Lauren Kate is best known for her Fallen paranormal romance saga, but her bibliography now spreads across YA, middle grade, historical, and adult romantic comedies. Reading order only becomes “required” inside her two main YA series: Fallen and Teardrop.
If you’re just trying to avoid spoilers, the rule is simple: stay in order within a series; everything else is a standalone.
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The fastest way to choose your starting point
- Want angels + reincarnation romance (her signature): start with Fallen (2009).
- Want YA Atlantis myth + modern Louisiana vibe: start with Teardrop (2013).
- Want adult rom-com energy (recent era): start with By Any Other Name (2022).
- Want a one-book historical sweep: try The Orphan’s Song (2019).
The Fallen series (read in order)
This is the core continuity: the romance, mythology, and reveals build book to book.
- Fallen (2009): Luce lands at Sword & Cross and meets Daniel, then realizes the school (and her own past) is tangled in something ancient and dangerous.
- Torment (2010): Forced separation and new allies push Luce deeper into angel politics, where “protecting her” starts to look like controlling her.
- Passion (2011): Luce chases answers through past lives, and the series’ biggest mythology pieces click into place, along with the cost of knowing.
- Fallen in Love (2012) (novella collection): Side stories and character spotlights that enrich the world; best after Passion once you know the players.
- Rapture (2012): The endgame arrives, with choices that finally lock in what love means when the universe keeps trying to rewrite it.
- Unforgiven (2015): A companion follow-up that pivots perspective and explores fallout, obsession, and redemption inside the Fallen world.
The Teardrop series (read in order)
This is a tighter YA duology with a clear “Book 1 → Book 2” arc.
- Last Day of Love (2013) (prequel novella): A short, mood-setting piece that adds context to the mythology; optional, but it lands best before Teardrop.
- Teardrop (2013): Eureka discovers her tears are tied to Atlantis-level consequences, turning grief into literal power and romance into risk.
- Waterfall (2014): The mythology expands and the stakes spike, forcing Eureka to decide what she’s willing to lose to save what she loves.
Standalone novels (no shared continuity)
These can be read in any order. Pick the premise that fits your mood.
- The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove (2009): A high-school social game turns lethal, and the book follows the spiral of choices made to protect a perfect image.
- The Orphan’s Song (2019): In occupied France, a singer and a violinist are pulled into love and danger, where music becomes both cover and confession.
Middle grade (standalone)
- One True Wish (2023): Two best friends stumble into wish magic, and the story treats identity, loyalty, and consequences with a warm-but-serious touch.
Adult romantic comedies and contemporary romance (standalones)
This is Lauren Kate’s newer adult lane. These books don’t require an order, but reading by year shows the shift in style.
- By Any Other Name (2022): An editor clashes with her bestselling author, and the romance is built on creative control, hidden truth, and reluctant vulnerability.
- What’s in a Kiss? (2024): A modern rom-com setup where one kiss becomes a lever that moves careers, reputations, and what the characters admit they want.
- The Spirit of Love (2025): A time-slip love-triangle concept with an emotional “which life is real?” pull, balancing comedy with genuine ache.
Co-authored books under “Kate Lauren” (separate shelf)
These are credited with/under Kate Lauren and sit outside Lauren Kate’s core bibliography and series continuities.
- To You, Iyla (2023) (as Kate Lauren): A romantic-drama story built around upheaval and aftermath, with a high-emotion, fate-and-family sweep.
- A Recipe for Disaster (2023) (as Kate Lauren): A romance that uses a “recipe” premise for chaos and chemistry, leaning into banter and messy feelings.
Upcoming (reliably announced)
- White Lights (June 9, 2026): The start of a new romantasy lane, positioned as a higher-stakes, more adult fantasy romance than her earlier YA series.
A few safe reading plans (pick one)
Plan 1: “Just give me Fallen in the right order”
Read Fallen → Torment → Passion → (optional) Fallen in Love → Rapture → Unforgiven.
Plan 2: “I want one book, then decide”
Start with The Orphan’s Song (historical standalone) or By Any Other Name (adult rom-com). If you want bigger mythology afterward, jump into Fallen.
Plan 3: “I want the newest adult lane first”
Read By Any Other Name (2022) → What’s in a Kiss? (2024) → The Spirit of Love (2025), then try White Lights (2026) if you want the romantasy pivot.
FAQ
Do I have to read Fallen in order?
Yes. The series relies on reveals about past lives and angel history that are meant to unfold step by step.
Is Unforgiven a required finale?
No. The main “core arc” resolves with Rapture. Unforgiven works best as an extra return to the world.
Is Teardrop a trilogy?
It’s commonly treated as a duology (with an optional prequel novella).
Bottom line
If you want the classic Lauren Kate experience, start with Fallen (2009) and stay in order. If you’re here for her current era, start with By Any Other Name (2022) and treat the rest as standalones unless you deliberately step into Fallen or Teardrop continuity.
Frank is the editor of BookSeries.blog, focusing on publication order, chronological timelines, and spoiler-free reading guides for book series and fictional universes.