Colleen Hoover has become one of the most recognizable names in modern romance and contemporary fiction. Her books have attracted millions of readers because they combine romance with emotional conflict, complicated characters, family problems, heartbreak, secrets, suspense, and difficult life choices.
For readers discovering the author for the first time, however, one question can be surprisingly difficult to answer: Which Colleen Hoover book should you read first?
There are numerous books by Colleen Hoover, including standalone novels, connected stories, young-adult fiction, contemporary romance, darker fiction, and psychological thrillers. Some readers prefer the emotional intensity of It Ends with Us, while others consider Verity her best book because of its suspenseful story. Fans of romance may choose Ugly Love, while readers looking for redemption and second chances often recommend Reminders of Him.
This Colleen Hoover books ranked guide brings together some of her most recognizable novels and offers a reader-friendly ranking based on story, emotional impact, character development, originality, readability, and overall appeal.
The ranking is subjective. There is no official “best to worst” list because every reader has different tastes. A book that ranks first for one person may rank much lower for another.
Who Is Colleen Hoover?
Colleen Hoover is an American author best known for contemporary romance, new-adult fiction, young-adult fiction, and emotionally driven stories. She began her publishing career with Slammed, a novel that introduced readers to the style that would later become associated with her name.
Her writing frequently focuses on relationships that are not straightforward. Her characters may be dealing with grief, family difficulties, complicated pasts, betrayal, abuse, poverty, guilt, forgiveness, or difficult personal decisions.
That combination has helped her build an unusually dedicated readership.
Although she is commonly associated with romance, Colleen Hoover novels do not all belong to the same genre. Verity, for example, moves into psychological thriller territory, while Layla incorporates paranormal elements.
This variety is one reason her complete book list appeals to such a wide audience.
Colleen Hoover Books Ranked
Here is a recommended ranking of major Colleen Hoover books:
- Verity
- It Ends with Us
- Reminders of Him
- Ugly Love
- It Starts with Us
- Slammed
- November 9
- Confess
- Maybe Someday
- Regretting You
- All Your Perfects
- Hopeless
- Heart Bones
- Layla
- Without Merit
- Too Late
This ranking is designed for readers searching for the best Colleen Hoover books, but it should not be treated as an official ranking.
1. Verity
For readers who enjoy suspense, Verity is one of the strongest choices in the entire Colleen Hoover book collection.
Unlike many of Hoover’s romance novels, Verity focuses heavily on psychological tension, secrets, disturbing discoveries, and uncertainty.
The story follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who receives an extraordinary opportunity involving the work of a successful author. When Lowen enters the author’s home and begins examining unfinished material, she discovers information that makes her question almost everything around her.
The strength of Verity comes from its atmosphere.
Instead of simply asking whether two characters will fall in love, the novel makes readers ask what is true, whom they can trust, and whether the information being presented should actually be believed.
That makes the book particularly attractive to people who do not normally read romance.
Why Verity ranks at number one
Verity has:
- A memorable premise
- Strong suspense
- Psychological tension
- Dark themes
- Major secrets
- A controversial ending
- Plenty of material for reader discussions
If someone asks, “What is Colleen Hoover’s best book?”, Verity is a reasonable answer for readers who prefer thrillers.
2. It Ends with Us
If Verity is the strongest choice for suspense fans, It Ends with Us is arguably the most important book for understanding Colleen Hoover’s mainstream popularity.
The novel follows Lily Bloom as she enters a complicated relationship while confronting painful experiences from her past.
The book deals with love, family history, domestic abuse, personal boundaries, forgiveness, and the difficult process of making choices when emotions are involved.
One reason the novel stands apart is that it does not present relationships as simple.
The characters are flawed, and the decisions they make have consequences.
The story became especially well known because it generated discussions far beyond traditional romance readers.
For anyone creating a Colleen Hoover book ranking, it is difficult to leave It Ends with Us outside the top five.
Why readers love it
The book combines:
- Romance
- Emotional drama
- Family history
- Difficult decisions
- Character development
- Personal growth
It is also the starting point for readers who want to continue into It Starts with Us.
