Do the Coda books have to be read in order?  Not necessarily.  You can either read them in the order they were written, or you can start with any couple (but I recommend reading each couple’s stories in order).

It’s worth noting that I never intended these books to be labeled a “series.” The numbers you see on Goodreads and other sites are the work of overzealous librarians and are not endorsed by me. A to Z is not book 2 of Promises. A to Z is a stand-alone novel. Ditto Strawberries for Dessert. Granted, the novels all have overlapping characters, but each of them was specifically written as a stand-alone. So when you see Strawberries labeled as “Coda #5”, it’s a misnomer. It is its own book. Period. It happens to exist in the same universe as the other novels, but it absolutely stands on its own.

Now, what about the novellas? Three of the four novels (Promises, A to Z, and Strawberries for Dessert) have sequels that are either short stories or novella length, and like most sequels, they work better if you’ve read the first book for that couple first.

Clear as mud?

So, one option is to read them in the order that corresponds with the timeline:

    • Promises
    • A to Z
    • The Promise and The Letter Z (doesn’t matter which one you read first – they take place at the same time)
    • Strawberries for Dessert and Putting Out Fires (also take place at the same time)
    • Paris A to Z
    • Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding
    • Shotgun

But if you don’t want to read the whole series, or you’re only interested in a specific couple, that’s fine too. The couples’ stories overlap a bit, but you won’t be lost if you choose to skip certain books. It is completely fine to read Strawberries for Dessert without ever reading any of the other books, and yes, you can read Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding without reading Paris A to Z first, I promise.

Breakdown, in order, by couple:

Matt and Jared:

    1. Promises
    2. The Promise (free short story on my website)
    3. Putting Out Fires (short story, available only from Dreamspinner Press)

Zach and Angelo:

    1. A to Z
    2. The Letter Z
    3. *Paris A to Z

Cole and Jon:

    1. Strawberries for Dessert
    2. Fear, Hope, and Bread Pudding

Dominic and Lamar:

      1. Shotgun

 

The Coda prequel, Meant to Be – included in the 2019 re-release of Promises – can fit in just about anywhere. 

*(Please note that although Paris A to Z is ostensibly about Jon and Cole’s wedding, the book really isn’t about them. It’s Zach and Angelo’s book. If you read it expecting to see a lot of Jon and Cole, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.)
 

For details about the exact timeline, see here.

32 thoughts on “Coda: Which book do I read first?”

  1. Promises was a godsend to me because I’m studying Italian and reading the book in the Italian translation has kept my interest high, which has resulted in better retention, mainly because I’m really enjoying what I’m reading. Are there any plans to translate “Promise” and the other novellas/short stories into italian?

    Reply

    1. That is awesome to hear! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it.

      Quite a few of my other works (including some of the Coda series) have been translated into Italian. You can find many of them listed here: http://mariesexton.net/books/translations
      But the shorter stories and freebies (like the Promise) probably won’t be translated. I’m not sure why, really. It’s just never come up. I guess maybe it’s not worth the translation efforts for the publishers on a short story? I’m not sure.

      Anyway, hope that helps. 🙂

      Thanks so much!

      Reply

  2. Just finished re-reading promises and I loved the short story meant to be. Whatever happened to Bryan? Does he ever appear in any of your other books?

    Reply

    1. Hi John! I’m so glad you enjoyed Meant to Be. The plan is for Bryan to show up in Tucker Springs in a book of his own, and Matt and Jared May come to visit. But that book isn’t flowing quite the way I’d hoped, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Fingers crossed though. Thanks!

      Reply

      1. Thanks for the answer. I just wondered since Meant To Be had the feeling that Cole and Bryan would end up together in the future lost lives reunited that sort of thing but I knew Cole had another love so I wondered what happened to Bryan.

        Reply

  3. Hello Marie…I really enjoyed the Coda Books…I read all seven books in the order you suggested. I smiled, I got annoyed, I cried, I laughed and I even danced while reading 🙂 Jared Matt Zach Angelo Jon Cole Lamar Dominic…I love them all. I know you will not write about these characters anymore but in my mind I am contemplating that in the next book (#8) Cole will kick Angelo’s and Matt’s booty for being so harsh on anyone. Cole can charm anyone. He is a sweetheart…I am currently reading The Heretic Doms Club – very interesting story line…thank you very much for your excellent stories. What should I read next once I finish the heretic doms club books (1 and 2)?

    Reply

    1. Hi there, and so sorry for the delay in responding! For some reason, my email alert ended up in spam, so I didn’t see your comment until today.

      At any rate: I’m so glad you enjoyed Coda! While I don’t have any new books planned for those couples, Matt and Jared will be making a visit to Tucker Springs sometime in the near future. (That book is scheduled for release in early 2020. I just have to write the darn thing.)

      As for what to read after Heretic Doms Club – it sort of depends on your tastes. My personal favorites of my books are (in no particular order) Trailer Trash, Winter Oranges, and the Oestend series. So maybe try one of those. Between Sinners and Saints is and Blind Space are also reader favorites. 🙂

      Thanks so much!
      Marie

      Reply

  4. I absolutely loved Promises and all the short stories with Jared and Matt. If I ever get a chance at 3 wishes, I’d make Coda real 😀 I fell in love with the characters! They were so believable, and their love is so powerful.

