The Recommended Reading Order for the Imperfect Series
The Imperfect series by Mary Frame is a collection of contemporary romantic comedies that follow quirky, beautifully flawed protagonists as they navigate the chaotic path to love. While each novel is written to function perfectly as a standalone romance with its own self-contained happy ending, the stories exist within a shared universe. Characters frequently cross over, and family relationships tie several books together directly.
Because of these recurring characters and evolving relationships, we highly recommend reading the series in its original publication order. This sequence allows you to appreciate the subtle background nods, recurring jokes, and familial dynamics as they were intended to unfold. Here is the recommended reading path:
- Imperfect Chemistry (2014)
- Imperfectly Criminal (2014)
- Practically Imperfect (2016)
- Picture Imperfect (2018)
- Imperfect Strangers (2018)
- Imperfectly Delicious (2020)
Deep Dive into the Imperfect Universe
1. Imperfect Chemistry
The series kicks off with Lucy London, a brilliant but emotionally detached microbiology PhD candidate. Lucy approachs human emotions like pathogens—things to be isolated, studied, and ultimately avoided. When she needs a research grant to study the effects of romantic love, she decides to conduct a hands-on experiment. Enter Jensen, her charming, attractive neighbor who agrees to help her test the physical and psychological effects of attraction. What starts as a clinical study quickly devolves into genuine chemistry, setting the humorous, nerdy, and deeply emotional tone for the rest of the series.
2. Imperfectly Criminal
The second installment shifts the spotlight to Freya Morgan and Dean. Freya is sassy, opinionated, and determined to get through college, while Dean is the resident campus bad boy with a reputation he doesn't care to correct. Their paths cross under bizarre circumstances involving a campus mystery. When the two are forced to team up to solve a lighthearted crime, their constant banter transforms into intense romantic tension. This book successfully introduces the mystery and suspense subplots that Mary Frame frequently weaves into her romance formulas.
3. Practically Imperfect
In the third book, we meet Gemma McDougall, a tough-as-nails police officer who prefers to keep her guard up at all times. Gemma is dealing with high-stress situations at work and family drama at home, leaving her with zero patience for romance. However, her goofy, cartoon-illustrating neighbor Sam has other ideas. Sam is laid-back, creative, and completely unfazed by Gemma's prickly exterior. As Sam slowly chips away at Gemma's defenses, the story balances sweet neighborly interactions with a genuine thread of danger and suspense related to Gemma's police work.
4. Picture Imperfect
This fourth novel introduces a direct family connection: the protagonist is Gwen McDougall, an ex-fashion model turned professional photographer, and the sister of Gemma from the previous book. Gwen is looking to establish her professional credibility when she gets roped into a fake-dating arrangement with Brent Crawford, a star tight end for the New York Sharks who needs to repair his tarnished public image. The arrangement gets complicated when Gwen meets Brent's older brother, Marc Crawford. Marc is self-conscious and stands in stark contrast to his flashy athlete brother, but Gwen finds herself falling for Marc instead of the man she is contracted to date.
5. Imperfect Strangers
Brent Crawford, the famous playboy footballer from the previous book, takes center stage in this emotional fifth entry. Behind his public persona of charm and ease, Brent harbors a serious, life-threatening heart condition that he hides from the world. Because of this, he avoids long-term commitments. Bethany Connell, on the other hand, is done with casual flings and is actively searching for a reliable, long-term partner. When Bethany and Brent accidentally wake up together, they are forced to confront their assumptions about one another, navigating the delicate balance of loving someone when time might be running out.
6. Imperfectly Delicious
The series rounds out with a culinary-themed rom-com. Scarlett Jackson is an incredibly clumsy, accident-prone baker running her own food truck, For Goodness Cakes. Scarlett has been blacklisted from several top-tier restaurants after a disastrous first encounter with Guy Chapman, a famous, perfectionist celebrity chef who hosts a reality cooking show. When their paths cross again, Guy is focused on building a prestigious culinary complex, while also caring for his sister who requires round-the-clock medical care. Despite the initial flames and burnt bridges, Scarlett's chaotic warmth begins to melt Guy's icy exterior, resulting in a sweet and satisfying conclusion to the series.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the Imperfect series, the publication order and the chronological order are identical. The timeline moves forward linearly from Lucy's academic experiments in 2014 to Scarlett and Guy's kitchen clashes in 2020. Reading the books chronologically is highly recommended because it preserves the progression of secondary characters. For instance, Brent Crawford first appears as a major secondary figure in Picture Imperfect before graduating to the main protagonist in Imperfect Strangers. Reading these out of order would spoil Brent's character arc and the resolution of the fake-dating plotline in book four.
What to Know Before You Start
Mary Frame's writing style is defined by its witty, fast-paced dialogue, dual POV narratives, and highly relatable, eccentric protagonists. While the books are categorized as contemporary romantic comedies, they frequently include subplots involving mystery, light suspense, and emotional hurdles such as chronic illness or family trauma. This blend keeps the stories grounded and gives the characters genuine depth beyond standard romance tropes.
If you finish the Imperfect series and want more of Frame's signature style, you should check out her other works. The Dorky Duet series (which includes Ridorkulous, Geektastic, and Nerdelicious) offers a very similar blend of nerdy protagonists and laugh-out-loud banter. For readers who enjoyed the mystery elements of the Imperfect books, Frame's Castle Cove Mystery series provides cozy, romantic whodunits that capture the same entertaining tone.