Mariana Zapata Books Reading Order: The Complete Guide
Mariana Zapata is a phenomenal young author who writes incredible contemporary romance, for which she’s a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. She’s been writing incredible novels for about a decade now, with over a dozen books behind her.
So, without further ado, here’s a complete guide through Mariana Zapata’s books, including the reading order, publication dates, and detailed descriptions. Enjoy!
Mariana Zapata Books Reading Order (At A Glance)
Although Mariana Zapata has over a dozen romantic novels behind her, they are actually all stand-alone, non-series novels that can be read separately at will. You can sometimes pick up on subtle hints about her other books, but you can easily read every book separately as a stand-alone piece. That’s why it’s best to read Mariana Zapata’s books in publication order, as follows:
- Lingus (2012)
- Under Locke (2014)
- Kulti (2015)
- Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin (2015)
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me (2016)
- Wait For It (2016)
- Dear Aaron (2017)
- From Lukov with Love (2018)
- Luna and the Lie (2018)
- The Best Thing (2019)
- Hands Down (2020)
- All Rhodes Lead Here (2021)
- When Gracie Met the Grump (2022)
There’s also an additional 56-page extract from The Wall of Winnipeg and Me book published in 2019 in French, called “Et puis quoi encore!”. Here’s more detail about every Mariana Zapata book separately.
Mariana Zapata Books Reading Order (In Detail)
1. Lingus (2012)
Description: Lingus is a story about acceptance and friendship and a love born out of the most unexpected of places. It was first published on February 8th, 2012, and is now available in 12 editions. The Kindle version is 377 pages long. It was Zapata’s first published solo book.
Synopsis: “Most people would describe Katherine Berger as a responsible girl with a big heart, a loyal friend who takes care of those close to her, and the possessor of a wicked sense of humor. There was something about her that most people didn’t know. “My name is Kat Berger, and I love porn.”
When twenty-five-year-old Kat is dragged to a porn convention by her best friend, she’s both embarrassed and nervous. The last thing she ever expected was to meet someone who makes her laugh like no other.“
2. Under Locke (2014)
Description: The second Mariana Zapata book, Under Locke, was published on January 19th, 2014, and is now available in 9 editions. The Kindle edition has 497 pages and revolves around a girl, and a biker, who happens to be her boss.
Synopsis: “He was my boss, my brother’s friend, a Widower, an ex-felon, and a man I’d seen casually with a handful of women. But he was everything that gripped me, both the good and the bad. Worst case scenario if things turned awkward between us, I could go somewhere else. I’d gotten over epic heartbreak before, one more wouldn’t kill me.
After moving to Austin following six months of unemployment back home, Iris Taylor knows she should be glad to have landed a job so quickly… even if the business is owned by a member of the same motorcycle club her estranged father used to belong to. Except Dex Locke might just be the biggest jerk, she’s ever met. He’s rude, impatient, and doesn’t know how to tell time.
And the last thing they ever expected was each other.
But it was either the strip club or the tattoo shop.
… she should have chosen the strip club.”
3. Kulti (2015)
Description: Kulti is a sports-based romantic novel that was originally published on March 20th, 2015. It’s available in 19 editions since, whereas the Kindle edition is 570 pages long.
Synopsis: “‘Trust me, I’ve wanted to punch you in the face a time or five.’
When the man you worshipped as a kid becomes your coach, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing in the world. Keywords: supposed to.
It didn’t take a week for 27-year-old Sal Casillas to wonder what she’d seen in the international soccer icon – why she’d ever had his posters on her wall or ever envisioned marrying him and having super-playing soccer babies.
Sal had long ago gotten over the worst non-break-up in the history of imaginary relationships with a man who hadn’t known she’d existed. So she isn’t prepared for this version of Reiner Kulti who shows up to her team’s season: a quiet, reclusive shadow of the explosive, passionate man he’d once been.”
4. Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin (2015)
Description: Zapata moves away from the sports narrative and dives into music. Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin is a lovely romantic novel revolving around a girl on tour with a band. It was first published on August 21st, 2015, and is now available in 11 editions. The Kindle edition is 398 pages long.
Synopsis: “Twenty-six-year-old Gaby Barreto might be a lot of things (loyal, sarcastic, one of the guys and a pain in the butt depending on which family member you ask), but dumb isn’t one of them. When her twin brother invites her to go on tour as his band’s merch girl, she isn’t exactly screaming at the top of her lungs with joy.
With no job opportunities pounding on her door, an ex-boyfriend she would still like to castrate, and no end in sight to moving out of her parents’ house in Dallas… it would be dumb to say no to the chance of a lifetime. Two bands, three continents, one tour. Spending the next ninety-plus days with three beloved idiots and eight complete strangers shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
If only the singer of the headlining band didn’t have tattoos… a great personality… a fantastic body… and if he wasn’t so funny….
Let’s be real: Gaby never had a chance against Sacha Malykhin.”
5. The Wall Of Winnipeg And Me (2016)
Description: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is probably Zapata’s most well-known book. It was first published on February 28th, 2016, and is now available in 28 editions, with millions of reads worldwide. We’re back in the sports narrative, only this time, we’re talking about American Football. The Kindle edition is 537 pages long.
Synopsis: “Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans, and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.
But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked.
For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.
What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?”
