Recommended Reading Order for the Just Friends Series
For readers diving into the romantic, magical contemporary world created by Billy Taylor, the reading order is straightforward. Because the narrative timeline flows sequentially, you should read these books in their exact order of release. The series currently consists of two primary novels:
- Just Friends (2016)
- Mutual Feelings (2017)
Detailed Book Breakdowns
Just Friends (2016)
This is where the story begins. Just Friends introduces us to August Bishop, an aspiring actress, and Ethan Knight, a talented magician. The two have been inseparable best friends since Ethan's seventh birthday party. Twelve years of close, platonic friendship are suddenly tested following a dramatic car accident. The aftermath of the crash brings a touch of the extraordinary to their lives, forcing both August and Ethan to confront the deep, unexpressed romantic feelings they have harbored for one another. The book is known for its emotional depth, teenage romance tropes, and themes of overcoming fear to seize love.
Mutual Feelings (2017)
Released the following year, Mutual Feelings is a sequel that shifts its focal point to a new perspective. The story takes place just a few days after the conclusion of Just Friends. Instead of focusing primarily on August and Ethan, the spotlight turns to Will Evans, an ordinary young man working at Ron's Ice Cream. Will lives with his lifelong best friend, Ted, and finds himself caught in a complex web of romantic feelings and evolving relationships when he falls for someone who is hesitant to commit. While August and Ethan exist in this same space and make appearances, this companion novel explores a different dynamic within the same tight-knit universe.
Understanding the Timeline and Continuity
Because Mutual Feelings starts only days after the ending of Just Friends, reading them in chronological order is highly recommended. Reading the sequel first would spoil the emotional resolution and major plot developments of the first book. Although the perspective shifts from the magician-and-actress pairing of the debut to the ice cream shop setting of the second book, the shared timeline and overlapping social circles tie the two stories closely together.
Key Caveats: Sorting Through the "Billy Taylor" Name Mix-up
If you search for Billy Taylor on major online bookstores, Goodreads, or library databases, you will likely encounter significant confusion. "Billy Taylor" is a very common name, and several completely unrelated books are often erroneously grouped under a single author profile. Before you begin buying or queueing books, keep these distinctions in mind:
- The Young Adult Romance Author (Our Subject): Billy Taylor is a self-published writer from Ecclesfield, Sheffield, England. He wrote his debut novel Just Friends at age 17, promoting it heavily via social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, which helped him top the Apple Books charts in 2016. He is the author of only the Just Friends duology.
- The Cookbook Author: A different author named Billy Taylor wrote a series of coffee-themed recipe books in the early 2010s, including Unforgettable Fall Recipes with Coffee (2012), Horribly Good Halloween Recipes with Coffee, and Thanksgiving Recipes with Coffee. These cookbooks have no relation to the YA romance novels.
- The American Novelist & Film Professional: Another Billy Taylor is a US-based author and filmmaker who worked on sets like My Cousin Vinny. He wrote the adult novel Based on the Movie (2008) and the young adult thriller Thieving Weasels (2016).
Practical Reader Advice
If you are looking to start Billy Taylor's work, obtain a copy of Just Friends first. Since the author self-published his books, physical copies can sometimes be rare or out of print, but digital versions remain accessible on major e-book platforms like Apple Books. Enjoy the sweet, contemporary British tone, and transition immediately to Mutual Feelings to see how the secondary characters navigate their own post-accident lives.