Manda Collins Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide

Does the order matter? Not much. Each Manda Collins novel stands on its own with its own couple and happy ending. Her series follow friend groups and sisters, so reading in order lets you enjoy the recurring cast and — in the mystery-driven books — the evolving relationships between the sleuths. But you can start any series at book one and never feel behind. Here is the full order.

Ugly Ducklings (in order)

Her debut trilogy: three overlooked young ladies who blossom into the season's most sought-after matches. Sweet, classic Regency courtship.

1. How to Dance with a Duke (2012) — A bluestocking investigating her uncle's death crosses paths with a brooding duke.
2. How to Romance a Rake (2012) — A shy heroine and a charming rake, drawn together by a shared secret.
3. How to Entice an Earl (2013) — An impulsive heroine and the earl determined to keep her out of trouble.

Wicked Widows (in order)

Three widows with newfound freedom and unexpected second chances at love. (Some editions group these under a Wicked Widows or related banner.)

1. Why Dukes Say I Do (2013) — A duty-bound duke and the woman his grandmother has chosen for him.
2. Why Earls Fall in Love (2014) — A governess and an earl navigating scandal and attraction.
3. Why Lords Lose Their Hearts (2014) — A companion and a haunted lord, with a mystery drawing them close.

Studies in Scandal (in order)

A group of clever women inherit a house and a scientific society together, and find love (and trouble) along the way.

1. Ready Set Rogue (2017) — A scholar heroine and the guardian who does not want her there.
2. Duke with Benefits (2017) — A treasure map, a duke, and a whole lot of chemistry.
3. Wallflower Most Wanted (2018) — An artist heroine tangled up with a vicar and a dangerous secret.
4. One for the Rogue (2018) — A geologist and a roguish younger son, opposites who attract.

Ladies Most Scandalous (in order)

Her breakout mystery-romance series, and a wonderful entry point: crime-solving heroines with sharp minds and even sharper love interests.

1. A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (2020) — An advice columnist and a detective inspector team up to catch a killer.
2. An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire (2021) — A journalist heroine investigating a friend's disappearance, with a reluctant ally at her side.
3. A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes (2023) — A murder, a duke, and a heroine who refuses to be warned off.
4. A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril (2024) — A governess pulled into peril and partnered with an unlikely protector.

A Wallflower's Guide (her newest series)

Collins's latest Regency mystery-romance series continues her signature formula of sleuthing couples and slow-burning romance.

1. A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice (2025) — A detective-fiction-loving wallflower and a grumpy viscount stage a fake engagement to solve a crime.

Manda Collins has a deep backlist including additional novellas and connected stories, and more books in her newest series have been announced. If a title looks unfamiliar, her official website keeps the definitive reading order. (Note: no confirmed Manda Collins series is published under a "Fleet Street Society" name, so we have listed only her verified series above.)

Where to start

If you want the books that put Collins on everyone's radar, start with A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem — mystery, romance, and a heroine you will root for. If you prefer a gentler, purely romantic entry, begin with How to Dance with a Duke. And if you only read one? Make it A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem; it is Collins at her most addictive.