6. Wait For It (2016)
Description: Wait For It is one of the longest pieces Mariana Zapata has ever written. It was first published on December 7th, 2016, and is now available in 10 editions. The story revolves around a woman who is living a nice life but struggles to find pleasure in it. The Kindle edition is 670 pages long.
Synopsis: “If anyone ever said being an adult was easy, they hadn’t been one long enough. Diana Casillas can admit it: she doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing half the time. How she’s made it through the last two years of her life without killing anyone is nothing short of a miracle. Being a grown-up wasn’t supposed to be so hard.
With a new house, two little boys she inherited the most painful possible way, a giant dog, a job she usually loves, more than enough family, and friends, she has almost everything she could ever ask for. Except for a boyfriend. Or a husband. But who needs either one of those?”
7. Dear Aaron (2017)
Description: The seventh published Mariana Zapata book was Dear Aaron, first coming out on June 10th, 2017. It’s now available in 9 editions. It revolves around a woman sending letters back and forth to a soldier on the front. The Kindle edition is 500 pages long.
Synopsis: “Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas.
The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional.
Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect.
What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.”
8. From Lukov With Love (2018)
Description: From Lukov With Love is, in my humble opinion, probably the best Mariana Zapata book out there. It was first published on February 1st, 2018, and since has 18 editions. It revolves around Jasmine, a figure-skater who is nearing the end of her career, or at least its best years. The Kindle edition is 493 very well-written pages long.
Synopsis: “If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.
After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.
But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.
Including Ivan Lukov.”
9. Luna And The Lie (2018)
Description: Luna and the Lie is probably Zapata’s most mysterious piece, revolving around a girl whose secrets from the past just keep piling up. It was first published on December 12th, 2018, and since has seven editions. The e-book is 580 pages long.
Synopsis: “The problem with secrets is that they’re too easy to keep collecting.
Luna Allen has done some things she would rather no one ever know about. She also knows that if she could go back in time, she wouldn’t change a single thing.
With three sisters she loves, a job she (mostly) adores, and a family built up of friends she’s made over the years, Luna figures everything has worked out the way it was supposed to.
But when one of those secrets involves the man who signs her paycheck, she can’t find it in her to regret it. Despite the fact that he’s not the friendliest man in the world. Or the most patient.
Sometimes there are things you’re better off keeping to yourself.”
10. The Best Thing (2019)
Description: The Best Thing is a romantic novel first published on August 7th, 2019, and has since been made available in 5 editions. It revolves around a woman who is trying to move on after a breakup, but it proves to be more difficult than she thought. The Kindle edition is 480 pages long.
Synopsis: “Some things are easily forgiven. Other things… not so much.
Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done. Done thinking about him. Done worrying about him. Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn’t want to be found.
Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo.”
11. Hands Down (2020)
Description: We’re back in an American Football-based story by Mariana Zapata. Hands Down came out on July 2nd, 2020, and has since been made available in 3 editions. The Kindle edition is 550 pages long.
Synopsis: “Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.
Bianca Brannen knows time–mostly–heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)
She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.
Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.”
12. All Rhodes Lead Here (2021)
Description: All Rhodes Lead Here was first published on April 1st, 2021, and has since been made available in 6 editions. The story follows Aurora, who moves back to her old town while trying to restart her entire life. The Kindle edition is 572 pages long.
Synopsis: “Losing people you love is hard. Aurora De La Torre knows moving back to a place that was once home isn’t going to be easy.
Starting your whole life over probably isn’t supposed to be. But a small town in the mountains might be the perfect remedy for a broken heart. Checking out her landlord across the driveway just might cure it too.”
13. When Gracie Met the Grump (2022)
Description: When Gracie Met the Grump is so far the last published book. The book was released in September 2022 in Paperback with Kindle edition available for e-readers.
Synopsis: “Of all the things that could have landed in her yard… it had to be him. For most people, finding a half-naked superbeing in their yard might be a dream come true. Unfortunately for Gracie Castro, it’s the exact opposite. Especially when he’s grouchy, rude, and shows no signs of leaving anytime soon. But when a hero of mankind needs you, you do what you have to. Even if it compromises everything you know. And totally changes your life.”
Bonus: Et Puis Quoi Encore! (Extrait Gratuit)
Description: Et Puis Quoi Encore! is a free extract or an add-on to the book The Wall Of Winnipeg And Me. The book was originally published in 2016, whereas this 56-page extract came out on February 15th, 2019.
Synopsis: [Translated from French] “What if your employment contract turned into… (but we won’t tell you what!)
“One thing’s for sure: one day I’m going to strangle Aiden Graves. My motive? For two years, I was the multi-tasking assistant to this rude man for whom I bent over backward, never saying hello or thank you in return!
Demanding, stubborn, vegan, and as friendly as a closed door – any girl would have dumped him and that’s what I did (with a twinge of sadness, I admit). And this ingrate didn’t have a word to say to hold me back… So, you won’t imagine for a second what he came to my house to do today. And even less what he has in mind!…”
A comedy in the form of a nice joke that brings together with sensitivity and humor a generous extrovert and a taciturn man who is downright charming.”
Do You Need To Read Mariana Zapata Books In Order?
Since the books are published as non-series, and every book is a stand-alone piece, there’s no need to read Mariana Zapata’s books in any particular order. However, I suggest you should read them in publication order, just to see how the author evolved in over a decade’s worth of writing.