Colleen Hoover Books in Order: Which to Read First, Series Order and Where to Start

The short answer: most Colleen Hoover books are standalones, so you can read them in almost any order. The exceptions are her series, which should be read in order: Slammed (Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl), Hopeless (Hopeless, Losing Hope, plus the novellas Finding Cinderella and Finding Perfect), Maybe Someday (Maybe Someday, Maybe Not, Maybe Now) and It Ends With Us followed by It Starts With Us. If you are new to her, start with It Ends With Us for emotional romance or Verity for a dark thriller.

Colleen Hoover has become one of the best-selling authors of the decade, thanks in large part to readers sharing her books on BookTok. With more than twenty novels, several short series and a growing list of film adaptations, it is easy to feel lost. This guide sets out the Colleen Hoover books in order, explains which ones are connected, suggests which to read first depending on your taste, and helps you choose a box set without buying the same book twice.

Colleen Hoover books in order of publication

Here are her main novels in the order they were first published. Books marked as part of a series are best read in sequence; the rest stand alone.

The short Maybe Someday follow-ups, Maybe Not and Maybe Now, and the Hopeless novella Finding Perfect came out between these main novels. Her more recent novel Woman Down is another standalone thriller. Hoover has also published a handful of other books, including the co-written Never Never series, so this list concentrates on the titles readers ask about most.

Colleen Hoover series in order

Slammed series

1. Slammed: Layken moves to Michigan after her father's death and falls for her neighbour Will, a slam poet, before a discovery changes everything.
2. Point of Retreat: continues Layken and Will's story.
3. This Girl: retells events from the first book from Will's point of view.

Slammed was Hoover's debut, and the series has a gentler, more poetic feel than her later books. It is a good choice for readers who love the romance in her work more than the twists.

Hopeless series

1. Hopeless: Sky meets Dean Holder, who seems to know more about her past than she does.
2. Losing Hope: the same story told from Holder's point of view. Read it after Hopeless, never before.
3. Finding Cinderella: a companion novella about Six, Sky's best friend.
4. Finding Perfect: a short follow-up novella connected to the same group of characters.

The Hopeless series 5-book collection includes Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Finding Perfect and the standalone All Your Perfects. If you only want the core pair, the Hopeless and Losing Hope 2-book set is the easiest way in. Be aware that Hopeless deals with child abuse, so check the content notes before you begin.

Maybe Someday series

1. Maybe Someday: Sydney, a music student, begins writing lyrics with her neighbour Ridge, a guitarist who is deaf.
2. Maybe Not: a short, comic novella about Ridge's flatmate Warren.
3. Maybe Now: returns to the characters a few years later.

The Maybe Someday 3-book set has all three in one go.

It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us

1. It Ends With Us (2016): Lily Bloom opens a flower shop in Boston and falls for a neurosurgeon, Ryle, before her relationship forces her to make an impossible choice.
2. It Starts With Us (2022): picks up immediately after the end of the first book and follows Lily and her first love, Atlas.

Always read It Ends With Us first. It Starts With Us was written as a sequel for readers who wanted to know what happened next, and it gives away the ending of the first book. Our It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us 2-book set keeps them together, and there is also an It Ends With Us box set edition. Both books explore domestic abuse, and Hoover has written openly about how the first book drew on her own family's experience.

Which Colleen Hoover book should you read first?

Because most of her books stand alone, the best starting point depends on what you enjoy. Hoover writes in two main modes: emotional contemporary romance and dark psychological thrillers.

A tip from many readers: do not read several Hoover books back to back if you are sensitive to sad themes. Her books often involve grief, trauma and difficult relationships, and they land harder when you leave a little space between them.

Colleen Hoover's thrillers: Verity and Layla

Many readers are surprised to learn that the author of It Ends With Us also writes dark thrillers. They stand alone, so you can read them at any point, and they make a good change of pace between her romances.

Verity (2018)

Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer, is hired to finish a bestselling series by Verity Crawford, an author who has been badly injured and can no longer write. While working in the Crawfords' house, Lowen discovers an unfinished autobiography that reveals disturbing secrets. Verity is Hoover's most talked-about book among thriller readers, and its ending still splits opinion. It contains graphic and disturbing content, so it is not for the faint-hearted.

