Clare Lydon Books in Order

The Best Starting Points for Clare Lydon Beginners

Clare Lydon's extensive library of sapphic romance can feel overwhelming at first glance, but she makes it easy for newcomers. The author herself frequently recommends starting with Before You Say I Do. This global bestseller features a delightful fake-relationship (fauxmance) trope between a bride-to-be and her professional bridesmaid, delivering spectacular chemistry, family drama, and plenty of trademark British humor. It functions perfectly as a standalone novel, giving you a taste of her writing style without committing to a long-running series.

If you prefer to dive straight into a larger universe, your absolute best starting point is London Calling, the 2014 novel that launched her popular London Romance series. This book serves as a perfect introduction to Lydon's signature style: flawed, everyday characters who drink too much tequila, wear Converse, make mistakes, and navigate the messy, vibrant world of modern queer London.

The London Romance Series: Publication and Reading Order

Often described as a British counterpart to "The L Word," the London Romance series is Clare Lydon's flagship project. It spans nine interconnected novels set in the heart of London. While each book focuses on a different couple and can technically be read as a standalone, the characters form a tight-knit social circle. Reading them out of order will spoil previous couples' happy endings and make it harder to track the evolving friendships. There is also a short promotional prologue titled "When Jess Met Kate" that you can read before starting the main list.

To get the most out of the character arcs and cameos, you should read the London Romance series in its exact publication order:

1. London Calling (2014)
2. This London Love (2015)
3. A Girl Called London (2017)
4. The London Of Us (2018)
5. London, Actually (2018)
6. Made In London (2019)
7. Hot London Nights (2021)
8. Big London Dreams (2021)
9. London Ever After (2024)

The All I Want Series: Festive Romance Order

If you are in the mood for quick, seasonal, and highly romantic reads, the All I Want series is a collection of shorter novels that follow a single couple's journey over the course of a couple of years. Unlike the London Romance books, this series follows the same central characters, meaning you absolutely must read them in order to follow their relationship progression. The series starts at Christmas and loops through major holidays and seasons before concluding with a forever commitment.

Follow this chronological order for the All I Want series:

1. All I Want For Christmas (2015)
2. All I Want For Valentine's (2016)
3. All I Want For Spring (2016)
4. All I Want For Summer (2016)
5. All I Want For Autumn (2016)
6. All I Want Forever (2017)

The Village Romance Trilogy: A Sapphic Collaboration

The Village Romance series is a unique project set in the fictional, charming English village of Upper Chewford. Rather than being written by a single author, it is a collaborative trilogy written alongside fellow popular lesfic authors T.B. Markinson and Harper Bliss. Each author took charge of one standalone volume focusing on a different couple in the same village, though the books are connected by shared settings and side characters.

For the complete Upper Chewford experience, read the trilogy in this order:

1. A Shot at Love (2019) - Written by T.B. Markinson
2. A Taste Of Love (2019) - Written by Clare Lydon
3. A Lesson in Love (2019) - Written by Harper Bliss

Standalone Novels and Co-Authored Works

Outside of her primary series, Lydon has written several popular standalone novels. These are perfect for quick reads, requiring no background knowledge of other books. Among these, you will find additional co-authored books. Lydon paired up with Harper Bliss to write Once Upon a Princess (2018), a modern royal fairy tale set in Cornwall. She also teamed up with T.B. Markinson for One Golden Summer (2020), a fun standalone romance.

Here is the chronological publication list of Clare Lydon's standalone novels:

• The Long Weekend (2014)
• Nothing to Lose (2016)
• Twice In A Lifetime (2017)
• Once Upon a Princess (2018) - Co-written with Harper Bliss
• You're My Kind (2019)
• One Golden Summer (2020) - Co-written with T.B. Markinson
• Before You Say I Do (2020)
• Christmas In Mistletoe (2020)
• Change Of Heart (2021)
• It Started With A Kiss (2022)
• The Christmas Catch (2022)
• Hotshot (2023)
• Just Kiss Her (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

Clare Lydon’s writing focuses heavily on contemporary lesbian life, combining everyday realism with feel-good romance tropes. While she does not shy away from the real-life struggles of queer women—such as coming out, navigating career transitions, and family acceptance—her books are fundamentally lighthearted and always guarantee a Happy Ever After (HEA). You can expect banter, relatable group dynamics, and a strong sense of place, whether you are traversing the streets of London or relaxing in a quiet seaside village in Cornwall.