6 Questions to Ask Before Combining Your Finances

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You can ask all the right questions when you're dating, know your partner's love language, and even be good at intimacy, but talking about money with your partner can still feel like an uncomfortable topic — especially if it's not something the two of you have discussed before or you have significant debt. Whether you're engaged or just wanted to take your relationship to the next level, it's important to be honest and open about money, discussing in detail what it would look like to combine finances. There's no one way to do it — all that matters is that it works for you both. Ahead, find six questions to ask before merging financially with your significant other.

​How much money do you make each year?

You may already know the answer to this question, but if you don’t, it’s a must-know — a prerequisite, really, to the broader money conversation. And while it’s typically a straightforward answer, it's not for everyone. If you or your partner is a freelancer or business owner, be sure to discuss income fluctuations — both monthly and annually — to get a better sense of how lower-earning periods are handled.

How much debt do you have? How much in savings?

Debt is one of the more uncomfortable topics, but it's a vital number to know before merging financially. Write out exactly how much debt you each have — whether it’s credit cards, student loans, mortgages, or a car loan. Then jot down how much you have in savings, 401ks, IRAs, and any other investment accounts as well as the estimated value of any assets owned (car, house, etc.). This is also a good time to check credit scores. While many credit cards offer credit tracking, you can download free credit reports on sites like Annual Credit Report, Credit Karma, and Nerd Wallet.

If you'd like to boil everything down to one number, you can determine your net worth by subtracting debt from assets. Similar net worths can make things easier because you both arrive on equal footing; however, this number may not show the whole picture. One of you may have slowly saved over the years while the other may have inherited money or cashed in stock options from work. Discuss how you arrived at your present financial situation and what you see for yourself going forward.

If your net worths and/or credit scores are significantly different, figure out what you need to feel comfortable moving forward. You may decide you want to lump all your debt together and tackle it as a couple. Or you may choose to keep it separate and pay it off individually. Both are perfectly fine choices — what matters is that you agree and that it's a viable plan for you both.

How would you describe your spending habits?

You’ll probably have some sense of how your partner spends money after spending so much time together, but you may not know how they view it. For example, you may see your partner as an emotional spender, but there could be a method to their apparent madness that you’re unaware of. Knowing what that method is will help you understand how their mind works around money and strategize ways to work together better.

If you’re having trouble answering this question, try this financial personality quiz developed by Goldman Sachs and the company behind the Myers-Briggs personality test. It’ll tell you if you’re a confident money manager, values-based planner, short-term strategist, or laid-back balancer as well as how to leverage your tendencies to your advantage.

This is also a good time to talk about budgets: Ask your partner if they have one. If so, how well are they able to follow it? If you both have existing budgets, an easy way to get a handle on spending is to compare the two. As long as the budgets accurately reflect your spending, they'll illuminate plenty about your money habits. If you don't have a budget, try going through your spending and categorizing it — either manually or using an app like Mint — for the last six months to a year.

When you imagine our finances combined, what does it look like?

Combined finances means different things to different people, so you want to make sure you’re on the same page with your partner. It could mean a complete merger — all checking, savings, and investment accounts are joint. Or, it could simply mean sharing a checking account for joint expenses (rent/mortgage, food, utilities, etc.) and/or savings for things you want to plan for (vacation, wedding, down payment for a house) while maintaining separate accounts for personal spending.

The latter is a smart way to dip your toe into joint finances without going all in, and it’s ideal for couples new to sharing money or that have very different spending habits. For many couples, it’s a forever arrangement; for others, it’s just until they get more comfortable with combined finances or decide to take their commitment to the next level.

Another thing to talk about is how expenses will be divided. If one of you earns significantly more than the other, it may be tricky to divide everything down the middle. You might want to consider dividing expenses based on income — so if one of you makes $60,000 and the other makes $40,000, the split could be 60/40.

What are your financial goals?

Financial goals dictate if, and how, one saves. They can be very motivating, so if one, or both, of you have struggled to save in the past, getting excited about something in the future can help. But it's important to be aligned on said goals when you're building a life together: If one of you is determined to put as much as possible in their 401k and the other is focused on a down payment for a house, you'll want to discuss what needs to change to make both feel attainable.

