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Not in Love Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Ali Hazelwood
2 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood with "Not in Love", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

The complete reading order for the Not in Love series by Ali Hazelwood. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Not in Love"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"The overwhelming consensus is that the original source material, particularly the films (Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6), should be consumed first, as the visual medium is deemed essential and culturally iconic. For the generalized fantasy recommendations (specifically Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere), there is no single agreed-upon entry point, leading to high variability in suggested reading paths. Publication order is often recommended as the safest route if the reader plans to engage with the entire body of work."

Key Reddit Advice

1. **Watch Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6** (The Original Trilogy) first, as the movies are the definitive baseline. 2. **For Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere:** Start with *Mistborn: The Final Empire*, or adhere to strict publication order. (Note: Starting with *Tress of the Emerald Sea* is mentioned as a quick entry point, but is highly controversial.)

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Not in Love conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Not in Love. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Not in Love" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Not in Love" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Not in Love"Explore all by Ali Hazelwood

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order2 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Not in Love

Pub: 2024★ 3.64

An Indie Next and a Hall of Fame LibraryReads Pick!A forbidden, secret affair proves that all’s fair in love and science—from New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.Rue Siebert might not have it all, but she has enough: a few friends she can always count on, the financial stability she yearned for as a kid, and a successful career as a biotech engineer at Kline, one of the most promising start-ups in the field of food science. Her world is stable, pleasant, and hard-fought. Until a hostile takeover and its offensively attractive front man threatens to bring it all crumbling down. Eli Killgore and his business partners want Kline, period. Eli has his own reasons for pushing this deal through—and he’s a man who gets what he wants. With one burning exception: Rue. The woman he can’t stop thinking about. The woman who's off-limits to him. Torn between loyalty and an undeniable attraction, Rue and Eli throw caution out the lab and the boardroom windows. Their affair is secret, no-strings-attached, and has a built-in deadline: the day one of their companies will prevail. But the heart is risky business—one that plays for keeps.

2

PROBLEMATIC SUMMER ROMANCE

Pub: 2025★ 3.84

Plot details hidden until you finish "Not in Love".

Things get complicated between an older biotech guy and a struggling graduate student who go to a destination wedding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Not in Love series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Not in Love?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Not in Love" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Ali Hazelwood intended.

Can I read Not in Love books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Not in Love universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.