Sarra Manning Books in Order (Updated February 27, 2026)

Sarra Manning is a British novelist known for contemporary romance and young adult fiction, with a backlist that moves between teen coming-of-age stories and sharper adult relationship dramas. Most of her books are standalone, but two projects, Diary of a Crush and Fashionistas, are structured as series where order matters.

If you want to avoid spoilers and continuity confusion, this guide separates series, standalones, and optional companions clearly.

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Quick Answer: Where Should You Start?

• Want a series with emotional continuity? Start with French Kiss.
• Want a strong adult standalone? Start with Unsticky.
• Prefer YA contemporary? Start with Guitar Girl.

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Diary of a Crush (Read in Order)

This is Manning’s most continuity-dependent work. The three books form one ongoing arc, and reading out of order will spoil character developments.

1. French Kiss (2004): Edie’s intense new relationship begins here, setting up the emotional patterns and decisions that drive the entire trilogy.
2. Kiss and Make Up (2004): The consequences of Book 1 unfold, deepening the relationship drama and shifting the power balance in ways that rely on earlier events.
3. Sealed with a Kiss (2004): The trilogy’s resolution, where long-running tensions and romantic expectations finally reach their endpoint.

Optional companion:

• Diary of a Grace (2013): A companion novella that expands the perspective within the same world, best read after French Kiss to preserve the original character introduction.

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Fashionistas Series (Publication Order Recommended)

These books share a modeling-school setting and overlapping characters. They are connected but lighter in continuity than Diary of a Crush.

1. Laura (2007): Introduces the modeling academy backdrop and establishes the competitive tone of the series.
2. Hadley (2007): Shifts focus to a new lead while maintaining the shared setting and social hierarchy.
3. Irina (2008): Explores ambition and insecurity inside the same fashion world, expanding the interconnected cast.
4. Candy (2008): Concludes the run with another character-focused story set within the established academy framework.

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Standalone Novels (Best Read in Publication Order)

These books are not narratively connected. Publication order is the simplest way to follow Manning’s evolution from late-1990s fiction into contemporary romance and historical elements.

1. Love Money (1998): A coming-of-age story centered on friendship, class aspiration, and the emotional cost of ambition.
2. Guitar Girl (2003): A teenage musician unexpectedly rises to fame, balancing identity, friendship, and sudden celebrity pressure.
3. Pretty Things (2005): A modern retelling inspired by Pygmalion, focused on image, class performance, and reinvention.
4. Let’s Get Lost (2006): A road-trip romance that tests long-term relationships against independence and self-discovery.
5. Unsticky (2009): A sharp adult romance built around a transactional relationship that slowly complicates into something more emotionally layered.
6. Nobody’s Girl (2010): A woman re-evaluates her past choices and relationships when old connections resurface.
7. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me (2011): A fake-dating setup unfolds between long-time acquaintances, blending humor with emotional reckoning.
8. Nine Uses for an Ex-Boyfriend (2012): After a breakup, the heroine navigates work, friendship, and romantic second chances in London.
9. Adorkable (2012): A confident teen entrepreneur clashes romantically and ideologically with a more traditional classmate.
10. It Felt Like a Kiss (2014): A psychological-leaning story examining family secrets and emotional manipulation across time.
11. The Worst Girlfriend in the World (2014): A woman confronts the fallout of infidelity and must decide whether repair or reinvention is possible.
12. After the Last Dance (2015): A historical novel set in the 1920s that explores friendship, ambition, and post-war social change.
13. London Belongs to Us (2016): Two teens race across London over one night, confronting secrets that could reshape their futures.
14. The House of Secrets (2017): A dual-timeline narrative linking past and present through buried truths inside a country house setting.
15. The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp (2018): A contemporary story inspired by Vanity Fair, following ambition and moral compromise in modern London.
16. London, With Love (2022): A romantic story centered on rediscovery and second chances against a distinctly London backdrop.

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Chronological Order (Only Relevant for One Series)

For most of Sarra Manning’s bibliography, chronological order does not apply because the books stand alone.

If you prefer strict in-world timing for Diary of a Crush:

1. Diary of a Grace
2. French Kiss
3. Kiss and Make Up
4. Sealed with a Kiss

However, this approach slightly softens the emotional impact of the original opening, so publication order remains the safer choice.

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Latest Release Status

• Most recent novel: London, With Love (2022).
• Forthcoming titles: The Last Days of Summer and The Love Library are announced for 2026 release (publication timing may vary by edition).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read Sarra Manning in order?

Only for Diary of a Crush. Everything else can be read independently.

Are the YA and adult novels connected?

No. They share thematic territory but not narrative continuity.

What’s the safest starting point overall?

If you want a guaranteed series arc, start with French Kiss. If you prefer a single-book commitment, start with Unsticky.

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Final Recommendation

For the clearest, least confusing path:

• Choose French Kiss if you want structured continuity.
• Choose Unsticky if you want a definitive standalone.

From there, you can branch in any direction without risking spoilers.