Setting a few joint goals can be a good first step in joining finances. Consider creating (or strengthening) an emergency fund together, working on a down payment for a house, or saving for a wedding, honeymoon, or just a really amazing vacation. Working toward a shared financial goal together will reveal more about how you each handle money and problems that arise, giving you both an opportunity to work through them together.

Let us know how you're navigating joint finances on Twitter, and subscribe to our email newsletter for more relationship and money advice!

Millie Bobby Brown's name has been on everyone's lips between the premiere of TheElectric State and shutting down negative comments from body shamers. Plus, she's still been reveling in the new marriage glow with her husband Jake Bongiovi, and she didn't mind revealing why she didn't let age stop her from becoming his wife "so young." Her appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddypodcast left us buzzing with newfound respect for the actress because her charm and levelheadedness about her marriage confidently says, "I'm secure with my relationship status — are you?"

Scroll to see exactly what the Stranger Things actress said about what led to her marriage to Jake Bongiovi!

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Listening to Alex Cooper's interview with Millie Bobby Brown was like hearing two besties catch up which is why Call Her Daddy is one of the best podcasts ever. They covered topics such as Millie's life as a child actor, her life with "25 farm animals," and her marriage!

Knowing what fans and listeners alike are curious about, Alex asked about the turning point in Millie and Jake's relationship that signaled the actress had found her forever person. "We're been together for four years, so I guess maybe when we moved in together," Mille said.

She also said, "We had dogs together, and we were taking care of our animals, and we started living this day-to-day life, and I thought, ‘Oh, I really don’t think I could ever see you as anything else. I don’t want to be with anyone else ever again. I don’t want to date, I don’t want to meet anyone, I want you.'"

To prove she wasn't looking at their relationship with rose-colored glasses on, Millie recalled things she and Jake aligned on. "When we started talking about politics and how we want to raise our kids...we started talking about really, really big things that I’d obviously never spoken about...But to be able to even think about those things, I was like, ‘S---. Okay, maybe I do want to be with him forever.'"

But she didn't know if Jake was thinking about her or marriage the way she was. "We talked about marriage, but I didn’t really know when it was going to be. And then, when he proposed, I was like, it makes sense. Everything aligned.”

Concerning their age, Millie opened up about her and Jake's parents. She said, "His parents got married really young — they’re high school sweethearts," before sharing her "parents got married really young...they were 19."

For the lovebirds, it didn't seem like an odd thing to do based on the examples they had. "We had really great role models growing up, so we didn't see any different. We didn't get jaded by all the other stuff, you know?”

Watch Millie Bobby Brown's Full 'Call Her Daddy' Episode

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This may sound biased, but we think this episode is golden and shows how great of a person Millie Bobby Brown is. We're already on our second listen so we think you should play it during the workday if you're in need of good vibes.

P.S. This episode is NSFW, so wear your headphones, please!

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Barbie Ferreira and Sydney Sweeney worked the Euphoria fandom into a tizzy when Sydney posted an Instagram photo of the duo together. They're all smiles in the photo, which Sydney captions, "as sweet as apple pie." Well, Barbie's all smiles when I bring it up in our interview — and she spills on whether she'd work with Sydney again.

Here's what Barbie Ferreira had to say about that Sydney Sweeney reunion — and if she'd work with her Euphoria costar again.

Barbie Ferreira felt "supported" by Sydney Sweeney at her recent Broadway show.

When I bring up how excited the internet was over her photo with Sydney Sweeney during our conversation for her new movie Bob Trevino Likes It, Barbie can't help but laugh. And as for whether we'll see her onscreen with Syd post-Euphoria?

"I hope so!" Barbie Ferreira tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I love Sydney. She came to see my play on Broadway Cult of Love, shout out. She was shooting in Jersey and then I think she had a short day and called me, and she was like, 'Can I get tickets for tonight?' I had no idea that she was gonna come. It was so beautiful to be supported like that, especially like in a live theater. It was unexpected and I'm just so happy she came to support."

She's also on good terms with the rest of the 'Euphoria' cast.

Barbie, who played Kat Hernandez in HBO's Euphoria from 2019 to 2022, announced her exit from the show after season 2 — and rumors started swirling that a fallout with creator Sam Levinson meant reduced screen time in the second season. But according to the actress, Kat's arc had run its course.

In April 2023, Barbie told Dax Shephard that "both parties knew that I really wanted to be able to not be the fat best friend. I don’t want to play that, and I think they didn’t want that either.”

“I think instead of me kind of lingering around for nine months, I think it was best for both of us that we just ended it there,” she also told The Viall Files podcast in March 2025. “Of course it's hard — I love Euphoria. I love Kat. Kat means the world to me. I mean, I spent so many years pouring everything into her, but it's like, you don't want to ruin a good thing."

She also goes on to explain that “it was a mutual decision" and that "everyone decided that...there was nowhere to go."

“I saw Hunter [Schafer] the other day, I saw Maude [Apatow] the other day, Sydney [Sweeney] came to see my play,” she continues. “Whoever is in town, we always try to see each other."

And you can see Barbie Ferreira's new movie now!

Roadside Attractions

In her new role as Lily Trevino in Bob Trevino Likes It, Barbie Ferreira plays a grieving young woman who's disowned by her father, then forms a Facebook friendship with a man who shares his name. The movie catapulted me back to my 13th birthday when I could finally sign up for a profile, and Barbie also looks on the social media platform fondly.

"It's been making a little bit of a renaissance for me because of Facebook Marketplace," she admits (she loves to sell furniture online). "It's to connect with family and people that you love, that is the best outlet for it. So I think it's actually one of the more wholesome social media outlets. It's not about followers, it's not about who has the most likes. It's about connecting with your friends and family, so I think it's a kind of wholesome we should bring back."

If you're also craving something wholesome, check out Bob Trevino Likes It — it's a real tearjerker!

Millions of people are painfully aware of the struggles that come with being an adult in today's economy (hello, cost of eggs?!).

The average salary in the United States is just over $66,600, according to data from the Social Security Administration. Meanwhile, mortgage rates are still above 6%, and food prices have risen a whopping 31% since 2019.

Being able to afford outings like date nights or brand-name clothing, let alone going on family vacations or buying a home, has become a privilege. But, for people who grew up in affluent households that didn't have to worry about finances, privilege can be an invisible force that shapes their lives in ways they don't even realize.

When you grow up surrounded by other individuals just like you, it's easy to assume that everyone has the same opportunities. However, once you venture outside your "bubble," you might experience a wake-up call or a defining moment that opens your eyes to the disparities that exist beyond your own upbringing.

So, people who grew up wealthy recently took to Reddit to share their own personal wake-up calls, which made them realize just how privileged they were compared to others. Here are 10 of the most intriguing revelations.

Scroll to see the wake-up calls that made these wealthy people finally see the real world...

1. Not everyone's parents can put them through college. 

"My parents are wealthy, but I grew up in a place where many of my peers' parents were super, duper, crazy wealthy, so I had a skewed understanding of wealth," shared one user.

"It was really eye-opening for me when I went to college. I didn't have to take out student loans; my parents were able to just pay for it. But I had friends who, even with financial aid, had to work their [behinds] off year-round to cover the cost of school. I realized pretty quickly just how privileged I was and that I did, in fact, grow up with wealth."

2. Country clubs aren't the only kind of "clubs" out there. 

"When I was confused about people on Maury complaining their spouse was at 'the club,' and I couldn't figure out what type of country club would let people like that through the front security gate," admitted another user.

3. Not everyone views their parents as good role models. 

"Becoming an adult and realizing that I have extremely good role models as parents because when they have disagreements, they talk them out, and I have never, ever, heard them argue or badmouth each other," one user revealed.

"I also realized that as a kid, my parents got me mental health help that I needed even though it was expensive and continued that care for as long as I have needed it," they added.

"A third [wake-up call] that doesn't seem like much but has had a huge impact was being taught financial literacy from a young age; to budget my money and only buy the things I really, really want."

