How To Read Colleen Hoover's Books & Series In Order

Summary

Colleen Hoover’s novels are best read in any order, with many standalone stories to choose from.
Some of her books, like It Ends With Us, have faced controversy for potentially glamorizing abuse.
Hoover’s success on BookTok has led to movie adaptations of her most popular works, like It Ends With Us.

Colleen Hoover has gone viral on TikTok for her work, and with so many novels in her collection, it can be tricky to know what order to go about reading them all. Hoover has become one of the most well-known authors on TikTok (or BookTok as the subset discussing books is known), and her books have generated record-breaking sales. She has been credited on social media by many for helping reignite a love for reading.

Many of her novels are fast-paced and easy to get lost in, which is part of why they have garnered so much success. Though a talented writer, Hoover has also faced her share of controversy. Some of her novels, such as It Ends With Us, have come under fire for glamorizing abuse and domestic violence. The prolific writer has a large number of published works.

Related How It Ends With Us Made So Much At The Box Office Despite Its 59% Rotten Tomatoes Score

It Ends with Us has done really well at the box office despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, so how did it manage to become so successful?

Every Colleen Hoover Book In Order By Release Date

Hoover Has Published 24 Novels And Novellas So Far

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Book Title	Release Date
Slammed	2012
Point Of Retreat	2012
Hopeless	2012
This Girl	2013
Losing Hope	2013
Finding Cinderella	2013
Maybe Someday	2014
Ugly Love	2014
Maybe Not	2014
Never, Never	2015
Confess	2015
November 9	2015
Too Late	2016
It Ends With Us	2016
Without Merit	2017
All Your Perfects	2018
Maybe Now	2018
Verity	2018
Finding Perfect	2019
Regretting You	2019
Heart Bones	2020
Layla	2020
It Starts With Us	2022
Reminders of Him	2022

Slammed (2012)

Slammed follows Layken, an 18-year old girl who is left trying to be the support system for her mother and younger brother, after the unexpected death of her father. Just as she begins to lose hope in the world around her, she meets her new 21-year-old neighbor, Will Cooper, who she is immediately able to develop an intense emotional connection with. Soon after their first date, however, a heart-wrenching secret comes out that threatens to pull the two apart.

Hoover originally self-published the novel so that her mother could read it digitally. It wasn’t until after the release of the follow-up novel, Point of Retreat, that Hoover’s popularity began to climb as book reviewers found them online. Slammed became the first in a trilogy of novels.

Point of Retreat (2012)

Point of Retreat is the follow-up to Slammed and continues Layken and Will’s love story. The two are forced to navigate new hurdles in their relationship, as Layken second-guesses their bond and Will goes out of his way to prove his unwavering commitment to her.

It was following the release of Point of Retreat that Hoover became better known. Slammed and Point of Retreat both became New York Times Bestsellers several months after their release thanks to that word-of-mouth spread from a handful of prominent reviewers checking out her debut novels.

Hopeless (2012)

Before the final novel in the Slammed trilogy would be published, Hopeless was released first. It was around this time that Hoover began pursuing writing full-time, but her early novels continued to be self-published. Hopeless also reached the New York Times Bestseller list about a month after it was released and remained at #1 on the list for three weeks.

Hopeless is about a seventeen-year-old girl named Sky whose sheltered life is turned upside down when she meets a boy with a bad reputation named Dean Holder. As Sky gets closer and closer to Dean, he helps her uncover childhood memories that question her worldview and everything she thought to be true about herself.

This Girl (2013)

This Girl is the third (and last) novel in the Slammed series. It tells the story of Layken and Will, now a young married couple navigating the challenges of their relationship. The novel is told from Will’s perspective and explores their past struggles, tragedies, and the love that brought them together.

While Hoover usually writes her books from the female protagonists’ points of view, this novel marks a change for her. She employs this same idea for some of her later books as well, allowing fans to see the same stories from another character’s point of view. It’s a way to expand the world of her novels without telling a completely new story.

