Where to Start Reading Dahlia Adler
If you are new to Dahlia Adler's vibrant, queer-inclusive stories, your best starting point depends on your favorite age category:
- For Young Adult Contemporary: Start with Cool for the Summer (2021). This widely acclaimed novel is a perfect introduction to Adler's style, exploring bisexual identity, summer flings, and self-discovery in a relatable, modern setting.
- For New Adult Romance: Start with Last Will and Testament (2014), the first book in the Radleigh University series. It balances heavy real-world issues like guardianship and grief with high-stakes academic romance.
- For Adult Romance: Start with Soon by You (2026), Adler's debut adult rom-com set in the Modern Orthodox Jewish community of New York City.
Daylight Falls Duology (Publication & Chronological Order)
This Young Adult contemporary duology set in the high-stakes world of Hollywood is best read in publication order, as the events of the second book build directly on the first.
- Behind the Scenes (2014) – Follows Ally Duncan as she becomes an on-set assistant for the teen drama Daylight Falls and falls for the show's lead actor, Liam Holloway.
- Under the Lights (2015) – Shifts focus to Vanessa Park (Ally's celebrity best friend) and Josh Chester, exploring their public careers and unexpected personal relationships.
Radleigh University Series
This New Adult contemporary romance series focuses on college students navigating major life transitions. While each book works as a standalone focusing on a different couple, reading them in order prevents spoilers and lets you enjoy recurring character crossovers.
- Last Will and Testament (2014) – Lizzie Brandt's life changes overnight when she becomes the guardian of her younger brothers and falls for her college TA.
- Right of First Refusal (2016) – Cait Johannssen navigates a fake dating scheme and the return of an ex-boyfriend who broke her heart.
- Out on Good Behavior (2016) – Focuses on a high-profile romance between two young women navigating family expectations, career pressure, and public scrutiny.
Standalone Novels
Adler's standalones range from road-trip friendships to sports romances and dual-timeline structures. They can be read in any order:
- Just Visiting (2015) – A YA novel following best friends Reagan and Victoria on a college road trip as they realize they want very different futures.
- Cool for the Summer (2021) – A YA contemporary romance about a girl torn between the guy she's always wanted and the girl she had a secret summer fling with.
- Home Field Advantage (2022) – A YA rivals-to-lovers sports romance between a cheerleader and the school's new female quarterback.
- Going Bicoastal (2023) – A YA "Sliding Doors" style romance following Natalya Fox in two alternating summer timelines: one in New York City and one in Los Angeles.
- Soon by You (2026) – An adult contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance exploring the dating scene within the Manhattan Modern Orthodox Jewish community.
Anthologies: Editor vs. Contributor
Dahlia Adler is highly active in the YA anthology scene. It is useful to distinguish between the collections she curated and those she contributed short stories to:
Anthologies Edited by Dahlia Adler
- His Hideous Heart (2019/2021) – A collection of Edgar Allan Poe's classic tales reimagined by diverse YA authors.
- That Way Madness Lies (2021) – Fifteen classic plays by William Shakespeare reimagined for modern young adult readers.
- At Midnight (2022) – A creative anthology of classic fairy tales retold with diverse, modern perspectives.
Anthologies Featuring Stories by Dahlia Adler
- All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages (2018) – Edited by Saundra Mitchell.
- The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes & Other Dauntless Girls (2018) – Edited by Jessica Spotswood.
- It's a Whole Spiel: Love, Latkes and Other Jewish Stories (2019) – Edited by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman.