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Colleen Hoover

{{Short description|American author (born 1979)}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox writer

| name = Colleen Hoover

| image = Colleen Hoover Video Call.png

| birth_name = Margaret Colleen Fennell

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|12|11|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Sulphur Springs, Texas, U.S.

| occupation = Author

| education = Texas A&M University, Commerce (BA)

| genre = Young adult fiction and new adult fiction

| notableworks = It Ends with Us

| spouse = {{marriage|Heath Hoover|2000}}

| signature = CH Signature.png

| children = 3

| caption = Hoover in 2022

}}

Margaret Colleen Hoover ({{née|Fennell}}; born December 11, 1979) is an American author who writes primarily novels in the romance and young adult fiction genres.{{cite web|title=Colleen Hoover|url=https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-Hoover/e/B006SKAK42/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1405003824&sr=8-2-ent|website=Amazon|access-date=July 10, 2014}} She is best known for her 2016 novel, It Ends with Us. Many of her works were self-published, before they were picked up by a publishing house. As of October 2022, Hoover has sold approximately 20 million books.{{cite news|last=Alter|first=Alexandra|date=October 9, 2022|title=How Colleen Hoover Rose to Rule the Best-Seller List|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/books/colleen-hoover.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 18, 2022}} She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023.{{cite news |url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2023/ |title=Time 100 |magazine=Time |date=April 13, 2023 |access-date=April 15, 2023 }}

Early and personal life

Hoover was born on December 11, 1979,{{cite web|title=Colleen Hoover|url=http://bookpusher.com/colleen-hoover/|website=The Book Pusher|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905220854/http://bookpusher.com/colleen-hoover/|archive-date=September 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to Vannoy Fite{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=JuJu|title=Emerging 'New Adult' Book Genre Puts Smut Fiction on Bestseller Lists|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/emerging-adult-book-genre-puts-smut-fiction-bestseller/story?id=18550587|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=ABC News|date=February 21, 2013}} and Eddie Fennell. She grew up in Saltillo, Texas,{{cite web|last1=Hoover|first1=Colleen|title=Paying it forward...|url=http://colleenhoover.com/2012/12/30/paying-it-forward/|website=Colleen Hoover|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626110257/http://colleenhoover.com/2012/12/30/paying-it-forward/|archive-date=June 26, 2014|url-status=dead}} and she graduated from Saltillo High School in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.classmates.com/people/Colleen-Hoover/7229266467|website=Classmates.com|title=Colleen Hoover|access-date=July 10, 2014}} She married Heath Hoover in 2000,{{cite web|last1=Hoover|first1=Colleen|title=Fourteen Years. :0|url=http://colleenhoover.com/2014/05/04/fourteen-years-0/|website=Colleen Hoover|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510131842/http://colleenhoover.com/2014/05/04/fourteen-years-0/|archive-date=May 10, 2014|url-status=dead}} and they have three sons.{{cite web|title=The Author|url=http://www.maybesomedaysoundtrack.com/author.php|website=Maybe Someday Soundtrack|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073809/http://www.maybesomedaysoundtrack.com/author.php|url-status=dead}} She graduated from Texas A&M-Commerce with a degree in social work.{{cite news |last1=Stengle |first1=Jamie |date=April 16, 2013 |title=Colleen Hoover Books: Texas Woman Self-Publishes, Hits Best-Seller Lists |publisher=Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/colleen-hoover-books-_n_3093617.html |access-date=July 10, 2014}} She worked in various social work and teaching jobs, before she started her career as an author.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/books/colleen-hoover.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur|title=How Colleen Hoover Rose to Rule Best Seller-List|work=New York Times|date=October 10, 2022 |last1=Alter |first1=Alexandra}}