Losing Hope (2013)

Just as This Girl told a familiar story from the point of view of a different character, so does this 2013 novel. Losing Hope tells the story of Hopeless from Dean’s perspective. Haunted by a childhood tragedy, he’s captivated by the new girl, Sky. Their connection deepens, but a suspicion emerges: Sky might be the missing friend he failed to protect years ago. As their romance blossoms, they must confront the past and find healing together.

Losing Hope reached #6 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. It was also nominated in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Romance.

Finding Cinderella (2013)

In addition to the novels she’s written, Hoover has also penned a handful of short stories for anthologies as well as novellas (short novels) set in the same world of her existing novels. Finding Cinderella is a novella in the Hopeless series that explores the story of two of the side characters, Daniel and Six. The two are close with Sky and Dean, and the short story follows their budding romance.

The novella was originally released for free online before being republished as a paperback with additional content, including a new epilogue.

Maybe Someday (2014)

Maybe Someday is about a twenty-year-old named Sydney whose life is as good as can be, until she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her. Though initially distraught about this news, Sydney finds solace in her developing feelings for her neighbor, Ridge. The novel follows their blossoming relationship and the ways they discover they need one another.

Because the novel features the characters writing music together, a clever tie-in was created to allow readers to engage with the novel even more. Musician Griffin Peterson created a soundtrack for Hoover’s novel. QR codes in the printed version of the book and links in the digital version take readers to the songs. The novel reached #3 on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Ugly Love (2014)

They decide to begin a friends-with-benefits relationship

Ugly Love is one of Hoover’s most popular (and controversial works) and is about Tate Collins, who meets an airline pilot named Miles Archer. While the two don’t hit it off based on personality, they do share an undeniable attraction for one another. They decide to begin a friends-with-benefits relationship that is defined by two rules that Tate has set: don’t talk about the past and don’t expect a future together.

Despite being one of Hoover’s more controversial novels as fans have referenced the messy relationship dynamics in the book as a turn-off, the novel did reach #4 on the New York Times Bestseller list.

Maybe Not (2014)

Maybe Not is a novella that is part of the same literary universe as Maybe Someday. It is not about the main characters from the original novel, however, but is instead about a fun-loving character named Warren who jumps at the chance to have a female roommate. His excitement fizzles, however, when he learns that she is a seemingly cold and guarded woman. While the two clash at first, Warren holds out hope that she has a warm interior and works to spark a romance between them.

Never, Never (2015)

Never, Never is a three-part series by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. The novel was originally published as three separate novellas before they were combined into a single volume as a paperback. The book tells the story of life-long best friends, Charlie and Nash, who have been head-over-heels for one another since they were fourteen years old.

One day, they wake up and all the memories they have of their relationship are gone. While they no longer feel emotionally tied to one another after their loss of memories, the two must band together to figure out why they are left without them. The concept is certainly compelling, but likely because of the way the novel was released, it didn’t climb any best seller lists.

Confess (2015)

Confess is about a twenty-one-year-old woman named Auburn Reed who is burdened by a past secret and decides to seek out a fresh start in Dallas. She is drawn to a mysterious art studio named “Confess” and sparks fly with the enigmatic artist, Owen. Their connection deepens, but Owen harbors a dark truth that threatens to shatter their newfound happiness. Faced with a devastating revelation, Auburn must choose between love and a past she desperately wants to outrun.

Not only did the novel win the Goodreads Choice Award for Romance, but it also landed on the New York Times Bestseller list. It peaked at #4. The book’s screen rights were also sold for a television adaptation not long after.

November 9 (2015)

November 9 is another well-known piece of Hoover’s work and tells the story of Fallon and Ben, who cross paths for the first time on November 9, which is the day before Fallon is set to move across the country. The two spend that entire day together and end up promising one another that they will spend every November 9 together moving forward. Ben, an aspiring novelist, chooses to use this premise as inspiration for his latest work, and the two continue their yearly tradition as everything around them changes year after year.

November 9 climbed the New York Times Bestseller list to land at #9.

Too Late (2016)

Too Late is a thriller about a woman named Sloan who finds herself caught up with a notorious drug trafficker named Asa. In order to help take care of her family, she begins working with him and ultimately becomes financially and emotionally reliant on him. Before she knows it, Asa develops an unhealthy obsession with her that quickly becomes dangerous. All the while, Sloan falls in love with an undercover agent, but she must keep her feelings at bay for fear of upsetting Asa and getting herself killed.

