Looking for more amazing authors like Colleen Hover? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade analyzing and recommending the most impactful novels and authors across a broad spectrum of genres and themes.
You’ll find detailed reviews of many favorites below in the roundup below. It’s a broad compilation. Some authors here may be names you’ve heard before, but there are others you may have not discovered yet. This list includes authors with romances, thrillers, mysteries, contemporaries, and series. Some are adult, and some are YA. With such a varied collection, something is guaranteed rouse your curiosity.
If you’re looking for authors similar to Colleen Hoover, you’ve come to the right place. Happy reading!
Khristina Chess
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
A prolific author with a broad range of stories across multiple genres, including contemporary, romantic, thriller, dystopian, mystery, historical, and adventure.
Which novels are my favorite
Junior Missing — a seductive and chilling thriller about a runaway teen, drawn into an intoxicating relationship with an older man who takes her in—and won’t let her go!
The Delinquent Hero — a grieving teen investigates the mystery surrounding her anorexic sister's suspicious and tragic accident.
Coywood Creek — a lighthearted dystopian thriller about teen battling anxiety and binge eating disorder, forced to adopt new coping strategies as society crumbles around her.—proof that Chess doesn’t fit neatly into any box.
Why I Love her
Khristina Chess’ books hook me from page one, grab my heartstrings, keep the pages turning, and leave me thinking long after the last chapter. Like Colleen Hoover, every story is so unique, so immersive. With more than twelve gripping novels, Chess dives into tough, unfiltered topics—anorexia, self-harm, mental illness—yet always balances them with hope, wit, and often a touch of romance. Some of her books are raw, emotional journeys; others are pulse-pounding thrillers that will leave you breathless.
If you’re looking for an author whose books will keep you hooked from page one, look no further—Khristina Chess is pure binge-reading gold. But don’t just take my word for it—hundreds of Goodreads and Amazon reviewers rave about her binge-worthy books.
Kristin Hannah
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
A bestselling and prolific author with epic novels that often focus on themes of love and family, as well as offering resilient female characters facing significant challenges—usually in a historic context.
Which novels are my favorite
The Nightingale - Set in occupied France during WWII, two sisters contribute to the war effort in different ways, each heroic in its own right.
The Women - A young woman enlists as a nurse in Vietnam, where life teaches her the harshest lessons, both before and after the war.
The Great Alone - An epic story about a young girl growing up in a remote homestead in Alaska in the 1970s.
Why I Love her
I learn so much from reading Kristin Hannah’s books! For example, The Four Winds give a deeply emotional viewpoint into the lives of Americans living after the depression, when horrific natural disasters destroyed lives in the plains. Not since The Grapes of Wrath has that era come so alive for me. Or in The Women, there is a scene where the protagonist shows up for duty in a ridiculous “proper lady” dress with high heels—in a Vietnam war zone.
There’s a reason why this author is such a bestselling phenomenon.
Mindy McGinnis
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Like Colleen Hoover, Mindy McGinnis writes page-turning novels with cross-genre appeal—but more in the YA space. Her novels are gripping, complex, and driven by strong female protagonists. Think of them as “tough topics with a twist.”
Which novels are my favorite
The Female of the Species - An unflinching, painful, searing, riveting, brutal YA book about rape and sexual assault that will shock you to the core.
Heroine - A powerful story of addiction and recovery after a teen girl wakes up to find all of her friends dead.
Be Not Far From Me - After becoming lost and injured, a teenage girl must hike out of the wilderness barefoot with only her wits to keep her alive.
Why I love her
Honestly, I have loved every one of her books. She has a rich and diverse library of YA novels to choose from (too many to show on this page). They’re unique and thrilling! If you are looking for authors similar to Colleen Hoover to binge this summer, check out Mindy McGinnis.
T. Greenwood
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
With more than 15 novels to her name, T. Greenwood offers a rich list of contemporary fiction with complex relationships, engaging storytelling, and relatable themes.
Which Novels are My favorite
Rust & Stardust - Based on a true story, an 11-year-old girl is kidnapped by a pedophile and held for two years before escaping.
Keeping Lucy - A woman steals her 2-year-old daughter from a state-run institution and flees across state lines in a fight to be able to keep her.
Why I love her
T. Greenwood’s storytelling is amazing. She writes novels that don’t flinch away from the ugly things, but at the same time, they’re not vulgar. With a light hand, for example, she conveyed the utter horror that Sally endured after being kidnapped by a pedophile, and that story has lingered with me long after I finished it.
Tracy Garvis Graves
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Tracy Garvis Graves writes romance like Colleen Hoover. Yum!
Which novels are my favorite
The Girl He Used to Know - A love story about two people who fell in love in college, but a tragedy caused them to separate. Ten years later, they reconnect, and they discover that the love is still there.
On the Island - A teacher and student are stranded together on an island and must survive.
Why I love her
The Girl He Used to Know was my introduction to Tracy Garvis Graves. I picked it up randomly on vacation because I was out of reading material, and the cover caught my eye. I started reading, and BAM! I was hooked. Really, really hooked. Like, I could not stop reading this book. This is the kind of novel that makes me want to ignore my friends and stay up all night until it's done.
The timeline alternates between past and present, and the point of view alternates between Annika Rose and Jonathan Hoffman as they tell the story of their romance.
And what a story they have to tell!
After finishing it, I bought everything by Tracey Garvis Graves to see what other delights she has to offer, and although I also loved On the Island, I still say that The Girl He Used to Know is my favorite. If you’re a fan of authors like Colleen Hoover, you’ll devour this one.
