Where to Start Reading A.E. Valdez
For readers diving into the emotionally resonant contemporary romances of A.E. Valdez, the best starting point is her debut novel, All I've Wanted, All I've Needed. Published in 2021, this book kicks off the Rise & Fall series and introduces Harlow Shaw and Acyn "Ace" Knight. Their romance forms the emotional anchor of the shared universe. Starting here allows you to meet the main friend group in Seattle and follow their lives in chronological order as they navigate careers, self-discovery, and love.
If you prefer holiday-themed romances with a touch of wealth and high stakes, you can also start with the Three Kings Billionaire series, beginning with Snow King Catches His Snowflake. While set in a different sphere, it carries the same focus on authentic Black love, emotional healing, and tight-knit family dynamics.
The Rise & Fall Series Reading Order
The Rise & Fall series follows a close-knit group of friends as they transition from past heartbreaks to new beginnings. While the novels are interconnected standalones, they feature recurring characters whose lives evolve over the timeline. Reading them in publication order is highly recommended to avoid spoilers about previous couples' happy endings.
The recommended reading order is as follows:
- All I've Wanted, All I've Needed (2021) – The first book introduces Harlow Shaw, who, after rejecting a marriage proposal from her baseball-player boyfriend, embarks on a journey of self-discovery from Bali to Seattle. There, she connects deeply with the tattooed, supportive Acyn Knight.
- Colliding With Fate (2022) – The second book shifts focus to Kyrell Knight and Quinn Halifax. This installment explores a fiery connection and the weight of overcoming past trauma and secrets.
- The Beginning of Forever (2022) – The third book returns directly to Harlow and Acyn (sometimes referred to as the Sunshine + Ace subseries). It explores the challenges they face as they try to secure their long-term future together.
- A Worthy Love (2022) – The fourth book centers on Marisa Banks, who is reeling from betrayal, and Asher Blaine. Together, they navigate trust, healing, and building a new foundation of love.
The Three Kings Billionaire Series Reading Order
This series follows the romantic journeys of the three wealthy King brothers. It combines opulent settings with deep emotional vulnerability and family loyalty. The chronological and publication order is:
- Snow King Catches His Snowflake (2022) – The story of the first King brother, delivering a seasonal romance filled with heat and emotional depth.
- Winter's Eve: Then, Now, & Always (2023) – The second installment, which deepens the family lore and follows the next brother's path to love.
- North King's Unexpected Inevitability (2025) – The third book focuses on the youngest brother, North King, and Aspen Frost. They transition from a soul-tied friendship built on video games and late-night talks into a lasting romance. At nearly 800 pages, this novel represents Valdez's most expansive work to date.
What to Know Before You Start
A.E. Valdez is celebrated for centering Black and multicultural romance, filling a much-needed space in contemporary fiction. Her writing style is heavily influenced by her early love for poetry, giving her prose an emotional, lyrical quality. Readers should expect slow-burn relationships, heavy themes of healing and self-discovery, and strong family and friendship networks. While the early books are standard contemporary romance lengths, her later releases, such as North King's Unexpected Inevitability, are deep, long-form character studies that allow the relationships to mature organically over several hundred pages.