When I first went hunting for books like Colleen Hoover, I honestly thought nothing could match that wild “CoHo hangover” feeling—red eyes, destroyed mascara, and a heart that needed three business days to recover. If you’re in the same boat, staring at your finished copy of It Ends With Us or Reminders of Him and wondering what to read next, this list is for you.
Below, I’ll walk you through some emotional, character-driven reads that deliver the same swoony, gut-punch energy—without being copycats.
What Makes Books Like Colleen Hoover So Addictive?
Before we jump into recs, it helps to know what you’re actually craving.
Colleen Hoover’s books usually blend:
- Intense, high-stakes romance
- Real-life issues (trauma, grief, messy families, second chances)
- Fast pacing that keeps you turning “just one more page” until 2 a.m.
She’s also become a full-blown phenomenon: It Ends With Us alone has sold millions of copies and spawned a movie adaptation, with more film projects like Reminders of Him on the way.
So when we talk about books like Colleen Hoover, we’re really hunting for emotional stories that feel cinematic, contemporary, and deeply personal—often with themes of healing, forgiveness, and complicated love.
What Are the Best Books Like Colleen Hoover to Start With?
Let’s talk specific titles you can reach for next.
Is The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo Your Next Heartbreak Read?
If you loved the emotional weight of It Ends With Us, The Light We Lost will feel familiar in all the best (and worst-for-your-heart) ways.
The story follows Lucy over more than a decade as she’s torn between two men: Gabe, a passionate photojournalist who chases global stories, and Darren, a steady, reliable partner who offers comfort and stability.
Like Hoover, Santopolo explores how a single relationship can shape your entire life. Expect big themes—fate, timing, and the “what if” that never quite goes away.
Will Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan Ruin You (In a Good Way)?
If Hoover’s emotionally damaged heroes own your soul, Archer’s Voice deserves a prime spot on your TBR.
The book centers on Bree, a woman trying to escape a traumatic past, and Archer, a reclusive man who rarely speaks and carries heavy emotional scars. Their love story unfolds in a small town and leans heavily into healing, vulnerability, and learning to trust again.
It has that mix of angst, tenderness, and “protect at all costs” energy that CoHo fans usually fall hard for.
Do You Need a Second-Chance Romance? Try Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
If you loved the push-pull dynamic in Hoover’s books, Seven Days in June is a must.
The story follows Eva, a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, and Shane, a reclusive literary author. They reunite at a New York literary event years after a complicated, sometimes painful teenage connection—and the chemistry (and trauma) comes roaring back.
This one balances sharp humor, steamy scenes, and heavy emotional topics, much like Hoover’s more mature, layered romances.
Craving a Beachy Tearjerker? Pick Up Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
If you like the emotional nostalgia of childhood or teen love that never quite dies, Every Summer After will hit hard.
Told across multiple summers and one pivotal weekend, it follows Percy and Sam—childhood friends turned something more—whose relationship implodes after a major mistake. Years later, they reunite and are forced to confront what really happened and whether love can survive it.
The book is now being adapted into a Prime Video series (Every Year After), which tells you how strongly it resonates with readers—very similar to the way Hoover’s books leap from page to screen.
Want Something Funnier but Still Feel-Heavy? Try The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
If you’re in the mood for something lighter after a brutal CoHo book, The Love Hypothesis is a great reset.
This STEM rom-com follows Olive, a grad student, and Adam, a grumpy professor, who enter a fake relationship that turns very real. It’s one of the highest-rated contemporary romances on Goodreads lists of Colleen Hoover read-alikes, thanks to its banter, slow-burn tension, and emotional payoff—just with more laughs and less trauma.
You still get that “I’m obsessed with these characters” feeling, just without needing a full therapy session afterward.
Love Enemies-to-Lovers? Go for The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
If Ugly Love or November 9 made you crave intense chemistry and sharp dialogue, The Hating Game is a strong contender.
Lucy and Joshua are coworkers fighting for the same promotion—and they absolutely loathe each other. Or at least, that’s what they tell themselves. Beneath the office rivalry, there’s vulnerability, loneliness, and a surprisingly soft emotional center.
This one feels like a rom-com on the surface, but it still hits the heart in a way that CoHo fans tend to appreciate.
Ready for a Full-On Sobfest? Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
If you want a book that will emotionally wreck you, Me Before You is a classic choice.
The story follows Louisa, a quirky young woman who takes a job caring for Will, a wealthy man left quadriplegic after an accident. Their evolving relationship forces both of them to confront life, dignity, and what it means to truly love someone.
Colleen Hoover herself has recommended this book, and it’s easy to see why: it’s intimate, emotionally heavy, and impossible to forget—exactly the sort of story her fans usually gravitate toward.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I read after finishing all of Colleen Hoover’s books?
If you’ve devoured Hoover’s entire backlist, start with authors who blend emotional intensity and romance, like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Christina Lauren, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. Then move into specific titles from the list above: Archer’s Voice, Seven Days in June, and Every Summer After all deliver similar “I can’t stop thinking about this” vibes.
2. Are these books as dark or heavy as Colleen Hoover’s?
Some are, some aren’t. Archer’s Voice and The Light We Lost dig into trauma, grief, and big life choices, which will feel familiar if you like Hoover’s heavier storylines. On the lighter side, The Love Hypothesis and The Hating Game lean more into humor and tropes. If you want cleaner or less intense content, you can also look at Christian or “clean” alternatives specifically curated for CoHo readers.
3. Are these books suitable for teens?
Many Colleen Hoover books are shelved as adult romance, even though teens read them. If you’re choosing for a younger reader, look at teen-focused lists of books similar to Hoover that are curated by educators and librarians, which often include YA titles with similar emotional arcs but age-appropriate content. Always check age recommendations and content notes before gifting.
4. Where can I find more recommendations like this?
Goodreads lists and publisher round-ups are great places to start—there are dedicated “Read-Alikes: Colleen Hoover” lists and publisher book lists for CoHo fans that are updated regularly. You can also follow BookTok and Bookstagram hashtags like #CoHo, #booktokromance, and #romancebooks for fresh recs as new titles blow up.
Plot Twist: Are You Ready to Break Your CoHo Hangover?
Here’s the truth: nothing will ever be exactly like Colleen Hoover, and that’s okay. The fun is in chasing that same emotional rush in new worlds, with new characters, and fresh heartbreaks.
Whether you start with the bittersweet ache of The Light We Lost, the small-town healing of Archer’s Voice, or the nostalgic second-chance love in Every Summer After, these books like Colleen Hoover will give you plenty of late nights, puffy eyes, and new fictional obsessions.
And if you ever want to switch things up with something twistier, darker, or more psychological, you can explore books like Gone Girl too—especially when you’re in the mood for romance mixed with mystery or characters who keep you guessing. It’s all part of the fun of discovering new emotional worlds that hit just as hard.
My best tip? Pick one book, dive in, and keep a glass of water and a tissue box nearby—you’re about to meet your next favorite story.
