# Colleen Hoover

> A Texas social worker who self-published her first novel in 2012, she became a publishing phenomenon after readers on TikTok took up her books in 2021.

- Novelist · It Ends with Us · Verity
- Known for: *It Ends with Us*, published in 2016, which became a major hit in 2021 after readers on TikTok embraced it, and the thriller *Verity*.[2][3]
- Born: December 11, 1979
- Last updated: 2026-11-14
- Editorial review: approved 2026-11-14
- Web page: https://authorbackstories.com/authors/colleen-hoover/
- Reading list (PDF): https://authorbackstories.com/authors/colleen-hoover/reading-list.pdf

## Featured book: Now a film

*Verity* (2018). A struggling writer is hired to finish a best-selling series for an author left unable to write after an accident, and finds unsettling secrets in her house.[3] Amazon MGM Studios' film, directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, was set for release on October 2, 2026.[3]

## At a glance

- Born: Margaret Colleen Fennell, December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas[1]
- Education: Texas A&M University–Commerce, degree in social work[1]
- Before writing: Social work and teaching jobs[1]
- First book: *Slammed*, self-published in 2012[6][2]
- Founded: The Bookworm Box, a nonprofit bookstore and book subscription service (2015)[7]

## Colleen Hoover's Backstory

### Early life

Colleen Hoover was born Margaret Colleen Fennell on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and grew up in nearby Saltillo.[1] She studied social work at Texas A&M University–Commerce and worked in social work and teaching jobs before she began writing.[1] She lives in Texas with her husband and their three sons.[7]

### Self-publishing

Hoover's first novel, *Slammed*, appeared in 2012, followed by two sequels, *Point of Retreat* and *This Girl*.[2] According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, she wrote it as a Christmas gift for her mother and published it herself, and she went on to self-publish many of her books.[6] Over the following years she wrote both series and standalone novels, among them the Hopeless and Maybe Someday books, *Ugly Love*, *Confess* and *November 9*.[1] With the novelist Tarryn Fisher she wrote *Never Never*, released digitally in three parts in 2015.[1] In 2015 she and her family founded the Bookworm Box, a nonprofit bookstore and monthly book subscription service.[7]

### It Ends with Us and TikTok

*It Ends with Us*, published in 2016, sold well at first and became a major hit in 2021 after readers on TikTok embraced it; Kirkus Reviews reports that TikTok users also turned several of her earlier books into best-sellers.[2] It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Romance in 2016, as *Confess* had the year before.[1] Its sequel, *It Starts with Us*, followed in 2022.[1] Other books from these years include the thriller *Verity* (2018), *Regretting You* (2019) and *Reminders of Him* (2022).[1]

### Films

Hoover's books have become a run of films. *It Ends with Us*, directed by Justin Baldoni and starring Baldoni and Blake Lively, was released in August 2024 and earned more than $350 million worldwide, according to Wikipedia.[1] A legal dispute between its two stars followed, which Kirkus reported; asked about it in 2026, Hoover said, "I feel for everyone," and that she remains proud of the film.[2][5] *Regretting You* followed in 2025, and in March 2026 Universal released *Reminders of Him*, which Hoover adapted with Lauren Levine and co-produced.[1] Amazon MGM Studios set its film of *Verity*, with Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett, for release on October 2, 2026.[3]

### Woman Down

Montlake, an Amazon imprint, published *Woman Down* on January 13, 2026.[2] It follows a novelist who retreats to a cabin after online anger over a film of one of her books, and a detective who arrives with bad news; Hoover called it "probably one of the darkest books" she has written.[2]

## Fun facts

- She announced *Woman Down* in a video on Amazon's TikTok account.[2]
- The heroine of *Woman Down* is a novelist who goes into hiding after online backlash against the film of one of her books.[2]
- She co-wrote the screenplay for the film of *Reminders of Him*, with Lauren Levine.[1]
- The Bookworm Box, the nonprofit bookstore and subscription service she founded with her family, dates from 2015.[7]
- *Never Never*, written with the novelist Tarryn Fisher, came out digitally in three parts in 2015 and in print only in 2023.[1]

## Books

In order of first publication; each series is kept together in reading order.

Titles, series and first-publication years from the bibliography in Hoover's Wikipedia entry, checked against publisher and retailer listings for the current editions.[1]

