Amy Spalding Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Amy Spalding

Amy Spalding’s bibliography is split into two distinct eras: her beloved, character-driven Young Adult (YA) novels and her newer, glitzy Adult Contemporary romances. Because most of her books are standalone novels or companion books set in the same universe, you have a lot of flexibility in how you begin. However, two books stand out as the absolute best starting points depending on your reading preferences:

• For YA Readers: Start with The Summer of Jordi Pérez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) (2018). Widely considered her breakout hit and named a best book of the year by NPR and the Boston Globe, this novel is a heartwarming celebration of queer joy, body positivity, and creative ambition. It perfectly encapsulates Spalding's signature blend of humor, authentic teen voices, and sweet romance.
• For Adult Romance Readers: Start with For Her Consideration (2023). This book marks Spalding's adult debut and kicks off her popular, interconnected Out in Hollywood series. It is a witty, emotional sapphic rom-com following a ghostwriter who has to step back into the spotlight—and navigate the complicated world of Hollywood celebrity.

The Out in Hollywood Series (Adult Sapphic Romance)

Spalding’s major adult project is the Out in Hollywood series. Set in the fast-paced, glamorous entertainment industry of Los Angeles, these books feature a loosely interconnected cast of queer women. While each novel centers on a different couple and can technically be read as a standalone, reading them in order of publication allows you to catch recurring characters, references, and the natural progression of their shared social circles.

1. For Her Consideration (2023): Follows Nina, a ghostwriter who has spent years hiding from her own life after a bad breakup, and Ari, a rising actress who pulls Nina back into the limelight.
2. At Her Service (2024): Centers on a professional concierge and fixer in LA who finds herself falling for a client who is trying to rebuild her life after a public scandal.
3. On Her Terms (2025): A fake-dating, bisexuality-exploration romance centering on Clementine, a thirty-six-year-old starting over after a long-term relationship, who agrees to fake-date Chloe Lee to survive social events.
4. In Her Spotlight (2026): A second-chance romance starring Tess Gardner, a famous superhero film franchise actress, who returns to theater and is forced to work with the director—and former love—she left behind a decade ago.

The Kissing Ted Callahan Companion Books

In her YA catalog, Spalding wrote one set of closely related books centering on high school band politics, friendship, and romance. These should be read in strict order:

1. Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys) (2015): The story of Riley and her best friend Reid, who make a pact to help each other get with their crushes, only for things to get incredibly complicated when they join a band.
2. Love and Music (and Missing Ted Callahan) (2016): A sequel novella (often referred to as book 1.5) that continues exploring the lives, relationships, and musical dreams of the characters from the first book.

Standalone YA Novels (Chronological Order)

Spalding's standalone YA novels do not share characters or continuity, meaning you can dive into them in any order you choose. Reading them in publication order shows her growth as an author highlighting different aspects of teen life, from family secrets to the heartbreak of friendship breakups:

• The Reece Malcolm List (2013): Devan moves to Los Angeles to live with her mother—a famous, eccentric novelist she barely knows—and must navigate a performing arts school while figuring out her mother's rules.
• Ink Is Thicker Than Water (2013): A story about secrets, family, and half-siblings, following Kellie as she tries to uncover the truth behind her family's dynamic during a summer spent working at her family's curio shop.
• The New Guy (2016): Follows Alex, a hardworking student and musician whose life is upended by the arrival of a former boy-band star at her school.
• The Summer of Jordi Pérez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) (2018): Seventeen-year-old Abby lands a coveted fashion boutique internship and falls in love with her fellow intern, Jordi, while also writing reviews of local burger joints.
• We Used to Be Friends (2020): Told in dual timelines (one moving forward, one moving backward), this novel explores the painful, slow-motion dissolution of a high school best-friendship between James and Kat.
• No Boy Summer (2023): Penny and Lydia make a pact to avoid boy drama during a summer in Los Angeles. The pact gets complicated when Lydia starts falling for Fran, a girl who works at their aunt’s coffee shop, forcing Lydia to explore her own identity.

Anthology Contributions

• Fools in Love: Fresh Twists on Romantic Tales (2021): Amy Spalding contributed a short story titled "Five Stars" to this YA romance collection. Her story features a sapphic romance dealing with themes of anxiety and mistaken identity, making it a wonderful quick read for fans of her contemporary voice.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Amy Spalding's books, there are a few recurring themes and stylistic elements to keep in mind:

• Los Angeles is a Character: Spalding resides in Los Angeles, and her love for the city shines through. From the burger spots in Jordi Pérez to the coffee shops and film sets of her adult novels, the local flavor of Southern California is integral to her stories.
• Centering Queer Joy: While her characters deal with real-world problems, anxiety, and heartbreak, Spalding is widely celebrated for writing stories that prioritize queer joy, romantic fulfillment, and happy endings.
• Fat-Positive Representation: Several of Spalding's protagonists, such as Abby in The Summer of Jordi Pérez and Lydia in No Boy Summer, are fat characters whose stories focus on fashion, love, and growth without framing their bodies as problems to be solved.
• Friendship & Sisterhood: While romance is a key draw, Spalding places massive importance on platonic bonds. Books like We Used to Be Friends and No Boy Summer prove that best-friend breakups and sisterly connections can be just as emotionally intense as any romantic relationship.