4. Many people have never left the country.  

"My parents loved to travel. By the time I was 16, I had been to every continent aside from Antarctica. I didn't realize that this was privileged behavior until I went to university, and most of the guys I met had never left the country," a user shared.

"In fact, I grew up thinking I was less privileged because everyone at my school was just obscenely rich. Like, all their stuff was high-end designer stuff while I was in Converse."

5. Some families cannot afford to have pets. 

"My dad was an engineer, so professional wealth, but... probably hearing about a kid whose family had to give his dog away due to the cost in elementary school," another user remembered.

"Giving away our dog wasn't on the radar or even on the table. But it was only out of the question because my parents had the money for it to be out of the question."

6. Owning multiple properties is not the norm. 

"When I learned that not everyone has a summer cottage or trust fund, and not all grandparents have weekend and summer homes," a user noted.

7. Exposure to cultural education isn't a given. 

"I didn't think I grew up in a wealthy family, but when I started high school, I was part of a group of girls who became close friends with me. Apparently, they thought it was very weird that I knew things that I considered cultural knowledge, like the history of some important building in the city or the fact that I actually knew about art and went to museums quite often," detailed a user.

"All this because my parents made me go to museums and theaters my whole life growing up. Apparently, that's not a normal thing for normal parents to do with their kids, and asking your parents if they can take you to the ballet is not something a teenager would normally ask."

8. Some people have never been able to fill up their tanks at the gas station. 

"In college, I went on a road trip with friends, and one asked how much money he should put in the gas tank. I told him to fill it up," recalled a user.

"He kept asking, 'Okay, how much should I pay?' and I kept saying, 'Fill it up!' It turned out he had only ever put $10 to $15 at a time, and it had never occurred to me that some people never fill their gas tanks to the top."

9. Seeing how families abroad make do.

"I realized how privileged I was when I spent a summer with my great-grandmother in a small village in rural Hungary. No indoor running water, the only phone was at the church, and everyone came out to touch the rental car we drove there in. This was in the late 1980s," recalled a user.

10. Learning that not everyone takes their first flight as a child.

"I have been flying around the world since I was 4 months old. When I was 16, my friend told me she'd fly for the first time in an airplane, and I was shocked," said another user.

"I told my dad that I couldn't believe it took her 16 years to fly! I got a stern talk after; my dad is very humble despite it all."

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While there are plenty of vacation reads to pick over the summer, Elin Hilderbrand books are some of the best IMO. They highlight the highs and lows of two opposing seasons — summer and winter — and she never skimps on substance, relying on the island of Nantucket to serve as a mysterious location for her characters to get lost in.

With over 25 published stories, Hilderbrand's books are full of betrayal, retrospection, and romance — perfect for the frequent page-turner in you. So here are all of Elin Hilderbrand's books, fully in order, for you to work your way through from top to bottom!

Here's your full guide to Elin Hilderbrand's books, including The Perfect Couple and Swan Song.

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The Beach Club

The Beach Club may be set during the summer time, but there's nothing idyllic about the events that take place throughout it. Mack Petersen may have a cushy position as the manager of The Beach Club, but his position — and life — are constantly threatened by outside factors.

But he's not the only person dealing with various situations. It seems like The Beach Club is home to those who harbor secret feelings and desires that materialize in the form of a dangerous hurricane.

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Nantucket Nights

A group of friends involving Kayla, Antoinette, and Val have remained close over the years. Additionally, they've always come together to solidify their bond in their own special way. However, one of them mysteriously doesn't make it make from their nightly swim and it forces the remaining friends to deal with the effects of what happened.

They begin to slowly understand that their bond is much deeper than they realized and it's not for the reasons they always thought it was.

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Summer People

The Newtons have a tradition of spending time with each other during the summer and have always enjoyed what occurs during the time they're together. But tragedy strikes when Arch Newton is killed and his wife Beth is left to plan the festivities of the summer.

The family will learn firsthand how hard it is to keep secrets and betrayals a secret in this shocking novel.

