The Recommended Reading Order
The Wait for You series by J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout) is a contemporary New Adult romance saga set primarily around a tight-knit group of friends attending college in West Virginia. Because the characters’ lives overlap significantly, reading the series in publication order is highly recommended. This ensures you do not spoil the relationship outcomes, marriages, or major life updates of previous couples.
Here is the recommended reading path for the series:
- Wait for You (2013) – Avery Morgansten and Cameron Hamilton
- Trust in Me (2013) – Wait for You retold from Cameron’s point of view
- Be with Me (2014) – Teresa Hamilton and Jase Winstead
- Believe in Me (2014) – Ollie and Brittany (Short story in the Fifty First Times anthology)
- The Proposal (2014) – Avery and Cameron (Short story / Novella #2.5)
- Stay with Me (2014) – Calla and Jax
- Fall with Me (2015) – Roxy and Reece
- Dream of You (2015) – Abby Erickson and Colton Anders (Novella #4.5)
- Forever with You (2015) – Stephanie and Nick
- Fire in You (2016) – Jillian Lima and Brock Mitchell
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the most part, the publication order of the Wait for You series matches the chronological timeline of the universe. However, there are two major exceptions that readers should keep in mind before starting their binge:
The "Trust in Me" Dilemma
Trust in Me is a full-length companion novel to the first book, Wait for You, but it is written entirely from the perspective of the male lead, Cameron Hamilton. Because it retells the exact same timeline and events of the first book, reading it immediately after Wait for You can feel repetitive to some readers. If you want a fresh story, you can comfortably push Trust in Me to the end of the series or read it after finishing Book 2, Be with Me.
Integrating the Novellas
The novellas and short stories fill in gaps between the main releases. The Proposal is a sweet Christmas-themed story focusing on Avery and Cam that takes place after Be with Me. Meanwhile, Dream of You is a suspenseful companion novella featuring Calla’s friend Abby and her high school crush Colton. Believe in Me is a hard-to-find short story featuring Ollie (Avery's close friend) and Brittany, originally published in the multi-author anthology Fifty First Times, which is set around the events of Be with Me.
A Deep Dive into the Books and Couples
Each book in the series shifts focus to a new couple while keeping the previous characters active in the background. Here is what to expect from each installment:
Wait for You (2013)
The book that started it all follows Avery Morgansten, who flees her home in Texas to attend college in West Virginia, hoping to escape a traumatic incident from her past. She meets Cameron Hamilton, a charming, blue-eyed guy who is determined to break down her defensive walls. Their slow-burn romance is packed with emotional depth, suspense, and plenty of cookies.
Trust in Me (2013)
This companion novel retells Avery and Cam's story from Cam's point of view. It provides insight into Cam's family dynamics, his thoughts when he first met Avery, and the internal battles he fought to be the supportive partner she needed.
Be with Me (2014)
This installment focuses on Cam's younger sister, Teresa Hamilton, who is dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of a career-ending injury. She has a massive crush on her brother's best friend, Jase Winstead, but Jase is harboring a dark past of his own that makes him hesitate to get close to her.
Stay with Me (2014)
The series shifts to Calla, a young woman who returns to her college town to deal with her mother's reckless behavior, carrying physical scars from a house fire. She meets Jax, a protective bartender and martial artist who helps her confront her insecurities and heal from her childhood trauma.
Fall with Me (2015)
Roxy has been head-over-heels in love with her childhood best friend Reece Anders for years. Reece is now a cop, and when Roxy starts receiving threatening messages from someone connected to her past, Reece steps in to protect her, forcing both of them to confront their long-repressed feelings.
Dream of You (2015)
This novella follows Calla's friend Abby Erickson, who witnesses a violent crime. She is placed under the protection of Colton Anders—Reece's brother and Abby's long-time crush. Together, they must survive the threat while navigating their intense attraction.
Forever with You (2015)
Stephanie is known for her casual approach to relationships, but she wants something deeper. After a passionate encounter with Nick, a quiet bartender who also works at the local martial arts academy, she finds herself falling for him. However, both of them must learn to trust each other with their deepest secrets.
Fire in You (2016)
The final primary novel focuses on Jillian Lima and Brock "the Beast" Mitchell. Jillian's life was shattered by a tragic shooting years ago, which also severed her relationship with Brock, the boy she loved. Years later, Brock returns to work at her father's martial arts academy, and the two must decide if they can heal old wounds and find love again.
Practical Reader Advice
Can the books be read as standalones?
Yes. Each novel features a self-contained romantic arc that wraps up by the final page. However, because the characters are all part of the same close friend group and family network, they frequently reappear in subsequent books. Reading them out of order will spoil the romantic resolution of previous couples.
What is the best starting point?
You should absolutely start with the first novel, Wait for You. It establishes the central group of characters, the setting, and the overarching tone of healing and recovery that defines the rest of the series.
Where to read the martial arts academy stories?
As the series progresses, the characters become increasingly involved with the Lima Academy, a mixed martial arts training center. This connection begins in Stay with Me (with Jax) and becomes a central setting in both Forever with You (featuring Steph and Nick) and Fire in You (featuring Jillian and Brock). Reading these three in order is especially helpful for continuity.
What to Know Before You Start
Jennifer L. Armentrout wrote this series under her pen name, J. Lynn, to distinguish her contemporary New Adult romance from her science fiction and fantasy releases. The series deals with heavy themes, including physical and sexual abuse, trauma recovery, post-traumatic stress, and grief. Despite these emotional themes, the series maintains a hopeful, romantic, and often humorous tone, balanced by strong friendships and supportive family bonds.