“You have to teach your heart and mind how to sing together… then you’ll hear the sound of your soul.”
If you’re a fan of contemporary romance or looking to dive into the heartfelt worlds of love and self-discovery, Renee Carlino is an author you need on your shelves. With novels that blend emotional depth, relatable characters, and swoon-worthy romance, her books have captured the hearts of readers worldwide. However, with so many Renee Carlino books out there, it can be hard to know where to begin – or which order to read them in. That’s why we’ve curated our best Renee Carlino books in order, helping both new readers and longtime fans navigate her bibliography. From her bestsellers to hidden gems, we’ve ranked her novels based on impact, reader love, and storytelling brilliance. Whether you’re looking for your next favourite romantic read, trying to follow Renee Carlino books in chronological order, or just curious about her top novels, this list will help you find the best starting point.
Before We Were Strangers (2015)
Kicking off our list of the best Renee Carlino books is 2015’s global bestseller, Before We Were Strangers. The story follows Matt and Grace, two former college sweethearts whose love was once unbreakable but faded when life pulled them in different directions. They met at NYU – he, a passionate photography student; she, a skilled cellist – and they soon became inseparable. Their connection was deep, creative, and brimming with promise. But, as graduation approached, miscommunications and missed timings caused them to drift, leaving them both with just the memories of one another.
Fifteen years later, Matt spots Grace in a fleeting subway encounter. It’s just a glimpse, but it’s enough to stir everything he thought he’d forgotten about. Determined not to let her slip through his fingers again, he posts a “missed connection” ad, hoping that fate will provide them with another chance. What follows is a moving tale about love lost and rediscovered. With alternating timelines and explorations of young love and second chances, it is the perfect introduction to Carlino’s novels.
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Swear On This Life (2016)
When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer. Yet, from the first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond their impoverished Ohio town.
That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J.Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered, he wrote a novel from her perspective. Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and spun a new ending. The only way she can put her mind at ease is by confronting “J.Colby” herself.
Sweet Thing (Sweet Thing #1) (2013)
Mia Kelly thinks she has it all figured out. She’s an Ivy League graduate, a classically trained pianist, and the beloved daughter of a sensible mother and an offbeat father. When her father unexpectedly dies, she decides to pick up the threads of his life while she figures out her own. Uprooting herself from Ann Arbor to New York City, Mia takes over her father’s cafe, a treasured neighbourhood establishment that plays host to undiscovered musicians and artists.
She’s denied herself the thrilling and unpredictable life of a musician, but a chance encounter with Will, a sweet, gorgeous, and charming guitarist, offers her a glimpse of what could be. When Will becomes her friend and then her roommate, she does everything in her power to suppress her passions; however, her father’s legacy slowly opens her heart to the possibility of something more in this tender debut book by Renee Carlino.
Sweet Thing Books In Order
- Sweet Thing (2013) – Sweet Thing #1
- Sweet Little Thing (2014) – Sweet Thing #1.5
Wish You Were Here (2017)
Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, floating from interest to interest, searching for a spark but never quite finding it. All she knows is that she won’t discover it working as a waitress. Then Charlotte collides with Adam, a gorgeous and soulful painter who seems just as lost as she feels. Their immediate connection turns into a midnight drink, and a whirlwind night of champagne, Chinese food, and the sorts of conversations that only happen in rom-coms. But the next morning, Adam gives Charlotte the cold shoulder, leaving her confused and hurt.
Months later, Charlotte hasn’t been able to shake Adam, so she decides to find out what happened the morning after their magical first night together. This fateful decision rewrites their wild love story, but what Charlotte doesn’t know yet is that the ending has already been written.
Nowhere But Here (2014)
Kate Corbin has lost her spark. Whilst it all looks rosy on the outside, her relationship is going nowhere, and she’s quickly losing motivation for what she once believed was her dream job. When her boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously, Kate loses all hope of finding love.
With no living family and few friends, Kate confides in her boss. In response, he gives her an assignment: to interview the famously reclusive R.J. Lawson, a wealthy tech genius who disappeared years ago, but recently reappeared as a Napa Valley vintner. Desperate for a lead, Kate finds herself turning to Jamie, a vineyard hand who shows her the romance of wine country – and stirs her aching heart. But when Jamie disappears, Kate is left to investigate another story: the truth behind the man who stole her heart.
This Used To Be Us (2024)
After twenty-two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can now barely stand the sound of one another. Rather than shuttling their kids between homes, Alex and Dani decide to share a nesting apartment whilst swapping days with their two teenage boys at the family home. With the newfound space, the pair of them reflect on the last two decades and are given a chance to rediscover their autonomous selves again.
Still, they find that they just can’t stay away from each other, and somehow, the distance allows them to remember (for the first time in years) what each used to love about the other. When a family crisis pulls them back into one another’s orbit, Dani and Alex are once again put to the test, which leads to a dramatic conclusion that will have readers weeping in one of the best Renee Carlino books to date.
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After The Rain (2014)
Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in Northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future are brought to a sudden halt.
Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years on, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.
Blind Kiss (2018)
Penny spends her afternoons sitting outside a sandwich shop, surrounded by ghosts. Fourteen years ago, this shop was her childhood dance studio. She had her chance at wild, stars-in-her-eyes happiness, but that was a lifetime ago. After The Kiss. Asked to participate in a psych study that asked: “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing the other person’s looks?” Penny agreed to be blindfolded, make polite conversation, and kiss someone. She never expected it to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin.
For a year, the pair of them danced between friendship and romance – until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years on, both of their lives are about to radically change – and it’s his turn to choose what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection.
The Last Post (2019)
Another one of the best Renee Carlino books, The Last Post, follows pragmatic Laya Marston and her daredevil husband, Cameron. When Cameron dies suddenly, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the pair of them.
When Micah Evan, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate a sense of adventure, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of her darkness. But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah might be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
