Where to Start Reading Adriana Locke
Adriana Locke has established herself as a powerhouse in contemporary romance, specializing in big families, small-town settings, and a perfect blend of humor, emotional depth, and heat. Because many of her series exist within the same universe or feature character crossovers, knowing where to start can greatly enhance your reading experience.
For the best introduction to her work, it is highly recommended to start with the Landry Family Series, beginning with Sway (2016). This series introduces the signature Locke style: sibling camaraderie, swoon-worthy banter, and emotional family dynamics. Starting here provides the ideal foundation because characters from the Landry family cross over directly into her subsequent series, most notably The Gibson Boys.
The Landry-Gibson Shared Universe
The Landry Family and the Gibson Boys books are set in a shared ecosystem. While each novel is a standalone romance with a happy ending, reading them in order prevents minor spoilers and lets you appreciate the cameos and developing family relationships.
Landry Family Series
This series follows the wealthy but down-to-earth Landry siblings as they navigate life and love. The recommended reading order is:
- Sway (2016) - Barrett Landry and Mallory Vance (Office Romance / Single Mother)
- Swing (2016) - Lincoln Landry and Olivia
- Switch (2017) - Malloy Landry and Gigi
- Swear (2017) - Ryder Landry and Amanda
- Swink (2017) - Kane Landry and Stella
- Sweet (2021) - Cole Landry and Jolene
The Gibson Boys Series
Set in the blue-collar, small-town environment of Linton, Illinois, this series centers on the rugged Gibson brothers. Crucially, the series opener, Crank, serves as a direct bridge from the Landry universe, featuring Sienna Landry. The recommended reading order is:
- Crank (2017) - Walker Gibson and Sienna Landry (often noted as Landry #7)
- Cross (2018) - Cross Gibson and Kallie (Note: some lists swap the order of Cross and Craft, but they are closely linked)
- Craft (2018) - Lance Craft Gibson and Paige
- Crave (2018) - Mach Gibson and Andie
- Crazy (2019) - Peck Gibson and Evelyn
The Mason Family Series
For readers who love protective, possessive heroes and close family ties, the Mason Family series offers five emotional stories. They should be read in publication order:
- Restraint (2020) - Reed Mason and Jenna
- Reputation (2020) - Crew Mason and Harlow
- Reckless (2021) - Barrett Mason and Hunter
- Relentless (2021) - Coy Mason and Waverly
- Resolution (2021) - Fox Mason and Hadley
The Carmichael Family Series
This series blends romantic comedy with sweet family moments. While several Carmichael books were originally marketed or published as standalones, they form a cohesive family saga. The recommended order is:
- Flirt (2022)
- Fling (2022)
- Fluke (2023)
- Flaunt (2023)
- Flame (2023)
The Marshall Family Series (Peachwood Falls)
Focusing on the Marshall brothers, this small-town romance series is perfect for fans of single-dad and second-chance tropes. In late 2025, the series was rebranded under The Peachwood Falls Collection with new covers, but the stories remain the same:
- More Than I Could (2023) - Chase Marshall (Single Dad / Nanny Romance)
- This Much Is True (2024) - Luke Marshall (Second-Chance Romance)
Dogwood Lane Series
Dogwood Lane is a cozy small-town trilogy that focuses on second chances, secrets, and tight-knit community dynamics. Read these in order:
- Tumble (2019) - Neely and Penn
- Tangle (2019) - Trevor and Karrie
- Trouble (2020) - Penn's brother, Hadley, and Bobby Sue
The Exception Series
The Exception series is Adriana Locke's debut trilogy. It follows a more continuous storyline than her later standalone-style family series, meaning these books must be read in order:
- The Exception (2014)
- The Connection (2015)
- The Perception (2015)
Co-Authored & Shared Universe Projects
Adriana Locke frequently collaborates with other romance authors on shared-world projects. Because these series are written by multiple authors, readers only need to read Locke's specific contributions, though the entire sets are highly enjoyable.
Kings of Football Series
A college sports romance trilogy written alongside Ilsa Madden-Mills and Meghan Quinn. The books can be read stand-alone, but the order is:
- The Revenge Pact (2020) by Ilsa Madden-Mills
- The Romantic Pact (2020) by Meghan Quinn
- The Relationship Pact (2020) by Adriana Locke (following Hollis Hudson and Larissa Mason)
Cherry Falls Romance Series
An expansive, multi-author series of over 45 books set in the small town of Cherry Falls. Adriana Locke contributed key standalones to this collection, including:
- 608 Alpha Avenue (2021)
- 907 For Keeps Way (2021)
Standalone Novels and The Brewer Family
Adriana Locke has written several popular standalone contemporary romance novels. Some of these are completely independent, while others, like The Proposal and The Arrangement, belong to her Brewer Family series (which centers on rugby players and marriage-of-convenience tropes):
- Sacrifice (2015)
- Wherever It Leads (2016)
- Written in the Scars (2016)
- Lucky Number Eleven (2017)
- Like You Love Me (2021) (Book 1 of the Honey Creek bed-and-breakfast romance series)
- The Sweet Spot (2022)
- The Proposal (2023) (Brewer Family Book 1)
- The Arrangement (2024) (Brewer Family Book 2)
- Nothing But It All (2024)
- Pulse (2024)
- Between Now and Forever (2024)
What to Know Before You Start
Adriana Locke's books are designed to be low-stress, high-emotion reads. Her heroes are often protective and deeply devoted, while her heroines are resilient and witty. The primary themes are family loyalty, small-town charm, and overcoming personal struggles. While you can jump into any family series at any point, sticking to the recommended family orders preserves the fun of watching previous couples make cameos as happy, established partners in the background of subsequent books.