Emery Lord
Emery Lord has published 8 books across 3 series. The recommended reading order starts with Open Road Summer (2014).
Emery Lord is an American author who writes young adult fiction that zeroes in on the emotional architecture of adolescence. Her stories capture the messy work of teenage girls navigating heartbreak, hope, and the process of becoming themselves. Her prose is direct and warm, built for readers who want characters that feel real.
Lord's books include The Start of Me and You and When We Collided, both of which capture the texture of young women finding their footing. She understands the weight of a first love and the courage it takes to start over. Raised near a beach and a Great Lake on the East Coast, Lord now lives in Cincinnati. She works in a public library, surrounded by books and the people who love them. When she's not writing, Lord indulges her love of good food.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Anthologies
- Tagsyoung-adultshort-storiesromancesci-ficrimeDescriptionThere are exactly twenty ways to fall in love in this collection, each one a sparkling vignette crafted by some of the best voices in young adult literature. Emery Lord has curated a series of meet-cutes that range from the serendipitous to the surreal, capturing that electric, heart-stopping moment when a story shifts from ordinary to extraordinary. It is a celebration of the 'what if,' offering readers a kaleidoscope of first encounters that feel as varied and vibrant as love itself. What makes this anthology truly sing is its refusal to settle for a single definition of romance. We are whisked away to coffee shops, comic conventions, and chance collisions on busy streets, where the stakes are high and the emotions are raw. The stories here are not just about finding a partner, but about finding oneself in the reflection of another’s eyes, making each page turn feel like a discovery of a new emotional landscape. Reading this feels like eavesdropping on the very moment two souls recognize each other, a privilege that is both intimate and exhilarating. It reminds us that love often arrives in the guises we least expect, turning a mundane Tuesday into a memory that lasts a lifetime. For anyone who believes in the magic of beginnings, this book is a necessary tonic, a sweet and satisfying confection of hope.Publication dateMay 21, 2019Amazon rating3.9/5Print length320LanguageEnglishPublisherClarion Books
- Tagsyoung-adultshort-storiesromancecrimeDescriptionThis book is exactly the sugar rush you need when February feels too long and too cold. It captures that heart-stopping, breathless moment of a first meeting, stretching that split second of magic into entire stories that feel like warm hugs. The atmosphere here is pure confection—sparkling, sweet, and undeniably romantic—perfect for getting lost in when you want to believe in love at first sight again. It’s a collection that understands the anticipation is often the best part. Emery Lord has curated a delightful array of voices that explore the many ways a spark can ignite. From chance encounters on subways to disastrous first dates that turn into something more, each story offers a unique flavor of romance. The stakes are emotional and immediate, pulling you into the lives of characters who are just one meet-cute away from changing everything. It’s a fast-paced, joyful read that reminds you why we keep looking for that connection.Publication dateDecember 16, 2025Amazon rating3.2/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherClarion Books
Order of Emerly Lord Standalone Novels
- Tagsyoung-adultnon-fictionromancechildrenDescriptionEighteen days. That is the length of the tour that changes everything for two best friends. They travel across the South in a beat-up van, leaving behind a school year filled with heartbreak and rumors. The heat rises off the asphalt, matching the intensity of a summer that promises escape but demands confrontation. The atmosphere is thick with humidity and unspoken words. Country music radio provides the soundtrack to a journey that is as much about healing as it is about reaching the next venue. There is a distinct sense of movement, of fleeing past mistakes, yet the open road offers nowhere to hide from the truth. At the center is a fractured friendship and a budding romance with a rising star. The stakes are emotional and immediate. Navigating the spotlight while trying to repair a broken bond creates a tension that drives the narrative forward. Every glance feels weighted; every silence speaks volumes. This is a story about the messy, beautiful process of growing up. It captures the specific ache of loving someone enough to let them go, and the courage required to let them back in. The prose is sharp and observant, grounding the melodrama of a tour bus in the very real, very raw feelings of teenage girls finding their way.Publication dateApril 15, 2014Amazon rating4.4/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherWalker Childrens
