duty. He's also twice divorced. Like Brie, he's come to Virgin River looking for a fresh start. He agrees to become the town's first police officer. But Mike doesn't expect to become devoted to helping Brie free herself and letting her heal his heart.
It's Christmas in Virgin River, and it's been a year since Marcie Sullivan said her final goodbyes to her husband, Bobby. Now Marcie wants to thank the man who saved her husband and gave her three more years with him before his death. Ian Buchanan was a Marine who pulled Bobby’s body onto a medical transport. But then Ian disappeared, and Marcie’s letters to him have thus far gone unanswered. When Marcie finally tracks Ian down in a remote cabin in Virgin River, she finds a man broken and suffering from trauma.
The last few months in Vanessa Rutledge's life have been particularly challenging. She had to bury her husband, Matt, before giving birth to their son, Matthew. After Matt’s death, his close friend Paul Haggerty has done his best to be there for Vanni while also keeping a respectful distance, considering he’s been secretly in love with her for years. But right when Paul is finally about to share his feelings with Vanni, there's an unexpected complication: another woman claims to be pregnant with his child.
At 26, Shelby McIntyre is ready to set out on adventure after being a full-time caregiver to her mother for the past seven years. But then she visits Virgin River and meets Luke Riordan, a former Army pilot who left active duty after 20 years. On the surface, Shelby and Luke have nothing in common, but they are drawn to each other nonetheless. And after Shelby spends time with Luke, her plans for adventure change.
In Paradise Valley, Rick Sudder returns to Virgin River. Now a Marine corporal, he's arriving home from Iraq after his tour ended abruptly on the battlefield. Time away at war has changed Rick from the carefree boy he once was. But Lizzie isn't about to give up on him. Before long, everyone in Virgin River rallies around Rick to help him work through his trauma and get comfortable with being back at home.
Reverend Noah Kincaid is a young widower who arrives in Virgin River ready to build a place of worship for the small town. He finds some unlikely help in Alicia Baldwin, a bold young woman who, with her tight clothing and former job as an exotic dancer, doesn't seem like the type of person who would volunteer to be a pastor's assistant. But Alice is looking for a respectable job so that she can win custody of her children. And she and Noah end up getting along quite well.
Air Force sweethearts Franci Duncan and Sean Riordan ended their relationship four years ago—she wanted to get married but he wasn't ready to settle down, let alone think about having kids. But when they meet again by chance, Franci and Sean quickly realize that their feelings for each other haven't changed. Sean is ready to settle down and wants to try again. But as he soon discovers, they share more than a past—Franci is raising their child, a daughter he had no idea existed.
Erin Foley has spent her life caring for others. Now, at 35, she's taking some time to get to know herself. She rents a secluded cabin in the woods in Virgin River, focusing on being alone with her thoughts. That plan changes when she meets Aiden Riordan, a doctor who is spending some time in Virgin River to recharge for a summer after leaving the Navy. He's interested in getting to know Erin too—if only his ex-wife would stay out of the way.
Clay Tahoma is a 34-year-old divorced Navajo horse whisperer/farrier who comes to Virgin River to be the new veterinary assistant. Lilly Yazhi is a Hopi woman who is wary of the Navajo's traditional ways. Nevertheless, she can't help the fact that she is drawn to Clay.
After a terrible helicopter crash, Colin Riordan comes to Virgin River to heal from the damage, both inside and out. Meanwhile, Jillian Matlock is a PR guru on a leave of absence from the corporate world after being falsely accused of sexual harassment. Jillian rents an old house in Virgin River, seeking to simplify her life. But when Colin and Jillian meet, everything becomes more complicated.
When rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock suddenly collapses at work, she sees it as a wake-up call. It's time for her to slow down and take a break, and where's the best place to do just that? At her sister Jillian's home in Virgin River. At first, the small town offers a nice break from her fast-paced life in San Francisco. But Kelly is easily bored. Then, she meets Lief Holbrook, a writer from Los Angeles and a widower with a 13-year-old daughter, who definitely piques her interest.
It's Christmas again in Virgin River, and this year, all Becca Timm wants is to finally get over her college sweetheart, Denny Cutler. Three years ago, Denny left her and headed off to war. Becca decides the best way to get over an old flame is to travel to Virgin River as an uninvited guest on her brother’s hunting trip. But her holiday dreams are disrupted when an accident leaves Becca stuck in Virgin River for an extended stay.
Life abruptly changes for Conner Danson, a 35-year-old business owner in Sacramento, when he becomes a reluctant witness to a violent crime. He comes to Virgin River to keep a low profile until after the trial. Like Conner, Leslie Petruso was forced out of her hometown. But in an attempt to escape from her ex-husband and his new life, Leslie sees Virgin River not as a hideaway but as a place to start over without all the drama from her past. When these two exiles collide, sparks don't exactly fly—at least, not at first.
After getting a flat tire in the middle of a rain storm, Katie Malone winds up stuck in the mud in Virgin River—with her young and very restless twin boys. Her road trip takes another unexpected turn when former child actor Dylan Childress and his friends come across the stranded mom and her two sons in the middle of their motorcycle trip.
Former Marine Tom Cavanaugh comes back to home to Virgin River to take over his family’s apple orchard. That's when he runs into Nora Crane. Just 23, Nora is a struggling single mom with two young girls, who was abandoned by her abusive boyfriend. She's nothing like the type of woman Tom imagined himself settling down with. But he can't keep his eyes off of her.
A Navy fighter pilot, Patrick Riordan has come home to Virgin River for a holiday respite after losing his best friend on a mission in Afghanistan. That's when he meets Angie LeCroix, Jack Sheridan's niece. A medical student, she needs space after a catastrophic car accident. Though neither one is looking for a relationship, they wind up in each other's arms. Patrick and Angie would be happy to spend Christmas alone together—but their families have other ideas.
The most recent listen in the series focuses on Kaylee Sloan, an author. Her home in Southern California is filled with happy memories, but Kaylee needs to escape. The memories only fuel her grief over mother's recent death. Kaylee can't focus on her writing, and she as a looming deadline. Seeking isolation, Kaylee borrows a cabin in Virgin River—where she is surprised to meet people who know how to help her.
How did Virgin River translate to the small screen?
Virgin River has been adapted into a popular Netflix series. Three seasons have been released thus far, and Netflix has confirmed that the show has been renewed for two more, Season 4 and Season 5. The series first premiered in December of 2019. It stars Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda "Mel" Monroe, Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan, Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea, and Tim Matheson as Vernon "Doc" Mullins. Each season so far has been 10 episodes in length—which adds up to 30 episodes of Virgin River you can watch right now. There is no word yet on when the fourth season will premiere.
