Kathleen Ayers Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
Kathleen Ayers writes deliciously steamy historical romance built around big, scandalous families — the kind where every sibling, every cousin, and every houseguest is one ballroom away from their own love story. With several interconnected series to her name, she is a joy to binge once you know the map. Here is how her books fit together, and where to start.
Ayers is a prolific author of sensual Regency and Georgian-set romance, known for passionate love scenes wrapped around genuinely warm family sagas. Because her catalogue is large and grouped into distinct family series rather than one long line, the smart approach is to pick a series and read it in order — every book is a standalone with its own couple and happily ever after, but the recurring families are the heart of the appeal. Below are her two most popular series to start with, plus the others worth knowing about.
The Wickeds in order
The series that made Ayers' name, following the scandalous, aptly surnamed Wickett family through Regency society. Start here if you want the classic Ayers experience.
- Wicked's Scandal — the series opener that introduces the family and their taste for trouble.
- Devil of a Duke
- My Wicked Earl
- Wickedly Yours
- Tall, Dark & Wicked
- Still Wicked
- Wicked Again
There is also a short prequel, The Start of Something Wicked, that sets the stage — optional, but a nice appetiser before Wicked's Scandal.
The Beautiful Barringtons in order
Ayers' more recent flagship series, centred on the glamorous Barrington family. A great alternative entry point with a fresh cast.
- The Theory of Earls — the series opener and an ideal jumping-on book.
- The Study of a Rake
- The Design of Dukes
- The Marquess Method
- The Wager of a Lady
The Beautiful Barringtons runs to around nine books in total; the five above are the opening arc and the best place to sample the series before continuing with the later entries.
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More Kathleen Ayers series
Beyond her two headline families, Ayers has written several other connected sets, including The Arrogant Earls and The Five Deadly Sins. Each follows the same recipe — a tight-knit cast, plenty of heat, and standalone love stories that reward reading in order. Once you have fallen for one Ayers family, the rest of her catalogue is a rabbit hole worth going down.
Where to start with Kathleen Ayers
If you want the book that built her following, start with Wicked's Scandal and read the Wickeds straight through. If you would rather begin with her newer, glossier series, pick up The Theory of Earls and follow the Beautiful Barringtons. Either way, choose one family, read that series in order, and let the recurring characters pull you into the next. Because every book stands alone, you truly cannot go wrong — but the family threads are the reason readers stay.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start with Kathleen Ayers?
Two great entry points: the Wickeds, which opens with Wicked's Scandal, or the newer Beautiful Barringtons, which begins with The Theory of Earls. Both are standalone-friendly, so pick the family that appeals and read that series in order.
Do Kathleen Ayers' books need to be read in order?
Each book is a standalone romance, but Ayers writes in family series where siblings and friends recur, so reading a given series in order gives the fullest experience. The different series do not need to be read in relation to one another.
Are Kathleen Ayers' romances spicy?
Yes — she writes on the steamier end of historical romance, with sensual, passionate love stories. If you like your Regency with plenty of heat alongside the wit and emotion, her books deliver.