Recommended Reading Order for Love by Numbers
While Sarah MacLean’s books feature self-contained romance arcs that can technically be read out of sequence, we strongly recommend reading the Love by Numbers series in its original publication order. The trilogy follows the close-knit St. John siblings and their companions in Regency-era England (set around the 1820s). Reading them in order allows you to fully appreciate the family dynamics, recurring character growth, and the overarching narrative threads that lay the groundwork for MacLean's wider universe.
The Core Trilogy in Reading Order
- Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (2010)
The series begins with the story of Lady Calpurnia Hartwell. After a decade of playing by society's strict rules and being labeled a dull wallflower, Callie decides she has had enough of waiting for life to start. She writes a list of nine scandalous rules she wants to break—including drinking in a tavern, fencing, and firing a pistol—and recruits the notorious Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston, to help her check them off. Ralston is a reformed rake who is trying to establish respectability to introduce his newly arrived half-sister to society, making Callie's wild list the last thing he needs, but exactly what he wants. It’s a delightful, high-energy romance that introduces the series' core themes of female agency and rule-breaking passion.
- Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (2010)
The second book shifts focus to Gabriel’s twin brother, Lord Nicholas St. John. Known as the most handsome and sought-after bachelor in London, Nicholas has fled the city to escape matching-making mothers, only to stumble upon Lady Isabel Townsend. Isabel is secretly running a crumbling estate that serves as a safe haven for vulnerable, abandoned women. To keep her secrets safe, she needs a man who can help her manage the estate without discovering what she is hiding. Nicholas is drawn into her world, and their clash of wills turns into a deep romance where Nicholas discovers that love is the one thing he cannot run away from.
- Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (2011)
The trilogy concludes with the fiery Juliana Fiori, the half-sister of the St. John twins. Raised in Italy by her merchant father after her English mother abandoned her family, Juliana is considered too loud, too emotional, and far too scandalous for the rigid London ton. When she clashes with Simon Pearson, the proper, duty-bound Duke of Leighton, their fiery battle of wills turns into a passionate romance. Simon is obsessed with maintaining a perfect reputation to protect his family, but Juliana challenges everything he stands for, forcing him to choose between his carefully guarded standing in society and true love.
Chronological Timeline vs. Publication Order
Because the events of the three books occur sequentially over a short span of time in the early 1820s, the publication order matches the chronological timeline perfectly. Characters from the earlier books appear in the later installments, showing their life post-HEA (Happily Ever After). For example, Gabriel and Callie from the first book play a major role in the third book as they help guard and guide Juliana through her London debut. Reading the books out of order will spoil the romantic resolutions and character developments of the previous couples, so sticking to publication order is highly recommended.
Entering the 'MacLeaniverse': Spin-offs and Connections
One of the most rewarding aspects of reading Sarah MacLean's books is discovering how her various series link together. The Love by Numbers trilogy serves as the foundation for the larger, interconnected 'MacLeaniverse.' Here is how you can continue your reading journey after finishing the trilogy:
The Rules of Scoundrels Link
The immediate successor to the Love by Numbers series is The Rules of Scoundrels series. The connection is established directly through Lady Penelope Marbury. In Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart, Penelope is the proper, perfect fiancée of Simon Pearson, the Duke of Leighton. When their engagement falls apart due to Simon's romance with Juliana, Penelope's reputation is compromised. Her subsequent story is the focus of A Rogue by Any Other Name (the first book of the Rules of Scoundrels series), where she marries the infamous gaming-hell owner Michael Lawler, Marquess of Bourne. Reading the trilogy first gives readers key context for Penelope's character and motivation.
The Extended Reading Path
If you want to experience the full continuity of MacLean's Regency and Victorian worlds, follow this chronological publication path:
- Love by Numbers Trilogy (2010–2011): Start here to meet the St. John siblings and establish the foundations of the universe.
- The Rules of Scoundrels (2012–2014): A four-book series focusing on the founders of the Fallen Angel gambling hell, starting with Penelope Marbury's redemption.
- Scandal & Scoundrel (2016–2017): A three-book series following notorious women who turn public scandal to their advantage.
- The Bareknuckle Bastards (2018–2020): A gritty trilogy set in London's Covent Garden underworld, featuring the illegitimate children of a duke.
- Hell’s Belles (2021–Present): A series centered around a secret sisterhood of vigilante women fighting for justice in Victorian London.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, it is helpful to understand the family background that drives the emotional conflict of the series. The St. John twins and Juliana Fiori share a mother—a disgraced English marchioness who scandalously abandoned her family. Gabriel and Nicholas grew up under the shadow of their father's resentment, while Juliana was raised in Italy. Following their mother's death, Gabriel brings Juliana to London, determined to protect her from the same society that shunned their mother. This background of family trauma, societal judgment, and fierce sibling loyalty makes their individual love stories all the more satisfying.