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Ashley Winstead Books in Order

5 Books
2021 – 2023 Published
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Where to Start Reading Ashley Winstead

Because Ashley Winstead writes in two completely different genres, your ideal starting point depends on your personal reading taste. She is equally skilled at crafting nerve-wracking psychological thrillers and swoon-worthy, banter-filled contemporary romances.

If you prefer dark, suspenseful mysteries, start with her debut novel, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. This book is a premier example of the dark academia subgenre, taking readers to a high-stakes college reunion where old secrets and a cold murder case bubble to the surface. It perfectly showcases her ability to write morally gray characters and dual-timeline mysteries.

If you prefer romantic comedies and contemporary fiction, start with Fool Me Once. It is a fast-paced, enemies-to-lovers rom-com set against the backdrop of Texas politics, featuring a chaotic but highly relatable female lead. Starting here also allows you to read her connected romance books in their proper chronological order.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Winstead's bibliography, it is helpful to keep a few details in mind regarding her writing style and recurring themes:

  • The Genre Split: Winstead intentionally rotates between writing dark, heavy thrillers and lighthearted, emotional romances. She has noted in interviews that writing romance offers a sense of hope and joy, while thrillers allow her to explore darker truths about society and human nature.
  • The Texas Connection: Many of her books are set in Texas, particularly Austin, Houston, and the fictional small towns of the state. Her depictions of these spaces are highly authentic, drawing from her own years living in Houston.
  • Academic Influence: Having earned a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature from Southern Methodist University, Winstead frequently infuses her stories with academic elements, campus dynamics, and sharp social commentary on power structures and misogyny.

Ashley Winstead Books in Order of Publication

Reading Ashley Winstead's books in order of their release is a fantastic way to watch her range develop. Here is the chronological list of her published and announced works:

  1. In My Dreams I Hold a Knife (2021): A dark academia thriller following Jessica Miller and her former circle of college friends who reunite ten years after a classmate's unsolved murder.
  2. Fool Me Once (2022): Winstead's romance debut. It follows Lee Stone, a cynical communications director in Austin, who is forced to work with the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart.
  3. The Last Housewife (2022): A dark, disturbing psychological thriller about a woman who goes on a crusade to investigate the suspicious death of her college friend, uncovering a dangerous, misogynistic cult.
  4. The Boyfriend Candidate (2023): A fake-dating political rom-com centering on Alexis Stone, a shy school librarian who gets caught in a public scandal with a progressive candidate running for governor of Texas.
  5. Midnight Is the Darkest Hour (2023): A gothic, atmospheric thriller set in a deeply religious Louisiana swamp town, where a librarian and her outcast best friend become entangled in local folklore and a real-life killer.
  6. This Book Will Bury Me (2025): A thriller that explores the dark side of true-crime obsession. The story follows Jane Sharp as she joins a group of online sleuths to investigate a triple murder in Idaho, only to find that someone is targeting the investigators.
  7. The Future Saints (2026): A contemporary fiction novel centering on Hannah, the lead singer of a struggling rock band, navigating the pressures of fame, grief over her late sister, and the cutthroat music industry.
  8. Hot Girl Murder Club (2026): A revenge thriller focusing on pop star Scout Sage, who links up with a secret society of women seeking vigilante justice against powerful, abusive men.

Ashley Winstead Series and Standalones

The Stone Sisters Romance Duology

While Winstead's thrillers are entirely standalone stories, her first two romantic comedies share a universe and are best read in order:

  • Book 1: Fool Me Once (2022) – Introduces Lee Stone, a wild and defensive communications professional.
  • Book 2: The Boyfriend Candidate (2023) – Focuses on Alexis Stone, Lee's quiet librarian younger sister. Lee and her partner Ben appear as supporting characters in this book, wrapping up their overarching family dynamics.

The Standalone Thrillers and Contemporary Fiction

The rest of Winstead's books do not share characters or universes. You can pick up any of these titles in any order without worrying about missing context:

  • In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: Best for fans of college settings, secret-society vibes, and complex group dynamics.
  • The Last Housewife: A heavy, triggering read that is best for fans of true-crime style investigative thrillers and stories about dismantling corrupt systems.
  • Midnight Is the Darkest Hour: Best for readers who enjoy gothic folklore, twilight settings, and small-town secrets.
  • This Book Will Bury Me: Best for fans of online communities, sleuthing, and wintery, isolated settings.
  • The Future Saints: Best for readers who love band dynamics, music-focused dramas like Daisy Jones & the Six, and stories exploring sisterhood.
  • Hot Girl Murder Club: Best for fans of fast-paced revenge thrillers and stories about female empowerment and justice.

Frequently Asked

QAre Ashley Winstead's romance novels connected?

Yes. Fool Me Once and The Boyfriend Candidate are companion novels. The protagonist of the second book, Alexis Stone, is the younger sister of the first book's protagonist, Lee Stone. Characters from the first book make appearances, so it is recommended to read them in order.

QCan you read Ashley Winstead's thrillers as standalones?

Yes. All of her psychological thrillers, including In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, The Last Housewife, and Midnight Is the Darkest Hour, are completely independent standalones with no overlapping characters or settings.

QWhich Ashley Winstead book is the darkest?

The Last Housewife is widely considered her darkest novel. It deals with heavy themes, including institutional misogyny, abusive relationships, cult behavior, and trauma. Readers should check content warnings before starting.

QWhat is the recommended reading order for Ashley Winstead?

If you want to read everything, follow the publication order. Otherwise, separate her books by genre: read her Stone Sisters romances in order, and read her standalone thrillers in whatever order interests you most.

QWhat is Ashley Winstead's academic background?

Winstead holds a B.A. in English and Art History from Vanderbilt University and a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature from Southern Methodist University. Her background heavily influences her campus settings and writing style.