The Recommended Reading Order for Untouchable
Heather Long's contemporary "why-choose" (reverse harem) romance series follows Frankie Curtis and her four lifelong best friends turned romantic partners: Jake, Archie, Coop, and Ian. Because the series features a continuous storyline, heavy character development, and ongoing mystery elements, it must be read in order. The series is divided cleanly into a high school arc and a college arc.
The High School Arc (Books 1 to 8)
This first phase introduces Frankie's status as the school's "untouchable" tutor, the shift in her relationships with her four best friends, and the dark threats of bullying and sabotage that haunt their senior year in Texas.
- Rules and Roses (2019) – Introduces Frankie's quiet life, her sudden shift in status, and the start of her romance with the boys.
- Changes and Chocolates (2020) – Explores the initial fallout of their new relationship structure, online bullying, and social backlash.
- Keys and Kisses (2020) – The bonds deepen as external threats and family drama begin to tighten around the group.
- Whispers and Wishes (2020) – Tensions mount inside and outside the group as secrets come to the surface.
- Hangovers and Holidays (2020) – A crucial holiday-themed installment that focuses on healing, therapy, and family holiday pressures.
- Brazen and Breathless (2020) – The group faces the climax of their senior year struggles and growing external dangers.
- Trials and Tiaras (2021) – Navigating prom season and the looming pressure of what comes after graduation.
- Graduation and Gifts (2021) – The final chapter of high school, wrapping up their senior year and preparing for the transition to adulthood.
The College and Beyond Arc (Books 9 to 13)
The second phase moves the cast to university, testing their mature relationships in a brand-new city with new academic, professional, and personal challenges.
- Defiance and Dedication (2021) – Frankie and her boys settle into college life, dealing with new roommates, classes, and lingering mysteries.
- Songs and Sweethearts (2021) – Focuses heavily on the group's musical endeavors, Ian's career, and balancing fame with romance.
- Legacy and Lovers (2022) – The group deals with long-term plans, legacy pressures from their families, and commitment.
- Farewells and Forever (2022) – The original emotional finale, capturing weddings, graduation, and finding true closure.
- Hellos and Happily Ever Afters (2024) – An epilogue collection and final volume checking in on the group's future lives.
What to Know Before You Start
The Untouchable series is a cornerstone of the contemporary high school and new adult "why-choose" romance genre. Before diving in, readers should keep a few details in mind:
- Romantic Structure: This is a reverse harem story, meaning Frankie does not choose between Jake, Archie, Coop, and Ian. The romance builds with all four partners simultaneously.
- Mature Content: While it begins in high school, the series contains mature themes, including severe bullying, family trauma, and explicit scenes. It is recommended for readers aged 17 and up.
- Character Progression: The length of the series allows for slow-burn emotional growth. Frankie's transition from a shy, overlooked student to a confident, empowered young woman is central to the plot.
Spin-Offs and Crossovers: The Blue Ivy Prep Connection
Once you finish Frankie's journey, you don't have to leave her world behind. Heather Long wrote a direct spin-off series, Blue Ivy Prep, which takes place in the same universe. This series follows the character K.C. (Kaitlin), a pop star trying to escape Hollywood scandals by enrolling in a prestigious preparatory school. The Blue Ivy Prep series should be read in this order:
- Problem Child
- Mad Boys
- Party Crashers
- Money Shot
Keep an eye out during the latter half of the Untouchable series (especially around the music-themed Songs and Sweethearts) for references and cameos that bridge the two stories together.