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Rachel John Books in Order

Browse Rachel John books in order, with quick summaries, series guides, and simple where-to-start tips for her clean, funny contemporary romances.

Last updated: July 11, 2026

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Rachel John books in publication order

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27 books

Baby Names: The Way They Should Be Organized!

by Rachel John

2013

A compact baby-name guide built around the idea that browsing names should feel more intuitive than flipping through one long list. It is a quick reference for parents looking for inspiration and easier ways to compare options.

Princess Silly's Bedtime Stories

by Rachel John

2013

Princess Silly stars in six playful bedtime adventures filled with ogres, dragons, fairy godmothers, snowball fights, and boys. It is a light, read-aloud collection made for kids who like their fairy tales extra goofy.

The Truth About Running

by Rachel John

2013

After a painfully public proposal disaster, Sara retreats to college life determined to avoid romance for a very long time. That plan gets tricky when her handsome new neighbor turns out to be her ex's brother.

A Zombie Love Story

by Rachel John

2016

Scarlett Eighty-One is the perfect rule-following citizen, until a handsome boy with lifeless eyes derails her carefully ordered world. This short parody mixes dystopian vibes, zombie weirdness, and an offbeat teen crush.

Bethany's New Reality

by Rachel John

2016

Bethany signs up for a reality dating show hoping for a distraction, and gets exes, awful wardrobe choices, and maximum humiliation instead. Somewhere inside the chaos, she has to figure out who is real before she lets herself fall.

An Unlikely Alliance

by Rachel John

2017

When Corrie's roommate dies, she is left grieving for little Ella, the daughter she hoped to adopt. Ella's uncle Preston steps in, and their practical plan to give the child stability starts turning into something far more complicated.

Matchmaker for Hire

by Rachel John

2017

Alison only wants to help her best friend survive a dating show, not spend time with Dale, the charming host tied to her most public humiliation. But keeping an eye on him gets harder when he starts looking less dangerous and more irresistible.

Engaging Mr. Darcy

by Rachel John

2018

After a disastrous first meeting at a pizza parlor, Elsie Bennet is horrified to learn rich, irritating Will Darcy is her new neighbor. Their chemistry only gets messier as family ties and Jeff Wickham's warnings make every spark feel like bad news.

Her Charming Distraction

by Rachel John

2018

Paige Parker is focused on building her house-flipping business, not falling for the man standing between her and the property she wants. Shaun Randall is supposed to be temporary trouble, until competition gives way to chemistry.

Protector of Her Heart

by Rachel John

2018

Ashley is done with dating, but mysterious gifts from a secret admirer force her to look at her office life differently. Chase, the loyal friend who has always walked her to her car, decides it is finally time to risk everything.

Emma the Matchmaker

by Rachel John

2019

Emma Woodhouse loves nudging other people toward romance, even if George Knightley thinks it is a terrible idea. When one matchmaking disaster drives them apart, a forced babysitting weekend leaves nowhere to hide from what has been building between them.

Gorgeous and the Geek

by Rachel John

2019

Willa agrees to fake-date her dependable costar Doug to boost ratings, because he seems like the one safe choice in Hollywood. Then off-camera closeness makes their perfectly controlled plan feel much too real.

Persuading the Captain

by Rachel John

2020

Anne is ready to leave her family's Hollywood chaos behind for a museum job in San Francisco, until a lakeside reunion throws her back together with ex-fiancé Eric Wentworth. Old regret and stubborn pride make their second chance anything but easy.

Pretending He's Mine

by Rachel John

2020

Lina agrees to pose as quiet Dillon's girlfriend for a chaotic Thanksgiving, expecting a favor and nothing more. Instead she finds herself falling for his warm, eccentric family, and for the man who was never supposed to feel real.

The Accidental Christmas Match Up

by Rachel John

2020

After a broken engagement and nonstop gossip, Tara does not need her matchmaking aunt setting her up for more embarrassment. Then Luke arrives by accident, disappears on purpose, and makes every Christmas run-in harder to ignore.

