How to Read The Subs Club Series in Order
The Subs Club is a contemporary M/M BDSM romance series written by J.A. Rock that follows a group of submissive friends dealing with grief, healing, and romance after a tragedy. Because the books feature an overarching plot, recurring characters, and evolving relationships, they should be read in order of publication.
Here is the recommended reading order for The Subs Club books:
- The Subs Club (2015) – Focuses on Dave and a dominant partner nicknamed "Pornstache" (D). Dave is grappling with the loss of his friend Hal and clashes with D, sparking a complex relationship that tests his boundaries and helps him heal.
- Pain Slut (2016) – Follows Miles, a masochist who desperately wants a conventional life, including adopting a child. His plans are upended when he meets Drix, a private investigator and member of a vampire cult who is a genuine, yet surprisingly lighthearted, sadist.
- Manties in a Twist (2016) – Focuses on Kamen, the group's joker, and his Dom boyfriend Ryan. As Kamen prepares to move in with Ryan and compete at "PetPlayFest" against a rival, the couple navigates trust, pony play, and taking their relationship to the next level.
- 24/7 (2016) – Follows Gould, who has been deeply traumatized by the death of his ex-boyfriend, Hal. In a dark and emotional journey, Gould enters a full-time Master/slave relationship with Kel and Greg, the married owners of the BDSM club "Riddle" where Hal’s tragedy occurred.
- Slave Hunt (2016) – The series finale. Set during a "slave hunt" game in the woods, this novel features ten different point-of-view narrators, including all the main couples from the previous books, as well as Kel and Greg, wrapping up their collective arcs.
What to Know Before You Start
The Subs Club series begins with a heavy catalyst: the death of a close friend named Hal during a negligent BDSM scene. In response, his friends—Dave, Miles, Kamen, and Gould—form "The Subs Club," a blog designed to vet and expose dangerous, unsafe, or incompetent dominants in their local community. While the setup sounds like a thriller, the core of the series is a character-driven romance exploring trust, safety, consent, and psychological recovery.
J.A. Rock balances intense, sometimes heavy topics (like grief, accountability, and trauma) with a playful sense of humor, banter, and unique kink dynamics. The series transitions from standard BDSM club environments to niche interests like vampire roleplay cults and pony play, making it a diverse exploration of the kink community.
The Core Cast and Dynamics
Each book shifts focus to a different member of the friend group, allowing readers to see how each submissive deals with their personal desires and grief:
- Dave: Bratty and defensive, Dave is determined to keep his guard up, making his clash with D a battle of wills.
- Miles: An intense, neurotic masochist who struggles to reconcile his deep desire for physical pain with his dream of becoming a father.
- Kamen: The comic relief of the group, whose quirky nature hides a vulnerability as he learns what it means to build a serious, long-term partnership with Ryan.
- Gould: The most fragile of the group, Gould’s journey is the darkest, navigating high-protocol submission (24/7) as a way to find safety and process his trauma.
Is "Slave Hunt" Essential?
Yes. While some series wrap up with individual standalones, Slave Hunt acts as the definitive conclusion for the entire group. Because it uses ten different narrators (including the antagonists-turned-allies Kel and Greg), it brings all of the subplots together. Skipping it will leave the overarching story of the club’s healing and their final acceptance of the past incomplete.