Alina Jacobs Books in Order (Updated April 6, 2026)

Alina Jacobs writes romantic comedies that split into a few clear clusters: the large Svensson family books, Manhattan and Seattle spin-offs, holiday romance series, cozy holiday mysteries, and a handful of billionaire-family branches. The easiest way to read her catalog is not by one giant publication list, but by series lane.

For most readers, there are three strong entry doors:

1. Start with In Her Candy Jar if you want the original Svensson family line.
2. Start with Bridezillas & Billionaires if you want Manhattan wedding chaos first.
3. Start with Good Elf Gone Wrong if you want the newer holiday-romcom side.

The simplest Alina Jacobs reading map

If you want the broadest, least-confusing route, read in this order:

1. The Svensson Brothers
2. The Manhattan Svenssons
3. The Seattle Svenssons
4. Weddings in the City
5. The Holbrook Cousins
6. The Richmond Brothers
7. The Frost Brothers
8. The Wynter Brothers
9. Maplewood Falls
10. Christmas in Harrogate
11. Standalones and optional bonus material

That path keeps the related family branches together and saves the seasonal lines for later, which makes the catalog easier to navigate once you know her style.

The core family-and-city romances

The Svensson Brothers

This is the original big-family romantic-comedy lane and still the clearest place to begin.

1. In Her Candy Jar (2019): The true main-series starting point, introducing the larger Svensson family tone of chaotic humor, romance, and recurring sibling energy.
2. On His Paint Brush (2019): A billionaire-artist follow-up that keeps the same family-comedy rhythm and works best after book one.
3. In Her Pumpkin Patch (2019): A fall-flavored third romance that continues the same family-centered romcom approach.
4. Between Her Biscuits (2020): A food-and-feelings entry that lands better once the Svensson family dynamic is already familiar.
5. After Her Fake Fiancé (2020): A fake-relationship installment that fits squarely into the series’ escalating family chaos.
6. In Her Jam Jar (2020): Another food-titled romantic comedy that benefits from the established cast and ongoing sibling framework.
7. After Her Flower Petals (2021): A later-series romance that reads more smoothly once you already know the family web.

Optional Svensson Brothers extras

These are best treated as bonus material, not required entry points.

• After His Peonies (2019, prequel short): A short introduction to the broader world and optional before the main novels.
• Tulips Together (2019, book 0.75): A short companion piece that is easiest to enjoy once you know the tone.
• His Candy Crush (2019, book 1.5): A short follow-up to In Her Candy Jar.
• Everything Is a Bouquet (2021, book 7.75): A later bonus short for returning readers.
• In His Shorts (2021, book 8): A short-story compilation rather than a new full novel.

The Manhattan Svenssons

This is the New York offshoot of the Svensson world and one of the strongest Alina Jacobs branches.

1. I Hate, I Bake, and I Don’t Date! (2021): The best entry into the Manhattan branch, mixing workplace sparks and city-family chaos.
2. Hating and Dating Your Boss with Style! (2021): A second office-romcom entry that builds naturally on the first book’s tone.
3. Yeah, I Hate-Ate Your Cupcake! (2022): A food-forward enemies-to-lovers style continuation that works best in sequence.
4. Love, Hate, & Terrible Dates (2022): A later Manhattan romance that leans into the series’ mix of banter and social disaster.
5. The Worst Dates Bring Chocolate Cake (2022): Another installment where the recurring family setup makes the romantic chaos funnier.
6. Dates I Love to Hate (2023): The current last main novel in the line and the natural stopping point for the primary arc.

Optional Manhattan Svenssons extras

• The Hate Date (2021, book 0): A free prequel novella and a reasonable sampler before the main run.
• Hateful Desert Dates (2021, book 0.5): A short follow-up tied to the prequel couple.
• Hate Treats (2021, book 1.5): A bonus short after book one.
• Room to Hate (2021, book 2.5): A short companion after book two.
• Hate Cake (2022, book 3.5): A bonus for readers already following the series.
• Worst Dinner Date (2022, book 5.5): A later short tied to book five.
• Hate Dates and Baby Gates (2025, book 6.5): A short return to Greg and Belle after the main arc.
• Save the Wedding Date (book 6.75): Another optional post-series short.
• Hate & Short Dates (book 7): A bonus short-story compilation, not a new main novel.

