UPDATED 01-10-2020 Note: This is going to be both a combination of the “series reading order guide” (scroll further down below if that’s what you need right away) and also observations, fun notes and trivia about the series in general (as per myself, fellow readers, and the author).
Another series I’m obsessed with! I’ve been devouring these books ever since I finally FINALLY read book #1. Lots of recommendations, kept coming my way, and I decided it was time. What was I waiting for!!? I’m thrilled that it keeps branching off into more and more stories. I’m LOVING it!! We keep seeing smaller characters (and even main characters) from other books appear over and over again.
Maryse: I LOVE Megan Hart. She’s totally contemporary but with that dark and somber edge to her love stories. And twisty… love her!
Leslie M: Speaking of emotional…Broken by Megan Hart!! I read that back in 2012 and still remember the feels from it. Yowsa! That was a doozy
Karen G: …the one book that I can’t shake is Broken by Megan Hart.
Stacy: Broken by Megan Hart. I don’t even know where to begin. This is just an amazing book….it stays with you! Has anyone read Megan Hart?
Maryse: I LOVE HER LIKE CRAZY!! Her love stories are gritty, original and they go there. And you never know how they’re going to end. Throw in a few surprise twists on occasion that you don’t even see coming, and I consider her books jaw-droppers. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Nay: I also used to read everything Megan Hart. Deeper is one of my all-time faves! …one of my all-time fave books, btw, although many people did NOT like it. It was SO angsty and heart-wrenching!
Lisa: Deeper? Great book. Ive recommended on this blog before.
Kindra: Oh good Lord …. I stumbled upon this website while looking for reviews of Megan Hart’s Deeper. I’ve been struggling trying to find something to read … No more though, looks like I’ll be busy reading for a while based on all the recommendations here. Gotta say thanks !
As per Megan Hart, here is the READING ORDER GUIDE (she says):
“Maryse — I say there’s no reading order only because the books are meant to stand alone … Generally, they’re chronological in order of publication. But there probably is a novella or short story that takes place in between that is published out of order…
Megan goes on to say that, sometimes, she will:
“… publish books later that actually take place “earlier” if I want to write about stuff that happened then, to fill in the blanks, so I don’t really have a “reading order” for that reason — ”
“I’d say”:
- Dirty (published Jan 1st 2007) and…
- Reason Enough <— short epilogue for Dirty and found in this Anthology: Use Somebody: A Collection of Short, Sexy Romances
- Broken (published May 1st 2007) – Includes the companion novella, Shattered!
- Shattered (companion to Broken)
- Tempted (published Jan 1st 2008)
- Everything Changes – a short story… Alex’s POV from his role in “Tempted” (occurs at the same time as “Tempted”)
- Reason Enough (a short Elle and Dan story)
- Stranger (published Jan 1st 2009)
- Deeper (published July 1st 2009)
- Switch (published Dec 29th 2009)
- Naked (published July 27th 2010)
- Collide (published July 1st 2011)
The Space Between Us: A Sexy Romance about the Secrets we Keep by Megan Hart —> Little tidbit direct from the author about this book:
“The Space Between Us features:
Johnny Dellasandro
Joe and Sadie
Brandy (from Broken, one of Joe’s chapters)
Eric from Switch
That’s all I can think of right now.Time-line wise, it would take place after all the books the characters were first featured in. So it would be the most current.”
Vanilla (features characters from “Switch” and Wanna Be Yours)- Moments of Disarray: An Alex Kennedy Story <— NOT a standalone. Read “Tempted” & “Everything Changes” & Naked first.
- Wanna Be Yours (Bad at Love Book 1) (this book features characters in “Switch” & “Moments of Disarray“)
So what are these about?
Off the top of my head, quickly, I’d say contemporary romance/erotica but more than that. And not your “usual” contemporary romance, either…
When discussing these books and this series as a whole with other fellow readers, I’ve said:
Maryse: I’ve come to realize that the sexy excerpts and synopsis for this author’s books are very different from the depth and beauty of the actual storyline. These may be “erotic” in detail, but the emotion and realism allows the reader to connect on a deeper level. Some uncomfortable subject matter for sure, but wonderfully detailed, and the reader experiences and grows along with the characters…
…in the first half of Dirty I was more disgruntled and irritated then anything… and then it *hit* me. What I was looking for in a romance novel, I wasn’t going to find in “Dirty” (which is what I was struggling with at first). BUT I realized I found something else, darker and deeper and that the romance that was there… fit. Then I LOVED it.
and when a few readers were worried about the rumored lack of HEA (“happily ever after” endings) I felt the need explain it this way:
Maryse: … the endings are appropriate and, so far, always ALWAYS make me smile and sigh. Someone mentioned that her books were not HEA, and I would say… “okay maybe, not the typical flowery HEA” maybe, but I disagree a bit about her books not having an HEA. So far two for two and I was VERY happy with the ending.
Now I’m not confirming (or denying) whether they all have an HEA or not (or even whether the ones that had me smiling in the end, had an HEA). That would be making it too easy on y’all, and part of the fun in reading is freaking out during the story (and, since I haven’t read them all yet, I don’t know for sure for the rest of the books, but I’m working on it). What I am saying, is that so far, it feels right.
Rochelle: Megan Hart’s books. Is she a romance writer? Her books always push lines and often I am afraid to read her books. They invoke such feelings of reality. Because I have loved some of her books I often feel I have to endure all her writing and feel I am rewarded after ploughing through some difficult topics but not getting that HEA feeling.
Sandra: … it’s feel is so different from any other romance erotica. I think I might describe it as tense…
Yep! Tense and INTENSE, for sure!
Eloquent, deep, beautiful, sexy, dark, and addicting. And you want to know the characters. You can’t help but feel like you do know them, eventually. They are so raw, and real.
In fact, here are my reviews of a few to get you started:
And the author explains the reasoning behind her more “raw and gritty” story lines. I found this in one of her blog posts, and it’s perfect:
“What’s important to me in a story is not that my characters make all the right choices, do the right things every time. They’re not meant to be perfect. They’re meant to be…well…human. Realistic. And ultimately what’s important to me is, at the end of the story, has something changed? Have they somehow changed from who they were at the beginning?
THAT is my goal. To take characters through a progression. If they start off perfect, where’s the story?”
Exactly! That is exactly what you will find, in each of these unique and intriguing stories.
Oh… and the covers are gorgeous too! Can you judge a book by it’s cover, in this case? Yep!
- As per the author regarding “Dan” in “Dirty“
“Also, in my head, Dan looks a lot like Ewan McGregor.”
- Oh and another fun bit of trivia regarding “Jack” (as per the author):
“Jack is based on a real person I met twice. Both times he ended up naked. I did not. Let your imaginations do the work, m’kay? Oh and yes, he did have the piercings. For real.” And then in a later blog post she indicates: “Yay, Jack! Jack, who was in fact based upon a real person whose real name I do not know but who sure knew how to dance.”
- Regarding a frequently appearing (even if in short spurts) character, Sarah
“My favorite of all Joe’s women is Sarah. I think Sarah needs her own book someday. And not just because she has blue hair, like someone else I know.”
“So, one small piece of trivia for you readers, that may or may not make you feel differently about BROKEN. And you might feel differently about my opinion of the scene, too, which is fine, too, whatever floats your boat.In my head, the scene with Joe and the three women? … He made it up. It was just a story.”
- Dirty we meet: Elle, Dan and we meet “Jack” –> my favorite character, so far
- Broken we meet: Sadie, Adam, Joe and we quickly meet “Mary” and “Sarah” (who appear in future installments). Elle from Dirty has a larger role in this one, too.
- Tempted: we see Jamie, Alex, Anne, and Mary from her short stint in Broken (Joe), is Anne’s sister.
- Stranger: we meet Grace, Sam, Jared and ♥Jack♥ (who was originally in Dirty & has a large role in this one). We also see a character from Broken, but I’m keeping that one a secret. We also see Dan and Elle, from Dirty, in this one too. Sam is Dan’s brother.) Megan Hart said this about “Sam” on her blog:
“Sam sounds a lot like a combination of Joshua Radin and Thom Lyons.”
- Deeper: contains a brief cameo by characters Joe and Sadie
- Switch: – Tidbit (♥Jack♥ shows up in this novel, too)
- Naked: – Alex’s book (As per the author – ♥Jack♥ “… “sneaks in a tiny peek in Naked”. (I’ve heard that Anne, from Tempted also makes a cameo here.) and Natalia informs us that “Naked has Anne and Jamie as well (Also Sarah and Jack)”. Oh and Lauren just informed me that “Dan and Elle pop up in Naked. As well as Elle’s brother Chad and Luke.”
- Collide: – tidbit: “Jared” from “Stranger” shows up in this one.
- The Space Between Us – Fall 2012 —> as per the author: “features sneak peeks of Joe and Sadie as well as Johnny from Collide.”
Ok, you first Maryse because this Poussin will be a wreck. Ms. Hart scares me (in a awesomenessly good way) ennie Minnie Minny moe………..your it just give me the all clear
Wait, so nomore Joe??????? Huhhhhhh Awwwww man……..crap
Wait retraction from previous comment…….guess I should be wearing my glasses..,.in my own deffense I am on a small hand held device……(technology challenged) opppsy
hahaha!! Yep, we’ve been warned about your pesky hand-held device 😉
Thanks Maryse! I am so loving these books and you’ve basically put words to my feelings regarding them. So far Broken is my fave because of its intensity.
Hi. You are on a roll with these!!! I’ve read them all and enjoyed them all….. except collide. This book is different from the rest…….slight sci-fi, time travel, paranormal-ish thing going on. Didn’t work for me but I’m sure others enjoyed it. Everything Changes has a m/m scene with Alex……didn’t know if you knew that. It’s good, it’s short, but can be skipped all the same. Bye!
Finally a blog talking about Megan Hart!! I’ve read them all , love them all – especially Deeper and Dirty – !
PS : Naked has Anne and Jamie as well (Also Sarah and Jack )
Im sooo glad you loved these books!!! I knew you would !!!!!! Did you ever read shayla black books? Im obsessed with her books right now!!!
Question…. I just finished switch and I am trying to figure out how deeper fits into the series. it is a good book on its own but I am not seeing it as part of the series. Or am I missing it??
I just read “Switch” because it was on the shelf at Target right next to 50 and Bared To You and thought it was pretty good…thanks for the posting this…now I have more to add to my “to be read” list!
Just finished Deeper….WOW!!!!! I was so into the book I thought I could smell and hear the ocean. It was very intense and keep me up a couple of nights reading. Of course I laughed, smiled, cried and cried alot more…..Very touching read.
I’ve been working my way through these and love them. Megan has such an amazing way with words and it’s fun to spot characters popping up unexpectedly – in addition to those mentioned above, Gavin from Dirty has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in Broken.
Is jack the man Sarah falls for in Naked
I hope we see more of Bess and Eddie in the future
I’ve read every single one of these books and I loved them! Currently finishing up the last one The Space Between Us. Little bit of missing info from above is that Dan and Elle pop up in Naked. As well as Elle’s brother Chad and Luke 🙂 I love when a familiar character comes back!
I just began reading this group of books. So far my favorite is Deeper! I loved Nick it was such a heart wrenching story. I actually cried.
Just read The Space Between Us…pretty good book. Im slowly making it though these books. I first started with Switch. Found it a target and liked the cover. FYI Eric from Switch has a role in The Space Between Us as well.
I want to read more about Eric. His character has really only been “touched” and “teased” me. I am sure there is much more to Eric than doing what he is told through no contact. Even in Space between us he is so solitaire. Please Megan bring Eric to life – need to know more about this mysterious doctor.
Oh and Jack – gone from waiter to escort and now full time student with a girlfriend. My question is: Is Jack’s new girlfriend (blue hair) the same girl that works at Joe’s job; that took Joe to her place for the night? Didn’t she have crazy blue hair too? With piercings and all too. I can’t remember her name and was her name even mentioned in Naked with Jack?
Question???! What book do I read first, I got switch but not sure if I start with this on…. Help 🙂
I read Switch first because I had no idea that there was any sort of order… I hope it didn’t mess anything up for me 🙁
you dont need to read it in order. each book stands alone
@cybrbzy
Yes I agree Eric needs his own story. And the girl name is Sarah and yes she is the same girl from Broken, Stranger and Naked
I really, really your charters Alex Kennedy and Olivia are really hope they show up in future books. I really like to know if they ever got married and had kids and had a great future being together.
I just finished Broken, wow !! Joe really pissed me off, at the beginning at the end I fell in love with him, his words made me ahhhh for him 😉 I can’t wait to get the next book…
Is Reason Enough printed in any book? I would much rather read it from a book than an kindle…Thanks!
I’ve read all her books, but my favorite is Collide. I would love to see this as a movie and even more would love to hear Johnny’s side. How long did he now? There’s so many unanswered questions.
Can you please tell me why some of your books are only available on kindle? So people don’t own a kindle like me because I prefer owning the book and adding to my collection. I really enjoy reading your books and I would like to read Everything Changes & Reason Enough can you tell if you plan to have them printed into book……Thanks
JUST READ ALL MEGAN HART’S BOOKS AND LOVED THEM! CARRIE
Absolutely loved all these books. Hoping there will be more. I am addicted to all the characters. Love the way they pop into other books giving you a brief update on their lives.
I love Megan Hart, she also writes about Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I live an hour from there so her depictions of the area and the character’s were wonderful.
These books are so good. I have read all of them except. STRANGER. Its on order from Amazon 🙁 I of course started with the 50 Shades books and read them more than once. But then I found Megan’s Hart books and. Became addicted instantly! I hope there is more to come. I’d like to see a story of Eric. A full story! I picture him as a Eddie Cibrion( spelling not sure of).
Rene,you should read-s]Sylvia Day’s books,you;ll love them!Promise! Carrie
I would have to agree with Carries Sylvia Day rocks so does Shayla Black and Maya Banks
So I have just finished my first Megan Hart book Broken!!! It was a emotional roller coaster for me!!! My heart would start to flutter and all of a sudden I would be crying! I guess my next one will be Dirty then down the list I go!! Can’t wait to read about all the characters that blend in with all the other books. Thanks again for a Great read!!
To the ladies above me who like Sylvia Day,Shayla Black and Maya Banks…YOU need to check these other great authors too….Erin McCarthy,Jaci Burton,Karen Kelley,Lora Leigh, Shiloh Walker and of course there are more, but this is just a few.
GWEN,ALSO IF YOU HAVEN’T READ E.L.JAMES(50SHADES OF GREY) READ THAT!IT’S KIND OF LIKE-SYLVIA DAY’S (CROSSFIRE BOOKS)YOU’LL LOVE THEM TO! OH,AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! CARRIE
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERY ONE! CARRIE
Does anyone know what happened to Stranger I can’t seem to find it anywhere?
Hi Kelly! The direct links for each of the books are up there in the reading order. I just clicked on “Stranger” and it works, going to Amazon showing various versions of it (Kindle, paperback etc…)
I hope that helps!
Happy Holidays Carrie!! *hug*
Happy Holidays Maryse!! Big Hugs! Carrie
Kelly,check your local library. That’s were I find everything I want to read,and if they don’t have it ask if they can send out for it.My library does that for me all the time.How do you think I just made 2000 books read this year?! I love to read-it’s a obsession! Good luck and happy reading! Carrie
Maryse,I for got to 2000-books read so far this year! I wonder how many I’ll read next year? l.o.l. Carrie
sorry typo-I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, I GOT TO 2000 BOOKS READ -SO FAR THIS YEAR!
