Where to Start Reading Anne Mercier
If you are new to Anne Mercier's romance universe, the absolute best place to start is with Falling Down, the debut novel of her massive Rockstar Series. This book introduces Jesse Kingston, the lead singer of the band BFD, and Lucy Russo, setting the stage for a tight-knit family of musicians, friends, and lovers. Because this series functions as a continuous, interconnected soap opera with an evolving ensemble cast, reading the books in chronological publication order is highly recommended to follow the character relationships, inside jokes, and overarching mafia-lite suspense subplots.
The Rockstar Series Reading Order
The Rockstar series is Mercier's crown jewel. It blends high-steam contemporary romance with humor, backstage camaraderie, and a touch of gritty romantic suspense. Follow this order to keep the timeline straight:
- Falling Down (2014): The book that started it all, featuring the fiery romance between rockstar Jesse Kingston and actress Lucy Russo.
- Blush (2014): Continues Jesse and Lucy's journey as they deal with a sudden Las Vegas wedding, tour life, and relentless groupies.
- A Very Xander Christmas (2014): The first holiday novella focusing on the fan-favorite drummer, Xander.
- Amplify (2015): Shifts focus to the protective music producer Cage and Sera, introducing the darker, mafia-connected elements of the universe.
- Interlude (2015): A bridging book that blends the past (detailing how Jesse, Lucy, and Cage first met) with the present prep for their upcoming tour.
- Ballad (2015): Focuses on Jesse's protective brother, Ben Kingston, and the sassy, resilient Nicole (Coley), tackling their age gap and future together.
- Lullabye (2015): A novella detailing the next chapter in the lives of the core BFD crew.
- A Very Xander Christmas 2 (2015): Another festive look into Xander's chaotic and loving world.
- Kadence (2016): Centers on Jace as he navigates fatherhood with his daughter Kadence, and the social worker Summer Stephens who checks in on his rockstar lifestyle.
- A Very Xander Christmas 3 (2016): Third holiday installment keeping up with Xander and Tera.
- Duet (2016): A steamy short story focusing on Cage and Sera spending time in Las Vegas amidst MMA events and galas.
- Xander Part 1 (2017): Focuses deeply on Xander's backstory and the early days of his relationship.
- A Very Rockstar Holiday Season (2018): A festive group novella following the entire BFD family.
- Xander Part 2 (2018): The continuation of Xander and Tera's story into the present day.
- Pulse (2018): A novella bringing fans up to speed with the original crew's ongoing romantic lives.
- Refrain (2019): An emotional male/male (M/M) romance centering on Ethan, who is recovering from trauma and PTSD, and his patient best friend Lincoln.
- Melody & Styx (2020): Often numbered as Book 9.5, this crucial book shifts the spotlight to Meggie and Trace, diving headfirst into the danger and intrigue of the Russo Famiglia.
- A Very Xander Christmas 4 (2020): The fourth holiday check-in with Xander's family.
- A Very Xander Holiday Collection (2023): A collection bringing together the various Xander holiday tales for easy reading.
Other Contemporary Romance Series by Anne Mercier
While the Rockstar series is her most famous, Anne Mercier has also penned several other companion series and duets that showcase her range in contemporary romance:
The Way Series
This series focuses on deep emotional heartache, second chances, and rebuilding after personal struggles.
- The Way Back to Me (2016)
- The Way With You (2019)
Forbidden Fantasies Series
A collection of shorter, highly sensual contemporary romance novellas featuring independent storylines and high heat levels.
- Unzipped (2017)
- Undone (2018)
- Unreasonable (2019)
The Kiss Duet
A fun, high-energy two-part romance sequence featuring interconnected characters.
- Kiss This (2019)
- Kiss This Too (2019)
Truths Series
Mercier's venture into romantic mystery and secrets, starting with the novel Whispered Truths (2015).
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, readers should know that while books like Amplify or Ballad focus on different couples, the original characters (like Jesse, Lucy, Cage, and Xander) remain heavily involved in the plot of subsequent books. The universe also features a gradual tonal shift: starting as a lighthearted contemporary rockstar romance, it eventually incorporates heavy themes of mafia dangerous drama, particularly through Lucy's family (the Russo Famiglia). Standalones are rare, and skipping books might leave you confused about the growing cast list and recurring family connections.