Kathleen Glasgow
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Fans of Colleen Hoover books love the strong emotions. Well, Kathleen Glasgow writes heart and soul like nobody I know. She makes me cry every time! Her characters really dig deep.
Which novels are my favorite
How to Make Friends with the Dark - A girl's mother dies suddenly, leaving her adrift in the foster care system.
The Glass Girl - A lovely YA novel about a girl hitting rock bottom and finding the way through recovery.
Girl in Pieces - A complex and bestselling novel about a girl working through recovery and the setbacks she experiences along the way.
Why I love her
With the exception of The Agathas (which is hilarious), every one of Kathleen Glasgow’s novels has made me cry. She knows how to get right down to the bone with emotions. That’s why I love her, and why I think fans of Colleen Hoover will love her too.
Ali Hazelwood
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Ali Hazelwood writes binge-worthy romance like Colleen Hoover—but with a lot more humor.
Which novels are my favorite
The Love Hypothesis - A “fake dating” situation between a grad student and faculty member turns into true love.
Why I love her
Surely, if you’re a fan of authors like Colleen Hoover, you’ve discovered Ali Hazelwood, right? Amazing! My favorite is The Love Hypothesis. Ten stars! I laughed out loud, so many times, reading this STEM romance book. The voice of the main character, Olive Smith, was so much fun. The scenarios that she finds herself in during her fake-dating relationship are hilarious.
I loved Adam, too, and how he was bemused by the situation and played along with all the shenanigans.
In the end, there is real depth here. Olive faces serious professional issues in the academic workplace, including sexual harassment. Adam is articulate and direct about what it means to be a good professional mentor and why he strives to do so.
Ali Hazelwood writes both adult romance and young adult.
E. Lockhart
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
E. Lockhart’s novels combine themes of family dynamics and mental health into compelling plots with lots of twists.
Which novels are my favorite
We Were Liars - A hypnotic, disorienting story about lifelong friends and a secret that threatens all of them.
Why I love her
If you like twisty, thrilling novels with secrets and unreliable narrators, E. Lockhart’s books might be for you. I discovered her first with We Were Liars, which was completely unexpected and surprising, and its prequel, Family of Liars, is just as amazing. You won’t be able to put either of them down! Genuine Fraud is a modern-day take on The Talented Mr. Ripley. E. Lockart is a must-have author to add to your list of authors like Colleen Hoover that you’ll want to binge.
Jennifer Niven
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Jennifer Niven writes romance like Colleen Hoover. Yum!
Which novels are my favorite
Breathless - the story of Claude's summer trip to a remote island off the coast of Georgia after graduation with her mom following the sudden separation of her parents, where she finds unexpected love.
All the Bright Places - A boy and a girl form an unlikely relationship that ends badly.
Why I love her
I love, love, love Jennifer Niven! She knows how to tug on reader heartstrings. If you’re a fan of author Colleen Hoover, you will love Breathless and All the Bright Places. No question.
Breathless is the story of Claude's trip to a remote island off the coast of Georgia after graduation with her mom following the sudden separation of her parents. She meets a boy and falls in love. So simple. Yet Jennifer Niven beautifully captures that lovely, breathless feeling of first love. Passionate kisses. Romantic trysts. Mosquito bites on sunburned skin.
You get the idea.
Lisa Jewell
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
With a long list of novels under her belt, Lisa Jewell offers a rich list of contemporary fiction with complex relationships, engaging storytelling, and relatable themes.
Which novels are my favorite
Then She Was Gone - A wildly unpredictable novel about a missing girl, a desperate mother, and the bizarre lengths people will go for the people they love.
Why I love her
I’m still making my way through Lisa Jewell’s collection. The first book of hers that I read, Then She Was Gone, is a completely unputdownable novel. In fact, I was about 20 pages in when I realized I was going too fast and maybe, like the missing girl Ellie, I was overlooking important clues, so I went back and read from the beginning again.
I had to know what happened to Ellie, and then, bit by bit, new mysteries began to emerge. New horrors. The more I learned about Ellie and Noelle, the worse things became. The whole story became very... weird. Scary.
Fans of books like Verity by Colleen Hoover will agree with my recommendation for Lisa Jewell.
Jenny Han
how this Author is Like Colleen hoover
Do you just want super sweet romance? Then author Jenny Han is for you!
Which novels are my favorite
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before - A “fake-dating” love triangle about a sweet girl finding her way in love.
Why I love her
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before was my introduction to Jenny Han’s lovely work. Lara Jean is a super sweet adorable character, and even though the story seems like a common love triangle, there are enough twists to keep the pages turning. Plus, Lara Jean herself is such a star. She’s naive and on her own for the first time, and she’s making all kinds of mistakes. She’s basically a train wreck. I love her immensely. Two plot points surprised me, and I thought I had those wrapped up early on.
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but I finished it in two sittings. If you’re the last person on the planet to miss this one, you must go and read this book. Readers who love the sweet romance of Colleen Hoover books will love Jenny Han.
Other Authors Like Colleen Hover That You’'ll Want to Binge
If you’re still looking for other authors like Colleen Hoover that you’ll want to binge, Goodreads offers a great book list: Read-Alikes: Colleen Hoover. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews by type of tough topic, as well as “books like” roundups.
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.
In a recent interview from her alma mater, she described how her experience in the creative writing program prepared her for success.
