Sarah Adams Books in Order (Updated 2026-02-05)

Sarah Adams writes contemporary romantic comedies in a few clearly separated series, plus earlier connected duologies and a small set of Regency romances. Within each series, the books are designed to be approachable, but you’ll get the cleanest introductions (and avoid couple-outcome spoilers) by reading in series order.

If you only want one guideline: finish a series before you start another one.

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A good first pick (based on your mood)

• Small-town, cozy, celebrity-meets-normal-life energy: start with When in Rome
• Sports romance with big friendship chemistry: start with The Cheat Sheet
• Shorter backlist, college/young-adult-adjacent rom-com vibe: start with The Match
• Historical romance with a modern voice (closed-door): start with To Con a Gentleman

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Rome, Kentucky series (read in order)

1. When in Rome: A pop star hides out in a tiny town and collides with a grumpy local who doesn’t want the spotlight near him.
2. Practice Makes Perfect: A “help me date better” plan turns sincere when the lessons start revealing what she actually wants.
3. Beg, Borrow, or Steal: A rivalry shifts into something tender when two people stop competing and start seeing each other clearly.
4. In Your Dreams: A homecoming and a new job pull old feelings into the open, complicated by town meddling and family friction.

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Los Angeles Sharks books (read in order)

These are connected through the sports world and recurring characters.

1. The Cheat Sheet: Lifelong friends attempt to fake-date their way out of the friend zone and discover the feelings were never pretend.
2. The Rule Book: Former college exes collide again and learn that time doesn’t erase chemistry, or the reasons things broke.

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It Happened in Charleston (read in order)

1. The Match: A fundraiser, a good man, and a guarded heroine push a slow-burn romance into motion.
2. The Enemy: Old school tension resurfaces at a wedding, and a long-running feud turns into a second-chance spark.

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It Happened in Nashville (read in order)

1. The Off-Limits Rule: A fresh start gets messy when the most tempting option is labeled “absolutely not.”
2. The Temporary Roomie: A living situation meant to be practical becomes the exact setup that forces honesty, and closeness.

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Regency romances: Dalton Family (best in order)

These read like historical romance with a modern rhythm, and they’re separate from all contemporary books above.

1. To Con a Gentleman: A clever con artist and a careful nobleman strike a bargain that turns into the one risk neither expected.
2. Seeing Mary (optional novella): A shorter story that adds extra emotional context around the wider family circle.
3. To Catch a Suitor: A woman tries to move on from her best friend, while he keeps showing up like he belongs beside her.

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The most spoiler-safe reading plan

If you want the smoothest “start-to-finish” experience without mixing worlds:

1. Rome, Kentucky (books 1–4)
2. Los Angeles Sharks (both books)
3. Charleston (both books)
4. Nashville (both books)
5. Dalton Family (Regency set)

That order isn’t required, but it keeps each cast and setting mentally tidy.

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FAQs

Do Sarah Adams books connect across different series?
Not in a way that requires crossover reading. Treat each series as its own lane.

Can I read Rome, Kentucky out of order?
You can, but you’ll lose some of the “meeting the town” fun and you may see couples referenced after they’ve paired up.

Which books are the most standalone-friendly?
The Cheat Sheet and When in Rome both work well as first tries, even though each belongs to a connected series.

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Bottom line

For most readers, the cleanest start is When in Rome, then continue through the Rome, Kentucky books in order. If you’d rather try her sports romance angle first, start with The Cheat Sheet and go forward from there.

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