Colleen Hoover: A Bestselling Author and Her Works
Colleen Hoover, is a renowned American author who has taken the literary scene. In this Author Spotlight, we delve into her background, explore her acclaimed novels, and unravel the themes that have made her a favorite among readers.
About Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is a prominent American author celebrated for her gripping novels, particularly in the romance and drama genres. Her breakthrough came with the 2016 romance novel “It Ends With Us,” which gained immense popularity on TikTok’s bookish side in 2021. Before her books were picked up by publishing houses, many were initially self-published. By October 2022, Hoover had already sold approximately 20 million books and earned a spot among Time magazine’s top 100 global influencers in 2023.
Born on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, Hoover’s upbringing was marked by her mother’s experience with physical abuse from her father, leading to their separation when she was young. After her mother remarried, the family faced financial hardships while running a small dairy farm. Hoover earned her degree in social work from Texas A&M-Commerce in 2004. Her career path included various roles, including working as a counselor for the federal program Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. During this time, she lived in a caravan home with her husband, a long-haul trucker, and their three children.
Hoover’s journey as an author began in 2011 when she wrote the romance novel “Slammed” using a borrowed laptop. Initially intended as a Christmas gift for her mother, the book faced publisher rejections but gained momentum after receiving a glowing five-star review from book blogger Maryse Black. Hoover’s debut work eventually climbed the best-seller lists.
Colleen Hoover Books
The first book of Hoover’s that I read was Verity which was released in 2022 and Verity remains my favourite book to date. Verity is a gothic romance mystery and psychological thriller of sorts about Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling ghostwriter who agrees to finish a best-selling author’s book series after the latter is injured in a car accident. However, Ashleigh begins to suspect things are not as they seem.
I was wowed after I read Verity therefore I expected so much more from Colleen Hoover and moved on to read more of her stories. The next Hoover book that I read was All Your Perfects and I was disappointed to add it to my DNF (Did Not Finish) list. After that I was sure done with any Colleen Hoover reading spree I was about starting.
As a member of the BookTok community, I have never understood the hype behind Colleen Hoover It Ends With Us Series. In my opinion, for a New York Times bestselling author, Colleen Hoover’s writing style in that book is subpar, elementary, and reads like it belongs on Wattpad. It Ends With Us was a cringe fest for me and I once again added another Colleen Hoover book to my DNF list.
The story was unrealistic, a total cliche, the writing was exhausting to read and gave the vibe of some weird fanfiction. To me, the story lacked originality and was just another love story without substance and that wow effect.
I do understand that people have their preferences and there’s a good amount of persons who love this story but I will never understand why they do. I know that I’ve read better.
After that I went ahead to try a couple others of the stories like blah blah blah and had the same result. While I accept that Colleen Hoover is not the author for me, Verity was an amazing book and I accept no criticism about it. I think its possible for me to still appreciate the good amid what I see as bad in my opinion.
Love her or hate her, if you’re a part of the BookTok community and the book community as a whole, you would have come across her name a good number of times, and that cant be refuted.
In her novels, you’ll often find the theme of romance as a central element. Colleen Hoover has an innate ability to explore the intricate dynamics of love, whether it’s the sweet, slow burn of a budding romance or the challenges couples face trying to navigate the complexities of their relationships.
Colleen Hoover Books in Order
At the time of writing, there are 26 Colleen Hoover books. This includes novels and novellas that are both standalone and part of a series.
Colleen Hoover Books by Series
Hopeless Series:
- Hopeless (2012)
- Losing Hope (2013)
- Finding Cinderella (2013)
- Finding Perfect (2019)
Slammed Series:
- Slammed (2012)
- Point of Retreat (2012)
- Maybe Someday (2014)
- Maybe Not (2014)
Maybe Someday Series:
- Maybe Someday (2014)
- Maybe Not (2014)
- Maybe Now (2018)
It Ends With Us Series:
- It Ends With Us (2016)
- It Starts With Us (2022)
Standalone Colleen Hoover Books:
- Slammed (2012)
- Point of Retreat (2012)
- Hopeless (2012)
- Maybe Someday (2014)
- Ugly Love (2014)
- Confess (2015)
- November 9 (2015)
- Too Late (2016)
- Never Never (2016)
- It Ends With Us (2016)
- Without Merit (2017)
- All Your Perfects (2018)
- Verity (2018)
- Regretting You (2019)
- Heart Bones (2020)
- Layla (2020)
- Reminders of Him (2022)
👉Organized by series, standalone works, popular books, Goodreads Choice Award recognition, bestsellers, and less-popular titles, here’s a chronological list:
Colleen Hoover’s ability to evoke emotions through her writing has gained her a dedicated following. Whether you’re a fan of romance, contemporary fiction, or suspenseful storytelling, Hoover’s diverse repertoire has something for everyone.
Movie Adaptation: “It Ends with Us”
While I typically don’t watch movie adaptations of books, my interest was piqued by the adaptation of “Red, White and Royal Blue.” Similarly, I’m curious about the upcoming movie adaptation of “It Ends With Us,” despite my lukewarm reception of the novel. In 2019, Hoover announced that this adaptation is in the works and is expected to hit screens in 2024. The cast includes Blake Lively as Lily, Justin Baldoni as Ryle, and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas.
In conclusion, Colleen Hoover may have her critics, but there’s no denying her impact
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