Aly Martinez Books in Order

What to Know Before You Start

Aly Martinez has earned a dedicated following in the contemporary romance genre by writing stories that balance heavy themes like grief, tragedy, and physical disability with laugh-out-loud humor, scorching chemistry, and hard-won redemption. If you are diving into her work for the first time, expect deep emotional rollercoasters, protective alpha heroes, resilient heroines, and shocking plot twists that make her books impossible to put down.

While the vast majority of her series can technically be read as standalone novels, Martinez excels at building interconnected communities. Characters from one series frequently pop up in another, and certain books serve as literal bridges between entire universes. To maximize your reading experience, understanding these crossovers is essential.

The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start

For the ultimate reading experience, readers should start with the interconnected universe that launched her career. The ideal starting point is the Wrecked and Ruined series, which transitions seamlessly into the boxing-inspired On the Ropes series.

The Wrecked & Ruined to On the Ropes Bridge

This is the most critical connection in Martinez’s bibliography. The novel Among the Echoes acts as a direct bridge between these two fan-favorite series, functioning as Book 2.5 of Wrecked and Ruined and Book 0.5 (a prequel) of On the Ropes. To experience this crossover perfectly, follow this order:

• Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined Book 1)
• Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined Book 2)
• Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined Book 2.5 / On the Ropes Book 0.5)
• Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined Book 3)
• Fighting Silence (On the Ropes Book 1)
• Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes Book 2)
• Fighting Solitude (On the Ropes Book 3)

By reading in this order, you will get the full background on characters who span both series and watch their relationships unfold chronologically.

Chronological and Connection Caveats

Aside from the Wrecked & Ruined / On the Ropes crossover, Aly Martinez's other major works are mostly self-contained series or duets. However, there are a few connection caveats to keep in mind:

• The Fall Up Series: Though listed as standalones in many databases, The Fall Up and The Spiral Down form a continuous duology. The Fall Up introduces the famous pop star Levee and Sam, while The Spiral Down follows Levee's best friend Henry. Reading them in order is highly recommended to understand Henry's emotional baggage.
• The Darkest Sunset Universe: The first two books, The Darkest Sunrise and The Brightest Sunset, tell a single continuous story and must be read in order. The third book, Across the Horizon, is a companion novel focusing on Tanner Reese, a character introduced in the main duet. It can be read standalone, but reading the duet first provides valuable context.
• Standalone Duets: Duets like Retrieval and Transfer (The Retrieval Duet), The Truth About Lies and The Truth About Us (The Truth Duet), Written with Regret and Written with You (The Regret Duet), and Release and Reclaim (The Release Duet) must be read in their specific numbering order because they function as single stories split into two volumes. They do not have major crossovers with other series, making them easy to pick up at any time.

Complete Series & Duet Breakdown

Wrecked and Ruined Series

This series centers on individuals rebuilding their lives and finding love after devastating personal tragedies.

• Changing Course (2014) – Focuses on Detective Brett Sharp as he navigates life and love after a horrific accident.
• Stolen Course (2014) – Follows Caleb's story of heartbreak and second chances.
• Broken Course (2014) – Concludes the original trilogy with another intense, emotional romance.

On the Ropes Series

A beloved sports romance series focusing on the fierce bonds of the Page brothers in the boxing world.

• Fighting Silence (2015) – The story of Till Page, a fighter struggling with impending deafness and fighting for the woman he loves.
• Fighting Shadows (2015) – Follows Flint Page as he fights his own internal and external battles.
• Fighting Solitude (2016) – Follows Quarry Page as he navigates the family legacy and finds love.

The Fall Up Series

An emotionally charged duology set against the backdrop of fame, music, and healing.

• The Fall Up (2015) – The fateful meeting of Sam Rivers and pop star Levee Williams.
• The Spiral Down (2016) – Henry Alexander's journey of healing alongside Captain Evan Roth.

The Retrieval Duet

A high-suspense romantic drama sparked by an unexpected event at a fertility clinic.

• Retrieval (2016) – Book one of the emotional duet.
• Transfer (2016) – The dramatic conclusion to the couples' colliding lives.

Guardian Protection Series

A romantic suspense series focused on security agents and the people they are sworn to protect.

• Singe (2017) – A fast-paced, high-stakes romantic thriller.
• Thrive (2018) – The emotional continuation of the security team's stories.

Darkest Sunset Duet & Spinoff

An emotional rollercoaster centered on healing, parentage, and second chances.

• The Darkest Sunrise (2017) – The start of a heart-wrenching duet.
• The Brightest Sunset (2017) – The emotional resolution to the duet.
• Across the Horizon (2018) – A spinoff standalone following Tanner Reese.

The Truth Duet

A gripping blend of murder mystery, dark secrets, and passionate romance.

• The Truth About Lies (2018) – Penn and Cora's story begins with dark secrets.
• The Truth About Us (2018) – The thrilling conclusion where all secrets are revealed.

The Regret Duet

A story of betrayal, secrets, and fighting for a second chance at family.

• Written with Regret (2019) – A mystery-shrouded romance about a single father.
• Written with You (2019) – The emotional conclusion of the duet.

Release Series

A deeply moving friends-to-lovers romance that tests the limits of devotion and rebuilding after tragedy.

• Release (2020) – Part one of this emotional journey.
• Reclaim (2020) – Part two, bringing the couple's story to a close.

The Difference Trilogy

A three-part contemporary romance journey that explores the nuances of modern relationships, timing, and fate.

• The Difference Between Somebody and Someone (2022) – The first installment of the trilogy.
• The Difference Between Somehow and Someway (2022) – The second installment.
• The Difference Between Someday and Forever (2022) – The final chapter in the trilogy.

Standalone Novels & Novellas

Aly Martinez has written several standalone novels that do not require any prior reading. These are excellent for readers who want to try her writing style before committing to a duet or series.

• Savor Me (2014) – A short story / novella.
• When the Walls Come Down (2020) – A gripping standalone romance.
• When the Time is Right (2020) – A contemporary standalone romance.
• From the Embers (2021) – A highly acclaimed standalone romance exploring grief and survival after a tragic house fire.
• Alone with You (2024) – A romantic suspense novel about a war veteran recluse and a woman from his past.

Aly Martinez Books in Chronological Publication Order

If you prefer to watch Aly Martinez's style evolve from her debut onwards, you can read her books in order of their release:

1. Changing Course (2014)
2. Stolen Course (2014)
3. Savor Me (2014)
4. Among the Echoes (2014)
5. Broken Course (2014)
6. Fighting Silence (2015)
7. The Fall Up (2015)
8. Fighting Shadows (2015)
9. Retrieval (2016)
10. Transfer (2016)
11. The Spiral Down (2016)
12. Fighting Solitude (2016)
13. Singe (2017)
14. The Darkest Sunrise (2017)
15. The Brightest Sunset (2017)
16. Thrive (2018)
17. The Truth About Lies (2018)
18. The Truth About Us (2018)
19. Across the Horizon (2018)
20. Written with Regret (2019)
21. Written with You (2019)
22. When the Walls Come Down (2020)
23. When the Time is Right (2020)
24. Release (2020)
25. Reclaim (2020)
26. From the Embers (2021)
27. The Difference Between Somebody and Someone (2022)
28. The Difference Between Somehow and Someway (2022)
29. The Difference Between Someday and Forever (2022)
30. Alone with You (2024)