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The Blue Bistro

Adrienne Dealey is no stranger to the hospitality industry, but decides it's time to start traveling from place-to-place after a while. Despite her dire financial situation, she lands a job at Thatcher Smith's popular restaurant the Blue Bistro. Her lack of experience doesn't seem to scare him and they eventually find themselves becoming closer the more time they spend together.

At the same time, Thatcher seems to have his eyes on Fiona — the Blue Bistro's chef. Adrienne has to decide what's worth pursuing in The Blue Bistro, but the decision will be tougher than she thinks.

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The Love Season

Nantucket seems to be home for secrets and changed lives in The Love Season. When Marguerite Beale — an amazingly talented former chef — reconnects with her goddaughter Renata Knox, she's not sure what to make of it. After all, they haven't seen each other in a while and it's revealed this is mostly due to a demand of Renata's father.

Their connection triggers something unexpected and shocking that they'll forever be changed by.

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Barefoot

The lives of three mothers are caught in the crossfire of the arrival of young Josh Flynn in Nantucket. He manages to touch each of them in some kind of way and it changes the plans they had to escape their individual troubles. It's a stark reminder that sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side.

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A Summer Affair

Claire is your typical people pleaser in A Summer Affair and nothing changes that until she meets Lock Dixon. He's the attractive billionaire whose path she would've never crossed had she not chosen to plan one of the biggest galas in Nantucket. As they continue to flirt with danger, Claire feels like she can't control what's going on anymore. Perhaps she doesn't mind for the first time in her life.

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The Castaways

Greg and Tess MacAvoy's last effort to save their marriage ends with their tragic deaths, and this leaves behind grieving loved ones. Seeking to find out what happened to them, their close friends begin finding clues that indicate something wasn't quite right while Grey and Tess were alive.

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The Island

Birdie Cousins is so focused on making sure her daughter Chess's wedding is as extravagant as possible that she feels thrown off course when Chess decides the wedding is off. Deciding everyone could use a break, Birdie rounds up her daughters and sister India to head to Tuckernuck Island for a summer vacation.

What unfolds over the course of the book are betrayals, tales of love, and more.

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Silver Girl

Meredith and her former best friend Constance Flute are having a hard time in life so they head to Nantucket for a last-minute getaway. However, they realize that trouble can follow you anywhere and they're both left to figure out how to move on with their lives.

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Summerland

Summerland is one of Elin Hilderbrand's most heartbreaking novels because it involves a group of high school friends who are forever affected by the death of someone in their circle. As everyone tries to understand what happened before the fatal car crash, things are revealed that will shake up a community's world.

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Beautiful Day

The Carmichaels and Grahams are getting ready to celebrate the upcoming merging of their respective families. Everything should feel great, but they're going completely wrong. It's not that the bride and groom are having issues, but it's the people close to them who are struggling with different things.

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The Matchmaker

Dabney Kimball is Nantuckey's resident matchmaker who always seems to get it right, but not everyone is a fan of her ways. Still, she's been able to match couples together and they're happily married. The problem is that she doesn't feel that she's matched with her forever person because she feels he's long gone.

However, fate brings him back to Nantucket and Dabney finds that her feelings for him are still alive. Before things take a turn for the worse, Dabney decides to come clean about certain things and continues using her matchmaking skills for good.

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Winter Street

Kelley Quinn owns the Winter Street Inn with four kids who are scattered around the world and are dealing with issues that are weighing them down. From feelings of guilt to a lack of commitment, it's clear his kids need a reprieve. When they finally get together close to Christmas, Kelley finds that Mitzi isn't exactly being faithful. This sets off a sordid chain of events that involves the help of his ex-wife Margaret.

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The Rumor

Rumors are a part of Nantucket's close-knit community and they threaten the image of best friends Madeline King and Grace Pancik. Known for being the picture of perfection, their lives are threatened by one's alleged bad decision and speculations of an affair involving the other. The thing is, some rumors are harder to dispel because the truth can have much more damning effects.

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Winter Stroll

Free from his second marriage, Kelley Quinn is looking forward to another Christmas in Winter Stroll. He and Margaret are finally on speaking terms and a new grandchild has recently joined the family. Things feel like they're finally going to be fine until Kelley's second ex-wife pops back up and stirs up a lot of emotions.