3. Reminders of Him
Reminders of Him is one of Colleen Hoover’s strongest emotional stories.
At the center of the novel is a woman attempting to rebuild her life after spending years dealing with the consequences of her past.
The story focuses heavily on forgiveness, grief, motherhood, guilt, redemption, and second chances.
Rather than simply asking whether two people will fall in love, the novel asks whether someone can truly move forward after making serious mistakes.
That makes it particularly appealing to readers who enjoy emotional stories with a strong redemption element.
Why it ranks so highly
Reminders of Him succeeds because its central conflict is larger than romance.
It explores the idea that people can be judged by their past even when they are trying to become different people.
For readers searching for Colleen Hoover best books, this is one of the titles worth putting near the top of the list.
4. Ugly Love
Ugly Love is one of the most recognizable Colleen Hoover romance novels.
The story centers on Tate Collins and Miles Archer, two people who develop a relationship under unusual circumstances.
At first, the arrangement appears to have simple rules. However, emotions complicate those rules.
As Tate learns more about Miles, the story becomes increasingly connected to his past and the emotional experiences that shaped him.
The book is a classic example of Hoover’s ability to combine attraction with emotional conflict.
Readers who enjoy intense contemporary romance will probably find Ugly Love more appealing than a thriller such as Verity.
Why Ugly Love remains popular
The book offers:
- Strong romantic tension
- Emotional vulnerability
- Complicated characters
- A dramatic backstory
- A relationship built around difficult rules
It is one of the easiest recommendations for someone specifically searching for Colleen Hoover romance books.
5. It Starts with Us
It Starts with Us should be read after It Ends with Us.
The two books are closely connected, so reading the second one first would remove some of the emotional impact of the original story.
The sequel provides readers with a continuation of the characters’ journeys and places greater emphasis on healing, new beginnings, and hope.
While It Ends with Us is more focused on difficult relationship circumstances, It Starts with Us gives readers an opportunity to explore what comes afterward.
For fans of the first novel, it provides additional character development and emotional closure.
Reading order
It Ends with Us → It Starts with Us
This is one of the most important rules in any guide to Colleen Hoover books in order.
6. Slammed
Slammed deserves a high position because it represents the beginning of Colleen Hoover’s publishing journey.
The story combines romance with poetry and young-adult drama.
It introduces Layken Cohen and Will Cooper and explores love, grief, family changes, and emotional maturity.
The book has a different atmosphere from Hoover’s later mature romances, but it remains important for readers interested in her development as an author.
If you want to understand where the author Colleen Hoover began, Slammed is an essential title.
7. November 9
November 9 has one of the more unusual romantic premises in Hoover’s catalog.
Fallon and Ben meet under circumstances that lead them to establish an unusual arrangement involving one particular day each year.
The structure allows their relationship to develop in a way that feels different from a conventional romance.
The novel also explores writing, identity, secrets, trust, and the ways people can misunderstand one another.
For readers who enjoy romance with a distinctive concept, November 9 is a strong choice.
8. Confess
Confess combines romance and art.
Auburn Reed encounters Owen Mason, an artist whose work is connected to anonymous confessions.
The artistic element gives the novel an identity of its own.
Secrets become central to the relationship, while the characters have to deal with the consequences of their choices.
It is not necessarily the first book I would recommend to a brand-new Hoover reader, but it deserves a place among the top Colleen Hoover books.
9. Maybe Someday
Maybe Someday is especially interesting for readers who enjoy stories involving music.
Sydney’s life changes dramatically after she discovers that her boyfriend has betrayed her.
She develops a connection with Ridge, a musician, and music becomes an important part of their relationship.
The novel combines romance, emotional conflict, friendship, music, and difficult choices.
It also belongs to one of Hoover’s connected storylines, making it an appealing choice for readers who enjoy series.
10. Regretting You
Regretting You moves beyond romantic relationships and places a stronger emphasis on family.
The story follows a mother and daughter whose relationship changes after difficult circumstances force them to reconsider what they know about each other.