The Seattle Svenssons

A newer West Coast branch with the same family-comedy DNA, but a more recent release pattern.

1. Mr. Absolutely Not! (2024): The proper starting point for the Seattle line, built around boss-romcom friction and West Coast chaos.
2. Mr. Not Your Savior! (2025): A second entry that deepens the branch and works best after book one’s setup.
3. Mr. Emotionally Unstable (2026): The third Seattle book, listed for May 5, 2026, so it is best treated as upcoming rather than already backlist.

Optional Seattle extras

• Mrs. Absolutely Yes! (book 1.5): A short follow-up to the first couple.
• Mrs. Red Flag! (book 2.5): A bonus short after the second book.

Wedding chaos, billionaires, and other contemporary branches

Weddings in the City

This is one of Alina Jacobs’ clearest complete-feeling romantic-comedy runs, and publication order is the best way to read it.

1. Bridezillas & Billionaires (2021): The opener launches the wedding-planner chaos and is one of the best all-purpose starting points in the catalog.
2. Wedding Bells & Wall Street Bros (2021): A second wedding-world romance that expands the same Manhattan social circle.
3. Marriage in a Minute (2022): A married-at-first-sight style entry that works better once the wedding-business world is familiar.
4. Flowers & Financiers (2022): A florist-versus-billionaire romance that fits neatly into the established series tone.
5. Pastries and Proposals (2023): A later entry that keeps the series’ wedding-industry chaos and banter intact.
6. Marriage and Mimosas (2024): The sixth main novel and the natural end point of the primary sequence.

Optional Weddings in the City extras

• A Short Engagement (book 1.5): A short bonus after book one.
• Wedding Mayhem (book 2.5): A companion short after book two.
• Marriage in a Second (book 3.5): A follow-up short after book three.
• Wedding Flowers (book 4.5): A short tied to book four.
• Weekends and Wedding Cake (book 5.5): A companion short for book five.
• Cupcakes and Save-the-Dates (book 6.5): A short after book six.
• Shortbread & Short Stories (book 7): A bonus short compilation.

The Holbrook Cousins

A smaller billionaire-family branch and one of the easiest Alina Jacobs series to read straight through.

1. The Successor (2022): The opener introduces the Holbrook cousin setup with money, family pressure, and romantic chaos.
2. The Screwup (2023): A second billionaire-family entry that builds on the same cousin network and tone.
3. The Scion (2023): The third book closes the currently listed trilogy and is best read after the first two.

The Richmond Brothers

A shorter branch, but still best read in order.

1. The Art of Awkward Affection (2023): The series opener begins the Richmond line with a boss-romcom setup and the awkward humor Alina Jacobs leans into well.
2. The Art of Marrying Your Enemy (2025): A later arranged-marriage style second book that works better once the family context is already set.

Optional Richmond extras

• A Totally Awkward Engagement (book 1.5): A bonus short after the first novel.
• Terms of Endearment (book 2.5): A short companion after book two.

Holiday-first Alina Jacobs reading lanes

The Frost Brothers

This is the older holiday-romance series and still one of the best places to start if you want Christmas romcoms rather than the family sagas.

1. Eating Her Christmas Cookies (2018): The first holiday romance in the catalog and the clear entry into the Frost Brothers world.
2. Tasting Her Christmas Cookies (2019): A second Christmas romance that keeps the same seasonal, steamy-comedy energy.
3. Frosting Her Christmas Cookies (2020): A third holiday installment that works best after the earlier Frost setup.
4. Licking Her Christmas Cookies (2021): A later Christmas romance that continues the same small-town festive tone.
5. Resting Grinch Face (2022): A holiday-revenge flavored fifth novel that broadens the series beyond the original cookie-title pattern.
6. Stocking Stuffers (2023): A compilation-style capstone rather than a standard new novel.

