Colleen Hoover's best books deal with themes of heartbreak, estranged lovers, troubled marriages, and even modern romance with a touch of psychological suspense, making for addictive titles. Whether you're reading young adult novels or emotionally charged love stories, the more you read, the more fascinating Colleen Hoover's world becomes.
Colleen Hoover is a dynamic member of BookTok (TikTok's book talk feature). In 2012, she self-published her first book, “Slammed,” and it became a huge hit, thanks to the rise of book bloggers and social media. That year, the book also made it onto the New York Times eBook Best Sellers list. This led to Hoover signing a major deal with Atria Publishing Group. As of April 2023, her books have sold over 23 million copies. From there, it's been a meteoric rise.
In 2022, Hoover dominated The New York Times bestselling paperback novel list with six books in the top 10. According to The New York Times, Hoover sold more books that year than Dr. Seuss, and more than James Patterson and John Grisham combined.
Colleen Hoover's hit romance novel, “It Ends With Us,” was adapted into a film starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni and released in theaters on August 9, 2024. By 2023, the book had sold six million copies and spent 100 weeks on the bestseller list. That same year, she was also named to Time magazine's “100 Most Influential People” list.
If you’re an avid reader or just want to get started reading Colleen Hoover novels, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best titles.
Colleen Hoover's best books that you should have on your bookshelf
Summary: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, it's never been love. Their sex buddy/doctor relationship seems like the perfect fit for the two, but things get complicated. When one of them develops feelings, boundaries break down, and things get messy and downright ugly.
If you enjoy reading classic stories of enemies evolving into love, this book will not disappoint you.
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Synopsis: Lily is an aspiring florist who recently lost her father. He abused her mother, which gives her complicated feelings towards him. In an attempt to escape the trauma of her childhood, she settles in a new city after graduating. There, she begins a relationship with charismatic neurosurgeon Lyle. However, this relationship also becomes abusive, and when her first love, Atlas, enters the picture, Lily must find a way out.
More about this book: Perhaps Colleen Hoover's most popular book and a great introduction to her work, “It Ends With Us” is based on the author's parents. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance in 2016. The book has also been adapted into a movie, due for release on August 9.
Warning: This book contains instances of domestic violence and sexual assault.
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Summary: The Never Never novel series tells the story of a couple, Charlie Winwood and Silas Nash, who find themselves waking up in strange circumstances as strangers. They set out on a journey to solve the mystery, and in the process, they unearth terrible secrets about their pasts that make them question their relationship.
About the book: Huber collaborated with thriller author Taryn Fisher to write the three-part suspense novel series Never Never. The first volume, released in 2015, ends on an unsettling cliffhanger that is quickly picked up by the second volume, released the same year. The third volume was released in 2016.
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Read more: From “I'm In Love With You” to “I'm In Love With You”: 15 of the Best Romance Novels for Adults
Additional Information
Publication year:
2015-2016
Synopsis: Blending psychological suspense with dark romance, Too Late established Hoover as a popular love story writer. The story follows a young woman named Sloane who will do anything for her family, even if it means getting involved with Asa, a dangerous drug dealer who is obsessed with her. When she meets Carter, an undercover DEA agent, she is instantly attracted to him. But when she follows her heart, Carter Asa becomes her target.
Read at your own risk as this dark romance thriller aptly sums up the idea behind the book: “Love isn't something you find. Love is something you find.”
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Summary: A mature paranormal romance, this is one of Colleen Hoover's best works and the author's first foray into the horror genre.
After a dangerous incident that sends Layla to the hospital, her boyfriend, Reese, takes her back to the bed and breakfast where they first met. But when her behavior begins to drive a wedge between them, Reese confides in a mysterious guest named Willow. What follows is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a romantic story with a supernatural vibe.
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Summary: Once the perfect couple, a young woman named Quinn and her husband Graham now find themselves in an imperfect marriage. With broken promises and untold secrets swelling, will their love be enough to save their relationship?
The fourth book in Hoover's Hopeless series, All Your Perfects , stands alone well, and for anyone hoping that love will triumph, this is the perfect read.