Morgan and Clara do not always understand one another, and their differences become more complicated as they face painful revelations.
The book is especially suitable for readers who prefer:
- Mother-daughter relationships
- Family drama
- Emotional secrets
- Coming-of-age themes
- Romance alongside family storytelling
It is one of the strongest choices for readers who want something different from a conventional love story.
11. All Your Perfects
All Your Perfects focuses on marriage, expectations, disappointment, and the pressures that can affect long-term relationships.
Rather than concentrating only on the excitement of falling in love, it examines what happens when a relationship encounters serious problems.
The story asks readers to consider whether love can survive when the future a couple imagined does not happen in the way they expected.
This makes it particularly appropriate for readers looking for mature relationship drama.
12. Hopeless
Hopeless is another important early Colleen Hoover novel.
The story combines romance with secrets surrounding the protagonist’s past.
Sky’s life changes after she meets Holder, and the relationship eventually leads her toward discoveries that challenge her understanding of herself.
The book contains emotional themes involving childhood, identity, trauma, trust, and relationships.
It is also connected to additional stories, making it a good choice for readers who want to explore Hoover’s interconnected books.
13. Heart Bones
Heart Bones is a strong option for readers interested in young-adult fiction.
The story follows Beyah as she enters a new stage of life and develops relationships that challenge her understanding of family, identity, and the world around her.
It has many of the emotional qualities associated with Hoover’s writing but approaches them through a younger perspective.
Readers who prefer YA romance may rank this book considerably higher than the ranking shown here.
14. Layla
Layla is one of the most unusual books in Hoover’s collection.
Instead of staying entirely within contemporary romance, the story incorporates paranormal elements.
That makes it a fascinating option for readers who want to see Hoover experiment with another genre.
It is not necessarily the ideal starting point for someone looking specifically for her most famous romance stories, but it deserves attention from anyone creating a complete Colleen Hoover book list.
15. Without Merit
Without Merit is a family-centered story involving secrets, unusual relationships, and emotional struggles.
The novel focuses on a young protagonist living within a complicated family environment.
Compared with books such as It Ends with Us and Ugly Love, it is less representative of the romantic style for which Hoover became especially famous.
Nevertheless, it demonstrates another side of her writing.
16. Too Late
Too Late belongs toward the darker end of Hoover’s catalog.
It contains intense relationships, danger, manipulation, and difficult circumstances.
Readers should approach it differently from a conventional contemporary romance.
For someone who enjoys darker fiction, it may actually deserve a much higher position.
For readers searching specifically for light romance, however, it is probably not the best introduction to Hoover.
Colleen Hoover Books in Order
One of the most common searches is Colleen Hoover books in order.
The easiest way to understand the catalog is to separate the books into series and standalone works.
Slammed Series
- Slammed
- Point of Retreat
- This Girl
This is the series that began Hoover’s career.
Hopeless Series
- Hopeless
- Losing Hope
- Finding Cinderella
- All Your Perfects
- Finding Perfect
These books share characters and connections, although some are novellas rather than full-length novels.
Maybe Someday Series
- Maybe Someday
- Maybe Not
- Maybe Now
The series is connected through characters and relationships introduced in the original novel.
It Ends with Us Series
- It Ends with Us
- It Starts with Us
This is the most important series to read in sequence because the second book continues the story of the first.
Colleen Hoover Standalone Books
Many of Hoover’s books can be read independently.
Some major standalone titles include:
- Ugly Love
- November 9
- Confess
- Verity
- Regretting You
- Heart Bones
- Layla
- Reminders of Him
- Without Merit
- Too Late
This means a new reader does not have to begin with Slammed unless they want to experience her career chronologically.
What Is Colleen Hoover’s Best Book?
There is no single answer.
If you ask readers who prefer psychological suspense, many will choose Verity.
If you ask readers who prefer emotional contemporary romance, It Ends with Us is a likely choice.
If you prefer redemption stories, Reminders of Him is an excellent candidate.
For classic emotional romance, Ugly Love remains one of the most recognizable choices.
Therefore, the answer depends on your preferred genre.