The Christmas Bachelor Auction

by Rachel John

2020

Cara never meant to win the charity auction, especially not when the bachelor is Justin, her best friend's brother and the crush she never got over. Now the whole town expects dates, smiles, and holiday cheer while old feelings refuse to stay buried.

The Christmas Wedding Planners

by Rachel John

2020

Rebecca's fresh start as an assistant wedding planner crashes into the past when her new boss turns out to be Jay, the friend she hurt years ago. Working together all season gives old feelings a second chance to cause trouble.

The Stand-in Christmas Date

by Rachel John

2020

Alyssa agrees to stand in for her lookalike cousin on one Christmas date that should have been simple. Wes knows almost immediately she is not the same woman, but playing along turns a harmless favor into a very real connection.

Carpool Crush

by Rachel John

2021

Jenny thought her carpool friendship with Noah was over after mixed signals, ghosting, and a lot of heartbreak. When he suddenly returns with secrets and a second chance in mind, every ride to work gets more complicated.

Dashing into Disaster

by Rachel John

2021

Elinor Dashwood finally lands the perfect job, and the only problem is her boss. Edward is kind, handsome, and apparently engaged, but the stranger that arrangement feels, the harder it is for either of them to keep their distance.

I Hated You First

by Rachel John

2021

Clay has always wanted Lauren, but she is his best friend's half-sister, his boss's daughter, and fully convinced he hates her. Working side by side turns their old grudge into a very inconvenient attraction.

Worst Neighbor Ever

by Rachel John

2021

Melissa is sure Connor Harwood is a snoop, a terrible neighbor, and possibly a criminal. Connor is equally certain Melissa is trouble, which only makes their bickering chemistry harder to ignore.

Not Friends

by Rachel John

2022

Sadie and Denver are stuck sharing the same friend group and, now, the same startup workplace. They irritate each other on sight, which would be easier to manage if attraction were not quietly wrecking the plan.

Keep It Together

by Rachel John

2023

Carmen has perfected the art of friend-zoning men, and Isaac knows exactly which box she has shoved him into. He keeps teasing, she keeps resisting, and somewhere between bingo nights and banter the line stops looking very clear.

Freelance Flirt

by Rachel John

2024

Grace is a single mom with a struggling flower shop and zero interest in trusting a charming flirt. Dean has been making her laugh for years, but helping her through a business crisis might finally force both of them to get serious.

The Backup Christmas Crush

by Rachel John

2024

Gemma comes home for Christmas expecting a friendly airport pickup from Brant, only to find his protective best friend Callan in his place. Callan means to save someone else from heartbreak, then promptly gets himself into trouble.

New

In Case You Missed It

by Rachel John

2026

Rosalie has spent four years helping single dad Liam keep life running smoothly as his nanny, and both know the arrangement should stay simple. Then written notes, growing trust, and impossible timing turn a safe boundary into something fragile.

Where to start with Rachel John

If you want modern Austen retellings: Engaging Mr. DarcyEmma the MatchmakerPersuading the CaptainDashing into Disaster
If you like interconnected clean rom-coms: An Unlikely AllianceHer Charming DistractionProtector of Her HeartPretending He's Mine
If you want enemies-to-lovers banter: I Hated You FirstCarpool CrushNot FriendsKeep It Together
If you're in the mood for Christmas romance: The Stand-in Christmas DateThe Christmas Bachelor AuctionThe Christmas Wedding PlannersThe Accidental Christmas Match Up
If you prefer a softer, slow-burn setup: In Case You Missed It

A Change in Plans books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "An Unlikely Alliance"

    An Unlikely Alliance

    by Rachel John

    2017A Change in Plans, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Her Charming Distraction"

    Her Charming Distraction

    by Rachel John

    2018A Change in Plans, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Protector of Her Heart"

    Protector of Her Heart

    by Rachel John

    2018A Change in Plans, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Pretending He's Mine"

