Series reading guide · updated September 2026
Never After Books in Order
Every Never After book in publication order — 6 in total, spanning 2021–2024.
Never After is the dark, deliciously bingeable romance series that took BookTok by storm — Emily McIntire's twist on the fairy tales you grew up with, told from the villain's side and reimagined as steamy, high-stakes contemporary romance. The premise is irresistible: what if the "bad guy" was the love interest, and got a happy ending of his own? Each book is its own standalone story with its own couple, so you can technically start anywhere, but they share a world and reward reading in order. Fair warning — these are spicy, grown-up reads with mature themes, not bedtime stories.
Frequently asked
What is the reading order of the Never After series?
Publication order is: Hooked (2021), Scarred (2022), Wretched (2022), Twisted (2023), Crossed (2023), and Hexed (2024).
Do you have to read the Never After books in order?
Each book is a standalone romance with its own central couple, so you can jump in on any title. That said, they share a connected world, and reading in publication order lets you catch the crossovers.
What are the Never After books about?
They're dark, contemporary romances that reimagine classic fairy tales from the villain's perspective — giving the "bad guys" their own love stories. They lean spicy and mature, so they're aimed at adult romance readers.
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