    Why did you not write more books dealing with Jared and Matt? Or maybe there will be? One can dream…
    They are my favorite couple in the series. Zach and Angelo is perhaps my least favorite couple and, yet, they get whole 3 books. The reason I don’t like them is because I do not get their “type” of relationship.

    Reply

    1. Hi Roman. People ask me this question a lot, actually. The thing is, all books require conflict. The characters with the most problems will invariably have the most books. Zach and Angelo are two pretty damaged guys. They’re both carrying a lot of baggage, so it takes longer for them to find their happily ever after. Matt and Jared, on the other hand, are two pretty solid, down-to-earth guys. Once they get together, they don’t need much else. I imagine them being really comfortable and happy together at this point. In order to write more books for them, I’d have to ruin that. I’d have to create problems for them, and honestly, I just don’t have the heart to do that. 🙂

      Thanks for your comment! I’m glad you enjoyed Promises.

      Reply

  5. Dear Marie,

    Firstly Happy New Year!

    My name is Mark and I’ve had the pleasure of stumbling into the Coda series, enjoying a whirlwind of a ride.

    It might suprise you to know that as a child I did not read. Period. Whether that be the ‘Sci-Fi’ obsessive influence of my mum (STAR TREK) or her love of computer games, my eyes were always on the screen rather than buried in a book! But through personal reasons and some new year soul searching I decided I wanted to read. So I joined a book club in early 2013 and Promises was recommended as a read at the time, to which I’d bought a copy but through one thing and another I never got around to it… I really regret that decision!

    So I read several books for the first time in my life in quick succession (when I bought Promises) and surprised myself in that I began to enjoy it, sometimes. But sustaining ‘the read’ as a habit didn’t happen, so often the books didn’t peak my interest nearly enough. Even though I read gay related stories.

    Fast forwarding a bit… And for whatever reason, Promises ended up in my bag I packed on my trip home this Christmas (2014) to visit family. I got on the train, sat down and reached for the book… 2 and a half hours later I nearly missed my stop.

    Since that day, I finished the book. And have read through the series timeline and just finished Paris A to Z today. (Whilst also digesting a few of your other smaller non coda stories as well!) It’s been less than two weeks and I’ve read more than I ever thought I could in such a small space of time.

    So I wanted to say Thank you!

    Thanks for being unbelievably insightful into the mind of gay men(!), thanks for writing this series as it has made me cry, laugh, feel sad and genuinely happy in the same night; and in every book!

    You’ve helped me figure out what my mind wanted me to read all along… A little dreaming of something a little closer to home. Of finding love.

    I hope this Coda Series never ends! 😉

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Mark. That’s probably one of the greatest things an author can hear. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the series. I can’t promise that Coda will never end, but there will be a brand new book out this year.

      Thanks so much for taking the time to contact me, and I’ll cross my fingers for you to find your happily ever after as well. 🙂

      Happy New Year!
      Marie

      Reply

  6. I have read all the Coda books and wish there are more books after Fear, “Hope, and Bread Pudding”.

    Will you be writing more on this series?

    I love your writing! 🙂

    Reply

  7. Promises is the first English M/M book I have ever read (as I’m a Chinese and usually read Chinese M/M books) and then I love the way Marie writes! Then I read Strawberry for Dessert and I could not help falling in love with Cole!!! How can you create such a great character like that!! But then I find that I can not read any other books in a few days or even weeks cuz I just want to read Strawberry several times. I was sad when I finished reading it.

    Reply

  8. I’ve really enjoyed reading all of the Coda books. Your writing style is incredible, I honestly love it. It’s amazing how intimate and intense you can make situations.
    I can’t belive I’ve never read any of your books before until recently. I was completely hooked on them.
    Take Care!

    Reply

  9. I read the books again, especially for the stories of jon and cole and I just figure out that I started cooking right after reading “Strawberries for Dessert” the first time around. I know it is kind of weird to say this but because of this book I started improvising and feeling happy doing something I really hated in the past.Thank you again for writing these books because for me they really were a nice source of inspiration and confidence with the benefit of being really awesome books. Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hooray! That’s great to hear, and I suspect Cole would be quite pleased with himself for inspiring you. 😉

      Reply

  11. Please Please Please tell me there will be more to come! I read them all in 3 days. Started Friday and just finished. I loved this series and loved these men and so want to read more!! It can’t end here 🙂

    Reply

  12. I’ve read them all (except the new Fear, Hope, & Bread Pudding but as I was rather enamored with Cole and Jon) and enjoyed every book and all of the various couples.

    Reply

  13. I’ve read the first book and I love it, gotta buy the rest 😀
    Though a bit dissapointed that the other book are not about Matt + Jared, but I’ll try read them anyway, if they’re not as good as the first I’ll go complain here later, hha..

    But seriously I reallly love ‘Promises’.
    Usually M/M story written by a women tend to make the couple were just like male/female. Crying a lot, saying cute things, gigle (!!!??) … it’s just like a male character with female’s traits. But your’s was not.

    Cheers. xoxo

    Reply

  14. I read 5 of the Coda Books and then found them on audio – so listened to them again – loved them all. I write M/M romance fiction as well and loved how you put them together in both intimate scenes and everyday life. You could ‘hear’ their individual voices.

    Reply

  15. I have only read 4 of the Coda books but I sure read them twice, in 2 days, They are some awesome books; enjoyable, easy and hard at the same time, funny, make you cry, make you think, make you forget, make you cry(Cole’s and Jared’s fault especially) but all in all some of the best books I have read so far.

    Reply

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