    Pretending He's Mine

    by Rachel John

    2020A Change in Plans, Book 4

A Change in Plans books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "An Unlikely Alliance"

    An Unlikely Alliance

    by Rachel John

    2017A Change in Plans, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Her Charming Distraction"

    Her Charming Distraction

    by Rachel John

    2018A Change in Plans, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Protector of Her Heart"

    Protector of Her Heart

    by Rachel John

    2018A Change in Plans, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Pretending He's Mine"

    Pretending He's Mine

    by Rachel John

    2020A Change in Plans, Book 4

An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Engaging Mr. Darcy"

    Engaging Mr. Darcy

    by Rachel John

    2018An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Emma the Matchmaker"

    Emma the Matchmaker

    by Rachel John

    2019An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Persuading the Captain"

    Persuading the Captain

    by Rachel John

    2020An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Dashing into Disaster"

    Dashing into Disaster

    by Rachel John

    2021An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 4

An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Engaging Mr. Darcy"

    Engaging Mr. Darcy

    by Rachel John

    2018An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Emma the Matchmaker"

    Emma the Matchmaker

    by Rachel John

    2019An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Persuading the Captain"

    Persuading the Captain

    by Rachel John

    2020An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Dashing into Disaster"

    Dashing into Disaster

    by Rachel John

    2021An Austen Inspired Romantic Comedy, Book 4

Matched by Mistake books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Accidental Christmas Match Up"

    The Accidental Christmas Match Up

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 4
  2. Book cover for "The Christmas Bachelor Auction"

    The Christmas Bachelor Auction

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Christmas Wedding Planners"

    The Christmas Wedding Planners

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Stand-in Christmas Date"

    The Stand-in Christmas Date

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 1
  5. Book cover for "The Backup Christmas Crush"

    The Backup Christmas Crush

    by Rachel John

    2024Matched by Mistake, Book 5

Matched by Mistake books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Stand-in Christmas Date"

    The Stand-in Christmas Date

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Christmas Bachelor Auction"

    The Christmas Bachelor Auction

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Christmas Wedding Planners"

    The Christmas Wedding Planners

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Accidental Christmas Match Up"

    The Accidental Christmas Match Up

    by Rachel John

    2020Matched by Mistake, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Backup Christmas Crush"

    The Backup Christmas Crush

    by Rachel John

    2024Matched by Mistake, Book 5

Reality TV Romance (Rachel John) books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Bethany's New Reality"

    Bethany's New Reality

    by Rachel John

    2016Reality TV Romance, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Matchmaker for Hire"

    Matchmaker for Hire

    by Rachel John

    2017Reality TV Romance, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Gorgeous and the Geek"

    Gorgeous and the Geek

    by Rachel John

    2019Reality TV Romance, Book 3

Reality TV Romance (Rachel John) books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Bethany's New Reality"

    Bethany's New Reality

    by Rachel John

    2016Reality TV Romance, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Matchmaker for Hire"

    Matchmaker for Hire

    by Rachel John

    2017Reality TV Romance, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Gorgeous and the Geek"

    Gorgeous and the Geek

    by Rachel John

    2019Reality TV Romance, Book 3

Sworn To Loathe You books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Carpool Crush"

    Carpool Crush

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "I Hated You First"

    I Hated You First

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "Worst Neighbor Ever"

    Worst Neighbor Ever

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Not Friends"

    Not Friends

    by Rachel John

    2022Sworn To Loathe You, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Keep It Together"

    Keep It Together

    by Rachel John

    2023Sworn To Loathe You, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Freelance Flirt"

    Freelance Flirt

    by Rachel John

    2024Sworn To Loathe You, Book 6

Sworn To Loathe You books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "I Hated You First"

    I Hated You First

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Carpool Crush"

    Carpool Crush

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Worst Neighbor Ever"

    Worst Neighbor Ever

    by Rachel John

    2021Sworn To Loathe You, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Not Friends"

    Not Friends

    by Rachel John

    2022Sworn To Loathe You, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Keep It Together"

