Layne Fargo Books in Order (Updated 2026-02-07)

Layne Fargo writes dark, high-drama fiction with sharp feminist teeth, mostly standalone novels, plus one ongoing co-written series that does need an internal reading order. If you read everything in the sequence below, you’ll avoid cameos turning into spoilers and you’ll see her style expand from psychological tension to bigger, more glamorous scale.

A quick reading map

• Want her earliest novel first? Start with Temper.
• Want the breakout thriller premise? Start with They Never Learn.
• Want the most recent, biggest-scope story? Start with The Favorites.
• Want the co-written “’80s neon crime” saga? Start with Young Rich Widows and stay in order.

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Standalone novels in publication order

These are separate continuities. Read in any order, but this sequence is the cleanest “in order” experience.

1. Temper (2019): A ruthless acting teacher and her chosen protégé spiral into obsession, power games, and a rivalry that doesn’t stay onstage.
2. They Never Learn (2020): A professor with a secret life targets predatory men while a freshman’s fury ignites a parallel hunt for justice.
3. The Favorites (2025): Two elite figure skaters become a public scandal and a private fixation, with the truth of their partnership unraveling through competing versions of the story.

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The Widows series (co-written) in order

This is a connected series written with Kimberly Belle, Cate Holahan, and Vanessa Lillie. The format history matters here, because some entries appeared as audio first.

1. Young Rich Widows (2022, audio original; later in print): Four newly wealthy widows team up after a deadly crash, and their grief quickly turns into a very motivated investigation.
2. Desperate Deadly Widows (2024 audio original; 2025 in print/ebook): The widows are back, and bigger lies, plus bigger risks, force them to decide what they’ll burn down to stay alive.
3. Wicked Wanted Widows (2025 audio original; scheduled for print in 2026): A new widow with dangerous skills enters the picture, and the group’s next problem arrives with its own agenda.

Best practice: follow the numbered order above, and choose your preferred format (audio vs print) without changing the sequence.

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What to read first (three low-stress entry picks)

• Start with They Never Learn if you want a fast hook and a clear moral engine.
• Start with Temper if you prefer intimate psychological pressure and a tight cast.
• Start with The Favorites if you want glamour, obsession, and a story built around reputation versus reality.

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FAQs

Do Layne Fargo’s standalones connect to each other?
No. The three novels listed above don’t share a required timeline or recurring cast.

Which books actually need an order?
Only The Widows series. The installments build on prior events and relationships.

Is Wicked Wanted Widows already out?
It’s available as an audio original (2025), with a print release scheduled for 2026, so availability can depend on format.

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Bottom line

For a straightforward “books in order” plan, read the standalones in publication order, Temper → They Never Learn → The Favorites, and read The Widows series separately, in its numbered order, without skipping.

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Sources consulted (not part of the article; no links)

• Layne Fargo official website (books pages for The Favorites, They Never Learn, and The Widows series)
• Simon & Schuster author page (publication listings)
• Goodreads author bibliography pages (cross-check titles)
• Audible series listings (audio-original release timing for The Widows series)