The “Knitting in the City” series is perfect for those who love stories about intelligent women and their lives. Penny Reid is not your average romance author. A self-proclaimed nerd and former biomedical researcher, Reid turned her quirky brain and love for smart storytelling into a thriving romance empire. Known for her “brainy” characters, awkward charm, and delicious slow burns, she crafts stories that feel equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. Her books are what happens when rom-coms meet spreadsheets, sarcasm, and serious emotional depth.
Penny Reid Series Overview: Smart Girls with Lots of Yarn
“Knitting in the City” is a charming series about Chicago friends bonding over yarn and life. Each book follows one of the members of the knitting group as she stumbles (and knits) her way through love, heartbreak, and sometimes international espionage (yes, really).
Themes you’ll find:
- Found family and deep female friendships.
- Brainy banter and intellectual chemistry.
- Enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage, second chances, and more.
- Realistic emotional growth and satisfying, slow-burn romance.
- Cozy vibes with a side of chaos.
Book-by-Book Breakdown
Knitting in the City: Neanderthal Seeks Human
- Genre: Contemporary, Rom-Com, New Adult
- Pages: 402 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Goodreads: 3.88 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Janie Morris is a quirky, trivia-spouting heroine who can’t seem to keep her facts or her feelings in check, especially around the enigmatic Quinn “Sir McHotpants” Sullivan. Following a tumultuous day marked by a breakup, job loss, and public humiliation, Janie believes she has reached her lowest point. But Quinn keeps appearing in her life, mystifying and maddeningly attractive.
During their intertwining lives, Janie has to overcome countless insecurities alongside trust issues, all with the aid of a susceptible pretty boy. The sassy and clever banter is a neat finishing touch to the unignorable bond full of chemistry that takes control of the zealous series.
Why I loved it: Janie’s weird trivia tangents are gold, and Quinn’s quiet devotion is a literal swoon.
Friends Without Benefits
- Genre: Contemporary, Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance
- Pages: 404 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Goodreads: 3.93 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Elizabeth Finney has sarcasm for days, a broken heart she pretends doesn’t exist, and an ironclad rulebook for emotional detachment. Nico Manganiello, her childhood nemesis and now a charming heartthrob doctor, wrecks all her plans, especially the one where she never falls in love again. Their shared past is layered with grief, misunderstanding, and unresolved longing, making their present-day interactions delightfully tense. Elizabeth’s control crumbles under Nico’s influence. This second-chance romance brings a mix of courage, vulnerability, and raw sizzling spark that refuses to fade away.
Why I loved it: Their emotional baggage makes every sarcastic jab that much sweeter.
Knitting in the City: Love Hacked
- Genre: Contemporary, Rom-Com, New Adult
- Pages: 396 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4 Stars
- Goodreads: 4.10 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Therapist Sandra Fielding is a relationship expert, at least on paper. In reality, every date she goes on ends in tears (the person’s, not hers). Enter Alex, her snarky, mysterious, much-too-young waiter. What begins as a reckless, post-date disaster hookup slowly turns into something much deeper and more dangerous. A man upends Sandra’s orderly world, challenging every theory she holds about love, safety, and vulnerability. Their age difference, his secrets, and her emotional barriers create a romantic journey that is both tender and explosive. This is Reid’s most unpredictable pairing yet, and it works.
Why I loved it: Alex is mystery personified, and Sandra’s self-discovery arc hits hard.
Beauty and the Mustache
- Genre: Contemporary, Slow Burn, New Adult
- Pages: 376 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Goodreads: 4.20 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Ashley Winston left her small-town life and scruffy brothers behind for the glamorous escape of Chicago. But when a family crisis pulls her back to Tennessee, she’s forced to face everything she ran from, including the infuriatingly serene, poetry-spouting game warden, Drew Runous. Drew is a walking contradiction: gruff, kind, sexy, and maddeningly thoughtful.
Ashley’s grief, Drew’s quiet patience, and a rekindled connection with her beardy brothers make this book a deeply emotional standout. With humor, heart, and poetic warmth, this entry expands the knitting universe and connects beautifully with Reid’s beloved “Winston Brothers” series.
