How to Read the Kingston Family Series
Written by New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips, the Kingston Family universe is a modern contemporary romance saga filled with billionaire alphas, fake relationship setups, childhood friends-to-lovers stories, and emotional second-chance tales. Set against the high-society backdrops of New York City and the Hamptons, the series revolves around the wealthy Kingston clan and their close-knit circle of family, friends, and business partners.
While every single novel in this series features a self-contained romance with a satisfying Happy Ever After (HEA) and can technically be read as a standalone, we highly recommend reading the books in publication order. Reading in sequence allows you to watch the overarching family storylines unfold, witness recurring characters find their partners, and fully appreciate the crossovers with other Carly Phillips universes, such as the Dare and Sterling families.
Kingston Family Recommended Reading Order
Here is the recommended reading path for the entire Kingston Family universe, including the core books, the Dirty Dares subseries, and the essential novellas that bridge the stories together.
- Just One Night (2021) – Follows Linc Kingston and Jordan Greene. This friends-to-lovers romance launches the series, exploring a life-altering night between a billionaire and his assistant.
- Just One Scandal (2021) – Follows Chloe Kingston and Beckett Daniels. When Chloe is jilted at her wedding, Beckett—her brother's best friend—steps in to help her avoid the gossip columns with a fake-dating arrangement.
- Just One Chance (2021) – Follows Xander Kingston and Sasha Keaton. A military veteran turned screenwriter gets a second chance at love with a famous Hollywood actress while dealing with suspense and protective instincts.
- Just One Spark (2022) – Follows Dash Kingston and Cassidy Forrester. A playboy rock star and a public relations specialist enter a fake relationship to clean up his bad-boy image, only for real feelings to ignite.
- Just One Wish (2022) – A companion novella (often numbered as Book 4.5 or 5.5). This story follows veterinarian Tara Stillman and drummer Axel Forrester (Cassidy's brother) as they rekindle their high school romance.
- Just One Dare (2022) – Follows Nick Dare and Aurora Michaels. This book kicks off the Dirty Dares subseries, tracking a rags-to-riches heroine and a powerful billionaire.
- Just One Kiss (2022) – Follows Jade Dare and Knox Sinclair. Jade attempts a no-strings relationship with billionaire sports team owner Knox, leading to a surprise pregnancy that complicates their neat arrangement.
- Just One Taste (2022) – Follows Asher Dare and Nicolette Bettencourt. A high-stakes romance centered around family loyalty and intense physical chemistry.
- Just Another Spark (2023) – A follow-up novella (Book 7.5) that continues the story of rock star Dash Kingston and Cassidy Forrester.
- Just One Fling (2023) – Follows Harrison Dare and Winter Capwell. A summer fling between a billionaire actor and a freelance journalist turns serious after an unexpected pregnancy.
- Just One Tease (2023) – Follows Zach Dare and Hadley Stevens. A protective hero and a woman dealing with family pressures find an undeniable spark.
- Just One Summer (2024) – A companion novella (Dirty Dares Book 6) featuring Maddox James and Gabriella Davenport, utilizing a classic grumpy-meets-sunshine trope.
Understanding the Crossovers: The Dirty Dares and Sterlings
If you get confused by the names Dare, Kingston, and Sterling, you are not alone! Carly Phillips has built an interconnected web of wealthy, passionate families that cross over into each other's books. Here is how they break down:
The Core Kingston Family (Books 1–4)
The first four books focus directly on the core Kingston siblings: Linc, Chloe, Xander, and Dash. These books establish the family's wealth, close bonds, and their lives in New York and the Hamptons. They also introduce key secondary characters who receive their own stories later on, like Axel Forrester in the holiday novella Just One Wish.
The Dirty Dares (Books 5–9 & Novellas)
Starting with Just One Dare, the series shifts focus to the Dare cousins, who run the "Dirty Dare Spirits" vodka brand. These characters are connected to the Dare family from Phillips's older, popular Dare to Love series. The Dirty Dares subseries runs in parallel with the Kingston numbers on most retailer sites, meaning Book 5 of the Kingston Family is also Book 1 of the Dirty Dares.
The Sterling Family Continuation
Once you finish the main Kingston and Dare books, you can move right into The Sterling Family series. This spin-off is a direct narrative continuation of the Kingston universe and includes titles like Just One More Moment and Just One More Dare. Reading this series will give you updates on all your favorite Kingston and Dare couples.
Practical Advice for Readers
If you are looking for the absolute best starting point, begin with Just One Night. It lays the groundwork for the family dynamic and introduces the central characters you will meet throughout the series. While you can jump in at any point, the emotional payoff of seeing characters from earlier books support their siblings and cousins in later books is a major highlight of the series. Keep in mind that some online platforms number the novellas (like Just One Wish) differently, but following our publication order ensures you won't encounter any spoilers.