Colleen Hoover Books in Order: Complete Reading Guide

If you’ve scrolled through BookTok even once, you’ve probably seen Colleen Hoover’s name pop up again and again. Her books have a way of landing on bestseller lists and staying there, but one question keeps surfacing for newcomers: where do you even start?

Total published books: 27 (as of 2025) · Series count: 6 · Standalone novels: 13 · Most read title: It Ends with Us (40+ million copies) · First published book: Slammed (2012) · Average rating (Goodreads): 4.2/5

Colleen Hoover’s catalog breaks down into a straightforward set of numbers — but the series structure is where most newcomers get tripped up.

In what order do I read Colleen Hoover’s books?

Chronological order by publication date

• If you want to see Colleen Hoover’s growth as a writer, start at the very beginning. The Slammed series kicked off in 2012. (Wikipedia)
• A widely circulated chronological list places Slammed, Point of Retreat, and Hopeless all in 2012. (Readers Warehouse)
• Publishing order then moves through the Hopeless series, the Maybe Someday series, and the standalone novels that followed through 2022.

Series order by internal timeline

• Each series has an internal chronology that rewards readers who don’t skip around. The Hopeless series builds directly on the emotional fallout of its predecessor.
• It Ends with Us (2016) and its sequel It Starts with Us (2022) form a tight two-book arc. (Next Book in the Series)

Recommended reading order by popular consensus

• A vast majority of reader guides suggest: Slammed → Hopeless → Maybe Someday → It Ends with Us → Standalones.
• Some guides recommend starting with Ugly Love for readers who want a shorter, more contained romance before moving into heavier books. (Good Housekeeping)

The implication: Choosing the wrong order could spoil major plot twists, so consider your goal before diving in.

The catch: skipping a book in the middle of the Hopeless or Maybe Someday series will spoil major plot twists, even if the standalone labels suggest otherwise.

Which Colleen Hoover books are part of a series?

Slammed series books in order

• The Slammed trilogy consists of Slammed (2012), Point of Retreat (2012), and This Girl (2013). (Next Book in the Series)

Hopeless series books in order

• The Hopeless universe includes Hopeless (2012), Losing Hope (2013), Finding Cinderella (2013), All Your Perfects (2018), and Finding Perfect (2019) in most reader guides. (Whimsy Read)

Maybe Someday series books in order

• Maybe Someday (2014) starts the musical romance line, followed by Maybe Not (2014) and Maybe Now (2018).

It Ends with Us series books in order

• It Ends with Us (2016) and its sequel It Starts with Us (2022) make up the two-book series. (Next Book in the Series)

Never Never series books in order

• Never Never (2015), Never Never: Part Two (2016), and Never Never: Part Three (2017) are co-authored with Tarryn Fisher.

What this means: nearly half of Hoover’s library is interconnected. Picking up a series book without reading its predecessor means missing critical context.

What Colleen Hoover books should be read together?

Slammed and Point of Retreat

• Point of Retreat continues the story of Layken and Will immediately after the events of Slammed. They form a direct pair.

Hopeless and Losing Hope

• Losing Hope retells the events of Hopeless from Holder’s perspective and should be read second for maximum impact.

Maybe Someday and Maybe Not

• Maybe Not is a novella that takes place during the timeline of Maybe Someday and is best consumed immediately after.

It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us

• It Starts with Us picks up right where It Ends with Us leaves off. Reading them back-to-back is the only way to preserve the emotional arc. (Next Book in the Series)

The pattern: every dual-POV or companion book is designed to be read back-to-back. Breaking them apart dilutes the emotional tension Hoover carefully built.

What is Colleen Hoover’s most read book?

Sales figures for It Ends with Us

• It Ends with Us has sold over 40 million copies, making it Hoover’s undisputed bestseller. (Next Book in the Series)

Popularity rankings on Goodreads

• On Goodreads, It Ends with Us holds the highest rating among her most popular titles, followed closely by Verity and Ugly Love.

BookTok impact on readership

• The novel is widely credited with driving Hoover’s BookTok-era popularity, turning a 2016 release into a cultural phenomenon years later. (Next Book in the Series)

Why this matters: the It Ends with Us phenomenon has made it the de facto entry point for millions, but it’s not Hoover’s lightest read — prepare for heavy themes.

