Recommended Reading Path for 86 Bloomberg Place
The 86 Bloomberg Place series by Melody Carlson is best read in its original publication order. Because the narrative follows the continuous lives, career shifts, and evolving friendships of the four roommates in their shared college town bungalow, reading them chronologically prevents spoilers and makes the character development far more satisfying.
The 86 Bloomberg Place Books in Order
- I Heart Bloomberg (2008) - The series kicks off when Kendall Weis inherits her grandmother's rundown house. Bound by a strict "no boys" rule, she recruits three diverse female roommates: interior designer Megan, medical school dropout Lelani, and independent Anna.
- Let Them Eat Fruitcake (2008) - As the winter holidays arrive, the roommates face holiday blues, romantic complications, and family drama under the bungalow's roof.
- Spring Broke (2009) - A chaotic spring break trip tests the roommates' bonds and prompts major self-reflection about their individual career and life paths.
- Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah (2009) - The series finale brings high drama as multiple marriage proposals and significant family celebrations clash on the exact same weekend, forcing the women to make life-changing decisions.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
For this series, the publication order and the chronological order are identical. The story follows a clear timeline starting with the initial gathering of the roommates in the spring and summer, moving into the winter holidays, onto the next spring break, and wrapping up with the high drama of summer wedding planning.
Spin-offs and Related Series
While the 86 Bloomberg Place series concludes as a tetralogy with the fourth book, fans of Melody Carlson's contemporary Christian women's fiction can find similar multi-character growth in her popular Diary of a Teenage Girl series, or enjoy her numerous standalone holiday novellas that match the cozy, faith-filled atmosphere of the bungalow.