Now the Quinns feel like they're back at square one and hope they can get through another Christmas unscathed.

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Here's to Us

The lovers of Deacon Thorpe — Laurel Thorpe, Belinda Rowe, and Scarlett Oliver — are forced to be in close proximity with each other after he tragically dies. His last request was for all of the women to set aside their differences so they can gather on Nantucket one last time.

The more time they spend in his cottage — one each of them lived in at different points — the more tension, secrets, and heartbreak are revealed.

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Winter Storms

Kelley Quinn's second ex-wife is back at the Winter Street Inn and good news about the Quinn children are thawing out any remaining ill feelings. Yet, Kelley's health was briefly in limo and his oldest son is still paying for a crime he committed. Not only that, but a damning blizzard is thwarting the family's plan to spend Christmas together.

Winter Storms seeks to show that the Quinns have a tenacity and bond that can weather the toughest of emotional and physical storms.

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The Identicals

Despite the popular belief that twins are extremely close, Harper and Tabitha Frost seem to be the exception to that rule. They haven't communicated with each other for years, but decide to switch places in an attempt to repair their family. In the midst of working to understand what happened to their bond, there's a chance that some rivalries are hard to shake.

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Winter Solstice

The Quinn family is finally back together in Winter Solstice and have good news to celebrate. With all of the Quinn kids under the same roof again, Kelly just knows things are going go well this time. But, old habits die hard and their family reunion wouldn't be the same without a few hiccups.

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Winter in Paradise

Irene Steele has settled into a serene and loving life with her husband Russ, but everything halts when he's killed in a terrible accident in St. John. Although she's grieving, she can't but wonder why her husband was there in the first place. Trying to find answers leads Irene to discover that her husband wasn't the faithful man she knew.

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The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple places Chief of Police Ed Kapenash at the center of the discovery of a murder right before a highly anticipated wedding is set to take place. Realizing that the killer could be anyone either involved in the wedding or attending it, Kapenash goes down a rabbit hole of figuring out what happened. What he finds is not only shocking, but makes him realize perfect weddings don't necessarily indicate relationships are free from serious flaws.

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Summer of '69

Things aren't the same for the Levins as each family member finds themselves dealing with different pressing matters. From an older sister trying to navigate motherhood to the youngest sibling who feels trapped, it doesn't feel like summer is worth celebrating.

However, Summer of '69 introduces readers to a family who learns to navigate the changes in their lives and the world around them.

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28 Summers

28 Summers follows an initially confused Link as he tries to understand his mom's last requests. When he dials the unknown number she gives him, the husband of political giant Ursula DeGournsey picks up the phone. Over the course of the book, readers will learn about the past that tied Link's mom to Ursula's husband and how her impending death changed things.

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What Happens in Paradise

Irene Steele thought she knew everything about her husband Russ in Winter in Paradise, but his death revealed his intimate affair with another woman. This scarred her, but Irene decides to uproot her and her sons' lives so they can learn more about what actually happened.

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Troubles in Paradise

Troubles in Paradise picks up where What Happens in Paradise ended and it's as shocking as the first book in the series. Even though she tried to escape memories of him, Irene Steele's husband's past follows her and makes her believe something isn't adding up about his accidental death. With the help of the people she holds near and dear to her heart, Irene discovers the truth about her husband and how this affects life moving forward.

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Golden Girl

Vivian Howe's life is cut short when she's involved in a horrible car accident, but she's given a chance to sprinkle a little more positivity on earth for a brief period of time. As she looks at the lives her children are leading, she wonders how she'll be able to guide them in the right direction when she's still learning how to deal with her own secrets from her past. Over time, Vivian learns that sometimes the best thing to do is trust that things will work out without her intervention.

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The Hotel Nantucket

Lizbet Keaton is tending to a broken heart after her long-term relationship horribly dissolves, but life decides it's time to move on when she's given the chance to restore Hotel Nantucket. It's not long before her knowledge and wit are turning things around for the better, but things BTS are far from perfect. It seems like the walls of the hotel are filled with the spirit of a guest who passed away tragically among other secrets and this leaves Lizebet between a rock and a hard place.