Best overall introduction
It Ends with Us
Best thriller
Verity
Best emotional story
Reminders of Him
Best romance
Ugly Love
Best debut
Slammed
Best sequel
It Starts with Us
Top 5 Colleen Hoover Books
If you do not want to read a long list and simply want the top five Colleen Hoover books, start with:
- Verity
- It Ends with Us
- Reminders of Him
- Ugly Love
- It Starts with Us
These five offer a good introduction to different sides of Hoover’s writing.
Best Colleen Hoover Books for Romance Fans
Romance readers should consider:
Ugly Love — intense relationship drama.
It Ends with Us — romance combined with serious emotional themes.
It Starts with Us — continuation and healing.
Maybe Someday — romance connected with music.
November 9 — unconventional romantic structure.
Confess — romance and art.
Reminders of Him — redemption and second chances.
Best Colleen Hoover Books for Beginners
If you have never read Colleen Hoover, there is no requirement to start with her debut.
A modern beginner’s reading plan could be:
First: It Ends with Us
This gives you a strong introduction to her emotional storytelling.
Second: Verity
This shows how differently she can approach suspense and darker fiction.
Third: Reminders of Him
This demonstrates her ability to build an emotional redemption story.
Fourth: Ugly Love
This gives you a more traditional Hoover romance.
Fifth: Slammed
Finally, go back to the beginning and see how her writing developed.
Colleen Hoover Books Best to Worst: An Alternative Ranking
Because rankings are subjective, another reader-focused ranking could look like this:
| Rank | Book | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | It Ends with Us | Emotional drama |
| 2 | Verity | Psychological suspense |
| 3 | Reminders of Him | Redemption |
| 4 | Ugly Love | Romance |
| 5 | It Starts with Us | Healing and continuation |
| 6 | Slammed | Debut and poetry |
| 7 | Maybe Someday | Music and romance |
| 8 | November 9 | Unusual romance |
| 9 | Confess | Art and relationships |
| 10 | Regretting You | Family drama |
| 11 | All Your Perfects | Marriage |
| 12 | Hopeless | Secrets and romance |
| 13 | Heart Bones | YA |
| 14 | Layla | Paranormal fiction |
| 15 | Without Merit | Family drama |
| 16 | Too Late | Dark fiction |
The difference between this list and the first ranking illustrates an important point: Colleen Hoover book ratings are highly dependent on reader preference.
Why Do People Love Colleen Hoover Books?
One major reason is emotional accessibility.
Her stories are generally easy to enter. Readers quickly understand the characters, relationships, and central problems.
Another reason is conflict.
Hoover rarely creates relationships that are completely uncomplicated. Her characters have histories, secrets, fears, and weaknesses.
Her books also frequently deal with serious subjects.
Depending on the novel, readers may encounter themes involving:
- Domestic violence
- Grief
- Trauma
- Family conflict
- Poverty
- Betrayal
- Addiction
- Forgiveness
- Parenthood
- Mental and emotional struggles
- Personal growth
These themes give the romances additional emotional weight.
Why Did Colleen Hoover Become So Popular?
Colleen Hoover’s rise is closely connected to readers sharing recommendations online.
Book communities can transform an older title into a new bestseller when thousands of readers begin discussing it.
Her books became particularly visible among younger readers through social-media book communities.
This created a cycle:
A reader discovers a Hoover book.
They share their reaction.
Other readers become curious.
They purchase the book.
They then discover another Hoover title.
That process helped turn individual novels into a much larger reading phenomenon.
Colleen Hoover’s Most Popular Book
It Ends with Us is generally regarded as the book most closely associated with Hoover’s name.
Its popularity has been driven by the emotional subject matter, strong reader reactions, social-media discussion, and screen adaptation.
However, popularity does not automatically mean it will be everyone’s favorite.
Some readers prefer Verity because they enjoy suspense.
Others prefer Ugly Love because they want romance.
Still others consider Reminders of Him the most emotionally satisfying.
Colleen Hoover New Book
Readers interested in the new Colleen Hoover book should be aware that her catalog continues to expand beyond her earlier romance titles.