Why I loved it: One word: Drew. Also? The discussion includes the Winston brothers as well. They are all part of the Winston family.
Knitting in the City: Happily Ever Ninja
- Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Adult
- Pages: 308 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Goodreads: 4.08 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Fiona Archer is a wife, mother, and career ninja, or at least Greg, her globe-trotting, workaholic husband, suspects she is. After years of marital stability edged with growing distance, a family emergency pushes Fiona into action, unleashing skills no suburban mom should possess. This intense journey forces Fiona and Greg to reevaluate their relationship. The portrayal of enduring love’s gritty fight for survival is humorous yet fierce. Deeply affirming nonetheless.
Why I loved it: Mature love with equal parts sass and suspense? Sign me up.
Dating-ish
- Genre: Contemporary, Friends-to-Lovers, Adult
- Pages: 354 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.75 Stars
- Goodreads: 4.20 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Marie Harris has officially given up on dating. After enduring the worst first date of her life, she’s ready to outsource romance entirely, with cuddling apps, affirmation coaches, and maybe even orgasm meditation. But her “worst date ever,” Matt, turns out to be a socially awkward scientist who challenges everything she thought she wanted.
Their slow-burn relationship unfolds with sharp banter, emotional honesty, and philosophical questions about love, intimacy, and the human need for connection. “Dating-ish” delivers more than romance; it’s a thought-provoking, unexpectedly moving journey that explores the blurry lines between artificial affection and the real thing.
Why I loved it: The romantic tension + Artificial intelligence debates = Perfection.
Knitting in the City: Marriage of Inconvenience
- Genre: Contemporary, Friends-to-Lovers, Slow Burn
- Pages: 506 Pages
- Publisher: Cipher-naught
- My Rating: 4.5 Stars
- Goodreads: 4.08 Stars
- Buy Link: Amazon
Kat Tanner is a billionaire heiress in hiding, a woman with trust issues the size of her bank account, and a desperate need for a fake husband. Dan O’Malley is loyal, protective, and conveniently available. He’s also the only man Kat’s ever secretly crushed on. What begins as a strategic sham turns deliciously complicated as the line between fake and real begins to blur.
Dan isn’t the indifferent, emotionally neutral partner she expected; he’s something much more dangerous to her heart. With sizzling chemistry, emotional depth, and a delightful dash of chaos, this friends-to-lovers, marriage-of-convenience tale is pure magic.
Why I loved it: Fake marriage + One-sided crush that isn’t so one-sided = 10/10 chaos.
Wait, There’s More! Meet the Winston Brothers
Can’t get enough of these characters? Good news: Penny Reid wasn’t done with them either. “Beauty and the Mustache” introduces the Winston family and Ashley’s bearded, swoon-worthy brothers. The Penny Reid series launches the “Winston Brothers” spin-off series.
The series gives each Winston sibling their time in the spotlight with more small-town charm, emotional punch, and Reid’s signature wit. It’s the ultimate follow-up for fans craving more heart, more humor, and more beards.
If you love “knitting in the city,” try these too:
- The Winston Brothers Series by Penny Reid.
- The Bergman Brothers by Chloe Liese: Family, warmth, and neurodivergent rep.
- The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams: Humor and emotional growth from the male POV.
- The Friend Zone series by Abby Jimenez: Smart banter and big feelings.
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: Brainy characters + emotional intimacy.
Final Thoughts
Penny Reid’s “Knitting in the City” is a heartfelt romance series that celebrates witty, loving, and chaotic women who navigate love while managing their beautifully messy lives. Prepare for a comforting, hilarious, and romantic binge-read. Ready to fall in love, one stitch at a time? Grab the full series on Amazon/your preferred retailer, or check them out on Kindle Unlimited. Don’t forget to follow Penny Reid on social media for updates, bonus content, and more swoony extras!
Tell us in the comments below which book in the series steals your heart, or if it is more than one book.