    Keep It Together

    by Rachel John

    2023Sworn To Loathe You, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Freelance Flirt"

    Freelance Flirt

    by Rachel John

    2024Sworn To Loathe You, Book 6

Take Note books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "In Case You Missed It"

    In Case You Missed It

    by Rachel John

    2026Take Note, Book 1

Take Note books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "In Case You Missed It"

    In Case You Missed It

    by Rachel John

    2026Take Note, Book 1

Rachel John collections, short stories, and related book types

Non-Fiction

  1. Book cover for "Baby Names: The Way They Should Be Organized!"

    Baby Names: The Way They Should Be Organized!

    by Rachel John

    2013

Children's Books

  1. Book cover for "Princess Silly's Bedtime Stories"

    Princess Silly's Bedtime Stories

    by Rachel John

    2013

Standalone Rachel John books

  1. Book cover for "The Truth About Running"

    The Truth About Running

    by Rachel John

    2013
  2. Book cover for "A Zombie Love Story"

    A Zombie Love Story

    by Rachel John

    2016

Author bio

Rachel John writes romantic comedies that like to start in awkward places and get even messier before they get sweet. Her books are full of banter, missed signals, stubborn people, and the kind of romantic chaos that can grow out of carpools, family dinners, reality TV sets, and badly timed crushes. Long before she was publishing novels, she was the kid with stories in her head, drawing them out on paper because that was the easiest way to get them loose.

Her mom kept those drawings, and Rachel has mentioned one from when she was about four or five, a picture tied to some kind of billboard dating service. That detail tells you a lot. Even very early on, she seems to have been interested in funny people, odd situations, and the way romance can get tangled up with everyday life.

College mattered.

After high school, she attended Eastern Arizona College, a time she has described as shaping her in big ways. She met her husband there, and the two later started their life together in Mesa while attending Arizona State University. During those years she was already collecting story ideas, writing down snippets on scraps of paper and receipts in class or at work, the way a lot of future novelists do before they fully admit what they are building.

That habit turned into a real writing life when the idea for The Truth About Running hit her at work one day. She wrote as much as she could on the back of an envelope during lunch. The book, first published under another title and later revised, was the one that made her realize she could finish a whole novel, and more important, that she loved doing it.

You can see that sense of fun in her early romances. Bethany's New Reality throws a heroine into a chaotic dating show with cameras, exes, and terrible wardrobe choices. Matchmaker for Hire and Gorgeous and the Geek stay in that reality TV world, mixing public performance with private feelings. Rachel John likes high-concept setups, but the people inside them still feel recognizably human. They get embarrassed. They overthink. They say the wrong thing and then have to live with it.

She also found a very natural lane in modern retellings. With Engaging Mr. Darcy, Emma the Matchmaker, Persuading the Captain, and Dashing into Disaster, she reworks Jane Austen into contemporary romantic comedy. Pizza parlors replace drawing rooms. Babysitting weekends take the place of formal visits. A cabin reunion can do the work of a second-chance classic. What stays the same is her interest in pride, timing, family pressure, and the terrible inconvenience of liking someone you were planning to avoid.

She clearly likes a setup that can go gloriously wrong.

That carries into books like I Hated You First, Carpool Crush, Not Friends, Keep It Together, Freelance Flirt, and In Case You Missed It. These stories lean into grudges, off-limits attraction, fake dating, friend zones, single-parent responsibilities, and note-passing feelings that were supposed to stay under control. Across them, Rachel John keeps returning to people who try to manage love with rules and then discover that rules are not especially helpful.

Away from the page, she has said she loves reading, drawing, and doing family history research. She lives in Arizona with her husband, their four kids, and a desert tortoise, which feels exactly like the kind of specific life detail readers remember. It also fits her work. Her novels may be light on drama in the flashy sense, but they are grounded in ordinary routines, family obligations, and the small moments where affection sneaks up on people. That mix of humor, warmth, and everyday romantic trouble is very much her thing.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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