How to Read the Roommates Series
The Roommates series, penned by New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan, is a collection of sizzling contemporary romances. Each book features a different couple and explores the tension, humor, and chemistry that arise when two people are forced to share a close space. Because every book is a standalone story with its own resolution, you do not have to follow a strict narrative continuity. However, reading them in order lets you appreciate how the companion stories tie together.
There are two primary ways to approach the series. The standard order recommended by the author and Goodreads differs slightly from the retail listing order found in some database collections. Below, we break down both options so you can choose the best reading path for your library.
Option 1: The Author's Preferred Reading Order
This is the order in which the books were written and originally released throughout 2017. It introduces the main couples in their intended order and places the companion novella as a mid-series treat.
- Book 1: The Room Mate (2017) – Follows Cannon and Paige.
- Book 2: The Play Mate (2017) – Follows Smith and Everleigh.
- Book 3: The House Mate (2017) – Follows Max and Addison.
- Book 3.5: The Bed Mate (2017) – A companion novella following Sam and Maggie.
- Book 4: The Soul Mate (2017) – Follows Mason and Bren.
Option 2: The Alternative Collection Order
In some digital storefronts, publisher bundles, and database indexes, the books are numbered slightly differently. This variation shifts the novella The Bed Mate earlier in the sequence and places The Play Mate at the end. The stories remain completely standalone, so reading in this order will not spoil any plotlines.
- Book 1: The Room Mate (2017)
- Book 2: The Bed Mate (2017)
- Book 3: The House Mate (2017)
- Book 4: The Soul Mate (2017)
- Book 5: The Play Mate (Originally published in 2017, sometimes listed as 2018 in late editions)
A Closer Look at the Books and Tropes
Each installment in the Roommates series centers on a classic contemporary romance trope, dialed up with Kendall Ryan's signature blend of high-steam chemistry and emotional depth. Here is what to expect from each book in the lineup:
The Room Mate (Book 1)
The series kicks off with a classic forbidden-attraction scenario. Paige is a focused, career-driven woman whose structured life is thrown into chaos when Cannon, her best friend's younger brother, moves into her spare bedroom. Cannon is younger, incredibly charming, and off-limits. As the boundaries of friendship blur under one roof, the two must decide if risking Paige's friendship with Cannon's sibling is worth taking a shot at love. It is a slow-burn, roommate-to-lovers story filled with playful banter.
The Play Mate (Book 2 / Book 5)
In this office-based romance, Everleigh (Evie) hatches a plan to get over a dry spell by engaging in a no-strings-attached, secret fling. The target of her scheme is Smith, who happens to be her brother's best friend and a partner at the firm where she works. Smith is a reformed playboy who has harbored feelings for Everleigh for years. What starts as a series of secret office encounters quickly evolves into deep emotional attachment, forcing both to confront their fears of commitment and the potential fallout with Everleigh's brother.
The House Mate (Book 3)
Shifting focus to a single-parent dynamic, this novel introduces Max, a dedicated single dad struggling to balance his demanding career with raising his young daughter. Enter Addison, the warm and professional live-in nanny he hires to help restore order to his household. Max and Addison feel an immediate, intense attraction, but the professional boundaries of their arrangement keep them apart. The story deals with the emotional weight of moving past grief, the responsibilities of parenthood, and the risk of crossing the line with an employee.
The Bed Mate (Book 3.5 / Book 2)
This novella was originally published as part of the 1001 Dark Nights series, serving as a companion piece to the main Roommates novels. It tells the story of Sam and Maggie, college best friends who have spent eight years maintaining a strictly platonic bond despite their friends constantly insisting they belong together. When Maggie undergoes a painful breakup, Sam invites her on a ski trip to Colorado. Sharing a hotel room forces them to confront their long-buried feelings, turning a lifelong friendship into a passionate romance.
The Soul Mate (Book 4)
The final full-length novel in the series presents one of the most dramatic setups in the collection. Bren has a memorable, passionate one-night stand with a handsome stranger named Mason. Weeks later, she discovers she is pregnant and schedules an appointment with a new OB-GYN. To her shock, the doctor walking into the examination room is Mason. The novel explores the complex ethics of their doctor-patient relationship, the rapid transition from strangers to co-parents, and the genuine emotional connection that grows out of a surprise pregnancy.
What to Know Before You Start
If you are planning to dive into the Roommates series, keep these practical reading tips in mind:
- Complete Standalones: You do not need to read the books in order to understand the plots. The characters do not significantly cross over in ways that spoil other books, so feel free to start with whichever trope appeals to you most.
- High Steam and Warm Hearts: Kendall Ryan is known for writing books with explicit sexual content, but she balances the heat with genuine relationship development, vulnerability, and humor.
- Chicago Settings: The books are set in Chicago, providing a vibrant, urban backdrop of snowy winters, busy offices, and cozy shared apartments.
- Audiobook Companion: The series is highly popular in audiobook format, featuring dual narration that highlights both the male and female perspectives in each story.