Rachel Van Dyken Books in Order (Updated March 14, 2026)

Rachel Van Dyken has a large catalog, and the main mistake new readers make is treating it like one single line. It reads better as a set of clusters: early historical romance, Seaside, Eagle Elite and its mafia offshoots, sports and romantic comedy series, paranormal shelves, then standalones and collaborations.

The safest rule is simple. Read within each series in order. Only merge series when the books are clearly presented as sharing a world.

The shelves that matter most

For first-time readers, these are the most useful lanes:

• Seaside and Seaside Pictures if you want the long-running emotional contemporary world.
• Eagle Elite first, then Mafia Royals and related mafia books, if you want the biggest connected crime-romance universe.
• Wingmen Inc., Bachelors of Arizona, Players Game, Red Card, and the rom-com standalones if you want lighter contemporary romance.
• Dark Ones if you want paranormal romance.
• Renwick House, Wallflower, and London Fairy Tales if you want the early historical side.

Best overall reading path

If you want one practical full-catalog route without jumping randomly across subgenres, use this order:

1. Early historical series
2. Seaside
3. Eagle Elite
4. Seaside Pictures and connected crossovers
5. Contemporary rom-com and sports shelves
6. Dark Ones and other paranormal books
7. Later mafia shelves and newest series
8. Standalones, collections, and optional short fiction

Historical romance

Renwick House

Included. Read in order.

1. The Ugly Duckling Debutante (2011): The series opener and the cleanest place to start Van Dyken’s Regency catalog.
2. The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (2011): Book two continues the same historical-romance shelf and works best right after book one.
3. An Unlikely Alliance (2012): This in-between Renwick title is best treated as part of the same family/world sequence.
4. The Redemption of Lord Rawlings (2012): The third numbered main entry returns to the Renwick line’s romantic and social entanglements.
5. The Devil Duke Takes a Bride (2012): The fourth main book closes the core Renwick House run.

Wallflower

Included. Separate historical collaboration. Read in order.

1. Waltzing With the Wallflower (2012): A collaborative historical opener that belongs with this short series rather than the Renwick books.
2. Beguiling Bridget (2013): Book two continues the Wallflower line and should be read after the opener.
3. Taming Wilde (2013): The third book finishes the visible Wallflower sequence.

London Fairy Tales

Included. Separate continuity. Read in order.

1. Upon a Midnight Dream (2012): The first book blends fairy-tale styling with historical romance and starts this series properly.
2. Whispered Music (2012): Book two stays in the same romantic-fantasy historical lane.
3. The Wolf’s Pursuit (2013): The third entry continues the shelf’s more fairy-tale-forward approach.
4. When Ash Falls (2014): Book four closes the visible London Fairy Tales run.

Seaside world

Seaside

Included. Read in order.

1. Strung (2014): A prequel novella that works best as optional background before the main series.
2. Tear (2012): The true beginning of the Seaside world and the safest entry point for this contemporary shelf.
3. Pull (2013): Book two deepens the Seaside circle and is best read immediately after Tear.
4. Shatter (2013): Book three keeps building the same emotional contemporary world.
5. Forever (2013): The fourth book continues the core Seaside relationships and callbacks.
6. Fall (2014): Book five belongs after the earlier Seaside novels to preserve the shared-world progression.
7. Eternal (2015): Book six closes the main Seaside run.

Seaside Pictures

Included. Connected to Seaside. Read after Seaside if you want the fullest continuity.

1. Capture (2015): The series opener starts the Hollywood-facing extension of the Seaside world.
2. Keep (2016): Book two continues the same connected contemporary shelf.
3. Steal (2017): The third book stays in the Seaside Pictures line and works best in order.
4. Abandon (2019): This unnumbered side entry still belongs with Seaside Pictures rather than as a separate standalone.
5. Surrender (2020): Book four closes the currently listed Seaside Pictures line.

Seaside Pictures / Big Sky

Included. Connected crossover shelf. Optional after Seaside Pictures.

1. All Stars Fall (2019): A crossover-style entry that sits between worlds and is best read after the main Seaside and Seaside Pictures books.
2. Provoke (2020): The follow-up continues that connected crossover space.

Eagle Elite and related mafia books

Eagle Elite

Included. Read in series order. This is the key mafia shelf.

1. Enchant (2015): A prequel entry that works as optional setup before the main books.
2. Elite (2013): The true starting point of Van Dyken’s biggest mafia universe.
3. Bang Bang (2014): A short in-between story that fits between the main early books.
4. Elect (2013): Book two expands the same world and should not be skipped.
5. Enforce (2014): Another bridge novella that helps fill in the continuity between the main novels.
6. Entice (2014): Book three pushes the larger crime-family arc forward.
7. Elicit (2014): Book four continues the high-drama central world-building.
8. Enamor (2015): This mid-series novella is best kept in sequence for continuity.
9. Ember (2015): Book five continues the core mafia line.
10. Elude (2015): Book six deepens the same shared-world conflicts and loyalties.
11. Empire (2016): Book seven keeps the family and power dynamics moving.
12. Enrage (2017): Book eight belongs late in the run, once the long arc is established.
13. Eulogy (2018): Book nine carries major late-series weight and should be saved until this point.
14. Envy (2018): A connected novella from the same world, best read after Eulogy.
15. Exposed (2018): Book ten rounds out the main Eagle Elite line.
16. A Two Twirl Christmas (2022): A holiday return for established readers rather than a starting point.
17. Enrapture (2024): A later revisit to the universe, best read after the earlier series material.

Mafia Royals

Included. Read after Eagle Elite for the richest context.

1. Royal Bully (2020): A prequel/bridge entry that introduces the shelf’s younger-generation mafia angle.
2. Ruthless Princess (2020): The main series starts here and works best after Eagle Elite world-building.
3. Scandalous Prince (2020): Book two continues the family and school-age power struggle dynamic.
4. Destructive King (2021): Book three pushes the darker late-series conflicts forward.
5. Mafia King (2021): This connected companion belongs inside the same broader Mafia Royals sequence.
6. Fallen Royal (2021): Book four continues the main line.
7. Broken Crown (2022): Book five closes the currently listed Mafia Royals arc.

Elite Bratva Brotherhood

Included. Mafia-adjacent. Best after Eagle Elite and before or after Mafia Royals.

1. Rip (2015): The series opener starts this darker connected crime-romance branch.
2. Debase (2019): Book two continues the Bratva line after a long publishing gap.
3. Dissolution (2023): Book three completes the currently visible sequence.

Rise of the De Langes

Included. Newer mafia shelf. Read in order.

1. Ciao Bella (2024): The opening book starts Van Dyken’s newer De Langes line.
2. Little Nightmare (2025): Book two continues the same arranged-marriage/crime-family lane.
3. Sweet Poison (2026): Listed as book three and the current upcoming continuation of the series.

Contemporary romance, rom-com, and sports

Bet

Included. Read in order.

1. The Bet (2013): One of Van Dyken’s best-known rom-com entry points and the start of this trilogy.
2. The Wager (2013): Book two continues the same romantic-comedy circle.
3. The Dare (2014): The third book completes the Bet sequence.

Ruin

Included. Read in order.

1. Ruin (2013): A darker new-adult opener built to start this emotional trilogy from the beginning.
2. Toxic (2014): Book two raises the emotional stakes and works best directly after Ruin.
3. Fearless (2014): This 2.5 novella is optional but fits before the final novel.
4. Shame (2014): Book three closes the core Ruin line.

Consequence

Included. Read in order.

1. The Consequence of Loving Colton (2015): The series opens with the Colton family’s romantic-comedy energy.
2. The Consequence of Revenge (2015): Book two continues the same family-linked setup.
3. The Consequence of Seduction (2016): Book three stays in the same contemporary-romance world.
4. The Consequence of Rejection (2018): Book four closes the listed Consequence line.

Wingmen Inc.

Included. Read in order.

1. The Matchmaker’s Playbook (2016): The series opener and one of Van Dyken’s clearest sports-rom-com starts.
2. The Matchmaker’s Replacement (2016): Book two continues the same matchmaking setup and tone.

Bachelors of Arizona

Included. Read in order.

1. The Bachelor Auction (2016): The first book opens this contemporary-romance series with the Arizona bachelor setup.
2. The Playboy Bachelor (2017): Book two continues the same branded line.
3. The Bachelor Contract (2017): Book three finishes the trilogy.

Curious Liaisons

Included. Read in order.

1. Cheater (2017): The first book opens this two-book relationship-drama shelf.
2. Cheater’s Regret (2017): Book two follows directly and should be read second.

Players Game

Included. Read in order.

1. Fraternize (2017): A sports-romance opener and the best place to enter this short series.
2. Infraction (2018): Book two continues the same athletic-romance world.
3. MVP (2019): A short connected entry best treated as optional bonus reading after the novels.

Liars, Inc.

Included. Read in order.

1. Dirty Exes (2018): The opener starts this revenge-and-romance flavored contemporary duo.
2. Dangerous Exes (2018): Book two completes the series.

A Bro Code Standalone

Included. Connected standalones; read in publication order.

1. Co-Ed (2018): The first book opens this loosely connected contemporary-romance shelf.
2. Seducing Mrs. Robinson (2019): Book two stays in the same broader Bro Code lane.
3. Avoiding Temptation (2019): The third entry continues the connected standalone approach.
4. The Set Up (2019): Book four rounds out the visible Bro Code shelf.

Red Card

Included. Read in order.

1. Risky Play (2019): A sports-romance opener and the correct place to start the series.
2. Kickin’ It (2019): Book two follows directly and completes the duo.

Covet

Included. Read in order.

1. Stealing Her (2019): The first book opens this short contemporary-romance line.
2. Finding Him (2020): Book two completes the pair.

Cruel Summer

Included. Read in order.

