Elizabeth Boyle Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
Elizabeth Boyle writes the kind of light, funny, feel-good Regency romance that fans of Julia Quinn devour — mismatched couples, meddling relatives, and heroines with far too much spirit for the ballroom. A New York Times bestseller, she works in interlinked series full of recurring faces. Here is every Boyle series sorted into order, plus the best place to start.
Does the order matter? Only for the extra sparkle. Each Elizabeth Boyle novel wraps up its own romance, so you can pick one up cold, but her series share running jokes, family connections and cameo appearances that land best in sequence. Below are her most popular sequences, listed in publication order.
Rhymes With Love
Boyle's most beloved series, set in the village of Kempton, where local legend says the young women are cursed never to marry. Each book — loosely inspired by a nursery rhyme — follows one Kempton woman defying the curse.
- Along Came a Duke (2012) — A vicar's daughter, a mistaken-identity mix-up, and a very reluctant duke. The perfect starting point.
- And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake (2012) — A pen-pal romance that turns delightfully real.
- If Wishes Were Earls (2013) — A determined heroine and a spy with secrets to keep.
- The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane (2014) — A wounded, reclusive hero and the woman who refuses to tiptoe around him.
- The Knave of Hearts (2016) — A masquerade, a scoundrel, and a second-chance spark.
- Six Impossible Things (2017) — A charming close to the Kempton stories.
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The Bachelor Chronicles
Boyle's earlier, much-loved Regency series about London's most eligible — and most stubbornly single — bachelors, and the women who bring them down. Classic banter and matchmaking mischief, with recurring characters throughout. Look for titles including Something About Emmaline, This Rake of Mine, Tempted by the Night and Mad About the Duke. Because reissue titles and numbering have shifted over the years, check your retailer's series listing to confirm the exact sequence before you dive in.
Standalones and linked stories
Beyond her big series, Boyle has written a long backlist of connected Regency romances and novellas, many tied together by the same extended families and social circles. New readers rarely need to worry about them until they are already hooked — at which point tracking down every cameo becomes part of the fun.
Where to start
Begin with Along Came a Duke. It opens the Rhymes With Love series, captures everything readers love about Boyle — warmth, wit, and a heroine worth rooting for — and leads straight into five more Kempton stories. If you prefer her earlier voice, start the Bachelor Chronicles with Something About Emmaline. Either way, expect to finish grinning.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to read Elizabeth Boyle's books in order?
Each novel is a standalone romance, but her series share recurring characters and running jokes, so reading in order adds to the pleasure. The Rhymes With Love series is especially fun read from the start.
What is the best Elizabeth Boyle book to start with?
Along Came a Duke, the first Rhymes With Love book. Readers who want her earlier work often start the Bachelor Chronicles instead.
What is the Rhymes With Love series about?
It is set in the village of Kempton, where the young women are said to be cursed never to marry. Each book, loosely inspired by a nursery rhyme, follows one Kempton woman defying the curse.