Career

In November 2011, Hoover began writing her debut novel, Slammed, with no intention of getting published. She was inspired by a lyric, "decide what to be, and go be it," from an Avett Brothers song, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise," and she incorporated Avett Brothers lyrics throughout the story.{{cite news|title=How The Avett Brothers Kindled the Career of a Self-Published Author|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/avett-brothers-colleenhoover-slammed_b52675|access-date=July 10, 2014|publisher=GalleyCat|date=June 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052449/http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/avett-brothers-colleenhoover-slammed_b52675|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} Hoover self-published Slammed, in January 2012. She states that she published the novel so that her mother, who had just received an Amazon Kindle, could read it.{{Cite news |title=On TikTok, crying is encouraged. Colleen Hoover's books get the job done. |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/01/20/colleen-hoover-tiktok/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |issn=0190-8286}} A sequel, Point of Retreat, was published in February 2012. After a few months, Slammed was reviewed and given five stars by book blogger Maryse Black,{{cite web |date=March 23, 2012 |title=Book Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover |url=http://www.maryse.net/books/contemporary-romance/book-review-slammed-by-colleen-hoover.html |website=Maryse.net}} and afterward, sales rapidly rocketed for Hoover's first two books.{{cite web|website=ColleenHoover.com|url=http://colleenhoover.com/2014/10/29/a-raw-blog-post/|title=A Raw Blog Post|access-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030070709/http://colleenhoover.com/2014/10/29/a-raw-blog-post/|archive-date=October 30, 2014|url-status=dead}} Slammed and Point of Retreat reached #8 and #18, respectively, on the New York Times Best Seller list, in August of that year.{{cite news|title=E-Book Fiction Best Sellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-07-22/e-book-fiction/list.html|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=New York Times|date=July 22, 2012}}{{cite news|date=August 5, 2012|title=E-Book Fiction Best Sellers|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-08-05/e-book-fiction/list.html|access-date=July 10, 2014}} Atria Books picked up the novels and republished them on August 10, 2012.{{cite web|title=Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13496084-point-of-retreat|website=Goodreads.com|access-date=August 14, 2014}} A third book in the series, This Girl, was published in April 2013.{{cite web|title=This Girl by Colleen Hoover|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15784909-this-girl|website=Goodreads.com|access-date=August 14, 2014}}{{cite news|title=E-Book Fiction Best Sellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-05-19/e-book-fiction/list.html|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=New York Times|date=May 19, 2013}} After the success of Slammed, Hoover quit her job in social work to become a full-time writer.

Hoover's novel, Hopeless, was self-published in December 2012 and features a girl who was home-schooled throughout her elementary education, before she goes to a public high school. The book reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list on January 20,{{cite news|title=Self-published Colleen Hoover Talks Living the American Dream.|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/self-published-colleen-hoover-talks-living-the-american-dream/|access-date=July 10, 2014|publisher=CBS This Morning|date=May 20, 2013}} and remained there for three weeks.{{cite news|title=E-Book Fiction Best Sellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-01-20/e-book-fiction/list.html|access-date=July 10, 2014|work=New York Times|date=January 20, 2013}} It was the first self-published novel to ever top the list.{{cite news|title=Best-Selling Moms: Self-Publishing $ucce$$ Stories|url=http://www.bethenny.com/2013/05/03/best-selling-moms-self-publishing-success-stories/|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=May 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513032739/http://www.bethenny.com/2013/05/03/best-selling-moms-self-publishing-success-stories/|archive-date=May 13, 2014|url-status=dead}} A companion novel, Losing Hope, was published that July.{{cite news|title=Combined Print & E-Book Fiction|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2013/07/28/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/|access-date=December 31, 2022|work=The New York Times|date=July 28, 2013}}

