Colleen Hoover has written more than two dozen novels. Monica Schipper/Getty Images Colleen Hoover is easily one of the biggest names in romance novels. She has released 25 books, and four have been adapted into movies. "Verity," "It Ends With Us," and "Reminders of Him" are among her best. I love Colleen Hoover — who doesn't? Since self-publishing her first book in 2012, the American author has consistently dominated bestseller lists with romance novels that grab your attention, dive into messy relationships, and take you on unforgettable emotional roller coasters. Her books, including "It Ends With Us" and "Verity," have turned into major cultural moments, fueled by BookTok and controversial screen adaptations. But is every book worth the hype? Here are five of Colleen Hoover's best books and five that might not live up to expectations. First up: the must-reads. 5. 'Ugly Love' "Ugly Love." Atria Books This New York Times bestseller, published in 2014, doesn't shy away from the messy, complicated side of relationships. "Ugly Love" follows Tate, a nursing student who moves in with her brother and meets his emotionally closed-off pilot friend, Miles. The two quickly form a connection, but Miles makes it clear he's only interested in something casual, with strict rules attached. As Tate finds herself drawn deeper into his world, she starts to realize there's more behind his guarded nature. Told through a mix of present-day moments and glimpses into Miles' past, the story explores what happens when attraction collides with buried pain. It pulls you in with its intense chemistry, but what really sticks is the emotional depth, especially as Miles' past slowly unfolds. It's heartbreaking and frustrating at times, but that's what makes the story feel so real. Hoover shows that love isn't always pretty or easy. Colleen, if you're reading, can you help make this become the next Hoover novel to get a movie adaptation? 4. 'Reminders of Him' "Reminders Of Him." Montlake "Reminders of Him" was released in 2022, and the film adaptation came out in March. The book is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling contemporary romance novel. In a powerful story about redemption and second chances, protagonist Kenna returns home from prison, hoping to reconnect with her young daughter. The journey is emotional from start to finish, the relationships are raw and complicated, and I couldn't help but root for Kenna. This book makes you think about forgiveness, grief, and what it means to rebuild a life after everything falls apart. If you think the book is a must-read, wait until you see the movie. The performances, especially Maika Monroe as Kenna, add so much depth to the story, and the complicated relationships keep you invested. The movie doesn't offer easy answers, which made it stay with me long after I'd finished watching. If you love Colleen Hoover books as much as I do, it's a must-see. 3. 'It Starts With Us' "It Starts With Us." Atria Books "It Starts With Us" debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times fiction bestseller list when it was released in October 2022 and spent multiple weeks at the top. The book picks up where "It Ends With Us" — more on that on the next slide — left off. As such, I love "It Starts With Us" because it feels like a hopeful continuation of a story that needed more healing and closure. The book follows Lily as she starts a new relationship with Atlas, who was her first love, while still dealing with issues from her previous relationship. It's calmer and more emotional than the first book, focusing on healing, healthier love, and second chances in a way that feels satisfying. I hope there will be a movie adaptation of this book, but I'm not sure it'll happen after the fallout from "It Ends With Us," although stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni did just settle their legal dispute. 2. 'It Ends With Us' "It Ends With Us." Atria "It Ends With Us," released in 2016, follows Lily as she starts a relationship that seems perfect at first but slowly becomes more complicated, forcing her to face tough decisions about what she's willing to accept. Without giving too much away, it explores heavy themes in a way that feels raw and real. Ultimately, I loved this book because it told such an emotional, unforgettable story that made me think. Seeing it come to life in the movie adaptation was just as exciting, especially with Blake Lively as Lily, Justin Baldoni as Ryle, and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas. The film, released in August 2024, gave fans a new way to experience the characters and emotions they connected with in the book. 1. 'Verity' "Verity." Grand Central Publishing "Verity" is hands-down my favorite Hoover book because it's such a gripping, completely different kind of read from her other books: darker, twistier, and impossible to put down. I'm not really into darker, twisted kinds of books, but she drew me in. The book, originally released in 2018, follows a struggling writer who is given the opportunity to finish a famous author's series. While staying at the author's house, she discovers something unsettling that changes everything. It blends romance with psychological suspense in a way that keeps you questioning what's real until the very end. The movie adaptation, which will be released in October, has also been highly anticipated, with Anne Hathaway set to star as Verity, Dakota Johnson as Lowen, and Josh Hartnett as Jeremy. I can't wait to see it. Here's the first book you can skip: 'Maybe Someday' "Maybe Someday." Atria My first Hoover skip goes to "Maybe Someday," which became a New York Times bestseller after it was published in 2014. It follows Sydney, a college student who discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her and suddenly finds herself without a place to stay. She ends up moving in with Ridge, a musician. As they grow closer while writing songs together, their relationship becomes complicated by the fact that Ridge is already in a committed relationship, leading to a story about love, loyalty, and difficult choices. This is a skip for me because it feels a bit dragged out and frustrating, especially regarding the main relationship. The emotions are there, but there's a lot of miscommunication and drawn-out tension without a big enough payoff. 'This Girl' "This Girl." Atria In my opinion, "This Girl" is worth skipping because it feels repetitive, especially if you've already read "Slammed" and "Point of Retreat." "This Girl" follows Layken and Will (from "Slammed" and "Point of Retreat") as they reflect on their relationship and everything they've been through, with much of the story revisiting earlier moments from Will's point of view. While it offers some new insight into his thoughts and feelings, it largely retraces familiar ground from the previous books. I felt this book didn't add enough new material to make it feel necessary or exciting. It can come across more like a recap than a fully fresh story, which made it harder for me to stay engaged. 'November 9' "November 9." Atria "November 9," published in 2015, follows Fallon, a young woman recovering from a traumatic fire, and Ben, an aspiring writer. The two meet and form a connection, agreeing to meet only once a year on November 9. Although it became a New York Times bestseller, I think it's worth skipping because the relationship at its core felt more troubling than romantic — to me, Ben's actions and the big plot twist came off as manipulative rather than meaningful, and the story leaned heavily on shock value instead of genuine emotional growth. Its heavy themes weren't handled with the nuance they have in Hoover's other books, making this one frustrating rather than impactful. 'Never Never' "Never Never." Canary Street Press Another Colleen Hoover skip for me is "Never Never," cowritten with Tarryn Fisher, because despite its intriguing premise, the execution feels stretched thin and ultimately unsatisfying. "Never Never" is a psychological romance trilogy that was released in 2015. It follows Charlie and Silas, two teenagers who suddenly lose all their memories and have to figure out who they are, and what went wrong in their relationship … all while their memories keep resetting. I wasn't as invested in this story as I was in "It Starts With Us" or "It Ends With Us." Instead of really developing the characters or making their relationship believable, the story repeats the same confusion without offering clear answers or a satisfying ending. What could have been an interesting psychological romance ends up feeling messy and unfinished, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters or care about what happens to them. 'Heart Bones' "Heart Bones." Atria My final skip for Colleen Hoover readers is "Heart Bones" because it relies a lot on heavy backstories and emotional moments without fully developing the characters or their relationship. It follows Beyah, who moves in with her estranged father in a wealthy neighborhood after her mother dies from an overdose. She meets a neighbor, Samson, who also has secrets in his past. To me, the romance felt rushed, and the connection between Beyah and Samson wasn't always deep or believable. Its twists and drama also felt predictable. Overall, it felt more focused on emotion than on telling a well-rounded, satisfying story. The book was first published in 2020, and while it was yet another bestseller for Hoover, it fell flat for me. Read the original article on Business Insider