Who Is Colleen Hoover?
Colleen Hoover is an American author who started as a selfpublished writer in 2012. She soared to fame with books like Slammed and Hopeless, before exploding with It Ends With Us. Her writing blends romance, young adult drama, and reallife trauma.
Many of her books have been New York Times bestsellers. She’s often credited with popularizing “BookTok” on TikTok—a community that sends her titles into viral overdrive. She’s not traditionally boxed into one genre, though romance and emotional fiction are her foundations.
What Makes Her Books Unique?
Hoover writes with a gutpunch honesty. She leans heavily into emotional conflict—abuse, grief, addiction, loss—without sugarcoating. A lot of her appeal lies in relatable characters dealing with intense, realworld issues under dramatic circumstances.
She’s also prolific. Readers have a catalog of over 20 novels to dive into, from tearjerkers to romance with dark undertones. Her pacing is fast, her chapters are short, and she knows how to hook readers early.
What Are Colleen Hoover Books Rated?
Let’s tackle the frequent search question: what are Colleen Hoover books rated? The answer depends on the lens—age appropriateness, critical acclaim, or audience feedback.
1. Content Ratings
Most of Hoover’s books fall into the New Adult and Adult Fiction categories. This means they’re geared toward readers 18 and older. Themes often include mature content—domestic abuse, sexual relationships, emotional trauma—making them unsuitable for young teens.
Some popular titles and their content notes include:
It Ends With Us: Explores cycles of abuse and domestic violence. Rated for mature audiences. Verity: A psychological thriller with explicit scenes and violent content. Rated adult. Ugly Love: Heavy on erotic scenes and emotionally complex relationships. Definitely not young adult material.
2. Critical and Reader Ratings
On Goodreads, Hoover’s books average between 4.0 to 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is high for the platform, suggesting strong fan reception. However, professional critics are more divided.
Critically speaking, some reviewers question her tendency to sensationalize trauma. Others praise her for giving voice to difficult subjects in a readable, emotional way. It’s a mixed bag depending on what you want from a novel—literary genius or an emotionally raw pageturner.
So, when asking what are Colleen Hoover books rated, you’re likely looking at content aimed at mature teens through adults, with high popularity among general readers but varied critical reception.
BookbyBook: Rating Examples
Here’s a quick overview of how specific books fall on the content and reception scale:
| Book | Content Warning | Goodreads Rating | Suggested Age | ||||| | It Ends With Us | Domestic violence | 4.3 | 17+ | | Verity | Sexual content, violence| 4.2 | 18+ | | Ugly Love | Erotic scenes, grief | 4.1 | 18+ | | Reminders of Him | Grief, motherhood | 4.4 | 17+ | | Slammed | Teen romance, loss | 4.1 | 15+ |
The emotional intensity remains constant, even if the plotlines differ.
Why Do Ratings Matter for Readers?
A book’s rating helps readers manage expectations. If you’re looking for light romance, Hoover’s catalog may ambush you with trauma or morally difficult choices. If you want raw and real, her work likely fits perfectly.
Parents especially want to know what their teens are reading. While titles like Slammed and Maybe Someday are lighter, books like Verity can be too dark or explicit for younger readers.
Critics vs. Fans: The Divide
It’s worth noting that there’s often a gap between literary critics and everyday fans. Critics might focus on narrative technique or originality. Fans value emotional payoff.
Hoover excels at stirring an emotional response. That’s why her books trend and sell, even if they don’t always sweep awards. The ratings reflect this divide: consistent 4+ stars from readers, mixed reviews in literary circles.
Should You Read Colleen Hoover?
That depends on what you want. Are you looking to be emotionally wrecked for two days? Sold. Want a tightly structured, characterdriven drama that doesn’t shy away from hard topics? Go for it.
She’s not for everyone. If you’re uncomfortable with heavy subject matter, explicit scenes, or fastmoving plots, steer clear. But if you want a gripping read that plays with heartache and hope, Colleen Hoover delivers in spades.
Final Thoughts
So, what are Colleen Hoover books rated? Broadly, they fit best in the New Adult or Adult genre with audience ratings averaging over 4 stars. The themes are mature, often intense, and emotionally driven. Her fans are fiercely loyal. Her critics are louder now that she’s a household name.
If you’re jumping in for the first time, start with It Ends With Us or Reminders of Him. Just be prepared—you won’t come out the same.