The Recommended Reading Order
To experience the full impact of the changing power dynamics, character alliances, and overarching plotlines of Jay Crownover's gritty fictional city, it is highly recommended to read the books in order of publication. This list brings together the original trilogy, the Breaking Point spin-off series, the crossover novella, and the standalone novels set in this universe.
- Better When He's Bad (2014) – Welcome to the Point Book 1. Follows the dangerous ex-con Shane 'Bax' Baxter and the kind-hearted Dovie Pryce.
- Better When He's Bold (2015) – Welcome to the Point Book 2. Focuses on Race Hartman, who is fighting for control of the city's chaotic streets, and Brysen Carter.
- Better When He's Brave (2015) – Welcome to the Point Book 3. Centered on Titus King, a cop caught in a web of moral grey areas, and Reeve Black.
- Honor (2016) – The Breaking Point Book 1. The story of Nassir, a major player introduced earlier in the series, and Keelyn.
- Avenged (2017) – Novella / The Breaking Point Book 1.5. A crucial crossover novella featuring Poppy and Kross that bridges the gap with the Saints of Denver series.
- Dignity (2017) – The Breaking Point Book 2. Follows Stark, a former military man working as muscle in The Point, and Noelle.
- Respect (2018) – The Breaking Point Book 3. Centers on Booker, a man seeking vengeance, and River.
- Downfall (2019) – Standalone Novel. Tells the story of the protective fighter Solomon 'Solo' Sanders and Orley Vincent, a single mother on the run.
- The Best Bad Things (2022) – Standalone Novel. A unique entry featuring Vesper Bell and Oscar, introducing a magical realism/time-travel element into the gritty setting.
Understanding the Subseries & Universe Structure
The Core Trilogy: Welcome to the Point
The original trilogy sets the groundwork for the entire universe. Beginning with Better When He’s Bad, readers are introduced to Bax and Dovie. This book establishes the raw and unforgiving atmosphere of The Point, a place where the law has no power and local crime bosses dictate the peace. Better When He’s Bold and Better When He’s Brave follow the immediate fallout of Bax's choices, focusing on the city's self-appointed protector, Race, and the conflicted detective, Titus. These three books are heavily interconnected and should not be read out of order.
The Spinoff: The Breaking Point
The success of the core trilogy led to The Breaking Point, a spin-off series that continues the dark romantic suspense style while shifting focus to characters who operated in the background of the original novels. Most notable is Nassir, the mysterious crime lord whose presence loomed large in the first three books. His story is told in Honor. While it is technically a spin-off, the timeline directly continues the narrative of the city, making it feel like a natural second phase of the overarching story.
The Crossovers and Standalone Novels
Jay Crownover's romance series are known for crossing paths. The novella Avenged serves as a direct link between the characters of The Point and her Denver-based contemporary romance series, Saints of Denver (which itself is a spin-off of the bestselling Marked Men series). Furthermore, books like Downfall and The Best Bad Things are standalones set within the same city. While they feature cameos and the same signature atmosphere, their plots are self-contained. Notably, The Best Bad Things departs slightly from the realistic romantic suspense formula by introducing elements of time travel.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the series, readers should be prepared for a significantly darker, grittier tone compared to Jay Crownover’s popular Marked Men series. The Point is depicted as a lawless urban wasteland, resembling the grim aesthetic of Sin City mixed with high-stakes action. Themes of betrayal, trauma, redemption, and survival run deep throughout every story. Because of this, it is advised to check content warnings for individual books, as the series features heavy themes, violence, and intense emotional conflicts.