What Is The Recommended Reading Order For The Knockemout Series?

I've been obsessively checking for updates on the 'Knockemout' series like it's my part-time job. The second book left me with so many unanswered questions, and I’m desperate to know what happens next. From what I’ve seen on the author’s social media and Goodreads, there hasn’t been an official announcement about Book 3’s release date or pre-orders yet. But here’s the thing—authors and publishers usually drop hints months in advance, especially for a series as popular as this one. I’d recommend following the author on Instagram or Twitter and turning on notifications. That’s how I found out about the pre-order for Book 2 before it went live. In the meantime, I’ve been diving into fan theories on Reddit and Tumblr. Some people think Book 3 might focus on a certain side character based on cryptic posts from the author. Others are convinced we’ll get a dual POV this time. The speculation is half the fun, honestly. If you’re as impatient as I am, signing up for the author’s newsletter or joining a 'Knockemout' Discord server might give you a heads-up the second pre-orders open. Trust me, the fandom moves fast—you don’t want to miss out.

Knockemout seems to have two at the center, Nash Morgan and his brother Lucian, but Knox is the one who owns the town and my entire attention. He's the grumpy barber who fixes everyone's problems with a terrifying scowl and zero patience, and Naomi is the lawyer who rolls into town and immediately gets under his skin. Their dynamic is the engine of the first book. Honestly, Lina and Lucian’s story in the second book hit harder for me though. Lina is Nash’s cool, collected sister, a total badass, and seeing her dismantle Lucian’s carefully constructed walls was a masterclass. The third book pivots to Sloane and Nash, which felt quieter, more about healing from past trauma than explosive clashes. You can’t forget the supporting cast either—the town gossip fiends, the hilarious police chief, and the various kids who keep showing up on Knox’s doorstep. They all feel lived-in.

Man, I was looking for this last month! 'Things We Never Got Over' definitely has one—got it on Audible and the narrator was fantastic, really nailed the small-town vibe and Knox's grumpy charm. They've been releasing them pretty consistently; 'Things We Hide from the Light' and 'Things We Left Behind' are out there, too. I binged them all during my commute. The production quality is solid, nothing too fancy but the voices fit the characters well, especially the female leads. If you're debating between reading and listening, I'd say go audio. The banter and tension just land better when performed. I checked on Libby through my library, and the wait times weren't bad. Spotify's also got them if you have Premium, but Audible's a safe bet for the whole set. Hope you enjoy it!

If you're gearing up for a marathon-style binge of 'Fighting Spirit,' here's the reading/viewing roadmap I recommend — one that kept me hooked and made me fall in love with boxing stories all over again. Start with the original manga, 'Hajime no Ippo' by George Morikawa, and read it from chapter one straight through if you want the deepest, most complete experience. The manga is where the story breathes: small character beats, training details, and long-term setups that don't always make it into adaptations. If you're the type who loves delving into technique and internal monologues, the manga is the heart of the series and worth committing to first. If you prefer watching, follow the anime in release order: begin with 'Hajime no Ippo' (the 2000 series), then watch the movie 'Hajime no Ippo: Champion Road' which slots in right after the first TV season, and any short OVAs around that era. After those, continue with 'Hajime no Ippo: New Challenger' (2009) and finish with 'Hajime no Ippo: Rising' (2013). This path preserves the pacing and the emotional punches the studio intended, and it’s a great way to experience the fights with soundtrack and animation that amplify the drama. The anime does a lovely job on early arcs — introducing Ippo, Kamogawa Gym, and key rivals like Sendo and Miyata — but the manga continues far beyond where the anime leaves off, so I always tell friends: watch the anime to get invested, then switch to the manga when you want the full saga. When you bridge from anime to manga, pick up the manga right after the last episode of whatever season you watched. The transitions are usually smooth because the adaptations cover arcs cleanly. If you’ve already seen the anime and want fresh material, jump into the manga where 'Rising' finishes to avoid re-reading the same animated arcs. Also, don’t sleep on the side material: there are artbooks, official guides, and a handful of OVAs and specials that flesh out minor characters and give extra context to some less-covered fights. I personally enjoyed the artbooks for the character designs and choreography notes — they made re-reading certain arcs feel new. Practical tip: aim for the official releases when possible, whether digital or print, to support the creator and get the cleanest translations. Pace yourself — 'Fighting Spirit' is long and addictive, and I found taking breaks between big fight arcs made each match hit harder. The series blends crazy humor, heartfelt gym moments, and genuinely educational boxing choreography, so savor the training sequences as much as the bouts. If you end up binging both anime and manga, you’ll get the best of both worlds: the anime’s emotional beats and the manga’s depth. It’s one of those stories that rewards patience, and honestly, I still grin thinking about my favorite matchups — it’s a wild, satisfying ride.