The Recommended Reading Path: Welcome to the Kellyverse
If you love big, meddlesome families, hilarious group chats, and high-heat queer romances, Isla Olsen's Love & Luck series is a must-read. Set in the vibrant backdrop of New York—primarily Staten Island and Manhattan—this series revolves around the massive Irish Catholic Kelly family. With eleven siblings (eight of whom are gay), their parents Michael and Aileen, and an assortment of close friends and cousins, there is never a quiet moment in this household.
While every book in the series features a self-contained romance with a guaranteed Happy Ever After (HEA) and can technically be read as a standalone, we strongly recommend reading them in publication order. The Kelly siblings are deeply involved in each other's lives, and their supportive yet delightfully nosy dynamics evolve from book to book. Reading them chronologically ensures you catch all the inside jokes, avoid spoilers about who ends up with whom, and get to enjoy the legendary family group texts in their proper context.
Love & Luck Books in Publication Order
The core series spans nine books (including a festive holiday installment) released between 2020 and 2023. Here is the chronological publication order of the main Love & Luck books:
- Fake It ’til You Make Out (2020) – The book that started it all. Heath pretends to date his gay best friend, Declan Kelly, to spite an ex, only for real sparks to fly in a classic friends-to-lovers setup.
- Virtually Screwed (2020) – Follows Owen Kelly, the youngest sibling, who finds himself in a steamy age-gap romance with a billionaire named Blake whom he met through online gaming.
- Crazy Little Fling (2020) – Focuses on Shay Kelly, the oldest brother and legal guardian of his nephew Jake, who enters a passionate relationship with Jamie.
- Hopeless Bromantics (2020) – High school buddies Brendan Kelly and Wade reunite to tackle a home renovation project, which quickly transforms into a double gay-for-you romance.
- Two Men and a Baby (2020) – An opposites-attract romance featuring Connor Kelly and Josh, who must navigate sudden co-parenting duties when they are left with a surprise baby.
- Can’t Get You Out of My Bed (2020) – Roommates-to-lovers story featuring Aidan Kelly and Ben, packed with accidental setup tropes and high chemistry.
- O Come, All Ye Kellys (2020) – A festive Christmas novel that brings the entire Kelly clan together for holiday shenanigans, relationship updates, and family chaos.
- Sex, Tries, and Videotape (2023) – Finn Kelly takes center stage in a rare male-female (MF) romance within the family, navigating his connection with Ellie.
- Text Me Up (2023) – A long-distance romance between Nate and the Kellys' cousin, Callum Foley, sparked by a flirty text message sent to the wrong number.
Expanding the Universe: Kellyverse Spin-offs and Crossovers
Isla Olsen's writing style and interconnected characters have built a broader fan-favorite universe known as the "Kellyverse." Once you finish the core Love & Luck books, you can dive into these related series that share the same universe, humor, and cameos:
- Suits & Sevens: A spin-off series focusing on a new group of characters in the same New York setting. Notable entries include Mr. Big Shot, Mr. Right Now, and Mr. Nice Guy. Reading the core Kelly family books first isn't strictly required, but it enriches the cameos.
- Royal & Reckless: An adjacent series that features books like The King and Jai and Three’s a Crown, expanding the romance dynamics to high-stakes, royal settings while keeping the trademark humor.
- Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2023): A crossover project specifically designed to bridge characters from both Love & Luck and Suits & Sevens. It began as a Patreon serial and offers fans delightful extra interactions between their favorite couples.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you dive into the Kelly family archives, here are a few practical tips to help you get the most out of your reading experience:
Expect Low-Angst, High-Fun Vibes: Olsen’s books are designed as lighthearted romantic comedies. While the characters face real-life situations like self-discovery, identity adjustments, and parenting, the tone remains upbeat, funny, and comforting.
Diverse Dynamics: While the series is best known for its MM (male/male) romance pairs, Olsen doesn't stick to a single formula. The inclusion of MF stories like Finn's book and MMF tropes in spin-offs means the Kellyverse has a wide variety of romantic representations.
The Meddlesome Siblings: A major highlight of the series is the family group chat. These text thread chapters showcase the sibling banter and are highly praised by readers for bringing authentic, chaotic family energy to the pages.