Forever and Ever Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order: Where to Start E. L. Todd’s Universe

Stepping into E. L. Todd’s contemporary romance universe can feel daunting. With 51 books in the primary Forever and Ever series alone, and an additional prequel series, readers need a clear game plan. Because the books feature a tightly knit friend group and follow highly serialized, multi-perspective story arcs, reading them out of order will lead to major spoilers and confusion. There are two primary ways to approach this universe, depending on how deep you want to dive.

Option 1: The Legacy Path (Starting with Forever and Always)

If you want the absolute richest experience, you should start with the prequel series, Forever and Always (which spans 22 books, beginning with Only for You). This series introduces the original cast of characters—the parents of the protagonists in Forever and Ever. Reading this first gives you the full backstory of their history, rivalries, and friendships, making the events of the sequel series much more impactful. However, because this adds 22 books to an already massive reading list, it is optional.

Option 2: The Direct Path (Starting with Forever and Ever)

If you want to jump straight into the next generation, you can start directly with the first book of the Forever and Ever series, All I Want is You. This path introduces Cayson Nelson and Skye Preston as college-aged protagonists. While you will miss some of the historical context of their parents' lives, the author provides enough standalone context to ensure new readers won’t feel completely lost.

Forever and Ever: The Complete 51-Book Publication List

Once you begin the Forever and Ever series, you must follow the strict publication order. The story functions like a serialized romance drama or soap opera, with plotlines continuing directly from one book to the next, frequently ending in cliffhangers. Below is the complete chronological publication order of all 51 books in the saga:

1. All I Want is You (2014)
2. If Loving You Is Wrong (2014)
3. You Are All I'll Ever Need (2014)
4. Having You Is Never Enough (2014)
5. We Belong Together (2015)
6. You Have My Heart (2015)
7. You Will Be Mine (2015)
8. Everything and More (2015)
9. Against All Odds (2015)
10. My Heart Skips a Beat (2015)
11. Nothing is Left (2015)
12. Because of You (2015)
13. You Make Me Weak (2015)
14. Forever With You (2015)
15. A Hole in My Heart (2015)
16. My Soul is Yours (2015)
17. I Will Follow You (2015)
18. You Will Be Alright (2015)
19. Ready for Love (2015)
20. You Are My Life (2015)
21. When You Are With Me (2015)
22. Believe in Me (2015)
23. I Will Love You (2015)
24. Love Lives On (2015)
25. When Two Becomes One (2015)
26. Love Will Survive (2015)
27. I Want Your Love (2015)
28. To Be With You (2015)
29. Just For You (2015)
30. Forever Is Not Enough (2015)
31. Hold Me Close (2015)
32. In Too Deep (2015)
33. Somewhere Far Away (2015)
34. Stop At Nothing (2015)
35. You Stole My Heart (2015)
36. A Girl Like You (2015)
37. Love Me Still (2015)
38. When We Fall (2015)
39. When We Break (2015)
40. I'll Be There (2015)
41. Pieces Of Me (2015)
42. Hearts Will Beat (2015)
43. To Love Again (2015)
44. All Hope Is Lost (2015)
45. This Love (2016)
46. All That Matters (2016)
47. In My Heart (2016)
48. There You Are (2016)
49. Lost In You (2016)
50. Kiss Me There (2016)
51. Time Stands Still (2016)

Chronological vs. Publication Order Caveats

Because the timeline of the books moves forward in a straight line alongside their release dates, publication order and chronological order are identical. There are no prequels or time-jumping side novels hidden within the 51-book list. However, readers should note that the series was released at an incredibly rapid pace between 2014 and 2016. Because of this, the narrative spacing of the books is very tight; some novels cover only a few weeks of character lives, meaning the entire 51-book run spans a relatively short period of fictional time. Pacing yourself is key to avoiding burnout.

Spin-Offs and Companion Series in the Same Universe

E. L. Todd has established a shared universe where characters from different series frequently interact or reside in the same social circles. If you finish the main saga and want to explore more, look into these companion series:

The Timeless Series

This seven-book series follows the romance between Francesca and Hawke, who is a notable recurring character in the wider Todd universe. The books are named after the days of the week, starting with Monday and ending with Sunday. They offer a slightly different pacing but carry the same emotional contemporary romance style.

The Ray Series

Also known as the Ray of Light series, this seven-book collection starts with Heart Breaker (sometimes published under the title Ray of Light) and wraps up with Ray of Life. It follows the story of Ray and features cameo appearances and connections to the broader friend groups established in E. L. Todd’s other novels.

What to Know Before You Start

Before jumping in, it helps to understand what makes this series unique. The books are written in a conversational, fast-paced style with alternating character perspectives. The primary romantic focus starts with the slow-burn, friends-to-lovers story of pre-med student Cayson Nelson and his lifelong best friend Skye Preston. However, the focus quickly expands to encompass the wider ensemble cast, particularly the fiery relationship between Skye's brother Slade and her best friend Trinity. Expect heavy doses of relationship drama, college struggles, emotional hurdles, and tight-knit family dynamics. It is an immersive, soap-opera-style reading commitment that is perfect for binge-readers.