The Extravagant Books in Order

How to Read The Extravagant Series

Welcome to the glamorous, high-heat world of the Carmichael family hotel empire. Penned by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, The Extravagant series blends opulent Las Vegas settings, sharp banter, and intense, boundary-pushing romance. Whether you are looking for a classic bodyguard romance, a tense enemies-to-lovers rivalry, or a sizzling MM rock-star escape, this series has something to satisfy every craving.

Because the main books are designed as standalones set in the same universe, you have a few choices in how you approach them. However, characters cross over and events overlap. To get the most out of the interconnected storylines, we recommend following the chronological reading order below.

The Recommended Reading Order

1. Maybe This Time (Prequel Novella to One Time Only)

   This prequel novella introduces us to Jackson Pearce and rock superstar Stone Zenith before the main events of their book. It sets up their history and the sparks that eventually ignite their forbidden romance. Reading this first provides excellent context for Stone's appearance in the main series.

2. An Extravagant Tryst (Book 0.75)

   Serving as the official prologue to the Carmichael sisters' stories, this short novella focuses on the initial, intense connection between hotel CEO Ivy Carmichael and her bodyguard Callum Blackwell. It builds the foundation of tension that explodes in the first full-length book.

3. One Night Only (Book 1)

   The first full-length novel centers on Ivy Carmichael and Callum Blackwell. Ivy is trying to pull off a massive, high-profile concert at her hotel featuring rock star Stone Zenith. The high stakes, combined with Callum's protective nature and Ivy's secret fantasies, culminate in a scorching MFM (male-female-male) menage encounter featuring Stone Zenith.

4. An Indulgent Moment (Book 1.5)

   A short bedtime story and teaser novella. It introduces the intense chemistry of Sage Carmichael (Ivy's sister and co-CEO) and her professional rival Cole Donovan, setting the stage for their dramatic collision in the next book.

5. One Exquisite Touch (Book 2)

   Sage Carmichael takes center stage in this enemies-to-lovers MFM romance. Eager to escape her professional stress, Sage attends an anonymous masquerade ball, only to have a wild night with a stranger and his best friend, Daniel. The next morning, she discovers the stranger is Cole Donovan, her billionaire business rival who owns the competing hotel directly across the Las Vegas Strip. They navigate high-stakes bets, hotel rivalries, and shared passion.

6. My One Week Husband (Book 3 - Originally "One Alluring Chance")

   Originally announced and published under the title One Alluring Chance, this book was later retitled My One Week Husband. It follows Daniel (Cole's best friend from the previous book) and Scarlett. To secure a massive business deal in France, the two long-time friends and business partners agree to fake a marriage for one week. This title is a straight MF (male-female) contemporary romance focused on the fake-relationship and friends-to-lovers tropes.

7. One Time Only (MM Spin-Off Standalone)

   This highly popular spin-off shifts the spotlight to MM (male-male) romance. Written under Blakely's MM pen name (L. Blakely), it follows the forbidden romance between bodyguard Jackson Pearce and rock star Stone Zenith. It expands on the background connection established in One Night Only, showing what happens when Stone and his protector finally cross the line.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For readers who prefer to experience the series exactly as it was released, the publication order is very straightforward. The main novels and novellas were released in rapid succession starting in 2020:

• One Night Only (June 2020)
• An Extravagant Tryst (October 2020)
• One Exquisite Touch (October 2020)
• One Time Only (November 2020)
• My One Week Husband / One Alluring Chance (2021)
• An Indulgent Moment (November 2021)

Whether you choose publication order or chronological order, the experience remains highly satisfying. However, reading the prequels first helps ground the characters' motivations, especially regarding the shared history of the bodyguards and their clients.

What to Know Before You Start

Lauren Blakely's The Extravagant is categorized under her "After Dark" branding, meaning these books feature high steam levels, sex-positive themes, and adventurous relationship dynamics compared to her lighter romantic comedies. Here are a few key details to keep in mind:

• Vegas Glamour: The primary setting is the luxurious Las Vegas Strip, focusing on competing resort hotels, high-profile concert events, and masquerade balls.
• Diverse Tropes: The series shifts tropes and dynamics from book to book, ranging from bodyguard/heiress forbidden love and MFM ménage relationships to enemies-to-lovers corporate rivalries and fake marriage.
• The Retitling: Don't get confused if you see lists referencing One Alluring Chance. It is the exact same book as My One Week Husband. The author updated the title and cover to better reflect the popular "fake husband" trope.
• Standalone Nature: Every single book features a complete romance with a satisfying Happy Ever After (HEA), meaning they can technically be read as standalone novels. However, because characters like Daniel and Stone play significant roles across multiple books, reading them in order prevents spoilers.