Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover is an American author who became one of the best-selling novelists of her era, writing in the romance, new-adult, and psychological-thriller genres. After beginning her career through self-publishing, she built an enormous readership, fueled in large part by word-of-mouth recommendations on social media, and several of her books have topped national best-seller lists.

Early life

Colleen Hoover was born on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and grew up in the surrounding area of northeast Texas. She studied social work at Texas A&M University-Commerce and worked in various jobs, including in social work and education, before turning to writing. She has spoken about drawing on her experiences and observations from these years in her fiction.

Career

Hoover self-published her debut novel, Slammed, in 2012, followed quickly by its sequel and by the novel Hopeless, which became a major commercial success and helped establish her as a leading voice in new-adult fiction. Over the following years she released a steady stream of novels, including titles such as Maybe Someday, Confess, November 9, and It Ends with Us, blending emotional romance with serious themes. Many of her books were embraced by readers for their accessible style and emotionally charged storylines.

A defining feature of Hoover's career has been the way her work spread through online reader communities. The video-based social platform commonly known as "BookTok" played a significant role in driving renewed sales of her books, often years after their original publication. This phenomenon helped her dominate best-seller lists, with multiple titles appearing simultaneously.

Recent work

Hoover's novel It Ends with Us, which deals with difficult subject matter including domestic abuse, became one of her signature works and a long-running best seller, later followed by a sequel, It Starts with Us. The novel was adapted into a feature film released in 2024. She also reached a wide audience with the standalone psychological thriller Verity. Her books have sold many millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into numerous languages. Hoover has remained closely engaged with her fan community and has been involved in charitable efforts in her home state of Texas. Several of her other titles, including November 9, Ugly Love, and Reminders of Him, have also become major sellers, and at points multiple Hoover novels have appeared on best-seller lists at the same time, an unusual feat for a contemporary author. She has occasionally addressed the discussions and debates that have accompanied her rapid rise, including conversations about the serious themes in her work. She continues to write across genres and remains one of the most commercially successful contemporary authors.