Where to Start Reading Ashlee Rose
For readers diving into the steamy and emotional contemporary romance catalog of Ashlee Rose, finding the best entry point depends on what you are looking for. If you prefer a multi-book romance journey focusing on a single couple, you should start with the Entwined in You series, beginning with her debut novel, Something New. This series follows the dramatic and resilient love story of Freya Greene and Carter Cole across several years.
If you are a fan of high-stakes, taboo romance themes (such as best-friend's-dad or bodyguard tropes) and want interconnected standalone stories, the ideal starting point is the standalone novel Dear Heart, You Screwed Me. This book serves as a narrative launchpad for the popular Illicit Love series. Reading it first provides critical context for the character arcs and fallout that occur in the subsequent books.
The Entwined in You Series: Dual-Perspective Reading Order
The Entwined in You series is structured in a unique way. Instead of progressing chronologically with new couples, the series features six books split into two distinct perspectives. The first three books are told from the perspective of the female lead, Freya Greene, as she navigates heartbreak, new beginnings, and professional journeys. The final three books retell the exact same timeline and events through the eyes of the male lead, Carter Cole, detailing his personal struggles, his perspective on their breakup, and his experience discovering he is a father.
To avoid repeating the plot immediately, some readers prefer to read the series in publication order, while others like to read the corresponding books back-to-back to compare perspectives. The publication order is as follows:
Freya's Perspective (Books 1–3)
- Something New (2018): Freya Greene tries to rebuild her life in a new city after a devastating breakup, only to cross paths with Carter.
- Something to Lose (2018): Freya and Carter's relationship is tested by old flames, drama, and a life-changing journey to Paris.
- Something Everlasting (2019): The dramatic conclusion to Freya's side of the story as the couple attempts to build a permanent future.
Carter's Perspective (Books 4–6)
- Before Her (2019): The events of Something New retold from Carter's point of view, detailing his vow to never love again before meeting Freya.
- Without Her (2020): The events of Something to Lose from Carter's perspective, showcasing his downward spiral after leaving Freya and his relationship with Chloe.
- Forever Her (2021): The events of Something Everlasting from Carter's perspective, detailing how he handles the revelation of his secret child.
The Connected Universe: Dear Heart & the Illicit Love Series
One of the most exciting aspects of Ashlee Rose's books is the way characters cross over between standalone novels and major series. The Illicit Love series is a collection of dark, age-gap, and forbidden contemporary romances that are closely tied to the standalone novel Dear Heart, You Screwed Me.
In Dear Heart, You Screwed Me, the protagonist Reese moves to New York and falls into an intense, forbidden affair with her best friend Connie's father, Killian. The fallout of this discovery forms the emotional backstory for Connie in the next book. The recommended reading order for this interconnected saga is:
- Dear Heart, You Screwed Me (2022): Reese and Killian's age-gap romance. Connie appears as a prominent supporting character.
- The Resentment (2023): Book 1 of the Illicit Love series, focusing on Connie as she rebuilds her life and discovers that her family structure was built on lies.
- The Loathing (2023): Book 2 of the Illicit Love series, featuring Amora (the daughter of Royal and Xavier from the standalone Savage Love) and her bodyguard Titus King. Amora fights to escape a forced marriage to a crime lord.
- The Betrayal (2024): Book 3 of the Illicit Love series, following Arizona and Keaton in a dark, dad's-best-friend romance. Arizona becomes a med student turned stripper after losing everything.
- The Revenge (2025): Book 4 of the Illicit Love series, featuring a marriage of convenience between Nate Spencer and a protagonist seeking to ruin her ex's company.
Way Back When Duet
The Way Back When Duet is a second-chance romance series that spans a decade of history between the main characters Peyton Fallon and Knight. It must be read in strict chronological order:
- Love Always, Peyton (2021): Peyton forms a deep connection with a stranger through a pen pal program, leading to a friends-to-lovers romance.
- Forever Always, Knight (2021): Years later, Knight is dealing with a broken heart when a single email threatens to bring Peyton back into his life, forcing them to confront their past.
Risqué Reads & Sinful Reads Novellas
For readers looking for short, high-spice, and taboo-themed stories, Ashlee Rose has written two distinct novella collections. The Risqué Reads series focuses on adult 'why choose' (reverse harem) and taboo erotica novellas. The recommended reading order is by release:
- Seeking Hallow (2022): A Halloween-themed holiday novella where Hallow's birthday party is gate-crashed by her brother's best friends.
- Craving Hex (2023): A short, high-heat follow-up erotica novella.
- Seducing Willow (2023): Willow is caught in a forbidden MFM dynamic with her stepfather Malachi and his best friend Ryker.
- Wanting Knox (2023): A high-spice companion novella.
- Pursuing Hartley (2023): A short-form erotica entry.
- Tempting Klaus (2023): A fast-paced taboo romance.
- Valentine Belle (2024): A Valentine's Day themed holiday novella.
The Sinful Reads series is another set of explicit, short-form novellas exploring forbidden themes and age gaps, including:
- Sinful Brothers (2024)
- Sinful Affair (2024)
Standalone Novels & Notable Connections
If you prefer self-contained contemporary romance novels, Ashlee Rose's standalone books offer a variety of popular tropes, some of which feature characters who link to her main series:
- Savage Love (2021): A dark 'Beauty and the Beast' retelling featuring Royal and Xavier Archibald the third. This book is the direct prequel setup for their daughter Amora's story in The Loathing.
- Promise Me (2021): A brother's best friend romance featuring Darcey Sawyer and Conor 'King' Royce.
- Tortured Hero (2021): A darker, emotional romance dealing with betrayal, PTSD, and survival.
- Unwanted (2021): Luna Smith's Hawaiian vacation turns into a steamy affair with her brooding bodyguard, Taron Sloane.
- Something Worth Stealing (2021): A standalone contemporary romance focused on romance and second chances.
- Signed, Sealed, Baby (2022): An ex-online model turned nanny finds herself in a complicated relationship with her single-father employer.
- Three Words (2023): A standalone contemporary romance dealing with reconciliation and intimate connections.
Short Stories and Novellas
These short pieces provide quick romance hits and are ideal for reading between her longer novels:
- Welcome to Rosemont (2020)
- Rekindle Us (2022)
- Your Dirty Little Secret (2022)
- A Savage Reunion (2022)