Adriana Herrera Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Adriana Herrera

Adriana Herrera is celebrated for writing own-voices Afro-Latinx and queer romances that blend deep emotional resonance, vibrant cultural settings, and intense heat. If you are new to her work, your ideal starting point depends on your preferred subgenre:

• For Historical Romance Lovers: Start with A Caribbean Heiress in Paris (2022), the first book in her critically acclaimed Las Léonas series. Set during the 1889 Exposition Universelle, it is a magnificent entry point that showcases her ability to rewrite historical romance conventions with diverse, ambitious protagonists.
• For Contemporary Romance Fans: Start with American Dreamer (2019). This is her debut novel and the launchpad for the Dreamers series. It introduces a tight-knit circle of Bronx-raised friends of Caribbean heritage, combining delicious food truck culture with a heartfelt love story.
• For a Quick, Sweet, and Spicy Treat: Start with her standalone holiday novella Mangos and Mistletoe (2019), a sapphic rival-pastry-chefs romance set in a cozy Scottish baking competition.

Las Léonas Series (Historical Romance)

This historical series follows three ambitious, bold women of Caribbean heritage (known as "Las Léonas") who navigate high society, business, and love in late 19th-century Europe. While each book centers on a different couple and can technically be read as a standalone, reading them in order is highly recommended to follow the friendships and overarching narratives of these women.

1. A Caribbean Heiress in Paris (2022) – Follows Luz Alana Heith-Benzan, a Dominican rum heiress seeking a distributor in Paris, and Evan James, an Earl's grandson with his own family business struggles.
2. An Island Princess Starts a Scandal (2023) – Follows Manuela Ulibarri, a Venezuelan artist and heiress who wants a summer of freedom in Paris before fulfilling her familial duties, and Duchess Cora Abernathy.
3. A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke (2025) – Follows a headstrong heroine and a buttoned-up Duke, bringing a satisfying and passionate conclusion to the historical trilogy.

Dreamers Series (Contemporary Romance)

The Dreamers series is the cornerstone of Herrera's contemporary bibliography. It follows a group of close-knit Afro-Latinx and queer childhood friends who grew up in the Bronx. Each book tackles real-world issues such as immigration, systemic racism, and social justice while delivering high-steam, high-emotion romance.

1. American Dreamer (2019) – Centers on Nesto Vasquez, a Dominican food truck owner who relocates his business to Ithaca, New York, and Jude Fuller, a local librarian.
2. American Fairytale (2019) – Follows Milo Santiago Briggs, a dedicated social worker, and Thomas Hughes, a wealthy corporate donor with a complicated past.
3. American Love Story (2019) – Centers on Patrice Denis, a college professor and activist, and Easton Archer, an assistant district attorney, navigating love across racial and professional divides. This book won the 2019 Ripped Bodice Award for Excellence in Romantic Fiction.
4. American Sweethearts (2020) – A second-chance romance following Juan Pablo "JuanPa" Campos, a physical therapist for the New York Yankees, and his childhood friend Priscilla.
5. American Christmas (2020) – A holiday novella that wraps up the series, bringing the friends together for a festive Bronx celebration.

Dating in Dallas Series

The Dating in Dallas series shifts the setting to Texas, focusing on characters navigating professional shifts and new beginnings. It is especially notable for the second book, which won a prestigious Audie Award in 2023.

1. Here to Stay (2020) – Follows Julia del Mar Ortiz, who relocates to Dallas for a fresh start in public works and finds herself matching wits (and sharing intense chemistry) with corporate consultant Rocco Quinn.
2. On the Hustle (2022) – Focuses on Julia's friend Alba Duarte, an assistant coordinator who enters a temporary housing arrangement that turns into a passionate romance with contractor Hugo. This audiobook version won the 2023 Audie Award for Romance.

Sambrano Studios Series

This series centers around the high-stakes world of a Latinx media and television empire, blending family drama with office-place romance. The books are interconnected by the Sambrano sisters.

1. One Week to Claim It All (2021) – Esmeralda Sambrano-Peña is determined to claim her late father's media empire, but she must compete against her former lover and current acting CEO, Rodrigo Almanzar.
2. Just for the Holidays... (2021) – Focuses on Esmeralda's half-sister, Perla Sambrano, a casting director who finds herself working closely with her movie-star ex, Gael Montez, over the holidays.

Toy Runners Series (Spicy Fantasy/Holiday Novellas)

The Toy Runners series is a unique, high-heat holiday fantasy romance series set in a shared universe where global factions of "Santas," "Magi," and their helpers (the Toy Runners) distribute gifts and manage magical holiday operations.

1. Her Night With Santa (2020) – Follows Farnaz Castillo and Kristina Kringle, the first female commander of Santa's sleigh, stranded together during a winter storm.
2. The Toy King (2021) – Centers on Valente Correa, a Toy Runner for the House of Correa, who gets stranded in the Andes with his brother's runaway bride-to-be, Kessina Macias.
3. Run Darling (2023) – Follows the youngest daughter of a Magi family forced to hide out with her grumpy, protective bodyguard.
4. Heat and Run (2024) – A sapphic, high-heat omegaverse novella set within the same shared universe.

Peculiar Tastes Series Contribution (Important Caveat)

Readers looking at Adriana Herrera's bibliography will frequently see a six-book series titled Peculiar Tastes. It is important to know that this is a multi-author collaborative fantasy romance project published by Bonkers Romance. The books are set in a shared world of monsters and mythical creatures, but each is written by a different author. Herrera only wrote Book 3:

• Book 1: The Death God’s Sacrifice (2022) – Written by Jenny Nordbak
• Book 2: The Demon's Bargain (2022) – Written by Katee Robert
• Book 3: The Hellmouth Guardian's Lover (2022) – Written by Adriana Herrera (centers on Ariadne, a guardian of the underworld, and her serpent demon ex-lover)
• Book 4: The Vixen's Deceit (2022) – Written by Nikki Sloane
• Book 5: The Captive Merman's Promise (2022) – Written by Zoey Castile
• Book 6: The Fae Queen's Captive (2022) – Written by Sierra Simone

Standalone Novels, Anthologies, and Re-Releases

In addition to her primary series, Herrera has written several standalone contemporary romances, erotica novellas, and short stories, some of which were later expanded or re-released:

• Mangos and Mistletoe (2019) – A beloved standalone holiday novella featuring two Dominican bakers competing in Scotland.
• Finding Joy (2020) – A contemporary standalone following an aid worker who finds romance and renewal in Ethiopia.
• Caught Looking (2021) – A friends-to-lovers contemporary romance centered around baseball. It was originally published in the multi-author anthology He's Come Undone: A Romance Anthology (2020).
• Bootlegger's Bounty (2024) – A historical romance following a female smuggler. This story was originally published as a shorter novella in the 2022 anthology Villain I'd Like to F... and later expanded.
• The Duke Makes Me Feel... (2022) and Dripping (2022) – Individual short releases focusing on historical and contemporary erotica.