All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In 2022, more Colleen Hoover books were sold than copies of the Bible. That same year, she simultaneously held six of the ten positions on The New York Times’s paperback fiction best-seller list and released two new books while working on several more novels set to be released over the next few years.
With no experience and no connections in the industry, Hoover took a chance on herself and self-published her first novel, Slammed, in 2012. Twelve years later, she’s outsold many of the world’s most famous authors, has a feature film in the works starring Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, and become one of the most popular authors on BookTok. And Hoover’s massive catalog of novels is still ever-expanding. (As of this year, she’s released 27 novels.)
With so many options, it can be daunting for new CoHorts to choose what books to read (and in what order). To help, we ranked all 27 of Hoover’s novels according to their ratings on book website Goodreads’ five-star system—organized by series and then standalone books. Take it from us: Start with the best from each list. You’ll be so hooked, you’ll find yourself adding the rest to cart in record time.
Colleen Hoover series, ranked
Hopeless — 4.27 stars
The first novel in the series, Hopeless has everything YA romance fans could want: a persistent pursuit, desperate longing, a dark secret. One reviewer called this love story between high school senior Sky and brooding bad boy Dean Holder “beautiful, heart-wrenching, and uplifting,” while another said the steamy novel was in a class of its own. In 2014 it was rumored that Hopeless would be turned into a movie, but that has yet to come to fruition almost 10 years later.
Losing Hope — 4.22 stars
Losing Hope is less a sequel and more a retelling of Hopeless from Holder’s point of view. This novel gives readers new insight into what was going on in his head during the first novel and more context as to why he acted the way he did….
Finding Cinderella — 4.07 stars
While this novella could technically act as a stand-alone book, the context provided by the previous Hopeless novels brings this story added depth (and meaning!). Finding Cinderella delves into the story of Daniel and Six, the best friends of Hopeless main characters Holder and Sky. We won’t give too much away in terms of the plot, but readers did say this novella made them feel more than entire books.
All Your Perfects — 4.11 stars
Readers say this novel in the Hopeless series gave them “emotional whiplash” and reminded them why they read romance in the first place. While Graham and Quinn may have the perfect love story on paper, their imperfect marriage leaves a massive gap between them. Are the two able to overcome years of pent-up anger and unsaid secrets? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
Finding Perfect — 4.18 stars
Much like Losing Hope, Finding Perfect steps into Daniel’s mind to give readers a better look at his own motivations throughout the story—and provides a long-awaited conclusion to Daniel and Six’s story. (Head’s up: It’s recommended that you read this novel last to give added context and meaning to the overarching novel.)
It Ends With Us — 4.25 stars
Perhaps one of CoHo’s most popular books, It Ends With Us is a perfect introduction to the romance author and what you can expect from most of her novels. So if you don’t start with the Hopeless series, we recommend beginning here instead.
After Lily graduates from college, she moves to a new city and meets the perfect guy. But after her first love comes back into the picture, things start to get a little confusing for Lily as she tries to find the right decision for her heart. The novel itself is loosely based on CoHo’s parents and doesn’t shy away from conversations about sexual assault and domestic abuse. (Editor’s note: Some people have suggested this novel romanticizes toxic relationships and abuse; find a list of trigger warnings here.) IEWU is currently being adapted for the big screen with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Oh, and did we mention the novel has more than 2.6 million ratings (over 1.3 million of them are five stars) and was also a Goodreads Choice Award winner for best romance in 2016?
It Starts With Us — 3.93 stars
This highly anticipated sequel picks up where the first book left off—and adds a new perspective to the first novel by providing Atlas’s insight into the story. Switching between Lily’s and Atlas’s viewpoints, ISWU navigates life post-divorce, second chances at love, and so much more.
Slammed — 4.20 stars
Slammed is CoHo’s first-ever novel. A self-published book, it landed on The New York Times ebook bestseller list in 2012 thanks to book bloggers and social media, which ultimately launched her full-time writing career. The novel earned a Goodreads Choice Award nomination for best young adult fiction and best Goodreads author in the same year. The story follows a young teenager, Layken, grieving her father’s death while taking care of the rest of her family. When Layken’s new neighbor moves in, the duo strike up a romantic connection, until a massive secret pulls them apart.
Point of Retreat — 4.19 stars
Slammed’s highly anticipated sequel takes Layken’s love life to a new level. Will her new relationship stand the test of time, or will she be left brokenhearted once again? Fair warning: Some reviewers say you might fall head over heels in love with Will Cooper. Read at your own risk.
This Girl — 3.91 stars
The final novel in the Slammed series, This Girl takes readers deeper into Layken and Will’s love story—and that’s all we can tell you without spoiling the first two novels. Still, if you’ve read the other two novels, this one is a must to round out the series and get a satisfying conclusion to the story.
Maybe Someday — 4.07 stars
A Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for best romance (2014), Maybe Someday delves into the life of a 22-year-old college student who discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her. In the wake of their breakup, she starts to crush on her neighbor, who happens to be a budding musician. If the love story isn’t enough to get you to start this series, it’s accompanied by original music to really immerse you in CoHo’s world.
Maybe Not — 3.72 stars
Maybe Not isn’t a sequel to Maybe Someday but is rather a companion novella following similar themes around love. This novel follows two roommates of opposite gender who kinda, sorta hate each other. But…also…maybe don’t? TL;DR: Enemies to lovers but make them roommates with lots of spice.
Maybe Now — 3.93 stars
Maybe Now is the sequel to both previous books, giving readers updates on the love lives of Ridge and Syndney as well as Warren and Bridgette. Readers called this “cheese-galore” but said that didn’t stop them from enjoying the final novel.