It Ends With Us (2016)

Lily struggles to avoid recreating the patterns of violence she witnessed in her upbringing

It Ends With Us has been adapted into a film starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni and is one of Hoover’s most controversial books. It is about a recent college graduate named Lily, who finds herself falling in love with a man named Ryle. After coming from an abusive home, Lily struggles to avoid recreating the patterns of violence she witnessed in her upbringing.

Hoover has been adamant that it was her hardest novel to write, and that she was inspired by her own abusive upbringing. She wanted the book to open a dialogue for domestic violence survivors, but many readers have criticized the novel as glorifying abusive relationships instead. Still, the book became incredibly popular following its release and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Romance.

The novel, however, saw a surge of popularity thanks to BookTok in 2022. That’s when it surged to #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and the rights for the movie were optioned by Baldoni. Hoover has only had one best selling novel since.

Without Merit (2017)

Without Merit is the chilling story of Merit, a cynical teen burdened by family secrets, who collects trophies to mask her inner emptiness. When a shocking family secret surfaces, Merit decides to expose the facade and escape. However, her plan backfires, forcing her to confront the truth, the consequences of her actions, and the intense connection between her and a new acquaintance she struggles to deny.

All Your Perfects (2018)

In All Your Perfects, Quinn and Graham’s seemingly perfect love crumbles under the weight of infertility and past betrayals. The story unfolds through flashbacks to their passionate beginnings and the harsh realities of their present. As they grapple with unspoken hurts and a longing for a child, they must confront the heartbreaking secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

Maybe Now (2018)

Maybe Now is the final installment in the Maybe Someday series. The story follows Ridge and Sydney, a couple finally free to be together after navigating complicated feelings and loyalty to their friends. Their newfound happiness is challenged as they adjust to their relationship, while their friends Warren and Bridgette face their own tumultuous romance. Maggie, another friend from the previous books, grapples with her illness, adding another layer of complexity to the group’s dynamic.

Verity (2018)

Verity is a shocking novel about a desprate writer named Lowen who lands her dream job. She is tasked with completing a famous author, Verity Crawford’s, unfinished series while the author lies comatose. She moves into the Crawford’s home and uncovers a shocking manuscript that was written by Verity and reveals a series of dark secrets that cast a chilling light on her and her family’s tragic past.

Verity is Hoover’s last novel (so far) to make the New York Times Bestseller list. It peaked at #2.

Finding Perfect (2019)

Finding Perfect is a novella about Six and Daniel, a couple with a complicated past involving a secret child given up for adoption, who are struggling in their relationship. Daniel, determined to reunite the family, embarks on a search. Meanwhile, their paths connect with another couple, Quinn and Graham, from a separate Hoover novel, All Your Perfects, who offer unexpected help.

Regretting You (2019)

Regretting You details the complex nature of mother-daughter relationships and switches between a present-day narrative and flashbacks. It tells the story of Morgan Grant and her teenage daughter, Clara. Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s dad, tragically passes away, and the two must learn how to navigate life without the man they consider to be the glue of their family. As they work through their grief, they uncover secrets about the people closest to them that force them to reevaluate what they thought they knew.

Heart Bones (2020)

Heart Bones is a young adult novel that follows a girl named Beyah Grim who grew up in poverty and worked hard to secure herself a full-ride scholarship to college to try to change her life. Her mother dies the summer before she is set to move away to school, which means that Beyah has to go live with her estranged father for the time being. Though she is extremely frustrated with the circumstances and unwanting to go summer with the wealthy people her father lives near, she finds herself softening up for the boy who lives next door, Samson.

Layla (2020)

Layla is about a couple named Leyla and Leeds, that begins a whirlwind romance at a wedding. Their happiness is shattered when Layla is attacked, leaving her physically recovered but emotionally distant. To rekindle their love, Leeds takes Layla back to the place they met, only to discover strange occurrences and a deeper mystery. As Layla’s behavior changes and unexplained events unfold, Leeds must fight to save their relationship and uncover the truth behind Layla’s transformation.

