---
title: "Colleen Hoover Books: Where to Start and What to Read Next"
description: "A no-spoiler guide to the Colleen Hoover backlist, which two books must be read in order, and which one to pick based on how much crying you are willing to do."
canonical: "https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/colleen-hoover-books-where-to-start"
url: "https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/colleen-hoover-books-where-to-start.md"
author: "Amy — Bella Bugs Books"
locale: "en-IE"
type: "blog-post"
date_modified: "2026-08-13"
---

# Colleen Hoover Books: Where to Start and What to Read Next

A no-spoiler guide to the Colleen Hoover backlist, which two books must be read in order, and which one to pick based on how much crying you are willing to do.

Category: Recommendations

Colleen Hoover writes standalones, which is good news: you can start almost anywhere. There is only one pair that has a fixed order.

## The only order that matters

1. **It Ends with Us**
2. **It Starts with Us**

*It Starts with Us* is a direct sequel and spoils the first book completely. Read them in that order or not at all.

## Where to start based on what you want

- **You want the one everyone talks about:** *It Ends with Us*. Be aware it deals with domestic abuse, and it is heavier than the cover suggests.
- **You want a thriller, not a romance:** *Verity*. Read it in one sitting, ideally not at bedtime.
- **You want the messy, hurts-so-good romance:** *Ugly Love*.
- **You want a slow, adult, quiet heartbreak:** *Reminders of Him*.
- **You want a clever structure:** *November 9*.
- **You want something strange:** *Layla*.

## A word on content warnings

Her books look pastel and read heavy. Domestic abuse, grief, addiction and loss come up regularly. If you are buying one as a gift, it is worth a two-second check of the content notes rather than assuming it is light reading.

## Reading her back to back

Two in a row is lovely. Four in a row and the emotional beats start to rhyme. I space hers out with a fantasy or a thriller in between, which is exactly how the mixed bundles on [the shop](/shop) tend to get built.

My full ratings and reviews for each title are on [the review shelf](/reviews).

---

_Every book recommended here is read in full and reviewed by Amy. No sponsorships, no gifted-book obligations, spoilers always marked._

## Related

- [What to Read Next, Based on Your Mood](https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/what-to-read-next-by-mood.md)
- [What to Read After Freida McFadden](https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/books-like-freida-mcfadden.md)
- [A Cosy Autumn Reading List for Dark Evenings](https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/cosy-autumn-reading-list.md)
- [Best Books to Read in a Reading Slump](https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog/best-books-for-a-reading-slump.md)
- [All blog posts](https://bellabugsbooks.com/blog.md)
- [Reading guides](https://bellabugsbooks.com/guides.md)