1. Summer Heat (2019): The opener starts this seasonal trilogy.
2. Summer Seduction (2019): Book two continues the same summer-romance shelf.
3. Summer Nights (2019): Book three completes the run.

Perfects

Included. Read in order.

1. The Perfects (2022): The first book starts this newer contemporary series.
2. The Unperfects (2023): Book two continues the same world and should be read second.

Office books

Included. Best treated as a connected workplace-romance shelf.

1. Office Hate (2021): The first office romance and the clearest entry point into this mini-line.
2. Office Date (2022): The second workplace entry follows naturally after Office Hate.
3. Office Mate (2024): The third currently listed office title continues the same branded lane.

Paranormal and fantasy-leaning books

Dark Ones

Included. Read in order.

1. The Dark Ones (2015): The series opener starts Van Dyken’s main paranormal-romance shelf.
2. Untouchable Darkness (2015): Book two continues the same supernatural world.
3. Dark Surrender (2016): Book three pushes the paranormal arc forward.
4. Darkest Temptation (2017): The fourth book belongs after the early trilogy.
5. Darkest Sinner (2019): Book five continues the long-running shelf.
6. Darkest Power (2022): Book six returns to the series after a gap.
7. Darkest Need (2023): The latest listed entry in the Dark Ones world.

Fallen Gods duology

Included. New fantasy-romance shelf.

1. Fallen Gods (2025): The opener starts this newer mythic-romance line.

Dark Olympus

Included. Separate fantasy shelf.

1. Immortal Sun (2025): A standalone-style series opener that begins the Dark Olympus line.

Other series and short connected projects

My Summer in Seoul

Included. Read in order.

1. My Summer in Seoul (2021): The main novel starts this K-drama/K-pop adjacent romantic setup.
2. The Anti-Fan and the Idol (2022): A connected novella that fits after the main book.
3. Lost in Seoul (2023): A later connected return to the same shelf.

Standalone novels and collaborations

1. Every Girl Does It (2011): An early standalone from before the major series clusters fully formed.
2. Compromising Kessen (2012): A standalone historical romance outside the main series shelves.
3. Savage Winter (2012): Another early standalone, separate from the larger branded series.
4. Divine Uprising (2013): A standalone fantasy/paranormal title outside the later long-running shelves.
5. A Crown for Christmas (2018): A holiday standalone best read on its own.
6. Fashion Jungle (2020): A collaboration with Kathy Ireland, separate from Van Dyken’s main romance continuities.
7. Mafia Casanova (2020): A mafia collaboration with M. Robinson, best treated as its own branch.
8. Falling for the Villain (2021): Another collaboration with M. Robinson and separate from the core in-house series.
9. The Godparent Trap (2022): A standalone romantic comedy and one of the easiest modern single-entry books to try.
10. Compel (2023): A collaboration with Patti Stanger, separate from the core series shelves.
11. Exposing the Groom (2023): A contemporary standalone-style release outside the main series groupings.
12. The Chemistry of Us (2025): A newer collaboration with M. Robinson and separate from the core Rachel Van Dyken solo shelves.
13. Texts From My Exes (2025): A recent standalone contemporary-romance release.
14. Clause & Effect (2025): A collaboration with Colet Abedi and another recent standalone-style title.

Optional collections, bundles, and short fiction

These are best left out of a first-time reading order.

1. Hurt (2015): A collection with multiple authors, useful for completists rather than for core order.
2. Cocktales (2018): A collaborative collection, not a new continuity stop.
3. A Renwick House Christmas (2019): A holiday collection that belongs after the Renwick books.
4. Beyond the Love (2022): A multi-author collection.
5. Hot! (2022): Another collaborative collection.
6. Aloha (2023): A collection with multiple contributors.
7. Hope & Harmony (2025): A later anthology-style release.
8. The Parting Gift (2011): An early short work, optional for bibliography readers.
9. We Three Kings (2023): A later short piece, best treated as bonus material.
10. Love Hazard (2024): A 1001 Dark Nights contribution, optional even for fans of the wider catalog.
11. 1001 Dark Nights bundles and omnibus editions: Useful for collecting material, but not necessary for reading order.

Where to start, depending on what you want

If you want Rachel Van Dyken at her most influential, start with Elite.

If you want a long emotional contemporary world, start with Tear.

If you want rom-com first, start with The Bet or The Godparent Trap.

If you want sports romance, start with The Matchmaker’s Playbook.

If you want paranormal romance, start with The Dark Ones.

Latest release status

The newest clearly listed upcoming Rachel Van Dyken book is Sweet Poison, shown as Rise of the De Langes book 3 with a February 2026 listing. Among the newest already listed 2025 titles are Little Nightmare, Fallen Gods, Immortal Sun, The Chemistry of Us, Texts From My Exes, and Clause & Effect.

Bottom line

For most readers, the cleanest way through Rachel Van Dyken is not strict publication order. It is world by world.

Start with Elite for mafia, Tear for the Seaside world, The Bet for romantic comedy, or The Dark Ones for paranormal romance. Then stay inside that shelf until you finish it before jumping sideways.