Alisa Lynn Valdes Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Alisa Lynn Valdes

Alisa Lynn Valdes (who has published as Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Alisa Valdes, and Alisa Lynn Valdes) is best known for creating the 'Chica Lit' genre in the early 2000s, but she has also written paranormal young adult romance and gripping crime thrillers. Because she writes across distinct genres, your best starting point depends on what you enjoy reading:

• For Contemporary Fiction and Friendship Dramas: Start with her landmark debut, The Dirty Girls Social Club (2003). It is the perfect introduction to her signature style—witty, culturally rich, and centered on the complicated bond between Latina women.
• For Mysteries and Thrillers: Start with Hollow Beasts (2023), the first book in her Jodi Luna series. It represents her shift into atmospheric crime fiction set in the wild landscapes of New Mexico.
• For Young Adult Readers: Start with Haters (2006) for a contemporary high school drama with a touch of the supernatural, or The Temptation (2012) if you prefer paranormal romance.

The Dirty Girls Social Club Series

This is the series that established Valdes as a major voice in contemporary commercial fiction. Often compared to Sex and the City but with a distinct Latina perspective, the series follows a close-knit group of six friends who met at Boston University and promise to meet twice a year to keep their bond alive through life's trials.

While many readers treat the debut as a standalone, it is actually a trilogy. You should read these in order of publication to follow the characters' chronological growth:

1. The Dirty Girls Social Club (2003): Introduces the six main characters—Lauren, Elizabeth, Sara, Rebecca, Usnavys, and Amber—as they navigate their twenties, careers, and love lives.
2. Dirty Girls on Top (2008): Finds the women in their thirties, dealing with more mature struggles including marriage, divorce, motherhood, and career shifts.
3. Lauren's Saints of Dirty Faith (2011): The third installment focuses primarily on Lauren, Usnavys, and Rebecca. When Boston news reporter Lauren has to flee a corrupt and dangerous ex-boyfriend, she goes into hiding in New Mexico with the help of her loyal friends.

The Jodi Luna Suspense Series

Writing as Alisa Lynn Valdes, the author launched a successful transition into crime fiction with the Jodi Luna series. Set against the backdrop of New Mexico's rugged terrain, this series follows a former academic who changes careers to become a game warden, only to find herself investigating crimes that go far beyond simple poaching.

These thrillers feature a continuous narrative arc for the main character and should be read in order:

1. Hollow Beasts (2023): Jodi Luna returns to New Mexico as a game warden. Her first major case starts with a poacher but quickly spirals into a conspiracy involving white supremacists and a kidnapping ring.
2. Blood Mountain (2024): Jodi is called to search for a missing hiker in the mountains, leading her to cross paths with a dangerous killer and uncover dark secrets in the local community.
3. Untitled Jodi Luna Book 3 (Expected 2026): An upcoming installment slated to continue Jodi's investigations in the Southwest.

The Kindred Series (Young Adult Paranormal Romance)

Under the name Alisa Valdes, she wrote a duology for young adults that blends high school romance with supernatural elements. This series should be read in chronological order:

1. The Temptation (2012): Follows sixteen-year-old high school student Miranda Lopez, who moves to New Mexico and becomes entangled in a dangerous spiritual battle alongside a mysterious boy.
2. The Perdition (2013): Concludes the story arc as Miranda struggles to protect her loved ones and navigate her growing supernatural responsibilities.

The Ghosts of Golden Series

This spin-off project combines historical legends with contemporary romance and paranormal elements. Although planned as a series, it currently consists of a single novel:

• The Temptation of Demetrio Vigil (2013): Follows Maria Ochoa, a teenager who survives a near-fatal car crash in New Mexico and is saved by Demetrio Vigil, a young man who seems to belong to another era.

Alisa Lynn Valdes's Standalone Novels

In addition to her series, Valdes has written several standalone novels focusing on romance, ambition, and identity. These can be read in any order:

• Playing with Boys (2004): Follows three ambitious Latinas trying to make their marks in the entertainment, music, and design industries of Los Angeles.
• Haters (2006): Her first YA novel, focusing on a teenager who moves from New Mexico to Southern California and must deal with wealthy school bullies while discovering she has psychic premonitions.
• Make Him Look Good (2006): Set in a high-end Miami salon, this book explores the lives of several women connected to a famous, ego-driven Latin pop star.
• The Husband Habit (2010): A romantic comedy about a public relations executive who has a bad habit of falling for married men, until she reconnects with a childhood friend.
• The Three Kings: A Christmas Romance (2010): A holiday-themed romance set in New Mexico that explores love and family heritage during the Christmas season.
• PUTA (2012): A self-published, erotic coming-of-age novel that chronicles the sexual and personal development of a woman named Carmen Noa over several decades.
• Love at First Lie (2015): A contemporary romance novel exploring trust, secrets, and modern relationships.

Non-Fiction and Memoirs

Readers looking to understand the real-life inspirations behind Valdes's vibrant New Mexico settings and independent themes should check out her memoir:

• The Feminist and the Cowboy: An Unlikely Love Story (2013): A memoir recounting her real-life romance with a conservative rancher, which forced her to re-examine her political assumptions and personal ideals of feminism.