Do you need to read Colleen Hoover’s books in order?

When order matters for series

• Series books must be read in internal series order to avoid spoilers and maintain character continuity.

When you can skip between standalones

• Standalone books have no required order. Ugly Love, November 9, Confess, and Verity can be picked up independently. (Good Housekeeping)

If reading by release year is necessary

• It is not necessary to read all books chronologically by publication, though doing so reveals how Hoover’s style matured over time.

The trade-off: reading by release year gives you the author’s evolution, but you risk forgetting character arcs across years. Series order guarantees continuity.

What are the best Colleen Hoover books in order?

Top 5 Colleen Hoover books according to critics

• It Ends with Us, Verity, Ugly Love, November 9, and Hopeless are the most commonly recommended across critical and reader lists.

Reader favorites ranked

• Goodreads ratings consistently put Verity and It Ends with Us at the top, with Ugly Love close behind.

Start with these books first

• Ugly Love is a good standalone entry point for readers who want a contained romance. (Good Housekeeping)
• Verity is a thriller and not typical of Hoover’s romance-heavy catalog.

The catch: “best” is deeply personal. Ugly Love hits hard for standalone starters, while Verity appeals to thriller fans. Know your style before picking.

Which Colleen Hoover books to start with?

Best entry points for new readers

• Slammed is widely recommended as the first series to start with, establishing Hoover’s voice and emotional stakes. (Wikipedia)
• Ugly Love is a popular standalone start for readers who want a complete story in one volume.

Starting with series vs standalone

• Series starters get a deep emotional arc across multiple books; standalone starters get a quick, self-contained hit of Hoover’s style.

Avoiding spoilers by order

• Avoid starting with Verity if you want the typical Colleen Hoover romance experience — it is a thriller with very different expectations.
• Starting It Ends with Us first is valid, but the book contains mature themes that some new readers may not expect. (Next Book in the Series)

The upshot: newcomers should pick a lane. Series starters get a deep emotional arc; standalone starters get a quick hit. Both are valid.

How to Build Your Colleen Hoover Reading Plan

1. Step 1: Decide your goal

   Are you looking for a quick read to test the waters, or do you want the full emotional investment of a series arc? Your answer determines the path.

2. Step 2: Start with a series or a standalone

   If you choose a series, begin with Slammed or Hopeless. If you prefer a standalone, Ugly Love or November 9 are reliable entry points.

3. Step 3: Follow internal series order

   Within any series, read the books in the order they were released internally. Never skip a book in the middle of the Hopeless or Maybe Someday series.

4. Step 4: Explore standalones between series

   Use standalone novels like Confess, Regretting You, or Reminders of Him as breathers between emotionally heavy series arcs.

The pattern: Following these steps ensures a spoiler-free experience while maximizing emotional impact.

Clarity check: Confirmed facts vs. what’s still unclear

The pattern: Confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, but subjective preferences and unconfirmed details leave room for personal choice.

What experts and guides say about Hoover’s reading order

“Hoover’s first novel, ‘Slammed,’ was published in 2012, launching her career in contemporary romance.”

— Wikipedia (the community-driven encyclopedia)

“Colleen Hoover’s books are often grouped into series and standalones, with publication order usually preferred for the series but not required for most standalones.”

— Good Housekeeping (a leading lifestyle and service journalism brand)

“It Ends with Us is the most widely recommended entry point for new readers, offering a powerful standalone story that also launches one of Hoover’s most popular series.”

— Next Book in the Series (a reader-focused reference site)

The catch: Even expert recommendations vary, so trust your own reading preferences.

Your reading roadmap: the final takeaway

For any reader diving into Colleen Hoover’s sprawling catalog, the choice comes down to emotional payoff versus breezy exploration. Stick to the series for devastating, interconnected stories. Pick any standalone for a quick dose of Hoover’s signature style. Skipping the internal order of the Hopeless or Maybe Someday series means leaving threads hanging — and that’s a risk no Hoover fan should take. For a fan just discovering Hoover on BookTok, the decision is clear: start with a standalone like Ugly Love or Verity to test the waters, or dive straight into the emotional payoff of the It Ends with Us series. Skipping the internal series order means missing the full story — and that’s a risk no Hoover fan should take.

Frequently asked questions