Where to Start with Alice Clayton
Alice Clayton is a master of contemporary romantic comedies that perfectly balance laugh-out-loud humor with sizzling, high-heat romance. If you are new to her books, the best place to start is with her most famous novel, Wallbanger (2012), which kicks off the Cocktail series. It features her signature combination of witty banter, relatable characters, and high-tension physical chemistry. Alternatively, if you prefer cozy, small-town romance with a focus on food and agriculture, you can start with Nuts (2015), the first book in the Hudson Valley series. For readers who enjoy Hollywood-themed romances, the Redhead series starting with The Unidentified Redhead (2010) is the perfect entry point.
The Cocktail Series Reading Order
The Cocktail series is Alice Clayton’s signature work, set in California and following a tight-knit group of friends. The reading order is straightforward, but it features both direct sequels and companion novels. While the series can be read in publication order, readers should note that Caroline and Simon’s love story is serialized across multiple books, whereas other novels in the series focus on different couples.
- Wallbanger (2012): The book that started it all. Caroline Reynolds has a great apartment, a fantastic career, and a cat named O'Connor, but she has lost her O-gasp. Things get complicated when her new neighbor, Simon Parker, keeps her awake with his loud, late-night escapades, leading to a hilarious enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
- Rusty Nailed (2014): The direct sequel to Wallbanger. This book continues Caroline and Simon's story as they navigate the realities of being in a committed relationship, balancing busy careers, travel schedules, and domestic life.
- Screwdrivered (2014): A companion novel focusing on a new couple. Vivian Franklin is a librarian who inherits a beautiful home in Mendocino, California. She leaves San Francisco behind and finds herself torn between a rugged local cowboy and a polished city man.
- Mai Tai'd Up (2014): Another companion novel. It follow Chloe Patterson, who flees to Monterey to escape wedding drama, only to clash with and fall for a handsome local developer named Lucas Campbell.
- Last Call (2015): A novella (often designated as book 4.5) that serves as the final wrap-up for the main characters. It follows Caroline and Simon as they prepare for their wedding, bringing the entire friend group back together.
- One More Round (2020): A follow-up novella set several years after the events of Last Call. This book returns to Simon and Caroline as they navigate the emotional complexities of marriage, infertility, and their desire to expand their family.
The Redhead Series Reading Order
The Redhead series was Alice Clayton's debut series, focusing on the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Unlike the Cocktail series, which changes perspectives between books, the Redhead series is a continuous trilogy focusing entirely on the relationship between Grace Sheridan and Jack Hamilton. Because of this tight continuity, these books must be read in chronological order.
- The Unidentified Redhead (2010): Grace Sheridan is a 33-year-old actress returning to Los Angeles to kickstart her career. She meets Jack Hamilton, a 24-year-old rising British actor, and the two embark on a passionate, secret relationship.
- The Redhead Revealed (2010): The relationship between Grace and Jack becomes public, forcing them to deal with intense media scrutiny, paparazzi, and the insecurities of dating a Hollywood superstar.
- The Redhead Plays Her Hand (2013): The final book in the trilogy. As Grace gets her own big career break, she and Jack must find a way to maintain their bond despite long-distance struggles and demanding filming schedules.
The Hudson Valley Series Reading Order
The Hudson Valley series represents a shift in setting for Clayton, moving from bustling cities to the charming, food-centric town of Bailey Falls in upstate New York. Inspired by farm-to-table culture, each book in this trilogy focuses on a different couple in the community. While they can be enjoyed as standalones, they are best read in order to appreciate the cameos and the growing sense of community.
- Nuts (2015): Roxie Callahan is a private chef who reluctantly returns to her hometown to help run her family's diner. She meets Leo Maxwell, a dreamy organic farmer, and the two clash over local ingredients and mutual attraction.
- Cream of the Crop (2016): Natalie Grayson is a high-powered Manhattan advertising executive who loves artisanal cheese. On a weekend trip to Bailey Falls, she meets Oscar Mendoza, the quiet, brooding artisan cheesemaker behind Bailey Falls Creamery.
- Buns (2017): Clara Morgan is a city branding expert brought in to modernize and save the historic Bryant Mountain House resort. She immediately clashes with Archie Bryant, the traditionalist, grumpy hotelier who is determined to keep things exactly as they are. This book also features a fun crossover cameo by Caroline from the Cocktail series.
Broads Abroad & Collaborative Works
In addition to her solo romance series, Alice Clayton has participated in collaborative projects. Her most notable collaboration is the Broads Abroad series, which she co-authored with Nina Bocci. The series was designed to follow friends traveling to different countries, though only one volume was published.
- Roman Crazy (2016): Co-authored with Nina Bocci, this novel follows Avery Bardot as she travels to Rome for a fresh start after leaving her husband. In Italy, she reunites with Marcello Bianchi, a handsome architect and her former flame, leading to a second-chance romance filled with delicious Italian cuisine.
Clayton also contributed a short story to the collaborative release A Valentine Anthology (2010), which was published by Omnific Publishing and features romantic tales from multiple authors.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Alice Clayton's bibliography, keep these reader tips in mind:
- Reading Standalones: While companion books like Screwdrivered, Mai Tai'd Up, and the Hudson Valley books can technically be read out of order, the Redhead trilogy and the Caroline/Simon arc within the Cocktail series (Wallbanger, Rusty Nailed, Last Call, and One More Round) must be read in sequence to avoid major spoilers and confusion.
- Tone Shifts: Clayton's books are generally lighthearted, comedic, and highly sensual. However, the 2020 novella One More Round deals with much heavier themes such as infertility, miscarriage, and pregnancy difficulties, which is a departure from the typical breezy tone of the main series.
- The Crossover: Keep an eye out for character crossovers. For example, Caroline Reynolds from the Cocktail series makes a surprise appearance in the final Hudson Valley novel, Buns, linking Clayton's fictional universes.