The Jenn McKinlay books in order include cozy mysteries, contemporary romances, romantic comedies, and cozy fantasy. She is best known for the Library Lover’s Mysteries and Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, but her work also includes several shorter series, standalones, novellas, and books published under other names.
McKinlay began with romantic comedies credited to Jennifer McKinlay before turning to cozy mysteries as Lucy Lawrence, Josie Belle, and Jenn McKinlay. Her books mix humor, romance, close-knit communities, and amateur sleuths, giving readers plenty of different places to start.
Jump to:
- Jenn McKinlay Standalone Books
- Jenn McKinlay Books by Series
- Jenn McKinlay Book-to-Screen Adaptations
- About Jenn McKinlay
Jenn McKinlay Standalone Books
McKinlay’s first three romances were published under the Jennifer McKinlay byline. To Catch a Latte and Thick as Thieves originally appeared in separate Harlequin Duets volumes and were later republished together in a two-in-one edition.
- To Catch a Latte (2002)
- Thick as Thieves (2003)
- Keeping Up Appearances (2005)
- Paris Is Always a Good Idea (2020)
- Wait For It (2021)
- I Can’t Even (2025)
- The Summer Share (2026)
Jenn McKinlay Books by Series
Decoupage Mystery Books
Published as Lucy Lawrence, the Decoupage Mysteries follow Brenna Miller, a New England decoupage instructor who keeps finding herself drawn into murder investigations.
- Stuck on Murder (2009)
- Cut to the Corpse (2010)
- Sealed with a Kill (2011)
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Books
The Cupcake Bakery Mysteries follow Melanie “Mel” Cooper and Angela “Angie” DeLaura, the owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Scottsdale, Arizona. The series blends murder investigations, friendship, romance, and recipes inspired by the bakery.
- Sprinkle with Murder (2010)
- Buttercream Bump Off (2011)
- Death by the Dozen (2011)
- Red Velvet Revenge (2012)
- Going, Going, Ganache (2013)
- Sugar and Iced (2014)
- Dark Chocolate Demise (2015)
- Vanilla Beaned (2016)
- Caramel Crush (2017)
- Wedding Cake Crumble (2018)
- Dying for Devil’s Food (2019)
- Pumpkin Spice Peril (2020)
- For Batter or Worse (2021)
- Strawberried Alive (2022)
- Sugar Plum Poisoned (2023)
- Fondant Fumble (2024)
Fairy Tale Cupcakes: Recipes from the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries (2022), written with Christie Conlee, is an optional cookbook based on the series. It is not part of the numbered mystery sequence.
Library Lover’s Mysteries
The Library Lover’s Mysteries follow Lindsey Norris, the director of Briar Creek Public Library in coastal Connecticut. These cozy mysteries combine books, community, romance, and Lindsey’s growing talent for solving crimes.
- Books Can Be Deceiving (2011)
- Due or Die (2012)
- Book, Line, and Sinker (2012)
- Read It and Weep (2013)
- On Borrowed Time (2014)
- A Likely Story (2015)
“An Unlikely Meeting” (Short Story) (2015) (found in A Likely Story)
- Better Late Than Never (2016)
- Death in the Stacks (2017)
- Hitting the Books (2018)
- Word to the Wise (2019)
- One for the Books (2020)
- Killer Research (2021)
- The Plot and the Pendulum (2022)
- Fatal First Edition (2024)
- A Merry Little Murder Plot (2024)
- Booking for Trouble (2026)
The series contains sixteen novels. “An Unlikely Meeting” is a bonus short story included with A Likely Story, so it sits between Books 6 and 7 without changing the novel numbering.
Good Buy Girls Mystery Books
McKinlay published the Good Buy Girls Mysteries as Josie Belle. The series follows a group of bargain-hunting friends whose knack for spotting a deal is rivaled by their ability to uncover clues.
- 50% Off Murder (2012)
- A Deal to Die For (2012)
- Buried in Bargains (2013)
- Marked Down for Murder (2014)
- All Sales Final (2015)
Hat Shop Mystery Books
The Hat Shop Mysteries move the action to London, where cousins Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont run Mim’s Whims. Their fashionable hat shop gives them a front-row seat to romance, secrets, and murder.
- Cloche and Dagger (2013)
- Death of a Mad Hatter (2014)
- At the Drop of a Hat (2015)
- Copy Cap Murder (2016)
- Assault and Beret (2017)
- Buried to the Brim (2020)
- Fatal Fascinator (2023)
Bluff Point Books
The Bluff Point trilogy is a contemporary romance series set in a small Maine town. Each book follows a different couple, with a dog or cat helping the romance along. I recommend reading the trilogy in publication order because the characters and relationships carry across the books.
- About a Dog (2017)
- Barking Up the Wrong Tree (2017)
- Every Dog Has His Day (2018)
Happily Ever After Books
The Happily Ever After romances take place in Fairdale, North Carolina, and center on a romance bookstore. Each novel follows a different couple, but the characters from The Good Ones return in The Christmas Keeper. My advice is to read them in publication order.
- The Good Ones (2019)
- The Christmas Keeper (2019)
Museum of Literature Romance Books
This series contains three romantic-comedy novellas about employees of the Museum of Literature. They follow different couples, but I prefer publication order because the shared setting and supporting characters connect them.
- Royal Valentine (2022)
- The Attraction Distraction (2022)
- It Happened One Christmas Eve (2022)
Booked (2023) collects all three Museum of Literature novellas in one volume. It is an omnibus rather than a fourth story.
Summer Reading Connected Books
These romances are commonly grouped together because both have ties to Martha’s Vineyard, although they focus on different couples and can be read independently. I’d start with Summer Reading if you plan to read both.
- Summer Reading (2023)
- Love at First Book (2024)
Books of Dubious Origin
The Books of Dubious Origin series follows librarian Zoe Ziakas after she discovers her magical family history and joins the Museum of Literature’s secret collection of enchanted books. I recommend reading this cozy fantasy series in order. It shares the Museum of Literature setting with the romance novellas, but you don’t need to read those first.
- Witches of Dubious Origin (2025)
- Witches of Questionable Intent (2026)
Jenn McKinlay Book-to-Screen Adaptations
Paris Is Always a Good Idea was adapted into a six-episode Hallmark+ limited series starring Lacey Chabert and Scott Michael Foster. It adapts only McKinlay’s 2020 novel of the same name. The story follows Chelsea Martin as she returns to Europe to reconnect with the three men she once loved, while her professional rival Jason becomes an unexpected part of the journey.
The adaptation keeps the novel’s central romance, European setting, and emotional focus on Chelsea rebuilding her life after her mother’s death. However, it changes parts of her itinerary, replaces the book’s trip to Italy with Spain, and adjusts some character names and circumstances. I’d call it a fairly faithful adaptation of the main story rather than a scene-for-scene version, so readers who enjoyed the series will still find additional character development and differences in the novel.
About Jenn McKinlay
Jenn McKinlay is an award-winning New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of mystery, romance, and fantasy. Her early Harlequin romances were credited to Jennifer McKinlay, while the Decoupage Mysteries appeared under the name Lucy Lawrence and the Good Buy Girls Mysteries were published as Josie Belle.
McKinlay knew she wanted to write from a young age, and she grew up reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. That lifelong love of mysteries is easy to see in her cozy series, even as she continues to write romantic comedies and bookish fantasy.
Looking for similar books in order?
If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.