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionThe sun-drenched coastal town of Verona Cove usually feels like a postcard, but this summer the shadows are stretching long and the air is thick with unspoken grief. It is a place where the vibrant colors of the boardwalk clash violently with the gray fog settling over a family trying to hold itself together. The atmosphere is heavy with the scent of salt and desperation, creating a backdrop that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking, setting the stage for a collision course between two souls who are barely keeping their heads above water. Jonah is drowning in responsibility, struggling to save his family’s restaurant from financial ruin while watching his mother retreat into a depression that feels as vast and unmoving as the ocean. Enter Vivi, a whirlwind of chaotic energy and secrets, who arrives with a paintbrush in hand and a storm in her heart. She brings a Technicolor burst of life to his muted world, yet her vibrant exterior hides a dangerous volatility that threatens to shatter the fragile peace Jonah is fighting to establish. Their connection is electric and immediate, a magnetic pull that promises salvation but courts destruction in equal measure. As Vivi’s mania escalates and Jonah’s resolve frays, the novel asks whether love is truly enough to save someone from their own mind. This is a raw, unflinching look at the way we break and the agonizing, beautiful process of trying to put each other back together again.Publication dateApril 5, 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherBloomsbury USA Childrens
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionThe summer air is heavy with secrets. It is a season defined by the quiet collapse of expectations. The world feels suspended between the promise of the future and the weight of the past. Lucy’s life was a carefully constructed blueprint. She had the boyfriend, the faith, and the plan. Then her mother’s cancer returns. The diagnosis shatters her certainty. Everything she believed about control and divine timing begins to fracture. She finds herself working at a day camp for wayward kids. It is a place of chaotic noise and unexpected grace. There she meets Henry, a boy who challenges her binary view of the world. He is a question mark in a life full of periods. This is a story about the names we give ourselves and the ones we outgrow. It explores the messy intersection of grief and belief. Lord writes with a gentle hand, mapping the terrain of a heart learning to beat again.Publication dateMay 16, 2017Amazon rating4.4/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherBloomsbury USA Childrens
- Tagsyoung-adultromanceDescriptionThere is a specific kind of ache that comes with unfinished words, the kind that lingers in the quiet spaces of a house long after the people have left. Emery Lord captures this silence perfectly in All That’s Left to Say, a novel that feels less like a story you read and more like a memory you uncover. The atmosphere is thick with humidity and hesitation, set against a backdrop that feels both intimately familiar and slightly surreal. You can almost smell the rain coming before the first drop falls, grounding you in a world where emotions are tangible things, heavy and real. At its core, this is a book about the terrifying courage it takes to speak your truth when your voice shakes. The central conflict isn't a dramatic explosion, but a slow burn of realization that demands everything from the characters. Lord writes with a gentle hand, never forcing the sentiment but letting it bloom naturally on the page. It is a story about the messiness of moving forward and the people who hold us together when we feel like falling apart. You will want to savor this one, letting the words settle deep in your chest.Publication dateJuly 18, 2023Amazon rating3.8/5Print length400LanguageEnglishPublisherBloomsbury YA
Order of The Start of Me and You Books
- TagsromancechildrenDescriptionHow do you reclaim your identity when the world has defined you by your worst tragedy? Paige Hancock is determined to find out as she enters her junior year, tired of being known only as "The Girl Whose Boyfriend Drowned." Armed with a list of resolutions designed to take back her life, she is ready to step out of the shadow of her grief and into something new. It is a journey of small, brave steps, navigating the delicate balance between honoring the past and allowing herself a future. When her long-term crush, Ryan Chase, suddenly becomes available again, it seems like the perfect opportunity to jumpstart her plan. But as Paige reconnects with Ryan and grows closer to his quirky cousin, she realizes that healing isn't as linear as a checklist. This story isn't just about a high school romance; it is about the messy, beautiful process of learning to live again. With genuine warmth and insight, it captures the ache of growing up and the unexpected ways we find our way back to ourselves.Publication dateMarch 1, 2016Amazon rating4.6/5Print length416LanguageEnglishPublisherBloomsbury USA Childrens