When a new Hoover novel is announced, it typically generates considerable discussion because readers want to know whether it will resemble her romances, thrillers, or more experimental stories.
For someone who has already read her major titles, a new release can also provide an opportunity to see how her writing has evolved.
Are Colleen Hoover Books Romance Novels?
Many are, but not all.
Hoover is best known for romance and contemporary fiction, yet her catalog also includes:
- Psychological thrillers
- Dark romance
- Young-adult fiction
- Paranormal romance
- Family drama
- Suspense
This is why describing every Colleen Hoover novel simply as a romance can be misleading.
Verity is a particularly obvious example of her movement into psychological suspense.
Colleen Hoover Book Series vs Standalones
One of the easiest mistakes for new readers is assuming every Hoover book belongs to one giant universe.
It does not.
Her catalog contains several separate series and numerous independent stories.
You can therefore read Verity without knowing anything about Slammed.
You can read Ugly Love without beginning with Hopeless.
You can read Reminders of Him independently.
The main titles where reading order matters most are the connected series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Colleen Hoover’s best book?
There is no universally accepted answer. Verity, It Ends with Us, Reminders of Him, and Ugly Love are among the strongest choices depending on genre preference.
What Colleen Hoover book should I read first?
It Ends with Us is a good starting point for most readers. If you prefer thrillers, start with Verity. If you want her earliest work, start with Slammed.
What is the most popular Colleen Hoover book?
It Ends with Us is her most widely recognized title and became the book most strongly associated with her mainstream popularity.
Is Verity a romance?
Verity contains romantic and relationship elements, but it is much more strongly associated with psychological thriller and dark fiction.
Are Colleen Hoover books connected?
Some are. Hoover has several series, while many other books are standalone novels.
Should I read It Ends with Us before It Starts with Us?
Yes. It Ends with Us should be read first, followed by It Starts with Us.
What are the best Colleen Hoover romance books?
Good choices include Ugly Love, It Ends with Us, It Starts with Us, Maybe Someday, November 9, and Reminders of Him.
What is Colleen Hoover’s first book?
Slammed is generally recognized as the novel that launched her publishing career.
How many books has Colleen Hoover written?
The exact count can vary depending on whether novellas, collaborations, and separate installments are counted individually. Her bibliography includes more than two dozen novels and related works.
Is Colleen Hoover a romance author?
She is primarily associated with romance and contemporary fiction, but she has also written thrillers, paranormal fiction, young-adult stories, and darker novels.
What is the saddest Colleen Hoover book?
That is subjective, but It Ends with Us, Reminders of Him, All Your Perfects, and Regretting You are often suitable choices for readers seeking emotionally heavy stories.
What Colleen Hoover book is best for thriller fans?
Verity is the clearest recommendation.
Which Colleen Hoover book should I read after It Ends with Us?
Read It Starts with Us if you want to continue the story. If you want a completely different Hoover experience, try Verity.
What are the top 10 Colleen Hoover books?
A strong reader-oriented top 10 is Verity, It Ends with Us, Reminders of Him, Ugly Love, It Starts with Us, Slammed, November 9, Confess, Maybe Someday, and Regretting You.
Are Colleen Hoover books suitable for teenagers?
It depends on the individual title. Some are young-adult books, while others contain mature themes and are intended for adult readers. Parents and younger readers should check the content of each individual book.
Final Thoughts on Colleen Hoover Books Ranked
Colleen Hoover’s catalog is large enough that choosing a first book can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, readers do not have to read every title in publication order.
If you want the book most representative of her mainstream success, begin with It Ends with Us.
If you prefer psychological suspense, choose Verity.
If you want emotional redemption, choose Reminders of Him.
If traditional romance is your priority, choose Ugly Love.
If you want to understand how her career began, start with Slammed.
Ultimately, the best Colleen Hoover books ranked list is the one that matches your personal reading taste. Her novels range from romance and family drama to psychological suspense and paranormal fiction, so there is no single ranking that can satisfy every reader.
