Sophomore Slump or Success? Ranking the Sequels of 16 Popular Romance Series
We’re reading sequels this month. Finally.
The question we’re answering: Is the second book ever as good as the first? We’ll rate and review 16 popular romance series sequels to see which ones soared and which ones slumped.
Let’s be real: With so many anticipated releases coming this year and a TBR that’s ballooning by the day (1,000+), making time for the next installment isn’t easy. Especially when the first one was so good. How could the second one be better? And what if it’s not? What if it earns a lower rating and we hate ourselves for bursting the bubble?
It’s got to be done. So we’re putting our foot down and demanding more of ourselves.
UPDATE Feb 3: We’ve reviewed two books already!
We’re going #2.
As we complete each book, we’ll catalog our ratings and reviews below so check back throughout the month to see our progress.
Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Frost ☆4.0
Series: Frost and Nectar #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 350 pages
Review: TBD
Between Two Kings by Lindsay Straube—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Split or Swallow ☆4.25
Series: Split or Swallow #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 504 pages
Review: TBD
Brimstone by Callie Hart—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Quicksilver ☆4.5
Series: Fae & Alchemy #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 660 pages
Review: TBD
Cherry Bomb by Sarah Blue—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Lavender Moon ☆ Didn’t Read - Alright, fine, I didn’t read Lavender Moon (book #1), but I really wanted to include an Omegaverse in this month’s booklist.
Series: Lavender Moon #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 261 pages
Review: TBD
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Throne of Glass ☆3.75
Series: Throne of Glass #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 420 pages
Review: TBD
Dark Prince’s Mate by Anna Zaires & Charmaine Pauls—☆3.75 Complete
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Book #1 Rating: Dark Prince’s Captive ☆3.75
Series: A Realm of Dragons and Scrolls #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Fated Mates, Rejected Mate, Arranged Marriage, Learning a New World, Magic, Hidden Powers, Hidden Royalty, Hidden Identity, Loss of Parent (Death), MC is trapped, Enemies to Lovers, Slavery, Auction, Portal to Another World, No Use of Contraception, MMC/FMC has a Medical Condition, Kidnapping, Rescue, Royalty, Sex First/Feelings Later, MC has Interfering Family, Family Saga, Healing from Injury, MC has Strained Relationship with Parent, Surprise Virgin, Forgiveness Arc, Redemption, Dragons, Aftercare
Pages: 292 pages
Review: Just as good as the first one - MMC realizes his bullying wasn't helping so he tries a new path, one that endears Elsie to him. Whole new guy. The real enemy in this story is revealed and...yeah, it makes sense, but there was nearly no build up to identifying them. It just...was. There's a lengthy explanation in a soliloquey, as madness dictates, but there weren't nuggets to lead you to the conclusion.
Eidolon by Grace Draven—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Radiance ☆4.25
Series: Wraith Kings #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 268 pages
Review: TBD
Eldritch by Keri Lake—☆TBD Currently Reading
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Anathema ☆3.5
Series: The Eating Woods #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 762 pages
Review: TBD
His Grace, the Duke by Emily Rath—☆3.0 Complete
Genre: Historical Romance
Book #1 Rating: Beautiful Things ☆3.75
Series: Second Sons #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 HOT
Tropes: Regency/Georgian/Victorian Period, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Royal/Commoner, "Male, Male, Male, Female (MMMF)", "Male, Male Relationship (MM)", MC has a Tragic Past, Why Choose, Reverse Harem, FMC Nurses the MMC Back to Life, Spanking, Voyeurism, MC is/has a Guardian, Friendship Group, Friends to Lovers, MCs were Childhood Friends, Touch Her and Die Vibes, Obsessive MMC, Protective MMC, Sassy Heroine, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", "Mysterious, Brooding (MMC)", Menage, Arranged Marriage, FMC with Sexual Confidence, Forced Proximity
Pages: 549 pages
Review: Low stakes, high smut. The big centerpiece of the book, Burke’s engagement to the gorgon, didn’t include any scheming. The group talked a big game, but worked very little. I would have loved to see them setting Olivia up in more 'meet-cute' situations with bachelors. Or see how they're talking her up at the gaming tables. It was all very hidden and the reader was kept in the house. George was fantastic in this one, honestly. He improved from the first book. Overall, while I generally like why choose and I liked these characters, I didn't think it was as good as book 1.
Kings of Lockdown by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti—☆3.75 Complete
Genre: Dark Romance
Book #1 Rating: Kings of Quarantine ☆3.5
Series: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #2
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 Hot
Tropes: Academic Setting, Dark Academia, Student/Teacher, Bully Romance, Redemption, Forgiveness Arc, Kidnapping, FMC Gives Herself as Payment, Rich/Wealthy MMC, Quarantine Romance, MC is trapped, Secrets, MC has a Secret Past, MMC Teaches FMC How to Fight, Secret/Elite Society, Power Struggle, Survival, Revenge, Enemies to Lovers, Emotional Abuse, Bad Boy/Good Girl, MMC Previously Abused, Found Family, Shunned FMC, Obsessive MMC, Protective MMC, "Smart, Strong, Independent FMC", FMC & MMC Enter Into A Contract, FMC with Sexual Confidence, MMC with Sexual Confidence, Reverse Harem, Why Choose, Spanking, Tortured MMC, Captive Falls for Captor (Not Stockholm Syndrom), Villain Becomes MMC, Forbidden Love Interest, Forced Roommates, Forced Proximity, Hate to Love You, Win her Back, One Night Stand, Slow Burn, Only One Bed, Loss of Parent (Death), Loss of Sibling (Death)
Pages: 588 pages
Review: Oooo things picked up! The plot is moving, the spice got spicier, the angst got angstier, and the boys somehow became a little human. This book uncovers a lot more of the motivations and dirty histories to make you feel connected to the MCs. And fuck the Unspeakables. It genuinely is hard to watch Tatum keep breaking the ‘rules’ and incurring their wrath, but that’s her strategy to break them down. And it works.
The Night Prince by Lauren Palphreyman—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: The Wolf King ☆3.75
Series: The Wolf King #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 487 pages
Review: TBD
Obsessively Yours by Jamie Applegate Hunter—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Viciously Yours ☆4.0
Series: Fae Kings of Eden #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 444 pages
Review: TBD
Splintered Kingdom by Gretchen Powell Fox—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Smoke and Scar ☆4.0
Series: Shattered Crown #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 651 pages
Review: TBD
A Storm in Every Heart by Kate King—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: A Thorn in Every Heart ☆4.5
Series: Enchanted Legacies #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 489 pages
Review: TBD
The Swan by Allison Carr Waetcher—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: The Consulate ☆4.0
Series: The World of the Orphium Maere #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 350 pages
Review: TBD
Veradel by Mariah Montoya & Grace Pearce—☆TBD
Genre: TBD
Book #1 Rating: Xantera ☆4.0
Series: Guardians & Monsters #2
Spice: 🔥 TBD
Tropes: TBD
Pages: 363 pages
Review: TBD