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She’s a literary force and her name is probably on the bookshelf nearest you — yep, we’re talking about Colleen Hoover. The No. 1 New York Times bestselling author has written a whopping 26 novels and is a veritable queen of romance. If you haven’t dipped into her expansive body of work yet, you’ve probably at least heard her name, and have considered diving into her catalog to catch up. With so many chart-topping novels to her name, tackling her oeuvre might seem overwhelming. This is why we’ve compiled a list of the best Colleen Hoover books to give you an introduction to the prolific writer. Fair warning: You’ll need a box of tissues close because things are going to get emotional.
It Ends With Us
Not sure where to begin? Backtrack to Hoover’s first big hit, a romance novel that earned a starred Kirkus Review and a 2016 Goodreads Choice Award. Based on Hoover’s own relationship with her parents, It Ends With Us is about Lily, an aspiring florist who recently lost her father, but her feelings are complicated since her father abused her mother. After meeting a charismatic neurosurgeon, Lily finds herself in an abusive relationship, not unlike her parents’, and has to figure out if she can break the cycle.
It Starts With Us
The (somewhat confusingly titled) sequel to It Ends With Us, It Starts With Us continues where the first book left off. Lily is caring for her newborn and dealing with her controlling husband, when she runs into her ex. Lily’s interested in reconnecting, but fearful of how her husband will react.
Verity
Another Hoover hit, this romance has elements of a thriller, making it a perfect pick for mystery lovers. It centers on Lowen Ashleigh, a writer who’s struggling to make ends meet — until she gets a dream gig, finishing the remaining books of famed writer Verity Crawford while she’s injured. Amid her work, Lowen uncovers an unfinished autobiography that reveals some startling secrets about Verity — secrets that could upend her life.
Reminders of Him
Read the reviews for any of CoHo’s (as her fans have dubbed her) books, and you’ll quickly deduce that they’re tear-jerkers — but this one is especially emotional. A horrific accident kills the father of Kenna Rowan’s child — and Kenna was the one behind the wheel. After serving a prison sentence, she tries to regain custody of her daughter, but her community isn’t so quick to forgive. She finds one unlikely ally in her late boyfriend’s best friend, but their developing romance could be a lot more trouble for both of them than it’s worth.
Never Ever
This one’s co-written by Hoover and romance/thriller author Tarryn Fisher, and their combined literary powers serve up a gripping romantic mystery. It’s about a couple who’s been in love since they were teenagers. They wake up one day with all the memories of their relationship completely wiped. As they piece together their history, they begin to question why they were even together to begin with.
Layla
Fans of a good love triangle story, this one’s for you. Leeds’ partner Layla is seriously hurt in an attack — and though she recovers physically, she’s not the same person she was before. Leeds books a trip to the bed and breakfast where their romance began, but far from fixing their issues, Layla’s behavior only grows more erratic. Meanwhile, Leeds is intrigued by a fellow B&B guest and he must choose between the two women.
Too Late
Too Late is billed as a “very mature/dark romance,” so it’s probably not for the faint of heart. It’s a psychological suspense you might be into if you enjoyed Ozark, Breaking Bad, or even Weeds, since it centers on Sloan, a woman who’s fallen for big-time drug trafficker Asa Jackson. Being in bed with Asa, Sloan puts herself at risk every day — and even more so when an undercover DEA agent enters the picture, and she finds herself attracted to him.
Ugly Love
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she’s not interested in love, and he doesn’t have time for it. A no-strings-attached arrangement sounds perfect, and there are only two rules: Don’t ask about the past, and don’t expect a future. But friends-with-benefits relationships almost always get messy — or should we say, ugly? — and rules are meant to be broken.
Regretting You
This 2019 novel is a No. 1 Wall Street Journal bestseller and will hit mothers and daughters right in the feels. Morgan and Clara have a fraught relationship — Morgan wants to protect her daughter from making the mistake she did of getting pregnant young, and Clara thinks her mom is too rigid. Morgan’s husband Chris is the glue that holds the family together, so when he dies in an accident, the wedge between mother and daughter grows even wider as they retreat into themselves to deal with their grief.
Slammed
Slammed is the novel that started it all — it’s Hoover’s debut and the first in a three-part series. Eighteen-year-old Layken finds herself drawn to her hunky 21-year-old neighbor Will after she suffers a family tragedy. An unexpected discovery stops their relationship in its tracks before it can really begin, but they just can’t stay away from each other.