Layla (2020)

After Layla is injured in an attack, her boyfriend Leeds takes her back to the bed and breakfast where they first met, hoping it will help her recover. Strange things begin to happen in the house. Layla blends romance, suspense and a supernatural element, and it is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Verity and want something just as unsettling but different in tone.

Woman Down

Woman Down is her more recent standalone thriller, and it is included in our 4-book set with Woman Down, Layla, Reminders of Him and Regretting You, which is a neat way to try both sides of her writing in one bundle.

How to avoid buying duplicates

Because Hoover's books appear in many different combinations, it is worth taking a minute before you order:

• Make a list of what you already own, including e-books and library reads you may want on your shelf.
• Read the "Titles in this set" list on each product page rather than relying on the product name alone.
• Start small if you are unsure. A five-book set of standalones is a low-risk way to find out whether you love her style before committing to the larger collections.

Colleen Hoover books made into films

Adaptations have brought a new wave of readers to her books. These are the main ones so far:

• It Ends With Us (2024), starring Blake Lively as Lily.
• Regretting You, released in October 2025.
• Reminders of Him, released in March 2026.
• Verity, starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, which was scheduled for release in October 2026.

As always, we recommend reading the book first. Hoover's stories rely on inner voices, letters and journals that are hard to capture on screen, and some of her biggest twists are best met on the page.

Are Colleen Hoover books suitable for teenagers?

Colleen Hoover writes for adults. Most of her novels include explicit sexual content, and many deal with domestic abuse, sexual assault, self-harm, suicide or grief. Some older teenagers do read her books, particularly the gentler Slammed series, but we would suggest that parents read them first or look at the content notes before handing one to a young reader. For teens who want emotional romance written for their age group, browse our YA romance collection instead.

Where to start: the best Colleen Hoover box sets

The biggest risk when buying Hoover sets is ending up with duplicates, because so many sets share titles. Here is how to choose.

For the ultimate collection

The Colleen Hoover 18-book collection brings together the Slammed series, the Hopeless books, the Maybe Someday series, It Ends With Us, Ugly Love, November 9, Confess and more. It is the easiest way to own most of her backlist in one go. Check the title list on the product page before you buy.

For a big starter collection with both It Ends With Us books

The Colleen Hoover 12-book set includes It Ends With Us, It Starts With Us, the Hopeless books, All Your Perfects, Ugly Love, November 9, Confess, Heart Bones and Without Merit.

For the thrillers and recent favourites

If Verity is what drew you in, the 4-book set with Verity, Reminders of Him, Regretting You and Heart Bones is a great choice. For something larger, the 7-book set with Verity, Layla, Reminders of Him and Ugly Love also includes Confess, November 9 and Regretting You.

For a budget-friendly taster

The Colleen Hoover 5-book set has five standalones (Ugly Love, November 9, Confess, Without Merit and Heart Bones), so you can try her style across several stories.

What to read after Colleen Hoover

If you loved the twists in Verity, try Freida McFadden, whose short, addictive thrillers are the other big BookTok obsession. Our guide to Freida McFadden books in order explains where to begin. For more emotional romance, browse our romance books, or read our round-up of the BookTok books everyone in the UK is reading.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to read Colleen Hoover books in order?

No, most of them are standalones that can be read in any order. Only her series need to be read in sequence: Slammed, Hopeless, Maybe Someday, and It Ends With Us followed by It Starts With Us.

Should I read It Ends With Us or It Starts With Us first?

Read It Ends With Us first. It Starts With Us is a direct sequel that begins where the first book ends, so reading it first would spoil the original story.

What is the best Colleen Hoover book to start with?

It Ends With Us is the most popular starting point for romance readers, and Verity is the favourite for thriller fans. If you want something lighter on dark themes, Regretting You or Reminders of Him are good alternatives.

How many Colleen Hoover books are there?

She has published more than twenty books, including novels, novellas and co-written titles, and new ones continue to appear. The exact number depends on whether you count novellas such as Finding Cinderella and Maybe Not.

What age are Colleen Hoover books for?

They are written for adults. Most contain explicit sexual content and difficult themes such as abuse, grief and trauma, so they are not generally recommended for younger teenagers.

Is Verity part of a series?

No, Verity is a standalone psychological thriller. It has no connection to her other books, so you can read it at any time.

Find your next Colleen Hoover read

Whether you are new to Colleen Hoover or filling the gaps on your shelf, there is a set to match. Browse our BookTok bestsellers or our complete author sets to find your next box set.