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What to Read Next: The Best Interconnected Romance Books
What if your next favorite book is part of a series you’ve already started?
After finishing Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series this summer, I was thrown straight back into my 2020 reading era, when I devoured long romance series like my life depended on it. Because my obsession started with Off-Campus and Briar U, it only feels right to begin our interconnected romance series recommendations there, too.
The Elle Kennedy Universe: Off-Campus, Briar U, and Campus Diaries
If you loved Garrett Graham and Hannah Wells in The Deal, you don’t have to wait 20 years to see what happens next in this interconnected romance series. Elle Kennedy has built three linked hockey romance series set within the Briar University universe:
Off-Campus Series: Focuses on the original Briar U hockey team (Garrett, Logan, Dean, and Tucker).
Briar U Series: Follows secondary characters and younger siblings, starting with Dean’s sister, Summer, in The Chase.
Campus Diaries Series: The official next-gen romance series spin-off that centers on Garrett and Hannah’s daughter, Gigi Graham, starting with The Graham Effect.
Best Entry Point: Start with The Deal (Off-Campus #1) for the core backstory, or jump straight into The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries #1) if you specifically want second-generation romance.
Cee Bowerman’s MC Universe: Interconnected Biker Romance Books
For readers seeking gritty biker romance books with heavy Sons of Anarchy vibes, Cee Bowerman offers one of the most expansive interconnected universe structures in romance fiction.
Her multi-generational world features connected motorcycle clubs (including the Texas Kings MC and Time Serve MC) where characters cross over into different series, and the children of original couples eventually star in their own spin-off books.
Key Takeaway for Reading Order: Because Cee Bowerman’s universe features over 30 overlapping titles, reading in chronological release order ensures you don’t miss second-generation character introductions.
Jolie Vines: Small-Town Highland Romance Books
If you love Outlander or rugged Scottish tropes but want a modern small-town romance series, the interconnected Highland world by Jolie Vines is a must-read.
Centered on the McRae family clan in the Scottish Highlands, the universe expands across three linked series:
Marry the Scot Series: Begins with The Rival and introduces the primary McRae brothers.
A next-gen (next-generation) romance series features the adult children or younger family members of characters from a previous romance series, allowing the author to expand the story world across generations.
Do you need to read Off-Campus before Campus Diaries?
While Campus Diaries (starting with The Graham Effect) can be read as a standalone, reading the Off-Campus and Briar U series first provides rich backstory on original couples like Garrett and Hannah.
How many books are in Jolie Vines’ McRae family universe?
The McRae universe spans more than 15 interconnected novels split across three main series: Marry the Scot, Wild Scots, and Wild Mountain Scots.
Final Thoughts: Escaping Post-Series Book Hangovers
The best part about interconnected romance books is that you never really have to say goodbye to your favorite characters. Meeting their children and exploring the broader universe makes returning to these worlds feel like coming home.