Where to Start Reading Avery Flynn
For readers new to Avery Flynn's signature blend of laugh-out-loud humor, relatable heroines, and protective alpha heroes, there are two ideal entry points depending on your preferred romance subgenre. If you love classic contemporary romantic comedies with smart, snappy dialogue and office-place sparks, begin with The Negotiator, the first book in her popular Harbor City series. If you prefer body-positive romance featuring characters who don't fit the traditional mold but possess immense heart, start with Butterface, the opening novel of The Hartigans series.
If your taste leans toward romantic suspense with high stakes and small-town secrets, the Layton Family series starting with Temptation Creek (also known as Dangerous Kiss) is the perfect introduction to her suspenseful side.
The Harbor City and Dating Disasters Universe
Flynn's Harbor City books focus on sharp-witted characters navigating life, friendship, and sudden love in a bustling urban environment. While each book works as a standalone romance, they share characters and settings, making them best enjoyed in publication order. The series expands into the Dating Disasters banner with the inclusion of Hadley Donovan's story, which bridges the two lineups.
- The Negotiator (2017)
- The Charmer (2017)
- The Schemer (2018)
- The Wedding Date Disaster (2020)
The Hartigans Series
Focusing on the fiercely loyal, close-knit Hartigan family, this fan-favorite series is celebrated for tackling body image, self-esteem, and unconventional beauty with warmth and humor. The books should be read in order as they follow the siblings and their tight circle of friends:
- Butterface (2018)
- Muffin Top (2018)
- Tomboy (2019)
Ice Knights Series
For sports romance enthusiasts, the Ice Knights series delivers plenty of heat, team camaraderie, and hockey-player charm. These novels follow players from a professional hockey team finding love off the ice under unexpected circumstances:
- Parental Guidance (2019)
- Awk-weird (2019)
- Loud Mouth (2020)
Last Man Standing Series
This trilogy follows three stubbornly single, ultra-masculine men who find their matches in women who refuse to tolerate their nonsense. Reading them in order tracks their group dynamics and running bets:
- Mama's Boy (2021)
- Neanderthal (2021)
- Mansplainer (2021)
Downside of Dating Series
This newer series features contemporary rom-coms focused on the messy, chaotic, and utterly delightful downsides of looking for love in the modern world:
- Anger Bang (2023)
- Walk of Shame (2024)
The Layton Family / Dry Creek Books
Set in the fictional town of Dry Creek, this series combines high-stakes mystery and romantic suspense. The novels follow the Layton siblings as they navigate town murders, old secrets, and sudden passion. Many books in this series were republished under alternate titles, which can confuse readers, so the following chronological order is recommended:
- Up a Dry Creek (2011) — A prequel story introducing the setting.
- Temptation Creek / Dangerous Kiss (2011) — Claire Layton's story.
- Seduction Creek / Dangerous Flirt (2012) — Sheriff Hank Layton's story.
- Passion Creek / Dangerous Tease (2012) — Sam Layton's story.
Sweet Salvation Brewery Series
This series centers around the employees, owners, and community surrounding a local brewery, delivering small-town romance tropes with plenty of chemistry and banter:
- Enemies on Tap (2014)
- Hollywood on Tap (2014)
- Trouble on Tap (2015)
Killer Style Series
A fun, stylized series that mixes fashion, beauty, and crime-solving, following stylish heroines who end up in the middle of unexpected mysteries:
- Killer Temptation (2014) — Also known as High-Heeled Wonder.
- Killer Attraction (2014) — Also known as This Year's Black.
- Killer Charm (2015) — Also known as Make Me Up.
- Killer Seduction (2015) — Also known as Designed for Murder.
B-Squad Series
A military-flavored romantic suspense trilogy following elite operatives and the strong-willed women who match them step for step:
- Brazen (2016)
- Bang (2016)
- Blade (2017)
Fairy True and Paranormal Romances
Flynn has also dabbled in paranormal romance and fantasy-comedy. Her Fairy True books offer fractured fairy tale retellings, while The Sherwood Witches (sometimes cataloged under her standalone list) is a fully realized paranormal rom-com series following a powerful witch family:
- Jax and the Beanstalk Zombies (2013) — Fairy True Book 1.
- Big, Bad Red (2015) — Fairy True Book 2.
- Witcha Gonna Do? (2022) — Sherwood Witches Book 1.
- Head Witch in Charge (2025) — Sherwood Witches Book 2.
- Hexy Beast (Scheduled for 2026) — Sherwood Witches Book 3.
Co-Authored Projects and Shared Worlds
Avery Flynn frequently collaborates with other bestselling romance authors to create larger shared-universe experiences. Understanding her role in these projects is essential for completionist readers:
The Burbs (with Tracy Wolff)
Co-written with bestselling author Tracy Wolff, this series delivers hilarious, chaotic neighborhood-based romantic comedies focusing on women reclaiming their lives in suburban environments:
- Back in the Burbs (2021)
- Running for the Hills (2025)
The MacKenzie Family World
The MacKenzie Family is a massive, multi-author romantic suspense world created by Liliana Hart. While local listings compile the entire publication order, Avery Flynn's sole contribution to this shared universe is the novella Bullet Proof (2016). The other books in this series are written by Liliana Hart and other guest authors. Readers can enjoy Flynn's contribution as a standalone or dive into the full world starting with Liliana Hart's Dane.
Tempt Me and Standalones
Flynn has written several shorter series, novellas, and standalones that can be read at any time without strict order requirements:
- Tempt Me Series: Includes His Undercover Princess (2016) and Her Enemy Protector (2016).
- Retreat Series: Features the romance Dodging Temptation (2015).
- Standalone Novels: Includes the royal romance Royal Bastard (2019) and the novella Betting the Billionaire (2011).