How to Read Asher Fogle Paul's Books
If you are looking to dive into the witty, high-society world of contemporary Southern weddings, Asher Fogle Paul's novels—co-authored with Mary Hollis Huddleston—are the perfect escape. While these stories are standalone, they share a distinct thematic bond, a flair for luxury event-planning chaos, and a common setting framework across the American South. Because of this shared aesthetic and creative team, readers often wonder where they should begin their journey.
The Recommended Starting Point
For the best experience, we recommend starting with Without a Hitch (2021) before moving on to Piece of Cake (2023). Even though the books function as standalone novels with different protagonists and independent plots, reading them in publication order allows you to appreciate how the authors build their signature voice. You'll transition smoothly from the boutique wedding-planning agencies of Dallas to the bustling bachelorette and bridal media scene of Nashville, gaining a broader appreciation for the authors' satirical take on Southern high society.
Asher Fogle Paul Books in Publication Order
Since Asher Fogle Paul's fiction bibliography consists of collaborative works with Mary Hollis Huddleston, their release schedule matches their chronological development:
- Without a Hitch (2021) – Set in Dallas, Texas.
- Piece of Cake (2023) – Set in Nashville, Tennessee.
Deep Dive: The Southern Wedding Novels
To help you decide which book to pick up first, here is a detailed breakdown of what each story offers, including plot premises, characters, and settings:
Without a Hitch (2021)
Co-authored with Mary Hollis Huddleston and published by Harper Muse (an imprint of HarperCollins), Without a Hitch is a laugh-out-loud coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of ultra-exclusive Dallas weddings. The story follows Lottie Jones, a twenty-something whose personal life has just crumbled. In desperate need of a fresh start and financial independence, she lands a job at a prestigious boutique wedding planning firm. Lottie is quickly thrown into a whirlwind of demanding high-society clients, astronomical budgets, runaway brides, and wild wedding-day emergencies—including a parachute-landing groom gone wrong. To complicate matters, she is tasked with planning her ex-boyfriend’s upcoming nuptials while navigating feelings for a handsome, cynical wedding photographer. The book is highly praised for its authentic behind-the-scenes look at the wedding industry, drawing directly from Huddleston's career as an event planner and Paul's observational skills as a journalist. It's a story about finding yourself when your original life plan falls completely flat.
Piece of Cake (2023)
The duo’s second collaborative novel, Piece of Cake, shifts the spotlight to Nashville, Tennessee. This story centers on Claire Sommers, a former Dallas society darling whose life is upended after a major mistake freezes her trust fund and ruins her social standing. Claire is forced to rebuild her life from scratch, working as a junior staffer for Piece of Cake, a beloved but financially struggling Southern wedding magazine. When she learns the magazine is on the verge of shutting down, Claire pitches a high-stakes plan: a reality-show-style docuseries showcasing the most outrageous, over-the-top Southern weddings. Her boss greenlights the project, but with a major catch—she must co-host it with Dominic Gravino, an obnoxious, New York-based social media star known as "The Brides' Man." As Claire and Dominic clash over their backgrounds and philosophies, they must work together to handle eccentric brides, southern bachelorettes, and their own growing chemistry. The book offers a deeper look at the commercialized side of the wedding industry, focusing on modern social media and reality TV dynamics.
Chronological Order and Caveats
Because the novels follow completely separate characters and storylines, there are no overlapping continuity errors to worry about. You can read them in any order without spoiling major plot points of the other. However, they share a very similar tone, so if you enjoy the high-pressure workplace comedy of the first, you will feel right at home in the second. The books can be read completely independently as standalones. There are no recurring cameos that alter the plot, meaning you can choose based on whether you prefer a story about event planners (Without a Hitch) or wedding media and reality TV (Piece of Cake).
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving in, it helps to understand what makes these books unique in the contemporary romance and women's fiction space:
- Real-Life Inspiration: Co-author Mary Hollis Huddleston is a real-life event designer and co-founder of a well-known Southern party-planning and lifestyle brand. This gives the novels an incredibly authentic, dishy, and detailed look at the event industry that you won't find in generic rom-coms.
- Focus on Self-Discovery: While both books contain romantic subplots and witty banter, their core narratives are about young women finding their footing, rebuilding their careers, and gaining personal independence after their lives go off-script.
- A Tale of Two Cities: The books act as love letters to their settings—showcasing the polished luxury of Dallas high society in the first book, and the vibrant, music-filled bachelorette culture of Nashville in the second.
- Journalistic Flair: Asher Fogle Paul's background as an editor for major lifestyle magazines (like Good Housekeeping and People) brings a sharp, observational wit and clean pacing to the prose.