Ilsa Madden-Mills Books in Order (Updated 2026-02-09)

Ilsa Madden-Mills writes contemporary romance in distinct series “worlds” (college, sports, small-town, and more). Most books deliver a complete couple’s story, but later titles often assume you’ve met the earlier cast, so sequence still matters for cameos and spoilers.

This guide follows the author’s own “reading order” groupings, separates series vs. standalones, and gives clear starting points without any technical jargon.

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Start here

• If you want college romance with big banter and football energy: begin with I Dare You (Waylon University).
• If you want angsty academy romance: begin with Very Bad Things (Briarwood Academy).
• If you want British bad-boy campus romance: begin with Dirty English (British Bad Boys).
• If you want a single book with no required setup: begin with Dear Ava (standalone).

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Briarwood Academy

These lean darker and more intense than her sports rom-com titles. Read in sequence for the smoothest character context.

1. Very Bad Things: A high-stakes academy romance where ambition and attraction collide with consequences.
2. Very Wicked Beginnings (novella): A shorter bridge that deepens the emotional setup before the next book.
3. Very Wicked Things: A relationship intensifies as jealousy, power, and trust get tested in public.
4. Very Twisted Things: The fallout of earlier choices forces the couple to decide what they’ll fight for.

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British Bad Boys

A connected trio with shared campus energy and recurring faces. The romances stand alone, but the world feels richer in order.

1. Dirty English: A rule-following heroine falls for the campus bad boy who breaks every boundary on sight.
2. Filthy English: A “messy night” spirals into a second-chance clash with old hurt and new heat.
3. Spider: A dangerous reputation meets the one person who sees the softness underneath, and won’t look away.

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Waylon University

College sports romance with a strong friend-group vibe. These work best in sequence because later books nod to earlier couples.

1. I Dare You: A Valentine’s dare turns into a hookup mystery that refuses to stay casual.
2. I Bet You: A quarterback’s wager becomes a jealousy plan that backfires into real feelings.
3. I Hate You: A sharp enemies-to-lovers story where the line between anger and desire disappears fast.
4. I Promise You: A long-ago first kiss becomes a present-day obsession when fate puts them back together.

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Hawthorne University

A shorter two-book set. Read book one first to keep the relationships and side characters clear.

1. Boyfriend Bargain: A broke heroine makes an offer to a cocky athlete, and the “deal” becomes personal.
2. Boyfriend Material: An off-limits attraction turns serious when pretending not to care stops working.

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The Game Changers

A two-book sports romance set (pro football focus). Read in order to avoid learning earlier outcomes midstream.

1. Not My Romeo: A hard-edged sports star meets the one woman who refuses to be charmed into surrender.
2. Not My Match: A “friends first” setup turns into the exact kind of love neither planned to want.

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Strangers in Love

Two connected standalones that feel best back-to-back.

1. Beauty and the Baller: A guarded heroine and a sports hero collide as reputation and vulnerability clash.
2. Princess and the Player: A high-profile romance where image-management crumbles under real attachment.

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The Darlings

This pair sits in its own lane. Read in order for the intended progression.

1. My Darling Bride: A relationship built under pressure has to become real, fast.
2. My Darling Jane: A fresh couple steps forward, with love complicated by timing and expectations.

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Standalones

These don’t require any other book first.

• Fake Fiancée: A pretend engagement creates real jealousy, real boundaries, and real risk.
• Dear Ava: An emotional romance shaped by trauma, trust, and the slow work of choosing safety.
• The Revenge Pact: A revenge plan turns into a relationship problem when feelings don’t follow the script.
• Christmas Cupid (novella): A holiday short where matchmaking chaos sparks something unexpectedly sincere.

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Co-written books (separate lane)

These are best treated as their own pair, apart from the solo series above.

1. The Last Guy (with Tia Louise): A romance where “he’s the wrong choice” becomes the only honest choice.
2. The Right Stud (with Tia Louise): A confident hero meets a heroine who won’t settle for charm without substance.

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Recommended reading order for most readers

If you want a plan that feels natural and doesn’t spoil anything:

1. Waylon University (I Dare You → I Promise You)
2. British Bad Boys (Dirty English → Spider)
3. Pick one: The Game Changers or Hawthorne University
4. Add standalones whenever you want a one-book break (Dear Ava is the easiest standalone entry)

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Common questions

Do I have to read everything in one giant order?
No. Keep each series together, and you can jump between series freely.

Which area is most spoiler-sensitive?
Waylon University and The Game Changers, because couple outcomes and friendships are referenced later.

What if I only want one book to test her style?
Start with Dear Ava for a heavier emotional read, or I Dare You for a faster college-romance entry.