The Top 5 Colleen Hoover Books, Ranked By Reviews

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Colleen Hoover is one of the biggest success stories in the writing world. The author self-published her first novel, "Slammed" in 2012, as a present for her grandmother, and little did she know that it would soon become a huge hit. "My goal was, 'Oh, I hope I write a book someday.' That's as far as it went. You know, I just wanted to sit down, get an idea, write a book, maybe someone would read it. Actually thinking about having a book that was on The New York Times Best Seller list was not even in my brain," she shared with Today.

Hoover subsequently was able to quit her day job to focus on writing, giving readers over 20 books to enjoy during the span of her career. And you've probably heard of the film "It Ends with Us," that's because she was the brains behind the novel. It's not just regular folks who are fans of her books, either, — celebs like Kylie Jenner and Lucy Hale are both on the Colleen Hoover bandwagon. If you're itching to become a CoHort, or revisit Hoover's books, we know that having over 20 to choose from can be daunting. That's why we scoured reviews to see which of her novels ranked the best according to readers — and trust us when we say that it was a very close race.

It's no surprise that "Slammed" is one of Colleen Hoover's most popular books, as that's the one that launched her writing career due to recommendations from readers. With an average score of 4.14 from over 451,000 ratings on Goodreads, it made the fifth spot on our list, and fans are still picking up the book years after it was published. In 2023, a reviewer shared, "I would never believe that this was Hoover's debut novel. It's so strong that I assumed it was a 4th or 5th book. Nope. She never fails to incorporate something new and unique into her writing, if it's paintings, music, or even poetry. She really has a style all her own." Another reader, who fell in love with Hoover's characters, wrote, "I smiled, I cried, and I smiled and cried some more, in many places and not even just with Lake and Will's story but with Eddie and the boys as well. There wasn't a single moment, a single character, that wasn't amazing, that didn't make me want more, hold my breath, or even think for a moment, that I needed a break, a time out."

Lovers of poetry will love "Slammed," as Hoover incorporates slam poetry throughout the novel. And, there's a bit of forbidden romance between the protagonists, Lake Cohen and Will Cooper, who have a student-teacher relationship. So if you want to read one of the best age gap romance books, Hoover's debut novel has all the elements that'll leave you hooked.

"Heart Bones" is another one of Colleen Hoover's success stories, having been initially self-published in 2020, but then picked up by Atria Press three years later due to its popularity. It's no surprise, as the novel received a 4.2 rating on Goodreads, making it one of the best contemporary romance books of the 2020s. The story follows Beyah Grim, a young adult who is forced to live with her dad in Texas after her mom dies. There, she meets a man named Samson, whom she eventually opens up to, only to discover that he's keeping a few secrets of his own. This coming-of-age tale will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for Beyah Grim as she creates a new life for herself while giving a chance at love, even though it might not be a straightforward path.

Fans of Hoover were not disappointed by "Heart Bones," with the book having all the tropes the author is known for — a heartbreaking backstory, angst, and a steamy romance. "'Heart Bones' will not be what you expect it to be. And I 100% believe that is why I loved it so much. If you enjoy the turmoil and angst that Colleen pulls you through with all of her books — 'Heart Bones' is bound to be your new favorite CoHo book. As it should be," a Goodreads reviewer declared.

Warning: The following has mentions of sexual assault and suicide.

With a very strong 4.2 rating on Goodreads, landing third on our list of Colleen Hoover's top five books is "Hopeless," one of her earliest works, published in 2013. The YA novel centers around a high school senior named Sky Davis, who is thrust into society after being homeschooled her whole life. She can't help but be drawn to the mysterious bad boy, Dean Holder, who has a connection to her past. Through her relationship with him, Sky uncovers secrets about her life and heals from a trauma that she had buried for years.

"Hopeless" is not an easy read, with themes of sexual abuse and suicide throughout. Still, readers love how Sky and Dean Holder helped each other with their emotional scars and eventually found peace together. "Both Sky and Holder were flawed and damaged beyond repair, or so it seemed. A broken boy with anger management issues, an indifferent girl who made out with boys she didn't even like to help her numb her mind, they didn't get along at first but the connection and the bond that developed between them was something they could not control, a magic thread that united their souls," one eloquent reviewer shared. And after you finish "Hopeless" and need more, the sequel "Losing Hope" will give you that CoHo fix.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org

If you picked up "Verity" and expected an angsty romance story, you would be very surprised. This Colleen Hoover novel was originally self-published in 2018, before being republished in 2021 due to its rising popularity. The mystery-thriller is quite a departure from her usual work, but with a 4.6 rating on Goodreads, it's clear readers loved it. A writer hired to finish a book series of a best-selling author who is immobilized from a car accident, only to fall for her husband and uncover horrific secrets, has all the makings of a hit. As one reader described, "The book's biggest triumph to me was the sheer energy threaded [through] the pages, how it feels uncontrollable, yet it is perfectly under control by the author. I like the way Hoover makes you feel Lowe's deep-skin unease and confusion as if it's your own."

Just like Hoover's "It Ends With Us," her thriller "Verity" has been made into a film, starring Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, Josh Hartnett as her love interest, and Anne Hathaway playing Verity. It seems the wishes of fans (and Hoover) came true, as they loved the book so much that they wanted a film version. When a Goodreads member asked Hoover four years ago if that would ever happen, the author replied, "I've sold a lot of film rights that eventually reverted back to me if the producers couldn't get the project off the ground. I'm hoping this one works out, though! I think it would be fun to see 'Verity' as a movie, so hopefully one of these days I'll have something to announce on that front." With an October 2026 release date, fans don't have to wait too long!

"Reminders of Him" currently holds first place as Colleen Hoover's best book based on reviews, with an average score of 4.3 stars from over 1.6 million ratings on Goodreads. If you haven't read it already, be prepared to have a full box of tissues on hand, as this 2022 novel will make you ugly cry. We all love a second-chance story, and you'll totally root for Kenna Rowan, who is out of prison for killing her boyfriend in a drunk driving accident, and wants to form a relationship with her young daughter, Diem Landry. Unfortunately, her daughter's grandparents are not having it, but with the help of a handsome bar owner, Ledger Ward, Kenna Rowan finds forgiveness for herself and the past mistakes she made.

There's a reason "Reminders of Him" got such high marks, with one reader writing, "This book is so much more than just a romance story. It's about second chances, forgiveness, and people being put in impossible circumstances." Another shared, "This will be a story that stays with me forever. I cried, I cheered for Kenna, I cheered for Ledger. I was one ugly sobbing mess." It looks like Hoover is killing it in terms of movies, with the film version of "Reminders of Him" coming out in March 2026. With the book having such a huge fanbase already, we're sure viewers will flock to the theaters for this tear-jerker.

Because we compiled this list of Colleen Hoover's best books based purely on reviews, we turned to Goodreads to look up all of her published work and noted the ratings. We narrowed down the top five highly rated books, which came down to mere decimals. All the books on our list received over four stars out of five and hundreds of thousands of ratings, with the top pick, "Reminders of Him," getting almost 1.7 million. If your fave isn't on this list, rest assured that several of Hoover's books were super close, proving that the author is one of the most successful storytellers of our time.