- Tagsyoung-adultromancechildrenDescriptionWhat happens when the life you meticulously planned starts to feel smaller than the life you actually want? Paige Hancock has spent the last year reinventing herself, stepping out from the shadow of grief and into a new romance that feels safe and steady. But as high school graduation looms, she realizes that her carefully constructed map for the future might not account for the messy, beautiful detours of the heart. It’s a story about the terrifying thrill of outgrowing the boxes we put ourselves in. Paige thought she had everything figured out: her boyfriend, her best friend, and the path to college. Then her creative writing ambitions clash with everyone’s expectations, and she’s forced to confront the difference between who she is and who she’s pretending to be. The tension between her dreams and her reality creates a quiet, aching conflict that anyone who has ever stood on a precipice of change will recognize. It’s not just about love; it’s about identity. Emery Lord captures the bittersweet essence of growing up with such tenderness that it feels like a warm hug. The prose is sharp and funny, but it’s the emotional honesty that truly resonates. You will root for Paige not because she’s perfect, but because she’s trying so hard to be brave. This is a book for anyone who has ever had to redraw their own map.Publication dateJanuary 7, 2020Amazon rating4.3/5Print length368LanguageEnglishPublisherBloomsbury YA
Frequently Asked Questions about Emery Lord
Emery Lord writes contemporary young adult novels. The books are best read in the order they were published, but many can be enjoyed as standalones. If you want to read the series in order, start with The Start of Me and You, followed by The Map from Here to There. Then, you can read the standalone novels: Open Road Summer, When We Collided, The Names They Gave Us, and All That’s Left to Say. Finally, consider the Meet Cute anthologies, starting with Meet Cute and followed by Meet Cute: Count Down to Valentine's Day.
A good place to start with Emery Lord's books is Open Road Summer, published in 2014. This novel introduces themes and a writing style that are characteristic of Lord's work. It is a standalone story, meaning it can be read without prior knowledge of other books. This allows readers to get a feel for the author's voice and storytelling before diving into any series.
While some of Emery Lord's books are part of series, many can be read independently. The standalone novels, such as Open Road Summer, When We Collided, The Names They Gave Us, and All That’s Left to Say, do not require reading any other books first. The Start of Me and You series is also designed so that each book can be understood on its own, though reading them in order offers a more complete experience of the characters and their interconnected lives.
Emery Lord writes both standalone novels and books that are part of series. The standalone novels include Open Road Summer, When We Collided, The Names They Gave Us, and All That’s Left to Say. The series include The Start of Me and You Books, with two titles, and the Meet Cute anthologies, also with two titles. This variety allows readers to choose between self-contained stories or interconnected narratives.
Emery Lord has written eight books. These include four standalone novels: Open Road Summer (2014), When We Collided (2016), The Names They Gave Us (2017), and All That’s Left to Say (2023). There are also two books in The Start of Me and You series: The Start of Me and You (2016) and The Map from Here to There (2020). Additionally, Lord has contributed to two anthologies: Meet Cute (2019) and Meet Cute: Count Down to Valentine's Day (2025).
The first book Emery Lord wrote was Open Road Summer, published in 2014. This novel marked the beginning of Lord's career, introducing readers to the author's distinctive voice and focus on contemporary young adult themes. It is a standalone story, setting a foundation for the subsequent works that explore similar territory with relatable characters and engaging plots.
Emery Lord's most recent book is All That’s Left to Say, published in 2023. This novel continues Lord's exploration of contemporary young adult fiction, featuring relatable characters and emotionally resonant storylines. It stands as a standalone work, offering a complete narrative arc for readers. The book contributes to Lord's body of work, which focuses on themes relevant to teenage experiences.
Emery Lord writes contemporary young adult fiction. The books often explore themes of friendship, romance, identity, and navigating the complexities of adolescence. While not explicitly stated as a genre, the stories frequently contain elements of coming-of-age narratives and focus on the emotional journeys of teenage protagonists. The settings are typically modern and relatable to young readers.
Mason Deaver
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We verified the reading order for Emery Lord's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Emery Lord Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/emery-lord