Optional Frost extras

• Eating Her Baked Goods (book 1.5): A short tied to the first couple.
• Frosting Her Birthday Cake (book 3.5): A bonus short after book three.
• Licking Her Christmas Valentine (book 4.5): Another companion short.
• Grinch Please (book 5.5): A bonus follow-up to Resting Grinch Face.
• Eating Her Wedding Cake (book 5.75): A later short revisit.

The Wynter Brothers

This is a newer holiday romcom line and one of the most popular recent Alina Jacobs branches.

1. Good Elf Gone Wrong (2023): A sharp, funny holiday-romance opener and one of the best modern entry points into her catalog.
2. Elf Against the Wall (2024): A black-sheep holiday follow-up that expands the Wynter family setup.
3. Elf on the Edge (2025): The third main novel, best read after the first two for the full family payoff.

Optional Wynter extras

• Bad Elf Gets Hitched (book 1.5): A short bonus after book one.
• Elf Builds a Shelf (book 2.5): A companion short after book two.
• A Hitman Walks Into a Christmas Café (book 3.5): A later short tied to the Wynter world.

Maplewood Falls

This is the hockey-holiday lane and a good smaller branch if you want something recent and compact.

1. It’s Motherpucking Christmas! (2024): The opener mixes Christmas romcom energy with hockey-world chaos and is the best place to start the series.
2. Puck Me It’s Christmas! (2025): The second book continues the same holiday-hockey setup and works best after book one.

Optional Maplewood Falls extra

• Married on Ice (book 1.5): A bonus short after the opener.
• Deck the Halls & Drop the Gloves (book 2.5): A short follow-up tied to book two.

Christmas in Harrogate

These are cozy holiday romantic mysteries. The official site labels them as standalones, but they are also grouped as a series on Goodreads and Fantastic Fiction, so the safest guidance is to read them in publication order while treating each couple’s story as self-contained.

1. Sleigh Bells & Slaughter (2023): The first cozy holiday mystery-romance and the clearest starting point for this lane.
2. Holly & Homicide (2024): A second festive murder-romance that keeps the same Christmas-town mystery mood.
3. Peppermint & Poison (2025): A later holiday mystery in the same broadly connected line, with another murder disrupting the town’s festive season.
4. Crime & Candycanes (2025): The fourth listed Harrogate mystery-romance and best read after the earlier books if you want the full town feel.

Standalone and side-case title

Smart Girls Don’t Kiss Aliens (2022): A separate sci-fi romantic comedy and best treated as a standalone rather than part of any of the family or holiday branches.

The best Alina Jacobs starting point by mood

• Pick In Her Candy Jar if you want the original family-romcom lane.
• Pick Bridezillas & Billionaires if you want a wedding-business Manhattan series.
• Pick Good Elf Gone Wrong if you want the strongest recent holiday-romcom entry.
• Pick Mr. Absolutely Not! if you want the newest city-family branch.
• Pick Sleigh Bells & Slaughter if you want holiday cozy mystery with romance.

If you only want one answer, Good Elf Gone Wrong is the easiest current recommendation for new readers, while In Her Candy Jar is the best “start from the roots” choice.

Do Alina Jacobs books need to be read in order?

Usually yes, but the answer depends on the lane.

The family branches like The Svensson Brothers, The Manhattan Svenssons, The Seattle Svenssons, Weddings in the City, and The Holbrook Cousins work best in order because the recurring relatives, jokes, and side-character history build over time. The holiday lines are easier to sample one by one, but publication order is still the smoothest route.

Latest release status

As of April 6, 2026, the clearest upcoming Alina Jacobs title is Mr. Emotionally Unstable, listed for May 5, 2026 as The Seattle Svenssons #3. Her most recent already-released books across current listings include Puck Me It’s Christmas! in Maplewood Falls and Peppermint & Poison in Christmas in Harrogate.