Checkmate Books in Order
Part ofKennedy Fox Books in OrderSee the Checkmate books in order by Kennedy Fox, with duet pairings, quick summaries, cliffhanger notes, and the best place to start this connected romance world.
Last updated: June 9, 2026
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Publication Order
7 books
This is Love
by Kennedy Fox
2016
Travis and Viola finally cross the line, but wanting each other is easier than trusting each other. As old habits and outside pressure close in, love becomes the riskiest game they have played.
This is War
by Kennedy Fox
2016
Viola has spent years hating Travis, or telling herself she does. One reckless night with her brother's arrogant best friend turns their enemies-to-lovers battle into something far more dangerous.
This is Beautiful
by Kennedy Fox
2017
Kayla and Logan have already fought hard for each other, but tragedy leaves them facing a devastating new obstacle. Logan refuses to give up, even if he has to rebuild everything from scratch.
This is Dangerous
by Kennedy Fox
2017
Kayla falls for brooding detective Logan Knight even when he insists he is all wrong for her. When danger crashes into her life, their connection becomes impossible to ignore.
This Is Effortless
by Kennedy Fox
2017
Drew and Courtney finally have a shot at something real, but his past refuses to stay buried. Loving her may be easy, yet keeping their future intact is anything but.
This is Reckless
by Kennedy Fox
2017
Courtney has loved her best friend and roommate Drew for years, even while he keeps her in the friend zone. When the tension finally snaps, friendship is no longer the safest option.
Falling Out Of Hate With You
by Kennedy Fox
2022
This anniversary edition gathers Travis and Viola's full enemies-to-lovers story in one volume. It is the complete *This is War* and *This is Love* experience, with bonus material for longtime readers.
Series background & context
Checkmate is where Kennedy Fox leans hard into the duet format. The series follows Travis and Viola, Drew and Courtney, and Logan and Kayla, with each couple getting the space to build, break apart, and fight their way back over two books.
These books love a cliffhanger.
The cast is tightly connected, which is part of the fun. One couple's story bleeds into the next, so the whole series feels like one larger romantic world instead of separate stops. That makes the tension hit harder, because you keep seeing how friendships, family ties, and old crushes overlap.
Tone-wise, Checkmate sits in the sweet spot between sexy contemporary romance and light suspense. There are best friend's sister complications, roommates who should know better, brooding detectives, and enough outside danger to keep the stakes from feeling small.
If you want a true binge-read series, start here. It gives you banter, chemistry, connection between books, and the kind of endings that make it very easy to hit buy on the next one.
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