It Starts With Us (2022)

It Starts With Us is the follow-up to It Ends With Us and has Lily reuniting with her childhood sweetheart, Atlas. However, Lily hesitates, fearing repeating past mistakes. As their connection grows, they face challenges: Atlas yearns to prove his love, while Ryle, Lily’s ex, attempts to win her back.

There has been no word whether this sequel novel will be adapted for the screen as well.

Reminders of Him (2022)

Reminders of Him follows a woman named Kenna who has been released from prison after a drunk driving accident that killed her boyfriend, Scotty. She is determined to reconnect with her daughter who has been living with Scotty’s grieving parents. Kenna finds solace in Ledger, Scotty’s best friend who’s been helping raise Diem. As a fragile bond forms between Kenna and Ledger, a past secret threatens their newfound connection.

Though Hoover hasn’t published new novels since the release of Reminders of Him, she is contracted for two more with Simon and Schuster, so there will likely be more in the years following.

Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Part Of The Same Series

Slammed

Book Title	Reading Order	Release Date
Slammed	1	2012
Point of Retreat	2	2012
This Girl	3	2013

Hopeless

Book Title	Reading Order	Release Date
Hopeless	1	2012
Losing Hope	2	2013
All Your Perfects	3	2018
Finding Cinderella	4	2013
Finding Perfect	5	2019

Maybe Someday

Book Title	Reading Order	Release Date
Maybe Someday	1	2014
Maybe Not	2	2014
Maybe Now	3	2018

It Ends With Us

Book Title	Reading Order	Release Date
It Ends With Us	1	2016
It Starts With Us	2	2022

Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Standalones

Book Title	Release Year
Ugly Love	2014
Confess	2015
November 9	2015
Too Late	2016
Never Never	2016
Without Merit	2017
Verity	2018
Regretting You	2019
Heart Bones	2020
Layla	2020
Reminders of Him	2022

The Best Reading Order For Colleen Hoover’s Books

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When it comes to Colleen Hoover’s entire collection of works, there is no best reading order. The novels can be read in order of release or in any sort of random order since so many of them are standalone stories.

The only exception to this is the individual series. These should be read in the order outlined above, as those follow a certain chronological order and make the most sense when read in a particular manner. Readers are best able to understand the journeys of the main characters when they are read in that particular order.

Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Getting Adaptations

While It Ends With Us is currently the most famous of Hoover’s novels to be adapted thanks to Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s involvement in it, it’s not the only one of her novels slated to be adapted for the screen.

The screen rights to Verity rest with Amazon MGM Studios. Hillary Seitz, who did uncredited script revisions on Disney’s Enchanted and the heist remake The Italian Job, is attached to write the script. No cast or director for the movie has been announced yet.

Regretting You has its screen rights held by Constantin Films, so an indie film adaptation will be produced. Susan McMartin, who has previously written for sitcoms like Mom and Two And A Half Men, wrote the script. Josh Boonie, director of The Fault In Our Stars, is attached to direct. While no cast has been announced for Regretting You either, a director attached likely means it is further along in the development process than Verity is.

Of course, before those three movies, there was also a television series. Hoover’s novel Confess was adapted into a seven-episode series for Go90 in 2017. The internet channel was a short-lived streaming option owned by Verizon. When the platform was shut down, some of its content was moved to other streamers. Confess, however, is only available to purchase through online retailers like Amazon or AppleTV.

While Colleen Hoover’s popularity BookTok has been controversial, the popularity of her novels likely means there are bound to be more adaptations of her work on the way.

It Ends With Us DramaRomance

Based on Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel, It Ends With Us is a drama-romance film directed by Justin Baldoni. The film follows a recent college graduate named Lily, who meets a man named Ryle and falls in love with him. However, a traumatic incident compounded with her former high-school sweetheart re-entering her life complicates her plans.

Director Justin Baldoni Release Date August 9, 2024 Writers Christy Hall , Colleen Hoover Cast Blake Lively , Justin Baldoni , Brandon Sklenar , Jenny Slate , Hasan Minhaj Runtime 130 Minutes

How To Read Colleen Hoover’s Books & Series In Order