A reader’s guide to Colleen Hoover’s books in order

At one point in 2022, Colleen Hoover had six of the 10 bestselling novels of the year. Three of those— Ugly Love, Reminders of Him, and It Ends With Us — had first been published years earlier: 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. That’s how dominant the author has been in the publishing world, mostly thanks to word of mouth and BookTok.

In 2023, Time magazine named Hoover one of the 100 most influential people in the world. She’s sold millions of books, gained legions of diehard fans, and has even begun conquering Hollywood. Her work has one box-office smash in the books, and more on the way with big names behind them.

For a novice, it may be intimidating to jump into Hoover’s expansive catalogue, which includes twisty YA novels, adult romances, and brooding thrillers. But if you’re looking to pick up a novel or two and don’t know where to begin, Entertainment Weekly has a handy Hoover guide to her series and standalone books.

The Slammed series

Hoover’s debut novel, Slammed, wasn’t exactly positioned to make a huge literary splash. In fact, the author self-published the book and its sequel, Point of Retreat.

The two YA novels grew popular by word of mouth, featuring the love story of 18-year-old Layken and her 21-year-old neighbor Will as they navigate grief, family secrets, and… well, the fact that Will winds up being Layken’s teacher. The books later became New York Times bestsellers before being picked up by a major publisher.

The third novel in the series, This Girl, retells the same romance, but from Will’s point of view.

The Slammed series in order:

• Slammed (2012)

• Point of Retreat (2012)

• This Girl (2013)

The Hopeless series

Like Slammed, Hoover’s Hopeless series — consisting of three novels and two novellas — was originally self-published. The first two, Hopeless and Losing Hope, follow Sky and Holder, who are intensely connected by their childhood trauma (major content warning for sexual assault and abuse here).

The novella Finding Cinderella focuses on two of Sky and Holder’s friends. The fourth entry, All Your Perfects, examines a pair of new characters, Quinn and Graham, during their troubled marriage and effort to save the relationship. It has nothing to do with Sky and Holder… that is, until Hoover ties all the stories together in the series-capper, Finding Perfect.

The Hopeless series in order:

• Hopeless (2012)

• Losing Hope (2013)

• Finding Cinderella (2013, novella)

• All Your Perfects (2018)

• Finding Perfect (2019, novella)

The Maybe Someday series

Much like the Hopeless series, Hoover’s Maybe Someday books begin with one couple, branch out to side characters, then come back for one final novel that gets everybody involved. Maybe Someday kicks things off with college student Sydney, who finds comfort in her musical neighbor Ridge when her whole life turns upside down.

If you choose to continue this adventure, Maybe Not pivots to Ridge’s (now ex) roommate, Warren, as he falls for his new roomie, Bridgette. The series wraps up in Maybe Now, in which Hoover revisits all the relationships and friendships readers have been following.

The Maybe Someday series in order:

• Maybe Someday (2014)

• Maybe Not (2014, novella)

• Maybe Now (2018)

The It Ends With Us series

Even if you haven’t read It Ends With Us, you’ve most likely heard about it thanks to the 2024 film adaptation starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which made a splash for all the wrong reasons. The novel rose to fame in its own right — first in 2016, then again in 2021 when it became a TikTok sensation. The story follows Lily Bloom, who we regret to inform you is, in fact, a florist.

Lily’s story tackles domestic abuse, cycles of violence, and the power of love. It Ends With Us chronicles Lily’s abusive relationship with husband Ryle and the rekindling of her feelings for childhood friend Atlas. It Starts With Us continues Lily’s healing journey outside of her marriage.

The It Ends With Us series in order:

• It Ends With Us (2016)

• It Starts With Us (2022)

Colleen Hoover’s standalone novels

In addition to her various series, Hoover has written several standalone novels, including romances, thrillers, YA books, and more. The first, Ugly Love, is about two people who promise to keep their relationship just about the sex (you know this will never work).

Then there’s the popular thriller Verity, which has a film adaptation on the way. Anne Hathaway stars as the eponymous Verity Crawford, an author, while Josh Hartnett plays her husband. Dakota Johnson portrays the young writer hired to assist Verity, who gets pulled into some twisty drama at the Crawford house. The movie is expected to premiere in May 2026.

But that’s not the only Hoover drama coming to the big screen. The 2019 novel Regretting You, about a complicated mother and daughter relationship, grief, and first loves, will hit theaters on Oct. 24, 2025. The film adaptation stars Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, and Dave Franco.

Finally, Reminders of Him, about a woman attempting to reclaim her life after spending five years in prison, is slated to hit theaters on Feb. 13, 2026. Maika Monroe, Lainey Wilson, Tyriq Withers, Nicholas Duvernay, Lauren Graham, and Rudy Pankow star.

Colleen Hoover’s standalone novels in release order:

• Ugly Love (2014)

• Never Never (2015), three-part novella series co-written with Tarryn Fisher

• Confess (2015)

• November 9 (2015)

• Too Late (2016)

• Without Merit (2017)

• Verity (2018)

• Regretting You (2019)

• Heart Bones (2020)

• Layla (2020)

• Reminders of Him (2022)

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly