How to Read Kelsie Rae's Don't Let Me Series
The Don't Let Me series by Kelsie Rae is a beloved college hockey romance saga set in the fictional town of Lockwood Heights. It follows a close-knit group of college athletes, students, and local residents as they navigate high-stakes hockey drama, intense emotional struggles, and swoon-worthy relationships. While each novel is written to stand on its own with a guaranteed happily-ever-after (HEA), they are deeply interconnected. Characters frequently cross over, and the friendships among the team members grow across the series. To get the best experience, we highly recommend reading the books in their order of release.
Recommended Reading Order
Because the character arcs, friendships, and overarching drama build from one book to the next, following the publication timeline is the optimal way to experience the series. Here is the recommended reading path:
- Don't Let Me Fall (2022): Colt Thorne and Ashlyn Taylor.
- Don't Let Me Go (2022): Theo Buchanan and Blakely Rutherford.
- Don't Let Me Break (2023): Macklin "Mack" and Kate.
- Let Me Love You (2023): Colt & Ashlyn, Theo & Blakely, Mack & Kate.
- Don't Let Me Down (2023): Henry Buchanan and Mia.
Breaking Down the Don't Let Me Books
Let's dive into what makes each book in this contemporary romance series special, including the core couples and the tropes that drive their chemistry.
1. Don't Let Me Fall (2022)
The series kicks off with Ashlyn Taylor, a loyal tutor who finds herself stuck in an unhappy relationship with her cheating boyfriend, Logan. Enter Colt Thorne, a magnetic college hockey player who also happens to be Logan's teammate. When Colt steps in to tutor alongside Ashlyn, their mutual attraction becomes impossible to ignore. This book explores forbidden romance, high-stakes emotional tension, and the struggle to leave a toxic relationship for someone who truly values you.
2. Don't Let Me Go (2022)
The second installment shifts the spotlight to Blakely Rutherford, a student who is self-conscious about her inexperience in romance. When a cruel bet made by her peers exposes her vulnerability, Theo Buchanan—her brother's best friend and a star hockey player—steps up as her unexpected protector. The book masterfully blends the brother's-best-friend trope with fake dating, providing a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers arc that has made Theo a fan-favorite "book boyfriend."
3. Don't Let Me Break (2023)
This entry introduces a slightly different dynamic, moving outside the immediate student hockey player circle. It follows Kate, a reclusive college student managing a chronic illness (epilepsy), and Macklin (Mack), a divorced paramedic and single dad. Their shared emotional baggage brings them together in a grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn romance. Kelsie Rae handles Kate's chronic illness with care and sensitivity, making this one of the most emotional and grounded books in the series.
4. Let Me Love You (2023)
Rather than introducing a new couple, this unique fourth installment functions as a series reunion and sequel. It features multiple points of view (POVs) from the couples established in the first three books: Colt and Ashlyn, Theo and Blakely, and Mack and Kate. Readers get a front-row seat to their happily-ever-afters, seeing how they navigate life, family, and ongoing challenges. It also serves as a crucial bridge, setting the stage for the final book by introducing Mia's struggles.
5. Don't Let Me Down (2023)
The final book in the main series centers on Mia, a survivor of an abusive relationship who is trying to rebuild her life. She takes a job working for Henry Buchanan, the wealthy and intimidating owner of the NHL Lions. What starts as a tense, workplace frenemies-to-lovers relationship quickly deepens as Henry becomes fiercely protective of Mia. It's a high-stakes, emotional conclusion that ties up the loose ends of the Lockwood Heights timeline.
Entering the Next Generation: The Little Things Spin-Off
If you finish the main series and find yourself missing the world of Lockwood Heights, Kelsie Rae has written an extensive spin-off series titled The Little Things. This next-generation series is set at Lockwood Athletic University (LAU) and focuses on the children of the original characters from the Don't Let Me series.
The spin-off begins with A Little Complicated (released in November 2023), which follows the next generation of the Rutherford, Buchanan, Thorne, and Taylor families. While it is designed to be read as a standalone series, reading the Don't Let Me series first is highly recommended, as it adds depth to the family dynamics, history, and cameos that appear throughout LAU. Other books in this companion series include A Little Tempting, A Little Jaded, A Little Secret, A Little Broken, and A Little Crush.
What to Know Before You Start Reading
Before diving into Lockwood Heights, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind:
- Chronological vs. Publication Order: The chronological timeline matches the publication order exactly. You should not attempt to skip around, especially because Let Me Love You acts as a direct sequel to the first three books and a prequel to the fifth.
- Standalone Feasibility: While you can technically read books like Don't Let Me Fall or Don't Let Me Break on their own, the character relationships are heavily interconnected. Reading out of order will spoil major plot points and couples from previous books.
- Tone and Content: Kelsie Rae's writing is known for blending high-heat, explicit steamy romance with deeply emotional themes. Some books touch on heavy topics, including toxic relationships, cheating, domestic abuse recovery, and chronic health struggles.