- **Hopeless** (series, 3 books, 2012–2014)
  - 2012: Book 1, *Hopeless* (Novel). ISBN 9781476743554. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476743554) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476743554)
  - 2013: Book 2, *Losing Hope* (Novel). ISBN 9781476746555. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476746555) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476746555)
  - 2014: Book 3, *Finding Cinderella* (Novella). ISBN 9781476783284. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476783284) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476783284)
- **Slammed** (series, 3 books, 2012–2013)
  - 2012: Book 1, *Slammed* (Novel). Her first novel, self-published in 2012.[6] ISBN 9781476715902. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476715902) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476715902)
  - 2012: Book 2, *Point of Retreat* (Novel). ISBN 9781476715926. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476715926) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476715926)
  - 2013: Book 3, *This Girl* (Novel). ISBN 9781476746531. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476746531) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476746531)
- **Maybe Someday** (series, 3 books, 2014–2018)
  - 2014: Book 1, *Maybe Someday* (Novel). ISBN 9781476753164. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476753164) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476753164)
  - 2014: Book 2, *Maybe Not* (Novella). ISBN 9781501125713. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781501125713) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781501125713)
  - 2018: Book 3, *Maybe Now* (Novel). ISBN 9781668013342. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781668013342) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781668013342)
- 2014: *Ugly Love* (Novel). ISBN 9781476753188. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476753188) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476753188)
- 2015: *Confess* (Novel). Won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Romance.[1] ISBN 9781476791456. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781476791456) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781476791456)
- 2015: *Never Never* (Novel, with Tarryn Fisher). Released digitally in three parts in 2015; in print in 2023.[1] ISBN 9781335004888. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781335004888) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781335004888)
- 2015: *November 9* (Novel). ISBN 9781501110344. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781501110344) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781501110344)
- **It Ends with Us** (series, 2 books, 2016–2022). *It Starts with Us* was published second and continues the story; Wikipedia lists the two as a series in that order.[1]
  - 2016: Book 1, *It Ends with Us* (Novel). A major hit in 2021 after readers on TikTok embraced it.[2] ISBN 9781501110368. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781501110368) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781501110368)
  - 2022: Book 2, *It Starts with Us* (Novel). ISBN 9781668001226. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781668001226) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781668001226)
- 2016: *Too Late* (Novel). ISBN 9781538756591. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781538756591) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781538756591)
- 2017: *Without Merit* (Novel). ISBN 9781501170621. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781501170621) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781501170621)
- **All Your Perfects** (series, 2 books, 2018–2019)
  - 2018: Book 1, *All Your Perfects* (Novel). ISBN 9781501193323. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781501193323) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781501193323)
  - 2019: Book 2, *Finding Perfect* (Novella). ISBN 9781668013380. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781668013380) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781668013380)
- 2018: *Verity* (Novel). ISBN 9781538724736. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781538724736) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781538724736)
- 2019: *Regretting You* (Novel). ISBN 9781542016421. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781542016421) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781542016421)
- 2020: *Heart Bones* (Novel). ISBN 9781668021910. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781668021910) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781668021910)
- 2020: *Layla* (Novel). ISBN 9781542000178. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781542000178) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781542000178)
- 2022: *Reminders of Him* (Novel). ISBN 9781542025607. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781542025607) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781542025607)
- 2026: *Woman Down* (Novel). A thriller published by Montlake on January 13, 2026.[2] ISBN 9781542025614. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781542025614) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781542025614)

## Latest news

- Sept. 24, 2026: Promoting the film of *Verity*, Hoover said of the legal dispute around the 2024 film of *It Ends with Us*, "I feel for everyone," and that she remains proud of that film.[5]
- Mar. 13, 2026: Universal released *Reminders of Him*, adapted by Hoover and Lauren Levine; it opened at No. 2 with $18.2 million, according to Rotten Tomatoes.[4][1]
- Jan. 13, 2026: Montlake, an Amazon imprint, published *Woman Down*, a thriller Hoover called "probably one of the darkest books" she has written.[2]

## Adaptations and other media

### Film

- *It Ends with Us* (2024). Based on *It Ends with Us*. Justin Baldoni directed and starred with Blake Lively; Wikipedia records mixed reviews and more than $350 million in worldwide box office.[2][1] The film was followed by a legal dispute between Lively and Baldoni, Kirkus reported; Hoover was not part of it.[2][5]
- *Regretting You* (2025). Based on *Regretting You*. A film with Hoover as an executive producer.[1]
- *Reminders of Him* (2026). Based on *Reminders of Him*. Universal's film, written by Hoover and Lauren Levine, stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers; it opened on March 13, 2026, at No. 2 with $18.2 million.[1][4]
- *Verity* (2026). Based on *Verity*. Amazon MGM Studios' film, directed by Michael Showalter, stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett; its release was set for October 2, 2026.[3]

### Television

- *Confess* (2017). Based on *Confess*. A miniseries, with Hoover as an executive producer.[1]

## Timeline

- Dec. 11, 1979: Born in Sulphur Springs, Texas.[1]
- 2012: Self-publishes her first novel, *Slammed*.[6][2]
- 2015: She and her family found the Bookworm Box, a nonprofit bookstore and book subscription service.[7]
- 2016: *It Ends with Us* is published.[2]
- 2021: Readers on TikTok turn *It Ends with Us* into a major hit.[2]
- 2022: *It Starts with Us*, the sequel to *It Ends with Us*, is published.[1]
- August 2024: The film of *It Ends with Us* is released.[1]
- Jan. 13, 2026: *Woman Down* is published by Montlake.[2]
- Mar. 13, 2026: The film of *Reminders of Him*, co-written by Hoover, opens.[4]
- Oct. 2, 2026: The release date set for the film of *Verity*.[3]

## What's next

*Woman Down*, published in January 2026, is her newest novel; no next book has been announced.[2]

## Sources

1. [Colleen Hoover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colleen_Hoover). Wikipedia. (reference)
2. [New Novel by Colleen Hoover Coming in 2026](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/new-novel-by-colleen-hoover-coming-in-2026/). Kirkus Reviews. (news)
3. ['Verity' film release moved to October 2026](https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/verity-film-release-moved-to-october-2026). SunStar. (news)
4. [Weekend Box Office: Hoppers Stays on Top](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/weekend-box-office-hoppers-stays-on-top). Rotten Tomatoes. (news)
5. ['It Ends With Us' author Colleen Hoover](https://www.aol.com/entertainment/ends-us-author-colleen-hoover-151932536.html). Yahoo News (via AOL). (news)
6. [Colleen Hoover](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Colleen-Hoover). Encyclopaedia Britannica. (reference)
7. [It Ends with Us (publisher's author biography)](https://www.samsclub.com/ip/It-Ends-with-Us-by-Colleen-Hoover-Book-1-of-2-Paperback-9781501110368/13566522060). Atria Books, via Sam's Club. (website)