Colleen Hoover is a name you might recognize, whether it’s from BookTok, your local Barnes & Noble, or the New York Times Best Seller list. Her books have leapt in popularity in the last year or so, and nearly everyone is reading them, talking about them, and Bookstagramming them. If you’re unfamiliar with her work, you might be wondering what the draw is. If you’ve read Colleen Hoover books, you know why they’re so popular. Either way, once you’ve read all of her backlist, you might be looking for authors like Colleen Hoover. I’ve got 13 of them for you below — read on for more about Hoover’s books, or skip down to see the recs!
What Genre are Colleen Hoover’s Books?
Colleen Hoover writes in several genres, but her books primarily fall under the thriller, romance, and thriller romance genres, in both adult and young adult categories. Across genres she writes vivid characters in exciting and often dangerous situations.
Who is Colleen Hoover?
Born in 1979, Colleen Hoover is from Saltillo, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M in about 2002. She worked as a social worker for about ten years, during which time she began writing. She says she had no intention of publishing, but put her first novel up on Amazon so her mother could read it on her Kindle. Slammed and the sequel Point of No Return both appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list within the year, and were picked up by Atria Books. Due in large part to TikTok, her popularity exploded in 2021–2022 and wrote seven of the top 25 bestsellers of 2022 with 14.3 million sales. She has a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster and It Ends With Us, her novel about domestic abuse, is currently being adapted as a film.
Authors Like Colleen Hoover
Elin Hilderbrand
If the romance and family aspects of Colleen Hoover’s novels appeal to you the most, you’ll feel right at home with an Elin Hilderbrand novel! From Nantucket Nights to The Hotel Nantucket, the majority of her work takes place in — where else? — Nantucket Island, and often follow characters and their families through the years, with heartbreaks and losses as well as loves and successes.
Talia Hibbert
Within the romance genre, there is perhaps no author with a more varied body of work than Talia Hibbert. There’s laughs, there’s drama, and there’s just the swooniest and steamiest love stories, perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover’s spicier stories. Start with A Girl Like Her.
Ali Hazelwood
Romance author and professor of neuroscience Ali Hazelwood writes academic-focused romance about women in STEM and the men they love, many of them in the new adult category that so many of Colleen Hoover’s titles occupy. Start with her latest, Love, Theoretically, or check out her YA debut, Check & Mate.
Jojo Moyes
Full of romance, obsession, secrets, tragedy, and surprises, Jojo Moyes’s books promise the same thrilling reader experience that fans of Colleen Hoover are looking for. Her most well-known title is Me Before You, which has been adapted as a movie starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke.
Jodi Picoult
Popular novelist Jodi Picoult writes about families and relationships, and her 28 novels have been translated into 34 languages, proving their international appeal. Popular books like My Sister’s Keeper bring in the dramatic and psychological suspense that lovers of Colleen Hoover’s Verity are hoping for.
Nalini Singh
It has been said that New Zealand author Nalini Singh can do it all! Her paranormal romance series, including the long-running Psy/Changeling series, are steamy and inventive in a fantastical setting, while her thrillers have found a broad audience for their realism and mystery. Start with Slave to Sensation or A Madness of Sunshine.
Alyssa Cole
Primarily known for her romance, Alyssa Cole has written historical and contemporary romances centering Black characters in settings ranging from the Civil War to modern-day African kingdoms, while her thriller When No One is Watching takes place in modern-day Brooklyn. All of her novels give the reader the same intimacy with the characters that Colleen Hoover’s readers love and expect.
Helen Hoang
For readers looking for a softer romance with a guaranteed happily ever after, but who don’t want to sacrifice the internal angst that can go hand in hand with falling in love, Helen Hoang’s novels deliver! The author is autistic and so is at least one character in each of her romances, but they’re so much more than just neurodivergent stories! Start with The Kiss Quotient.
Daphne Du Maurier
If you love the psychological games in a Colleen Hoover book, you need to check out the godmother of the genre, Daphne Du Maurier. Influenced by and building upon the Brontë sisters’ books, Du Maurier’s most famous novel is Rebecca, in which a young wife is haunted by everyone’s memories of her husband’s first wife, Rebecca.
Meryl Wilsner
If you’ve been hoping for sapphic romance with plenty of the angst you’d find in a Colleen Hoover book, look no further: Meryl Wilsner is the author for you! Their books are sexy and full of internal (and sometimes external) drama. From Hollywood romance to a forbidden May/December affair between a girl and her best friend’s mom, not to mention the upcoming Cleat Cute with its women’s soccer romance, Wilsner’s books are sure to satisfy.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
If your favorite aspect of Colleen Hoover’s books is the way each is in a slightly different genre and explores all the nuances of people and their relationships — with themselves, one another, and the world — then you’ll love the varied and complex worlds of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books. Start with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Alisha Rai
If you’re in it for spice and unexpected situations, with some angst and family drama, look no further than Alisha Rai. Her books have it all, and if you love Colleen Hoover, you’re sure to love Alisha Rai. Start with Hate to Want You or Partners in Crime.
JD Robb/Nora Roberts
Saving the best for last, Nora Roberts, a.k.a. JD Robb, writes contemporary romance, fantasy romance, romantic suspense, and futuristic psychological romance, among other sub-genres! Colleen Hoover’s readers will love Nora Roberts’s deep back catalogue. There are so many series to start, but The Obsession will satisfy readers who love romance thrillers.
Looking for more great reads? Check out our picks for the best authors like Elin Hilderbrand, and read our selections for books like One of Us is Lying. And then, sign up for TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations! TBR is a personalized book recommendation service that sends you books you’ll love to read. Here’s how it works: Simply fill out the reader survey and let us know what you want more of—such as best horror romance books—and what you’re not keen on. Then, an expert Bibliologist will read your responses and recommend three books just for you. Receive your recommendation letter via email in about two weeks, or opt to receive your recommendations as brand new hardcovers in the mail in about three to four weeks. Learn more and sign up now!