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series Reading Order

Ballers and Babes Books in Order

5 Books
2017 – 2022 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

The best way to read the Ballers and Babes series is by reading each companion prequel novella immediately before its corresponding full-length novel. Because the series is structured as three distinct couples' stories, reading them in these 'chronological pairs' allows you to experience their complete romantic arcs from first spark to happily-ever-after.

  • Pair 1 (Cooper & Violet): Most Irresistible Guy (Prequel Novella) followed by Most Valuable Playboy (Novel)
  • Pair 2 (Jones & Jillian): Most Likely to Flirt (Prequel Novella) followed by Most Likely to Score (Novel)
  • Pair 3 (Harlan & Katie): A Wild Card Night (Prequel Novella) followed by A Wild Card Kiss (Novel, also published as The Boyfriend Playbook)

Publication Order

If you prefer to read the books in the order Lauren Blakely released them to the public, follow this path. Note that the prequel novellas were sometimes published after their respective novels, but they still serve as excellent entry points or bonus companion stories:

  1. Most Valuable Playboy (Novel) — September 2017
  2. Most Likely to Score (Novel) — January 2018
  3. Most Irresistible Guy (Prequel Novella) — January 2018
  4. A Wild Card Night (Prequel Novella) — February 2022
  5. A Wild Card Kiss / The Boyfriend Playbook (Novel) — February 2022
  6. Most Likely to Flirt (Prequel Novella) — July 2022

Reading Caveats and Series Tie-Ins

While the books are grouped under the Ballers and Babes banner, they are all written as standalones. You do not need to read the previous couples' stories to understand or enjoy the next pair. Additionally, Lauren Blakely's contemporary romance universe is highly interconnected; for instance, Most Likely to Score and its prequel Most Likely to Flirt are also considered part of her The Dating Games series. The third novel, A Wild Card Kiss, was also released under the alternative title The Boyfriend Playbook, so be careful not to buy the same story twice.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to read the Ballers and Babes books in order?

No. Each couple's story in the Ballers and Babes series is written as a standalone romance with a guaranteed happy ending, meaning you can read them in any order you choose.

QWhat is the relationship between A Wild Card Kiss and The Boyfriend Playbook?

They are the exact same book. The third novel in the series, featuring characters Harlan Taylor and Katie Madigan, has been published and marketed under both titles.

QHow do the novellas connect to the novels?

Each of the three novels has a companion prequel novella. Most Irresistible Guy introduces Cooper and Violet, Most Likely to Flirt sets up Jones and Jillian, and A Wild Card Night details the initial meeting between Harlan and Katie.

QWhere does Most Likely to Score fit into other Lauren Blakely series?

In addition to being Book 2 of the Ballers and Babes series, Most Likely to Score (and its prequel novella Most Likely to Flirt) is also cross-listed as part of The Dating Games series.

QWho are the main couples in each book?

The couples are quarterback Cooper Armstrong and Violet in Most Valuable Playboy; star receiver Jones Beckett and publicist Jillian Moore in Most Likely to Score; and single dad Harlan Taylor and Katie Madigan in A Wild Card Kiss.