5 Answers2026-07-18 21:57:30
I started with 'A Not So Meet Cute' because TikTok blew it up. Loved it! But then I went to read another 'Cocker' book and was so confused by the huge cast.
So I had to do a weird backtrack. I'd say if a book is super popular on BookTok right now, check if it's part of a series. If it is, maybe resist the hype and start with that series' book one instead. The hype book will still be there in a few weeks, and you'll enjoy it infinitely more with context. Patience is a virtue in romance reading order!
3 Answers2026-07-18 06:29:14
The beauty of contemporary romance series like this is the flexibility. Publishers and authors design them to be pick-up-and-read. If a strict order was vital, it would be clearly numbered as a single series. The fact that it's multiple series and standalones is your permission slip to roam. Trust the author's design; she wants new readers to be able to start anywhere that intrigues them.
4 Answers2026-08-02 00:17:49
The covers usually have a series name and number on them, which is the biggest clue. 'Brentwood Boys' will be on the first three, 'Cane Brothers' on the next three, etc. Your ebook retailer or library app will often group them in series order if you search her name. It's less complicated than it seems once you look at the bookshelf. The standalones don't have the series subtitle, making them easy to identify.
7 Answers2026-07-18 18:42:50
I think the 'Bootleg Springs' series she co-wrote is her most structured interconnected series. It’s six books about a town and a mystery, and each book advances the overall town plot while focusing on a different couple. You have to read them in order to follow the mystery thread. It’s a different kind of interconnection—plot-based, not just character-based.
It shows she can do a tightly serialized story when she wants to, not just a shared universe.
4 Answers2026-08-02 07:05:02
I'd group them by the type of conflict. Some are more external (team rivalries, public scandals), some are more internal (personal fears, past trauma). 'The Trade' has a lot of internal grumpiness and personal struggle. 'Pucking Around' has a huge external situational conflict (the whole amnesia/marriage thing). 'The Locker Room' has a mix of external (team dynamics) and internal (insecurity). If you prefer big, plot-driven messes, start with the high-external-conflict books. If you prefer quieter, more emotional character studies, start with the more internal ones.
This is a more advanced way to curate your experience, but it ensures you're getting the kind of story tension you enjoy most right out of the gate. Reading a book whose central conflict isn't your favorite can sour you on an author, even if the writing is good. So think about what kind of 'problem' you like to see a couple work through, and match the book to that.
5 Answers2026-08-02 10:07:37
The controversy over reading order is part of the fun of being in a fandom. Arguing about whether to read the Brentwood books first or stick to Port Snow is like arguing about Star Wars watch order. There's no single right answer, only strong preferences and a willingness to fight about it in comment sections. Welcome to the club!
6 Answers2026-08-02 08:18:51
For a clean list: The linked small-town books center on Port Snow, Maine. Series one: 'That Second Chance' (3 books). Series two: 'Getting Lucky' (3 books). There's also 'The Secret to Dating Your Best Friend's Sister' which is part of the world. The 'Runaway' series is different. Read the 'That Second Chance' trilogy first, then the 'Getting Lucky' trilogy, and slot the standalone in between if you want, but it's not crucial.
5 Answers2026-08-02 05:14:21
Looking for a quick, practical rundown? 1. 'The Locker Room' (Knox/Emory). 2. 'The Lineup' (Jason/Dottie). 3. 'The Trade' (Cannon/Halle). Done. They're all on Kindle Unlimited if you have it. The books get progressively spicier, in my opinion, so that's another progression to consider if heat level matters to you.