Where should I start reading Elizabeth Grey's books?

The best starting point is Just Friends , the first full-length novel in The Agency series. If you prefer lighthearted stories about parenting and community drama, start with The School Run Reject Club .

Do I need to read the prequels (Always You and Freja) first?

No. While Always You and Freja provide rich backstory for the main couples, the core novels Just Friends and Second Chance contain all the necessary context to enjoy the romances fully.

How are The Agency and When We Were Young series connected?

The When We Were Young series serves as a prequel collection to The Agency. Its first book, Freja , explores the early years of Freja and Nate, setting up the events of their reunion in Second Chance (The Agency Book 3).

Are the books in The Agency series standalones?

Yes, each book features a different central romance and wraps up with a happy ending. However, because characters appear as supporting cast members in other books, reading them in order provides a better experience.

What is The School Run series about?

The School Run series is a 'mum-lit' comedy set in North East England. It follows a group of outcast mothers navigating schoolyard politics, family lives, and friendships.

Is there a reading order for The Studio series?

The Studio series begins with the novella When Jack Met Mia , which takes place in New York City. The series focuses on celebrity stardom and drama school students.

Elizabeth Grey Books in Order

Where to Start with Elizabeth Grey

If you are new to Elizabeth Grey's delightful contemporary romances, you have two primary gateways. The most popular starting point is The Agency Series, which plunges readers into the fast-paced, humorous, and sometimes angsty world of a London advertising firm. To begin this journey, start with Just Friends, the first full-length novel in the series. It establishes the central setting, key character friendships, and the witty British tone that defines Grey's work.

Alternatively, if you prefer lighthearted 'mum-lit' that focuses on schoolyard politics, parenting struggles, and relatable community humor, you can start with The School Run Series. The perfect starting point for this path is The School Run Reject Club, which takes place in North East England and offers a completely different cast and setting from her corporate London books.

The Agency Universe: Reading Order

The Agency series is Elizabeth Grey's flagship series. While the author designs each book to function as a standalone romance with a satisfying resolution, they feature a tight-knit group of recurring characters who drop in and out of each other's stories. To fully appreciate the character growth, weddings, and timeline progression, we highly recommend following either the publication order or the chronological timeline detailed below.

The Chronological Timeline

For readers who want to experience the relationships of the characters in the exact order they unfolded, here is the chronological sequence of The Agency and its prequels:

Freja (When We Were Young, Book 1): This is a prequel novel set in Los Angeles, exploring the early relationship and heartbreak of Freja Larsen and Nate Klein years before they reunite in London.
Always You (The Agency, Book 0.5): A prequel novelette written from Ethan Fraser's perspective, capturing his long-standing, hidden feelings for his best friend Violet Archer before the events of the main series.
Just Friends (The Agency, Book 1): The core entry point. Violet Archer and Ethan Fraser navigate the thin line between friendship and office romance at their London advertising agency.
Secret Summer (The Agency, Book 1.5): A sun-drenched novella set during an advertising shoot in Santorini, where Violet and Ethan try to keep their new relationship a secret from their coworkers.
It's Complicated (The Agency, Book 2): This novel continues Violet and Ethan's story as they deal with office dynamics, career challenges, and the complexities of taking their relationship public.
Perfect Christmas (The Agency, Book 2.5): A festive short story focusing on Violet and Ethan as an engaged couple trying to survive a chaotic holiday season, temporary housing issues, and work stress.
Second Chance (The Agency, Book 3): The spotlight shifts back to Freja Larsen, now a successful ad producer, who runs into her former LA flame Nate Klein when his business becomes the agency's biggest client.
Forever You (The Agency, Book 4): A direct sequel to Freja and Nate's romance, detailing the fallout of a major secret and their struggle to build a lasting future together.
The Hen Weekend (The Agency, Book 4.5): A lighthearted novella following Violet's bridesmaids (led by Georgie) as they surprise her with a wild bachelorette trip to the French Riviera.

The Publication Order

If you prefer to read the books as they were released and watch the universe expand naturally, use this order:

Just Friends (2017)
Always You (2017)
It's Complicated (2018)
Secret Summer (2018)
Freja (2018)
Second Chance (2019)
Forever You (2019)
The Hen Weekend (2020)
Perfect Christmas (2021)

Understanding The Agency Character Arcs

Because the books rotate perspectives, you can also group the novels into character-specific reading lists if you want to follow a single couple's journey from beginning to end:

The Violet & Ethan Arc

This arc follows the classic friends-to-lovers dynamic of advertising executive Violet Archer and copywriter Ethan Fraser. Their journey spans the following books:

Always You (The prequel showing Ethan's perspective)
Just Friends (The main romance)
Secret Summer (The Santorini vacation novella)
It's Complicated (Their relationship growth and office drama)
Perfect Christmas (Engagement and holiday chaos)
The Hen Weekend (The pre-wedding festivities)

The Freja & Nate Arc

This arc delivers an emotional second-chance romance between television producer Freja Larsen and millionaire entrepreneur Nate Klein. Their story spans the following titles:

Freja (The LA prequel showing how they first met and parted)
Second Chance (Their reunion in London)
Forever You (The continuation of their relationship and overcoming past secrets)

The School Run Series

Departing from the corporate offices of London, Elizabeth Grey's School Run series is a hilarious and heartwarming look at motherhood, neighborhood rivalries, and finding your community. It is set in North East England and should be read in publication order:

The School Run Reject Club (Book 1): Introduces a group of mothers who do not fit into the dominant school cliques and band together to survive the school gates.
The Christmas School Run (Book 2 / Novella): Follows the club members as they deal with festive school play drama, holiday stress, and winter romance.

The Studio Series

Expanding her contemporary romance library, Grey introduced The Studio series, which focuses on the high-profile lives of theater and television stars. The series begins in New York City:

When Jack Met Mia (Studio Novella 1): A dual-POV novella tracking the romance between Jack Sherwood, a drama student struggling under the weight of his famous theatrical family, and Mia Brown, a feisty British student.

What to Know Before You Start

Elizabeth Grey's novels are celebrated for their relatable, authentic characters who swear, make mistakes, and feel like real-life friends. Because the author draws from her own professional background in marketing and operations management, the workplace settings in The Agency feel highly authentic and vibrant. The books are written in British English and use regional humor and slang. Although the stories feature recurring side characters who reference past events, you can jump into almost any novel and enjoy it as a standalone without feeling lost.