Switched was a good book..but I would love to read more about eric
I was just on Megan Hart’s website and there is a book listed in the section with Dirty, Broken, etc…called Stumbled Into Love? This is the first time I saw it? Is it new? I’ve read ALL her books and I was just wondering if you’ve read this one and have an opinion? Does it fit in with the same vibe as the others? HELP!
Hi Lauren. No I don’t believe it has anything to do with this series. Just another book in her repertoire. 🙂
I just finished Switch. I am reading the books in the order you suggested.
Is there anymore talk of Eric in any of the books? He’s an interesting character.. Thanks. Tracy
Just finished Switched and I want to know more about Eric. Any chance he will get his own story?
Reading space between us now. Dying to know what Eric is always writing…
Maryse, I’ve joined a group of authors/readers,and have meet some great women. Nicole Austin,Desiree Holt,Allie Standifer,Brenna Zinn,Eva Savage,Cerise Deland,And so on,I’m telling u if u like Erotic Romance,u should read there books ladies!You wont be sorry!My god are there books HOT! I love them and so do anyone else I’ve talked to who have read them.THEY ROCK! Hugs-Happy Reading! Carrie
First-I love your blog! I’ve hundreds of books the last 2 years, and when searching for new authors-I read your recommendations first! I discovered it about a year ago, and can’t tell you how grateful I am! Thank You!
Now…
In response to Jan posting
*stumbled into love*
I’m pretty sure the character Rick is the same guy that Meredith is with at the end of *the space between us*. Also, the storyline is all about the male escort agency….
There are a few names of characters throughout that I’m almost 100% positive I’ve read in the series, but since I literally just finished *stumbled*, I haven’t gone back to look yet!
I have finished all the books listed and I’ve also searched online and found a bunch more books listed that look like they should fit into series….either way…I WANT MORE!!!! They are amazing! I spent an entire night crying my eyes out over Sadie and Joe’s story! And I’m not one to cry…like ever!
I have to say though, I think that my favorite part of all of her books (even over all the great scenes, hot guys, and general emotional roller coaster ride of ever book that makes finish each in less than a day!) over all that….is the playlist for each book! I love that its listed and even mentioned throughout because I’ll actually know 90% of those songs and her them in my head while reading! I find this most helpful that I find notes all over my house (or written on the back of the bill i just mailed and forgot id done so!) with songs written down from a book I’m reading and that I need to go listen to!
katiegrace
I just finished Deeper the other night. Damnit! Everytime I think about it I cry!!!!!!!!
I like the Alex Kennedy character and have heard that there is a book telling his story from his point of view. If there is would you please give me the title so I can purchase it.I am in Canada and have gone to several book stores and have not been able to find it. I have read just about all of your books and love the way you develop each individual and your writing style. Thank you for hours of great reading pleasure and I am looking forward to many more.
Hello Maryse and all you Goddesses of reading commonality. It’s self confirming when you find readers who put themselves out there who’ve taken the time to convey their critiques and emotional journeys about listed books and characters. Gratitude comes to mind. I know longer will waste an entire day(s) looking for good books where I never know if the book I’m about to crack is to be nibbled, tasted, spit out, digested or shared. Yeah, there’s critiques out there, but never have I staggered upon a blog that is more fun and warm. As Megan Hart would say about Nick. Your blog is as welcoming as ” warm sun-dried clothes.” etc. Thank you Maryse for this incredible blog and all your energy and passion put forth in maintaining it. I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts. I found your blog almost a year ago. Taking everyone’s blog advice, I made a long ‘dying to read’ list and began reading. Sadly, I forgot to bookmark you’re blog, *Sigh* I’ve read every Rock In Roll book bringing my list to completion just this morning, after closing the book “Deeper” and going into the “ugly cry” OMG! I rediscovered you blog looking for more Megan Hart. Pow … I was welcomed by a smorgasbord of friendly names I’ve christened ‘ The Goddesses of commonality’. Thanks for the new list. I’ve bookmarked and joined.
Head butts and purrs y’all. Thank you.
Skay