The Recommended Reading Order for Camille Baker
For the best reading experience, we highly recommend reading Camille Baker's contemporary romance novels in their quick publication order. Since the novels are set in the same universe and feature characters who are closely related, reading them sequentially allows you to enjoy the natural progression of the 'Met' dating app's introduction and the crossover of its characters.
- Have We Met? (2021)
- The Moment We Met (2022)
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Fortunately for readers, there is no need to puzzle over a complex timeline! The publication order matches the chronological order of the universe perfectly. The events of The Moment We Met occur after the events of Have We Met?, tracing the journey of a new protagonist who receives the mysterious, life-changing app after seeing how it impacted her family circle.
An In-Depth Look at the 'Met' Series
Camille Baker’s romance novels stand out for their clever blend of modern technology, emotional depth, and realistic character dynamics. Here is a closer look at the two books that make up this contemporary romance series:
Have We Met? (2021)
In Camille Baker's debut novel, we meet Corinne (Cori), a young woman who is navigating deep grief after losing her best friend, Joelle, to cancer. As she struggles with her career and personal life, a mysterious dating app called 'Met' suddenly appears on her phone. The app claims to have tracked her daily routines and identified four 'missed connections' from her past, promising that one of these four men is her ultimate soulmate.
As Corinne begins to go on dates with these past connections, she unexpectedly meets Cory—her cousin’s charming friend—completely outside of the app. Corinne is forced to weigh the app's digital predictions against the very real, organic chemistry she shares with Cory, leading to a touching exploration of grief, friendship, fate, and the messiness of modern dating.
The Moment We Met (2022)
The second book shifts focus to Tiwanda Harris, Corinne's cousin, who is approaching a major milestone: her thirtieth birthday. Tiwanda is stuck in a stagnant career and dreams of launching her own business making artisanal soaps and chocolates. Her life takes a turn when she is gifted a journal written by her late mother, offering a window into her mother's adult life and struggles.
At the same time, the sentient 'Met' app makes its way to Tiwanda's phone, offering her four prospective soulmate matches from her past. As Tiwanda works to mend family rifts, navigate her career goals, and build her entrepreneurship dreams, she must figure out if she can trust the app's suggestions or if she needs to forge her own path to happiness. The book features a vibrant, inclusive support system, highlighting the importance of family, self-discovery, and community.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Camille Baker's books, there are a few unique characteristics that make her stories special and worth checking out:
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing Representation: Drawing from her professional career as a sign language interpreter, Baker integrates authentic Deaf representation into her stories. This includes characters who use American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf couples, bringing a rarely seen level of visibility and realism to mainstream contemporary romance.
- Diverse and Inclusive Casts: Baker's novels feature multicultural character groups, characters who use they/them pronouns, and complex family structures. The relationships reflect the real, diverse world we live in.
- Technology and Modern Love: Rather than viewing dating apps as simple swipe-and-chat tools, the 'Met' series explores how algorithms, missed connections, and technology intersect with human intuition and emotional healing.
- Distinguishing the Author: Contemporary romance fans should be careful not to confuse this Camille Baker with Camille C. Baker, an academic author and professor who writes non-fiction books on interactive art, wearable technology, and digital media.
Practical Reader Advice: Standalones or Crossovers?
One of the most common questions readers ask is whether they can read The Moment We Met without having read Have We Met? first. The short answer is yes. Both novels function perfectly well as standalone stories with self-contained romantic arcs and satisfying conclusions. You will not be lost if you pick up the second book first.
However, we still recommend starting from the beginning. Corinne and Tiwanda are cousins, and their social circles overlap. By starting with the first book, you will understand the background of the 'Met' app, appreciate the cameo appearances of past characters, and get a better sense of the shared family history and emotional growth that spans the two novels.