Where to Start Reading Aya de León
If you are new to Aya de León’s work, the best entry point depends entirely on what genre you prefer. Her novels are known for subverting traditional genre tropes—such as romance, thrillers, and heist stories—by centering complex women of color and incorporating themes of anti-capitalism, environmental activism, and racial justice.
- For adult readers who love high-stakes crime and romance: Begin with Uptown Thief, the book that launched her signature Justice Hustlers series. It showcases her talent for writing fast-paced, Robin Hood-style narratives featuring resilient protagonists who fund community advocacy through clever street hustles.
- For young adult readers and fans of espionage: Start with Undercover Latina, the fast-paced debut of her YA spy series, The Factory, which follows teen operatives working for an international organization dedicated to defending marginalized communities.
- For suspense and eco-thrillers: Dive straight into her standalone thriller, A Spy in the Struggle, which explores the high stakes of FBI infiltration within a Black environmental justice collective.
The Justice Hustlers Series (Adult Heist Novels)
This series centers on a crew of bold, resourceful women of color who use their wits—and occasionally elaborate heists—to survive, fund crucial community healthcare clinics, and fight back against systemic exploitation. While each book can function as a standalone romance or crime thriller, they share a recurring cast of characters and a continuing narrative timeline. For the best experience, read them in order of publication:
- Uptown Thief (2016) – Follows Marisol Rivera, who runs a clinic for sex workers in East Harlem by day and robs wealthy, corrupt corporate executives by night.
- The Boss (2017) – Focuses on Tasha, Marisol’s former right-hand woman, who partners with a corporate security expert to take down a sex-trafficking ring.
- The Accidental Mistress (2018) – Centers on Lily, a woman who is drawn into an intricate political and financial conspiracy after falling for a wealthy client.
- Side Chick Nation (2019) – Widely recognized as the first novel written about the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, this installment follows Dulce as she navigates natural disaster, government neglect, and disaster capitalism.
The Factory Series (Young Adult Spy Thrillers)
This action-packed series introduces readers to "The Factory," a covert international intelligence organization run by people of color, designed to protect marginalized communities from systemic threats and white supremacy. Because the second book serves as a prequel, you have two options for reading this series:
Chronological Story Order
Reading chronologically allows you to follow the character of Amani from her initial recruitment into the organization up to her first major solo mission:
- Untraceable (2023) – A prequel focusing on Amani Kendall, a teenage girl who discovers her parents' secret history as operatives for The Factory and becomes a spy herself.
- Undercover Latina (2022) – The original debut, focusing on Andréa Hernández-Baldoquí, a young agent who goes undercover to stop a white supremacist terrorist plot.
- Undisclosed (2025) – Amani takes center stage as she goes undercover at a summer music competition to protect a rogue agent's daughter, with Andréa assisting.
Publication Order
If you prefer to experience the world exactly as existing fans did, follow the order in which the books were released:
- Undercover Latina (2022)
- Untraceable (2023)
- Undisclosed (2025)
Standalone Novels of Activism and Climate Justice
In addition to her series work, Aya de León has written several standalone suspense novels. These books are completely self-contained and can be read in any order:
- A Spy in the Struggle (2020) – Yolanda Vance, a corporate lawyer turned FBI agent, is sent to infiltrate a radical eco-justice organization in Oakland, California, forcing her to choose between her career and her community.
- Queen of Urban Prophecy (2021) – Centers on Deza, a rising teen rap star whose lyrics accidentally predict a real-world police shooting, throwing her into the middle of activist protests, gentrification battles, and corporate music politics.
- That Dangerous Energy (2022) – Follows Morgan Faraday, a fashion designer who discovers her billionaire fiancé's green-energy company is actually responsible for massive ecological disasters, prompting her to spy for the climate justice movement.
Children's Picture Books
Before launching her commercial novels, de León published a picture book designed for young children:
- Puffy: People Whose Hair Defies Gravity (2013) – A self-published children's book celebrating natural Afro-textured hair and self-love.
What to Know Before You Start
Aya de León’s novels are deeply shaped by her background as a spoken-word artist, activist, and educator (she is the director of the Poetry for the People program at UC Berkeley). Her fiction does not shy away from heavy topics like environmental destruction, systemic racism, sex work, and colonization. However, she balances these heavy subjects with humor, romance, and gripping thriller plots, making her work highly accessible and empowering. Her climate-focused titles are published under her climate justice fiction imprint, Fighting Chance Books, highlighting her commitment to using literature as a tool for real-world collective action.