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Synopsis: A #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, Regretting You steps away from Hoover's romance novels by delving into the fraught relationship between a mother and daughter. The story centers on Morgan, who is concerned about his 16-year-old daughter, Clara, who wants to protect her from making the same mistake of becoming a teenage mother, but Clara sees Morgan as stubborn and lacking initiative. When a tragic accident kills Morgan's husband, Clara's father, Chris, their only remaining family connection, the hurdle of overcoming their problems and deepening differences becomes greater.
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Synopsis: If you're looking for a romance thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat with unexpected twists and turns, then you've come to the right place. One of Colleen Hoover's best books, “Verity” revolves around Rowen Ashley, a struggling author whose life changes when she lands her dream job – finishing acclaimed author Verity Crawford's book, despite an injury. During the project, Rowen discovers her unfinished autobiography, which contains shocking confessions and secrets that will wreak havoc on Verity's life. Now Ashley must make an important moral decision – finishing the book is the last thing on her list.
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Summary: The first book in the Maybe series, Maybe Someday tells the story of Sydney, a college student who finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. After a break-up, Sydney falls in love with her neighbor, Ridge, an aspiring musician, and a passionate romance begins.
Other books in the series include Maybe Not (2014) and Maybe Now (2018).
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Summary: The third novella in the Hopeless series, this story follows Daniel and Six, best friends of the series' protagonists, Dean Holder and Skye. Daniel has a brief romantic relationship with a mysterious girl who leaves him in the middle of the night. He's never able to get over her until Six comes along a year later.
This book by Colleen Hoover is perfect as a standalone read, and the story is packed with classic love story tropes that will leave you wanting more.
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Summary: “Losing Hope” is the second book in the Hopeless series, but it retells the story from Dean Holder's point of view. One of Colleen Hoover's best works, this book delves into Dean's psyche to justify why he continues to search for a way to make amends for not being able to save a girl in the past. His obsession and inability to break free from it could ruin his relationship with Skye.
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Summary: The third and final book in the Slammed series takes readers into the love story of Will and Laken, who have some more shocking secrets from their past that threaten to destabilize their happy marriage. Unlike the previous books, which told the story of their romance from Laken's perspective, This Girl reverses the narrative.
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Summary: The first book in Colleen Hoover's Hopeless series is perhaps her best young adult romance book. The story begins when a young girl named Skye Davis meets the dashing yet mysterious Dean Holder, whose complicated reputation both attracts and terrifies her. But Dean is the only person who can rekindle forgotten feelings in Skye. As friction sparks between them, the road to a future long unfolds.
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Synopsis: The sequel to Slammed and another smash hit from Colleen Hoover, Point of Retreat continues the love story of Will and Laken. When a dark secret from Will's past threatens to shake the foundations of their relationship, they begin to question if everything they've shared all this time was true. In these times, it's up to Will and Laken to come together and fight for their future together.
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Summary: For Colleen Hoover, this is where it all began: her self-published debut novel. Not only was it a New York Times bestseller, but Slammed was also nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Novel and Best Goodreads Author that same year.
The first novel in Laken and Will's love story sees Laken as a teenager standing up for her mother and brother after the death of her father. When Will moves in as her new neighbor, sparks fly between the two. But a big secret could shatter all her hopes.
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Notes:
The information in this article is accurate as of the publication date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are Colleen Hubers' most rated books?
‘Slammed’, ‘It Ends With Us’, ‘Verity’ and ‘Ugly Love’ are some of Colleen Hoover’s most acclaimed works.
Which Colleen Hoover book should I read first?
You could start reading It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, which is set to be adapted into a movie on August 9, 2024. You could also read her first book, Slammed, to get a feel for Hoover's writing style.
What should I read if I like Colleen Hoover?
If you like Colleen Hoover’s style, some of her most recommended books are Slammed, It Ends With Us, Ugly Love, Verity, and Regretting You.
Should a 13 year old read Colleen Hoover's books?
Most of Colleen Hoover's work is young adult fiction and contains sexual imagery and references to domestic violence, and is therefore suitable for adult reading, with parental guidance advised.