Never Never — 3.93 stars
Cowritten with Tarryn Fisher, the first novel in the Never Never series follows best friends (and lovers) Charlie and Silas as they try to piece together their past after they both wake up with no memory of their romantic relationship. Be forewarned: There is a devastating cliffhanger at the end of book one that’ll have you adding the sequel to your cart ASAP.
Never Never: Part 2 — 3.98 stars
The sequel to Never Never amps up the stakes, blending a desperate race for answers with even more questions. We can’t tell you much more in order to avoid spoilers.
Never Never: Part 3 — 3.49 stars
The long-awaited finale of the Never Never mystery. That’s all you need to know; if you’ve read the first two, you’ll definitely be picking this one up from the bookstore too. Fair warning, some readers have said the conclusion wasn’t worth the hype of the first two books.
Colleen Hoover stand-alone books, ranked
Reminders of Him — 4.43 stars
CoHo’s highest rated stand-alone novel follows a young mother who was recently released from prison. Desperate to earn redemption for her past mistakes and be able to see her daughter again, the woman fights to prove herself while learning to love again. One reviewer said this book had them crying “ugly tears” at two in the morning, while another said the book made them hurt in the best way possible. Oh, and did we mention it was a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for best romance in 2022? Yeah, enough said.
Verity — 4.35 stars
Verity is one of the most well-known CoHo novels. No, seriously. This psychological thriller boasts a Goodreads Choice Award nomination for best romance (2019), almost 2 million ratings to its name, and an Amazon Studios adaptation is in the works. The novel follows Lowen Ashleigh, an aspiring writer who accepts a job ghost-writing for an injured best-selling author. After discovering the author’s unfinished biography with some alarming admissions, Ashleigh weighs massive moral decisions while trying to make sense of her own complicated feelings for the woman’s husband.
Heart Bones — 4.29 stars
Published mid-2020, this YA novel follows Beyah Grim as she moves in with her estranged father, navigates grief, and finds love in an unexpected place with a boy who is her polar opposite. A recent review said the book left the reader “speechless” and that their heart was “broken into a million pieces.” Another review, written by someone who claims to not particularly like CoHo books, said this one “well done” without any “cheesy twists.” So yeah, add this one to cart ASAP.
__November 9 __— 4.20 stars
Reacting to what’s best described as a love story between an artist and his muse, reviewers pine for the romance between Fallon and aspiring novelist Ben. And that’s all you really need to know, as most reviews recommend you dive into this novel with little knowledge of the story and enjoy the ride. Okay, fine, if you want a little teaser, one reviewer said they read this book in a single sitting with their heart racing the entire time. “The story was SO unique and unexpected that it took me completely by surprise over and over again!! I swooned, I fell in love, my heart was broken, and then healed again,” they wrote.
Regretting You — 4.17 stars
Fans of contemporary fiction and young adult novels that center complex mother-daughter relationships will fall head-over-heels in love with Regretting You. The novel, which was a 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee for best romance, follows Morgan and Clara as they attempt to navigate life after tragedy, the messiness of being a teenager, and learning to cope with heartbreak. Reviewers call this work “outstanding” years after it was published.
Confess — 4.14 stars
A reviewer best described this early CoHo novel as The Notebook meets The Fault in Our Stars. The novel won a Goodreads Choice Award for best romance in 2015 and has racked up more than 400,000 reviews. The novel follows a young woman set on rebuilding her life—and finally giving into love. But when she finds out her new beau is keeping a major secret, her only choice might be to break up with him for good. The thing is—she might not be strong enough to do it. Bonus: If you enjoy the novel, you can watch the TV adaptation from 2017. The series only got one season, but it might be worth a stream.
Ugly Love — 4.11 stars
A 2014 Goodreads Choice Award nominee for best romance, Ugly Love is one of CoHo’s first novels and has amassed over 1.4 million reviews to date. A contemporary romance that’s great for fans of complicated friends-with-benefits tropes, Ugly Love will have you on the edge of your seat as you witness Tate Collins and pilot Miles Archer break all their own rules (and a few promises too!). Some reviewers loved this book so much they wanted to give it six stars.
Too Late — 3.95 stars
This 2016 psychological suspense novel is perfect for fans that squeal over dangerous love triangles, especially if said trope involves a drug lord and an undercover DEA agent. While some reviewers think this novel lacked a certain edge, others rave about the book, saying it was a “beautiful” story that tugged at their heartstrings. On the fence about it? We’ll leave you with this line: “Love is not found. Love finds.”
Without Merit — 3.76 stars
With nearly 200,000 ratings and a Goodreads Choice Award Winner for best romance (2017), Without Merit follows the life of Merit Voss, the family secret keeper who is fed up with all the lies. With emphasis on mistakes and forgiveness, this novel has mixed reviews from loyal Hoover fans. Some say it deals with too many serious topics (mental illness, abuse, sexuality, suicide, and more) without doing any of them particularly well. Meanwhile, others say this book lived up to the hype and actually caused them to take time and reflect on the seriousness of the book’s themes. “Clasp your pearls to your chest and grab a hanky; this one is a tear jerker, but per classic Hoover, there is a ray of hope that turns into what a real happily ever after should look like,” one reviewer wrote.
Layla — 3.69 stars
Despite being last on the list, Layla has over 343,000 reviews and counting. This 2020 CoHo novel is a paranormal romance with plenty of spice. After Layla recovers from an attack that leaves her emotionally scarred, her boyfriend Leeds brings her to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. With the distance between Layla and Leeds growing with each passing day, Leeds takes an interest in another guest, Willow. Some reviewers have called this novel “problematic,” with Leeds being described as a villain as opposed to a sympathetic main character. Meanwhile, others rave about Layla, saying it’s unlike anything they’ve ever read before—in a good way.
