The Recommended Reading Order
The Until universe by Aurora Rose Reynolds is a contemporary romance phenomenon that centers around the Mayson family and their legendary, instant-love phenomenon known as the 'BOOM.' To fully enjoy the progression of the family dynamics and avoid major spoilers, the recommended path is to read the books in order of publication, starting with the original generation before moving on to their children's stories.
1. The Core Until Series (The Mayson Brothers)
This is where the saga begins. These four books introduce the Mayson brothers—Asher, Trevor, Cash, and Nico—and establish the Tennessee setting and the 'BOOM' curse. A companion holiday novella is also best read during this phase.
- Until November (2013) – November Armsted and Asher Mayson
- Until Trevor (2013) – Liz Hayes and Trevor Mayson
- Until Lilly (2014) – Cash Mayson and Lilly Donovan
- Until Nico (2014) – Nico Mayson and Sophie Grates
- Second Chance Holiday (2014) – Novella (Book 4.5)
2. The Next Generation (Until Him / Until Her Series)
Once the original Mayson brothers have found their Happily Ever Afters, the series transitions to their children (the Mayson sons and daughters) as they grow up and experience their own 'BOOM' moments. Though published under individual titles, these are widely treated as a single chronological continuation.
- Until July (2015) – July Mayson and Wes Silver
- Until Jax (2015) – Jax Mayson and Ellie McCall
- Until June (2016) – June Mayson and Evan
- Until Ashlyn (2016) – Ashlyn Mayson and Dillon
- Until Sage (2017) – Sage Mayson and Kimberly
- Until Harmony (2018) – Harmony Mayson and Harlen
- Until Cobi (2018) – Cobi Mayson and Hadley
- Until December (2019) – December Mayson and Gareth
- Until Talon (2020) – Talon Mayson and Mia Allenton
- Until April (2021) – April Mayson and Maxim Kauwe
- Until May (2022) – May Mayson and Aiden Bender
- Until Willow (2022) – Willow Mayson and Clay Raven
- Until Hanna (2023) – Hanna Mayson and Walker St. James
- Until Bax (2024) – Bax Mayson and Olivia Gannon
- Until Nalia (2025) – Nalia Mayson and Logan Rafe
3. The Connected Underground Kings Series
If you want the complete universe experience, Aurora Rose Reynolds' Underground Kings series is loosely connected to the Until world, taking place in the same universe and sharing character crossovers. It features darker, suspenseful romance themes, and the characters cross paths with the Mayson family in later spinoff books.
- Assumption (2014)
- Obligation (2014)
- Distraction (2015)
- Infatuation (2016)
What is the Mayson Family 'BOOM'?
Before diving in, readers need to understand the central conceit of the series. The 'BOOM' is an instant-love phenomenon that runs in the Mayson family. When a Mayson man (or one of their children) meets their soulmate, love strikes immediately and irreversibly. This triggers intense protective instincts, sizzling chemistry, and a rapid transition into a committed relationship. While it features 'insta-love' tropes, the stories focus heavily on how the couples navigate external suspense, family loyalty, and personal healing after the initial spark.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order Caveats
Because the next-generation series (Until Him/Her) covers the children of the original characters, reading them out of order can lead to minor spoilers regarding who ended up with whom, how many children they had, and ongoing family milestones. It is highly recommended to read the original quartet (November, Trevor, Lilly, and Nico) first. Afterward, reading the spin-offs in publication order ensures that you meet the cousins and siblings as they are introduced in the family timeline.
The Collaborative Happily Ever Alpha World
In addition to her main books, Aurora Rose Reynolds created the Happily Ever Alpha World (marketed in some international markets, like Germany, as the Until Us series). For this project, Reynolds invited selected indie romance authors to write standalone stories set within her established Until universe. These books feature cameos from her original characters and are set in the same locations. While they expand the world, they are completely optional and do not need to be read to understand the main Mayson family storyline.
Practical Tips for Readers
Can these books be read as standalones? Yes. Each book focuses on a single couple and resolves with a happily ever after. However, the overarching appeal of the series lies in the tight-knit, chaotic family dynamics of the Maysons. Recurring cameos, holiday gatherings, and protective sibling interactions are a staple of the series, meaning you will get a much richer reading experience if you follow the family's journey sequentially.