The Recommended Reading Path
While author Lucy Lennox designed the Forever Wilde series so that each book can technically be read as a standalone romance, the tight-knit family dynamics and overlapping plotlines mean that reading them in publication order is highly recommended. The series centers on the sprawling, meddlesome Wilde family in the fictional small town of Hobie, Texas. To fully appreciate the recurring jokes, character growth, and the evolution of the family tree, you should start with the first book, Facing West, and follow the family's journey chronologically through their publications.
Reading the series in order allows you to see characters from previous books pop in as supportive brothers, teasing cousins, or meddling grandfathers. It also ensures that the high-stakes subplots—such as the arson mystery running through the early books—resolve in a way that makes narrative sense. If you want the absolute best experience, dive in with the core books first before branching out into the holiday novellas and multi-series crossovers.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order: The Wilde Love Exception
For the most part, the chronological timeline of the series aligns perfectly with the publication order, with one major exception: Wilde Love (Book 6). This book acts as a sweeping prequel that traces the love story of the family patriarchs, Weston 'Major' Marian and Liam 'Doc' Wilde. The story begins in the late 1960s during the Vietnam War and spans several decades, showing how they built the family ranch in Hobie.
While chronological purists might feel tempted to read Wilde Love first, doing so is not recommended for newcomers. Knowing the history of the patriarchs is much more emotionally impactful after you have spent five books getting to know their children and grandchildren, who constantly refer to the older couple's legendary bond. Reading it in its publication position (between His Saint and King Me) provides a perfect nostalgic pause that deepens the emotional weight of the entire series.
Complete Forever Wilde Book Breakdown
1. Facing West (2017)
The series kicks off with the story of Weston Wilde, Hobie's handsome local doctor, and Nico, a tattooed drifter who returns to town to care for his infant niece. Featuring a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic, single-dad struggles, and cozy small-town charm, this book sets the emotional and humorous tone for the entire series.
2. Felix and the Prince (2017)
Felix Wilde finds himself in a whirlwind royal romance when he crosses paths with Lio, the literal prince of Lioria. This installment blends small-town Texas warmth with royal duties, secret identities, and high stakes, proving that love knows no borders.
3. Wilde Fire (2018)
Otto Wilde is reunited with his first love, Seth, in a story packed with second-chance romance tropes. Alongside the rekindling of their romance, the plot features an ongoing serial arsonist investigation that threatens the town of Hobie, adding a layer of suspense to the emotional narrative.
4. Hudson's Luck (2018)
Hudson Wilde and Charlie take center stage in a story that makes fantastic use of the friends-to-lovers and fake boyfriend tropes. It is a lighthearted, sweet, and steamy read that further cements the Wilde family's reputation for meddling in each other's love lives.
4.5. Flirt (2018)
This quick, lighthearted novella features a grumpy/sunshine, age-gap romance between the local fire chief, Evan Paige, and Stevie Devore. It also introduces a fan-favorite mischievous raccoon named Zorro, who frequently steals the spotlight.
5. His Saint (2018)
Saint Wilde, a former Navy SEAL who now works as a bodyguard, is hired to protect Augie, a wealthy but insecure young man recovering from a home invasion. This book balances action and protection dynamics with a tender, healing romance.
6. Wilde Love (2019)
The epic prequel focusing on Liam 'Doc' Wilde and Major Weston Marian. The story details their survival after a helicopter crash in the Vietnam War, their struggle with societal expectations in the decades that followed, and the eventual founding of the Wilde family legacy in Texas.
7. King Me (2019)
Kingston 'King' Wilde, the self-proclaimed black sheep of the family with a history of art heists, meets his match in Falcon, the FBI agent investigating him. It is a thrilling cat-and-mouse romance that also introduces the fan-favorite side character Joshua 'Mouse' Mickey.
8. NautiCal (2020)
Cal Wilde's plans for a quiet escape go awry when an accidental yacht stowaway adventure throws him into the path of Worth, a workaholic businessman. This steamy age-gap romance set in the Caribbean serves as the official finale to the main Hobie-centered books.
9. Forever Wilde in Aster Valley (2021)
A massive triple-crossover novel linking the Forever Wilde, Made Marian, and Aster Valley universes. The story follows Miller Hobbs—who has genetic ties to both the Marians and the Wildes—as he visits Aster Valley and falls for a local baker named Darius, bringing the extended families together for a chaotic holiday vacation.
10. Wilde Shorts (2024)
A compilation of short stories, deleted scenes, and holiday snippets that gives fans a final, cozy look at their favorite couples from Hobie and beyond, including the antics of Stevie and Evan's pet raccoon.
The Shared Universe: Made Marian & Aster Valley Crossovers
The Wilde family does not exist in a vacuum. Lucy Lennox has built an expansive, interconnected M/M romance universe where characters frequently cross over between series. The most prominent connection is to the Made Marian series, which centers on the Marian family of San Francisco. The link between the two families is forged through Major Weston Marian (from Wilde Love), connecting the Texas ranching clan directly to the California city-dwellers.
Later in the timeline, the series connects with Aster Valley, a fictional Colorado mountain town series. To get the absolute most out of the crossovers, particularly the holiday event Forever Wilde in Aster Valley, readers should ideally read the Made Marian series first, followed by the main Forever Wilde books, and then the early books of the Aster Valley series (specifically up through Hot as Heller).
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Hobie, Texas, readers should prepare for a high level of heat, snappy dialogue, and heavy emotional payoff. While the series deals with some serious themes—such as PTSD, grief, and overcoming trauma—the overall tone is comforting, humorous, and deeply focused on family support. The patriarchs, Doc and Grandpa, are central figures who offer advice (and meddling intervention) to all their children and grandchildren, making the ranch feel like a true home base for the readers. Expect quirky town residents, animal antics, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters in every book.