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The Five-Star Weekend

Just because something looks perfect doesn't always mean it is. For Hollis Shaw, her perfectly outlined life becomes a series of doubt when her husband unexpectedly dies in The Five-Star Weekend. Determined to find a new sense of normalcy, Hollis draws inspiration from something called the "Five-Star Weekend" to bring joy to the people around her.

However, two people find it hard to get along while Hollis is confronted by old feelings she didn't think existed anymore. Just when things couldn't get more complicated, a mysterious yet charming woman by the name of Grace enters the picture. What was supposed to be an amazing weekend turns into something Hollis could've never predicted.

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Swan Song — Coming April 22, 2025!

Chief of Police Ed Kapenash is ready to retire, but when the Richardsons move into town (and snap up a $22 million mansion), the town gets swept off their feet into parties and all things gaudy. Until the house burns down and their personal assistant goes MIA.

Which of Elin Hilderbrand's books have you read? For more book recs, be sure to check out our storefront!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

If there's one thing you can count on in a Sarah J. Maas book series, it's that she's going to give us a lot of memorable, lovable characters. And I do mean a lot. Keeping up with all the ACOTAR characters can be tough when there are so many standout people, which is why I've compiled a comprehensive list of all the characters you need to know before ACOTAR book 6 comes out!

Spoilers ahead for the latest ACOTAR books.

Here's your full guide to Sarah J. Maas' ACOTAR characters.

1. Feyre Archeron

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Feyre is our leading lady in the original A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. After facing death, Feyre becomes a High Fae, and after some time at the Spring Court and Court of Dreams, Feyre reigns over the Night Court with Rhysand and their son Nyx. While we don't have a synopsis for ACOTAR book 6 yet, fans are hoping to see Feyre make an appearance as a supporting character!

2. Rhysand

Rhysand is one ACOTAR character that's very popular with Sarah J. Maas readers. He's the most powerful High Lord in all of history, and after saving Feyre from three faeries, his seemingly careless personality melts away and he helps Feyre through challenges and trials, and they eventually realize they're mates. He currently rules the Night Court alongside her.

3. Elain Archeron

Elain is Feyre's older sister who, like Feyre, becomes High Fae after the King of Hybern throws her into the Cauldron. And it looks like the new book could revolve around her! Because of the war, her relationship with their older sister Nesta has become tense, but they comfort one another in A Court of Silver Flames, which gives me hope they'll get even closer in the future.

4. Tamlin

Tamlin is the youngest son of the High Lord of the Spring Court, and was one of Rhysand's friends as young fae, despite their families hating each other. But after tragedy and revenge, the two end up hating each other. He finds Feyre in the first ACOTAR book after she makes an irreversible decision.

5. Nesta Archeron

Nesta is a classic eldest daughter, and is Feyre and Elain's older sister and Cassian's mate. She's known for being sharp and cold, and she's also the only creature who can carry all the objects of the Dread Trove. Nesta becomes a Valkyrie and becomes the first female to complete the Illyrian Blood Rite.

6. Cassian

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Cassian's a member of Rhysand's Inner Circle, and serves as General Commander for Rhys' armies in the Night Court. He's also Nesta's mate and they live together in the House of Wind.

7. Azriel

Azriel was childhood friends with Rhysand and Cassian, and is also now a member of the Night Court. He serves as Rhys' shadowsinger and is a part of his Inner Circle.

8. Lucien

Lucien is another High Fae, and is the emissary to the Night Court after serving the Spring Court.

9. Amren

High Fae Amren is Rhysand and Feyre's second-in-command, and is in Rhys' Inner Circle. She also strikes up a friendship with Nesta.

10. Morrigan

Morrigan is Rhys' cousin and his third-in-command, and she also has the gift of truth.

11. Ianthe

High Priestess Ianthe fled to the Continent while Amarantha ruled, and is responsible for betraying Feyre and her sisters to Hybern.

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