Home Viral Pop Culture 2

The Ultimate Guide To Renee Carlino Books: 12 Emotional Rollercoasters Ranked & Reviewed (Latest Update 2025)

• minute read
Contents

Renee Carlino has established herself as a powerhouse in contemporary romance and New Adult fiction, crafting deeply emotional narratives that explore the complexities of love, fate, and missed connections. As of December 22, 2025, her body of work spans over a decade, featuring bestselling novels like Before We Were Strangers and Swear on This Life, and even an exciting film adaptation directed by Hollywood star Julia Stiles. This in-depth guide provides the most current and complete list of her books, diving into the emotional themes that make her a must-read author for fans of heartfelt, second-chance romance.

The latest update in the Renee Carlino universe is the continued success of her 2024 novel, This Used to Be Us, and the growing buzz around the cinematic version of one of her most beloved stories, solidifying her transition from bestselling author to a major voice in modern storytelling. Her unique background as a screenwriter also lends a distinct, visual, and fast-paced quality to her prose, ensuring every page is a captivating journey for the reader.

Renee Carlino: Biography and Complete Works Profile

Renée Carlino is a USA Today bestselling author renowned for her emotionally resonant standalone novels. Born and raised in Southern California, her background as a professional screenwriter heavily influences her writing style, giving her novels a cinematic scope and compelling dialogue. She is celebrated for tackling complex themes—such as enduring love, grief, and the power of art—with a raw and authentic voice. Carlino's work is typically categorized as Contemporary Women's Fiction and New Adult Romance.

  • Full Name: Renée Carlino
  • Occupation: Author, Screenwriter
  • Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction
  • Notable Works: Before We Were Strangers, Swear on This Life, Wish You Were Here
  • Debut Novel: Sweet Thing (2013)
  • Latest Novel: This Used to Be Us (2024)
  • Film Adaptation: Wish You Were Here (directed by Julia Stiles)
  • Key Themes: Second-chance romance, missed connections, fate, music, artistic passion, personal growth.

The Definitive List of Renee Carlino Books in Chronological Order

Carlino’s novels are almost entirely standalone, meaning you can jump in anywhere without worrying about series continuity. However, reading them in publication order offers a fascinating look at her evolution as a writer, from her New Adult roots to her more mature, complex contemporary fiction. Here is the complete list of her major novels and novellas.

1. Sweet Thing (2013)

Her debut novel, Sweet Thing, follows Mia Kelly, a talented musician who finds herself drawn to a rock star, Will Ryan. This book is a quintessential New Adult romance, mixing music, passion, and the tumultuous journey of finding your voice and your love in your early twenties. It was a massive hit that launched her career.

2. Sweet Little Thing (Novella, 2014)

A companion novella that revisits the world and characters of Sweet Thing, providing a sweet, short glimpse into their continuing love story.

3. Nowhere But Here (2014)

A story about a woman, Lela, who takes a spontaneous trip to Italy and meets a charming, mysterious stranger, only to discover their connection is far more complicated than a vacation fling. It explores themes of identity and the courage to follow an unexpected path.

4. After the Rain (2014)

This novel is a deeper dive into emotional complexity, focusing on a woman dealing with grief and a chance encounter that brings unexpected healing and a new perspective on life and love.

5. Before We Were Strangers (2015)

Widely considered her magnum opus, this is the ultimate second-chance romance. It tells the story of Grace and Matt, two childhood sweethearts who reconnect fifteen years later in New York City. The novel masterfully uses dual timelines to explore how life’s decisions and missed opportunities shape a lifelong love. It is a powerful exploration of fate, enduring love, and the "what ifs" that haunt us.

6. Swear on This Life (2016)

This novel introduces a unique meta-narrative: a struggling writer, Emiline, discovers a bestselling novel that appears to be a fictionalized account of her own difficult childhood. She must track down the mysterious author, J. Colby, to confront the past and the person who knows her secrets better than anyone. It’s a compelling blend of mystery, romance, and self-discovery.

7. Lucian Divine (2017)

A departure into a more fantastical realm, Lucian Divine is a love story with a twist. It centers on a woman who believes she is being guided by a guardian angel, Lucian, only to meet a man who looks exactly like him. It’s a charming, fate-driven romance that questions the boundaries between reality and belief.

8. Wish You Were Here (2017)

This book, which deals with themes of artistic passion and unexpected romance, is about a painter who falls for a charming bartender. It gained massive renewed interest recently due to its adaptation into a major motion picture, which is an exciting development for Carlino’s fans.

9. Blind Kiss (2018)

A story about a woman who begins a relationship with a stranger she meets in a bar, only to discover he is a famous, reclusive musician. The novel explores the idea of loving someone for who they are, separate from their public persona, and the challenges of a relationship under the spotlight.

10. The Last Post (2019)

This novel delves into a modern love story that begins through an anonymous online connection. It’s a poignant exploration of how we connect in the digital age and the vulnerability required to transition an online bond into real-life intimacy.

11. Shopping For Love (Novella, 2021)

A sweet, swoony novella that provides a lighter, quick-read romance, perfect for fans of holiday-themed or meet-cute stories.

12. This Used to Be Us (2024)

Carlino’s most recent major novel, released in 2024, continues her tradition of exploring complex relationships. It’s a story about a couple who separate and then reconnect years later, forced to confront the reasons they broke up and the people they’ve become. It’s a fresh take on the second-chance trope, focusing on personal growth and mature love.

The Cinematic Buzz: The Julia Stiles Connection

One of the most significant and current pieces of news for Renée Carlino fans is the adaptation of her 2017 novel, Wish You Were Here, into a feature film.

The film adaptation is particularly notable because it marks the directorial debut of actress Julia Stiles, who also co-wrote the screenplay. This collaboration highlights Carlino’s strength as a visual storyteller, with her work translating seamlessly from page to screen. The novel’s plot, which centers on a painter named Charlotte who re-evaluates her life after a chance encounter, is perfectly suited for a heartfelt romantic drama. The involvement of a major star like Julia Stiles, both behind and in front of the camera, is a testament to the emotional depth and wide appeal of Carlino’s narrative.

Why Carlino’s Novels Resonate So Deeply (Topical Authority Entities)

Renée Carlino's enduring popularity stems from her consistent ability to deliver stories that feel both epic and intimately personal. Her novels are saturated with key topical entities and themes that keep readers coming back for more:

  • The Second-Chance Trope: Carlino is arguably the queen of the "second-chance romance," a subgenre that explores missed connections and the powerful pull of first love (e.g., Before We Were Strangers).
  • Artistic Passion: Many of her protagonists are creatives—musicians, painters, or writers—which allows her to explore the intersection of love, art, and personal identity (e.g., Sweet Thing, Wish You Were Here, Swear on This Life).
  • Fate vs. Free Will: A recurring philosophical question in her work is whether destiny or personal choice guides us to our true love, often manifested through chance encounters and near-misses.
  • Emotional Vulnerability: Carlino is praised for her ability to write male and female characters who are deeply flawed and emotionally complex, fostering a strong connection with the reader.
  • The Dual Perspective: She often utilizes alternating perspectives or past/present timelines to build suspense and give a full, panoramic view of a relationship's history, a technique that adds significant depth to her storytelling.

For readers who enjoy authors like Colleen Hoover, Taylor Jenkins Reid, or Jojo Moyes, Carlino offers a similar blend of high-stakes emotion, real-world struggles, and unforgettable love stories. While her latest novel, This Used to Be Us, is still relatively new, fans are already eagerly awaiting any announcement for her next project, likely to be a 2026 release, which is expected to continue her legacy of delivering beautifully crafted, heartbreakingly real romance.

The Ultimate Guide to Renee Carlino Books: 12 Emotional Rollercoasters Ranked & Reviewed (Latest Update 2025)
books by renee carlino
books by renee carlino

Detail Author:

  • Name : Julian Thiel
  • Username : elnora.bogan
  • Email : lyric49@christiansen.com
  • Birthdate : 1976-07-29
  • Address : 70918 Labadie Corner Elmoreland, WI 79207
  • Phone : +1.251.892.5883
  • Company : Kulas, Beatty and Anderson
  • Job : Tax Examiner
  • Bio : Facilis perferendis quibusdam voluptas beatae rerum quo recusandae. Dolore illo sed et veniam perferendis. Eaque cum repellat doloribus impedit eum.

Socials

instagram:

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@conroyc
  • username : conroyc
  • bio : In distinctio deleniti cumque id fugiat culpa aut. Porro dolores laborum quia.
  • followers : 4797
  • following : 2552

linkedin:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/candelario_conroy
  • username : candelario_conroy
  • bio : Reiciendis consequatur at voluptas magnam. Dolores ipsa inventore officiis sit vitae ipsum. Iste laudantium voluptas qui itaque autem incidunt.
  • followers : 360
  • following : 2604

facebook:

Random Posts