Spruce, Texas Books in Order

The Best Reading Order for Spruce, Texas

If you are planning to visit the warm, sun-soaked streets of Spruce, Texas, you have a few options for how to tackle Daryl Banner's contemporary M/M romance series. Because almost all of the novels are written as standalone love stories focusing on a different couple, you do not have to follow a strict chronological sequence to enjoy the town's charm. However, since characters frequently crossover, share small-town gossip, and make cameo appearances in later books, reading in publication order offers the best way to experience the growing community and avoid minor spoilers.

If you prefer to jump straight to the best parts, or if you want to follow the natural evolution of the town, we recommend the following paths:

• The Community Path (Recommended): Start with Football Sundae and read in order of release. This introduces you to the core cast, sets up the geography of the town, and allows you to watch the town's couples interact as secondary characters in later installments.
• The Fan-Favorite Shortcut: If you want to test the waters with one of the most highly praised entries, start with Heteroflexible (Book 3), a hilarious and deeply emotional best-friends-to-lovers romance, or Rebel At Spruce High (Book 5), an enemies-to-lovers high school romance. If you fall in love with the writing, you can circle back to the beginning.
• The Tanner & Billy Duology: If you read Football Sundae, you must read Forever Strong (Book 11). While most books feature different couples, Forever Strong is a direct sequel that catches up with Tanner and Billy years after their first ice cream scoop.

Spruce, Texas Books in Publication Order

For readers who want to experience the town exactly as the author built it, the publication order is the most straightforward path. Daryl Banner began releasing these books in 2017, and the series continues to expand. Here is the publication order of the main series books:

1. Football Sundae (2017): The book that started it all. Tanner, a college football star, finds himself falling for Billy, a talented dessert chef, amidst diner dates and small-town gossip. It establishes the cozy, low-stress tone of the series.
2. Born Again Sinner (2018): A deeper, more emotional read that pairs Trey, a preacher's son struggling with his identity, with Cody, a wounded military veteran seeking peace in the quiet town.
3. Heteroflexible (2019): A humorous and steamy best-friends-to-lovers story focusing on Jimmy and Bobby, widely considered one of the funniest and most relatable books in the series.
4. Wrangled (2020): A rugged, enemies-to-lovers romance set on a ranch, featuring the sparks that fly between two headstrong men who must work together despite their differences.
5. Rebel At Spruce High (2020): A sweet and angsty young adult crossover that follows Toby, a shy teen, and Vann, the school's mysterious new bad boy, tackling themes of acceptance and young love.
6. Summer Sweat (2022): A sizzling hot summer romance that dials up the heat in the middle of a Texas drought, featuring intense chemistry and passionate growth.
7. Hopeful Romantic (2022): A charming story focusing on second chances, healing from past wounds, and finding love when you least expect it.
8. Mr. Picture Perfect (2024): A fun, modern romance tackling public perception, vanity, and the real person behind the camera, highlighting the town's gossipy nature.
9. Hot Mess Express (2025): An enemies-to-lovers story featuring Bridger, a stoic military veteran trying to find peace, and Anthony Myers, a chaotic, hard-partying newcomer who turns Bridger's quiet life upside down.
10. Hate to Love You (2025): A cozy, low-angst novella set in the nearby town of Fairview. It follows Liam and his former high school nemesis, Teague Jenson, bringing a softer enemies-to-lovers dynamic to the universe.
11. Forever Strong (2026): The highly anticipated continuation of Billy and Tanner's relationship from Football Sundae, exploring family life, long-term commitments, and the enduring strength of their bond.
12. No Fool For Love Songs (2026): An emotional, slow-burn romance between TJ, a man looking to break free of his planned-out life, and Chase Holt, a famous singer seeking his lost inspiration in the quiet corners of Texas.

Chronological Placement and Key Caveats

While the publication order is generally chronological, there are a few timeline elements that readers should keep in mind. The town of Spruce acts as a living, breathing backdrop, meaning that events in one book are occasionally referenced in the background of another. For example, Rebel At Spruce High is set slightly earlier or concurrently with some of the high school characters' younger years, but it fits perfectly into the fifth slot without disrupting the flow.

Additionally, Hate to Love You is technically set in the neighboring town of Fairview, but is deeply connected to the Spruce ecosystem and introduces characters who interact with the main cast. Finally, Forever Strong jumps ahead in time to follow Tanner and Billy as an established couple. Reading this book immediately after Football Sundae is possible, but you will miss the references to other couples in town who settled down during the intervening books.

The Spin-Off: A Texas Beach Town Romance

Once you have had your fill of small-town dirt roads and local diners, you can head down to the coast with Daryl Banner's spin-off series, A Texas Beach Town Romance. Set in the fictional coastal paradise of Dreamwood Isle, these books carry the same steamy, low-angst, and heartwarming tone of the main series but with a balmy, ocean-side aesthetic. The books in this subseries include:

1. In Too Deep (2022)
2. Crusher (2022)
3. Far From Paradise (2023)
4. Hearts Adrift (2024)

Like the Spruce novels, these can be read as standalones, though they are best enjoyed in order. While you do not need to read the Spruce series to understand them, reading them after Summer Sweat or Hopeful Romantic matches their publication era and captures Banner's evolving style.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive headfirst into the Spruce universe, it helps to understand the tone and rules of Daryl Banner's world. Spruce is written as an idealized, accepting Southern haven. Unlike many contemporary M/M romances set in the American South, the characters in Spruce do not spend their time fighting institutional homophobia or facing rejection from their neighbors. Banner intentionally crafted the town to be a place of safety and warmth, where the primary conflicts stem from personal growth, career dilemmas, family dynamics, and romantic tension.

The books are also known for their steamy content and high emotional resonance. If you enjoy lighthearted banter, low-angst plots, small-town gossip, and happily-ever-afters, this series is custom-built for you. The books range from sweet young-adult adjacent themes (like Rebel At Spruce High) to highly physical contemporary romances, so readers should expect a mix of emotional depth and physical chemistry. All the books are authored solely by Daryl Banner, ensuring a consistent voice and writing style across the entire series.