What makes a self-published romance author sell millions of books, land a major traditional publishing deal, and build a fan base that treats every new release like a holiday? For Ana Huang, the answer comes down to one thing: she wrote the kind of books readers wanted to binge, and she wrote them fast.
Huang is a Chinese-American author of contemporary romance who went from writing around a corporate job to becoming one of the most talked-about names in new adult and dark romance. Her books are steamy, dramatic, and full of morally gray men in suits. They are also interconnected, which means once you start, you are probably reading ten of them.
This guide breaks down her catalog, her series order, what each book is actually like, and where new readers should start.
Who Is Ana Huang?
Ana Huang writes contemporary romance with a heavy dose of tension, wealth, and complicated family dynamics. She began writing while working a corporate job, and her first Twisted book was self-published in 2021. That detail matters. Huang built her audience independently, without a publisher’s marketing machine behind her, and the readership grew largely through word of mouth and online book communities.
Her breakout came with the Twisted series, four interconnected standalones that follow different couples within the same friend group. From there she launched Kings of Sin, set in the same fictional world, with crossover characters that reward readers who pay attention.
Around 2023 to 2024, Bloomsbury acquired world rights to several of her titles for traditional re-release, and the Twisted series was reissued in traditional editions. For a self-published author, that arc, from uploading a manuscript to signing with a major publisher, is the dream narrative, and it is part of why her story gets told so often.
The Twisted Series, Explained
The Twisted series is where most readers begin. It has four books, each following a different couple, and they are best read in order even though each one stands alone. The friend group at the center of the series carries through all four, so the emotional payoff builds.
| Book | Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted Love | 2021 | Alex and Ava |
| Twisted Games | 2021 | Bridget and Rhys |
| Twisted Hate | 2022 | Jules and Josh |
| Twisted Lies | 2022 | Stella and Christian |
A quick note on reading order: publishing order is not the same as chronological order in every series, but for Twisted, publication order works fine. If you jump around, you will spoil character arcs from earlier books, especially the slow-burn setup that runs across the whole group.
What Makes Twisted Work
The series leans hard into tropes readers love: brother’s best friend, forbidden romance, grumpy-sunshine pairings, and the “he falls first and falls harder” dynamic. The men are wealthy, intense, and frequently frustrating. The women are not doormats, which is a big part of the appeal. Huang writes heroines with their own ambitions and sharp tongues.
The books are also explicit. They are frequently categorized as dark romance and new adult, and some retailers and libraries flag them accordingly. That categorization is descriptive rather than definitive, but readers should go in knowing the content is mature.
Kings of Sin: The Second Major Series
Kings of Sin is Huang’s second flagship series, and it is set in the same fictional universe as Twisted. Characters cross over, which is catnip for longtime readers.
| Book | Year |
|---|---|
| King of Wrath | 2022 |
| King of Pride | 2023 |
| King of Greed | 2023 |
| King of Sloth | 2024 |
| King of Envy | 2025 |
Each title centers on a different couple, and the series follows the same interconnected-standalone structure as Twisted. The tone is similar: high-stakes settings, powerful families, and romances that start with friction and end with obsession.
One practical tip here. If you are deciding between starting with Twisted or Kings of Sin, start with Twisted. The crossover moments in Kings of Sin land much harder if you already know the earlier characters, and reading them out of order means missing a lot of the inside jokes and emotional callbacks.
The If Love Duet and Other Works
Before Twisted took off, Huang published the If Love duet: If We Ever Meet Again (2020) and If the Sun Never Sets (2020). These are earlier works, and readers often describe them as a different flavor from the later series, more emotional and less trope-driven. They are worth reading if you have already burned through the big series and want more from the author.
There is also spin-off material connected to Twisted and at least one Kings of Sin novella, though details on those are less consistently documented. If you are hunting for completeness, check the author’s own site and the publisher’s catalog rather than relying on a single list.
How to Read Ana Huang Books in Order
Getting the order right saves you from spoilers and confusion. Here is a practical path.
- Start with Twisted Love. It sets up the friend group and the world.
- Continue through Twisted in publication order. Games, then Hate, then Lies.
- Move to Kings of Sin in publication order. Wrath first, then Pride, Greed, Sloth, and Envy.
- Circle back to the If Love duet if you want her earlier style.
- Check for novellas and spin-offs between major releases.
If you are the type of reader who likes to know how a series fits together before committing, this order keeps the crossovers intact. If you are a chaotic reader who jumps to whichever cover looks best, you will still enjoy the books, but you will lose some of the layered payoff.
Common Mistakes New Readers Make
A few things trip up first-timers, and they are easy to avoid.
Assuming the books are clean romance. They are not. The content is explicit, and the categorization as dark romance is not marketing fluff. Know what you are getting into.
Reading Kings of Sin first because the titles sound cooler. Understandable, but you will miss the crossover connections. Start with Twisted.
Expecting each book to be a direct sequel. These are interconnected standalones, not one continuous story. Each book resolves its own couple. That structure is why readers can binge them without a cliffhanger hangover, and it is also why some readers find the middle books slower.
Buying the wrong edition. Since the Bloomsbury reissue, some titles exist in both self-published and traditional editions. The story is the same, but covers and formatting differ. If you are collecting a matching set, check which edition you are buying before you click.
What Actually Works in Practice
The most reliable way to enjoy Huang’s catalog is to treat it as a reading project rather than a casual pick. The books reward momentum. Readers who read Twisted back to back tend to have a better experience than those who space them out over a year, because the character threads stay fresh.
Another practical tip: if you have textured or curly hair and you read in the bath (a common romance-reader habit), keep a microfiber towel and a wide-tooth comb nearby. It sounds unrelated, but anyone with 4c hair knows that a long soak plus a good book can turn into a detangling session if you are not careful. Same logic applies to readers with looser waves, like 2b hair, who often find that humidity and hot water are the real enemies of a smooth post-bath routine.
And if you are the kind of reader who tracks every release, keep an eye on the row of upcoming titles on the author’s site. Huang releases frequently, and new announcements tend to arrive without much warning.
Who Should Read Ana Huang?
Huang’s books suit readers who want fast-paced, emotional, trope-heavy romance with mature content and interconnected worlds. They are a strong fit if you enjoy series where side characters from book one become leads in book three, and where the friend group feels like a real circle rather than a plot device.
They are a weaker fit if you prefer clean romance, slow literary pacing, or standalone stories with no connection to anything else. There is no shame in either camp. Knowing your taste saves money and disappointment.
How Huang’s Career Fits the Bigger Picture
Huang’s rise reflects a broader shift in publishing. Self-published romance authors have built massive audiences through direct connection with readers, and traditional publishers have taken notice. Bloomsbury’s acquisition of several Huang titles for re-release is one visible example of that crossover.
Specific sales figures for Huang circulate widely online, but they are rarely tied to a primary source, so treat big numbers with caution. What is well documented is the trajectory: self-published in 2021, traditionally reissued within a few years, and a steadily growing catalog. There has also been reporting of screen adaptation interest in the Twisted series, but no confirmed deal should be treated as fact until an official announcement exists.
Conclusion
Ana Huang’s catalog is built on a simple, effective formula: interconnected standalone romances, intense couples, and a world that keeps expanding. Start with Twisted, move to Kings of Sin, and circle back to the If Love duet when you want something earlier and softer. Read in publication order, know that the content is explicit, and check which edition you are buying.
The appeal is not mystery. It is momentum. Huang writes books that are easy to start and hard to put down, and that is exactly why her readers keep coming back for the next row of releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Ana Huang book to start with?
Start with Twisted Love. It is the first book in the Twisted series, it introduces the friend group, and it sets up the world that Kings of Sin later builds on. Reading it first keeps the crossovers intact.
Do I need to read Twisted before Kings of Sin?
It is strongly recommended. Kings of Sin is set in the same fictional world and includes crossover characters. Reading Twisted first makes those moments land properly instead of feeling like random name-drops.
Are Ana Huang books clean romance?
No. Her books are frequently categorized as dark romance and new adult, and they contain explicit content. Some retailers and libraries flag them accordingly. Readers should go in expecting mature themes.
How many books are in the Twisted series?
Four: Twisted Love, Twisted Games, Twisted Hate, and Twisted Lies, published between 2021 and 2022. Each follows a different couple, but they are interconnected standalones best read in order.
What is the If Love duet about?
The If Love duet consists of If We Ever Meet Again and If the Sun Never Sets, both published in 2020. They are earlier works with a more emotional tone and are a good follow-up once you have finished the major series.
Are Ana Huang’s books being made into a TV show or movie?
There has been reporting of screen adaptation interest in the Twisted series, but no completed deal is confirmed. Until an official announcement is made, treat adaptation talk as unverified.
One last note on editions and availability: because Huang’s backlist moved from self-published releases to traditional reissues, availability can vary by region and format. Audiobook narrations and translated editions have appeared on different schedules, so a title that is easy to find in one country may be delayed in another. If a specific cover or narrator matters to you, verify the listing before ordering rather than assuming all versions are interchangeable. With that caveat in mind, the reading path above holds: Twisted first, Kings of Sin next, and the If Love duet whenever you want to see where Huang’s voice began.
