Sarah Adams: The Romcom Guide and Reading Order

Published by Vanessa Smith, Oct. 30, 2024

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The world of women's fiction and romcoms continues to grow at a quick pace year over year, but one relatively new author who has been quite prolific recently is Sarah Adams. Since 2019, Adams has published over 10 novels in the romcom genre. Today, more and more readers are picking up her books to dive into sweet and charming romances.


Read on for a guide to the types of books Adams writes, a breakdown of each series, book tropes, a list of similar authors, and more!

What kind of romance books does Adams write?

Adams's books are generally known for being closed-door romances, which means that intimate scenes between characters take place "behind closed doors" and aren't explicitly described. While Adams has historically written closed-door romances, her book The Rule Book (2024) does contain one chapter with an open-door scene. Adams understands the need for both types of settings in the world of romance fiction, and you can read more on her thoughts here.

Do I need to read Adams's books in a specific order?

As of the publication of this blog, all of Adams's books are grouped into series. Though characters from earlier in a series may appear in subsequent books, each book can be read as a standalone, so you don't have to worry about reading her books in order. Whether you choose to go in publication order, series order, or an entirely random approach, we're sure you'll be giggling and kicking your feet over these sweet stories!

Sarah Adams books in publication order

  1. To Con a Gentleman (October 2019)
  2. To Catch a Suitor (February 2020)
  3. The Match (May 2020)
  4. The Enemy (August 2020)
  5. The Off-Limits Rule (December 2020)*
  6. The Temporary Roomie (April 2021)*
  7. The Cheat Sheet (August 2021)
  8. When in Rome (September 2022)
  9. Practice Makes Perfect (May 2023)
  10. The Rule Book (April 2024)
  11. Beg, Borrow, or Steal (January 2025)


The Off-Limits Rule and The Temporary Roomie were republished in 2024 with new covers and bonus chapters.

Series breakdown -- Read ahead for a guide to the tropes and books in each series!

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Dalton Family series

  1. To Con a Gentleman (2019): enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, regency romance
  2. To Catch a Suitor (2020): friends-to-lovers, regency romance


The Dalton Family series takes readers on a captivating journey through Regency London, following the intriguing life of Rose Wakefield, a seasoned con woman. In the first book, To Con a Gentleman, Rose's life takes an unexpected turn when she attempts to scam Carver Ashburn, the Earl of Kensworth, but ends up entangled in a ruse that may lead to unexpected feelings. The series continues with To Catch A Suitor, where Elizabeth Ashburn tries to move on from unrequited love, only to be constantly reminded of her feelings by her best friend, Oliver Turner. With a delightful mix of humor, romance, and lovable characters, this series offers a modern twist on historical romance that promises swoony kisses and engaging plots.

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It Happened in Charleston series

  1. The Match (2020): age gap, single dad, small-town romance
  2. The Enemy (2020): enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, small-town romance


Set against the charming backdrop of Charleston, each book in this series follows characters as they navigate their pasts and search for new beginnings. In The Match, expect to meet two opposites who happen to find an unmistakable spark, while The Enemy adds a twist with a pair of former adversaries who must confront their shared history. With endearing characters, amusing situations, and warm romantic moments, this series invites readers to experience the highs and lows of falling in love, all within a picturesque Southern setting.

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It Happened in Nashville series

  1. The Off-Limits Rule (2020): friends-to-lovers, brother's best friend, forbidden romance
  2. The Temporary Roomie (2021): enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity


This series offers a charming collection of romantic comedies set in the vibrant city of Nashville. The first book, The Off Limits Rule, follows Lucy as she moves in with her brother and falls for his best friend, Cooper, sparking a forbidden romance filled with humor and heartwarming moments. The second book, The Temporary Roomie, continues the fun with Jessie's enemies-to-lovers tale featuring hilarious pranks and unexpected tenderness as she reluctantly shares a space with Drew. Both stories are rich with witty dialogue, relatable characters, and the kind of romantic tension that keeps you eagerly turning the pages. If you enjoy lighthearted, feel-good romcoms with a touch of Southern charm, this series is a must-read.

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The Cheat Sheet series

  1. The Cheat Sheet (2021): friends-to-lovers, fake dating, sports romance
  2. The Rule Book (2024): enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance, sports romance


The Cheat Sheet series sees Adams dive into the world of sports romances but with all of her trademark charm and swoon-worthy moments. The Cheat Sheet follows the story of Bree Camden, a dance studio owner, and Nathan Donelson, her NFL quarterback best friend. Bree has been in love with Nathan for years, and all is splendid until she accidentally reveals her feelings for Nathan during a drunken confession that goes viral. In the sequel, The Rule Book, two college exes reunite years later. When Nora Mackenzie becomes her NFL ex's agent, her ex, Derek Pender, is determined to get revenge on Nora after she ended things with him in a not-so-graceful manner. Both books in this series offer slow-burn romances filled with tension and tender moments that will see you becoming a sports romance fan if you aren't already.

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When in Rome series

  1. When in Rome (2022): celebrity romance, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, small-town romance
  2. Practice Makes Perfect (2023): fake dating, opposites attract, small-town romance
  3. Beg, Borrow, or Steal (2025): rivals-to-lovers, small-town romance


Despite what you may think, the When in Rome series is actually set in the small town of Rome, Kentucky rather than Rome, Italy. While these books may not take place among the hustle and bustle of Italy's capital city, they are just as intriguing with their small-town charm and endearing characters. The series starts with When in Rome, in which a pop star who needs a break from celebrity life escapes to the small town and meets a local baker. The second book returns to that same town, but this time we are introduced to the owner of a local flower shop and a tattooed bad boy in Practice Makes Perfect. In the third book, Beg, Borrow, or Steal, two feuding second-grade teachers team up.

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The Pango community reacts to Adams's books

The Cheat Sheet - average rating: 4.16

  • "This is one of the cutest books I’ve read. As in your cheeks hurt from smiling so much cute. Seriously, it was adorable. Friends to lovers, mutual pining, and fake dating? Sign me up!" - Melanie
  • "I love this book. There’s nothing better than setting aside 6 hours to reread a favorite book. And I think I like this book even more than I did the first go around. I’m obsessed with the friends to lovers aspect, fake dating, and ugh just everything." - Megan Masink


The Rule Book - average rating: 4.81

  • "I absolutely adored everything about this book! It may just be one that I pick up to read again sometime. It gave me all the feels and had me hooked from page one and I loved every single word of it. 🩷" - OnlyBooks 🩷


When in Rome - average rating: 4.45

  • "I read this book in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. Amelia & Noah were so cute! They had great banter, and I loved the tension between them as roommates." - Jessica
  • "Introducing my new comfort book! I can already tell I’ll return to this book, and to Rome, KY, again and again!" - Maddie Smith


Practice Makes Perfect - average rating: 4.48

  • "The cutest rom com book I’ve ever read! Gave me butterflies and had me kicking my feet😍🫶🏼☺️" - Ab’s Bookshelf

What other books or authors are similar to Sarah Adams?

If you're a fan of closed-door romances, you may like Just Don't Fall by Emma St. Clair, which is a hockey romcom set in a small town, complete with fake dating and a brother's best friend. Though her books detail intimate scenes on the page, Emily Henry is extremely popular and a hit with romcom lovers; give her third adult fiction book Book Lovers a try for a fish-out-of-water small-town romance.


Other authors you may enjoy: