Where to Start with Ella Maise
If you are new to Ella Maise’s contemporary romances, you have a couple of excellent entry points. Unlike authors with massive multi-book fantasy epics or complex intergenerational family sagas, Maise has kept her bibliography streamlined. Most of her books are standalones or short duets, making her catalog highly accessible. However, to get the absolute best experience out of her writing style and character growth, we recommend starting with one of these two books:
- To Love Jason Thorn: This is her most famous early hit and the perfect entry point if you love lighthearted, childhood-crush-to-lovers tropes mixed with Hollywood stardom. It sets the tone for her classic banter and early style.
- Marriage for One: If you prefer a deeply emotional, grumpy-meets-sunshine, marriage-of-convenience story with a masterclass in the slow-burn trope, start here. It is widely considered by readers to be her strongest standalone novel and was a major Amazon Top 20 bestseller.
Ella Maise Books in Publication Order
Reading Ella Maise in publication order is a great way to watch her writing style mature. Over the years, her stories have transitioned from intense, emotional duets to highly polished, slow-burn romantic comedies that have captured the hearts of readers on TikTok and bestseller lists alike.
- I'm Yours (2014) – *Note: Officially out of print and unavailable*
- Lost Prelude (2015) – *Alexander & Maya Duet prequel novella*
- Lost Heartbeats (2015) – *Alexander & Maya Duet Book 1*
- To Love Jason Thorn (2015) – *Love & Hate Series Book 1*
- To Hate Adam Connor (2016) – *Love & Hate Series Book 2*
- The Hardest Fall (2018) – *Standalone*
- Marriage for One (2019) – *Standalone*
- Charlie, Love and Clichés (2023) – *Standalone*
The Alexander & Maya Duet
The Alexander & Maya books represent some of Ella Maise’s earliest published works. Unlike her later romantic comedies, this duet leans heavily into emotional angst, grief, second chances, and the healing process after deep personal tragedy. Because it is a continuous storyline, these two works must be read in order.
Lost Prelude (2015)
This short prequel novella introduces the initial spark between Alexander and Maya. It sets the foundation for their connection and provides the essential backstory that makes the emotional weight of the full-length novel resonate much more deeply.
Lost Heartbeats (2015)
The main installment of the duet. It picks up after years of separation and deals with heavy themes of loss, healing, and rebuilding trust. Readers who enjoy emotional tearjerkers and angsty romance will find this duet to be a stark but beautiful contrast to Maise’s later, more lighthearted rom-coms.
The Love & Hate Series
The Love & Hate series contains two companion novels set in a shared Hollywood universe. While each book focus on a completely different couple and can technically be read as standalones, reading them in order is highly recommended because of the close relationships between the main characters.
To Love Jason Thorn (2015)
Olive has been in love with her older brother's best friend, Jason Thorn, since childhood. Years later, Jason has become a massive Hollywood movie star, and Olive is a budding author whose book is being adapted into a film starring Jason. When a PR crisis forces them into a fake marriage, childhood dreams collide with reality. It is a sweet, fun, and fast-paced romantic comedy.
To Hate Adam Connor (2016)
This book follows Lucy Meyers, who is Olive's best friend and was introduced in the previous book. Lucy moves in next door to Adam Connor, a recently divorced, famously handsome Hollywood actor who is highly protective of his young son. After an incredibly awkward first meeting involving Lucy climbing his fence, the two start off on hostile terms before their animosity slowly melts into something deeper. Olive and Jason make prominent cameo appearances in this book, which makes reading To Love Jason Thorn first a much more rewarding experience.
The Standalone Novels
If you want to read Ella Maise's books without worrying about character continuity, her standalones are the perfect choice. These books can be read in any order, and each offers a unique take on popular contemporary romance tropes.
The Hardest Fall (2018)
This is a sports romance that features Zoe, a college student trying to get through her classes, and Dylan, the star wide receiver on the university's football team. After a brief, unforgettable encounter, they end up living in the same house. It is a classic friends-to-lovers story filled with slow-burn tension, cute banter, and a focus on characters working through their personal goals and insecurities.
Marriage for One (2019)
Widely considered Ella Maise's crown jewel, this slow-burn romance features Rose Collymore, who needs to get married to secure the lease on the coffee shop of her dreams, and Jack Hawthorne, a wealthy, grumpy lawyer who proposes a marriage of convenience for reasons of his own. The book is famous among romance fans for its excruciatingly slow burn, its brilliant use of the grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic, and Jack’s quiet, acts-of-service style of showing affection.
Charlie, Love and Clichés (2023)
Maise's office romance features Charlie, a sweet heroine who finds herself working for William, a boss who also happens to be her former flame. It features witty office banter, a delightful cast of supporting characters, and the author's signature emotional depth underneath the funny, cliché-filled situations.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Ella Maise's books, there are a few useful tips and trivia points to keep in mind:
- The Mystery of her Debut: While official databases list I'm Yours (2014) as her debut novel, the author removed it from publication shortly after its release because she felt the quality did not match her standards. As a result, To Love Jason Thorn is effectively treated as her debut by the reading community.
- Standalone Means Standalone: Aside from the character crossovers in the Love & Hate series, the author has explicitly stated that her standalones—such as The Hardest Fall and Marriage for One—do not share a universe or characters. Any similarities in character names are purely coincidental.
- The Pacing: Ella Maise is known for writing slow-burn romances. Her books focus heavily on developing the emotional connection between the couple before introducing physical intimacy, making the payoff feel earned and satisfying.