Finding Cinderella is a free novella that Hoover published in 2014. It features several of the characters that are depicted in her novels Hopeless and Losing Hope. A paperback was released with several bonus features, such as a new epilogue and Hoover's own "Cinderella story."{{cite news|last1=Flood|first1=Alison|title=Colleen Hoovers fans press publisher into print version of ebook|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/31/colleen-hoover-fans-press-publisher-into-print-edition|access-date=August 14, 2014|work=The Guardian|date=January 31, 2014}} Maybe Someday, published in March 2014, was the first novel of a small series about a boy and a girl who write music together and fall in love. Musician Griffin Peterson created a soundtrack to accompany the novel.{{cite web|title=Griffin Peterson's Official Website|url=http://www.griffinpeterson.com/|website=GriffinPeterson.com|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426123244/http://www.griffinpeterson.com/|url-status=dead}} Links in the e-book or a scannable QR code in the paperback led to a website, where readers could listen to the music.{{cite web|title=Soundtrack|url=http://www.maybesomedaysoundtrack.com|access-date=July 10, 2014|website=Maybe Someday | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114083239/http://www.maybesomedaysoundtrack.com/ | archive-date=January 14, 2014}}

Never Never, a collaboration with Tarryn Fisher, was originally sold as three separate novellas. The work was later republished as one complete book.{{cite instagram |last=Hoover |first=Colleen |user=colleenhoover |date=February 28, 2023 |title=[...] That experience eventually became the Never Never series, which released in a three-novella format several years ago. We’re excited to share that it is now packaged beautifully as one novel and today is the re-release day for the full novel, Never Never, about Charlie, the girl who forgot, and Silas, the boy who wanted to help her remember. |postid=CpOGGuurh1g |access-date=June 30, 2024}}

Hoover's novel, It Ends with Us, was published in 2016.{{Cite web |title=It Ends with Us |url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27362503-it-ends-with-us |access-date=November 26, 2016 |website=Goodreads}} Hoover described it as "the hardest book I've ever written."{{Cite news |title=New Adult author Colleen Hoover releases novel 'It Ends with Us' |newspaper=NY Daily News |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/new-adult-author-colleen-hoover-releases-ends-article-1.2737116 |access-date=November 26, 2016}} The novel concerns domestic violence, and, according to Hoover, it was written with the intention of advocating for domestic violence victims. The story was inspired by Hoover's personal experience as a child growing up in a household with domestic violence, which carried through into her adult life. The book's main character, Lily, experiences domestic violence at a young age, witnesses her father's abuse towards her mother, experiences it firsthand, and then ends up in a violent relationship, as an adult.{{Cite book |last1=Dwiastuti |first1=Winda |last2=Yamin |first2=Harumi Manik Ayu |date=July 30, 2020 |title=The Simplification Domestic Violence in Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us(2016) |url=https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/inusharts-19/125942495 |language=en |publisher=Atlantis Press |pages=76–81 |doi=10.2991/assehr.k.200729.015 |isbn=978-94-6252-995-3|s2cid=226703846 }} As of 2019, the novel had sold over a million copies, worldwide, and it has been translated into over twenty languages.{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=July 15, 2019 |title=Justin Baldoni Developing 'It Ends With Us' Romance Movie |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/justin-baldoni-it-ends-with-us-movie-jane-the-virgin-1203268293/ |access-date=February 11, 2022 |website=Variety}}

In 2021, Hoover experienced a surge in popularity, because of attention from the BookTok community on TikTok.{{Cite news |last=Italie |first=Hillel |date=September 16, 2021 |title=Author Colleen Hoover's word-of-mouth success |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-entertainment-business-arts-and-entertainment-fiction-fbed44e32e3797b7c3fdbf0a4a7daead |access-date=January 6, 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Merry |first=Stephanie |date=January 20, 2022 |title=On TikTok, crying is encouraged. Colleen Hoover's books get the job done. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/01/20/colleen-hoover-tiktok/ |access-date=February 11, 2022}} As a result, in January 2022, It Ends with Us was #1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list.{{Cite news |title=Combined Print & E-Book Fiction – Best Sellers – Books |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2022/01/16/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/ |access-date=January 6, 2021}} Production on a film adaptation of It Ends with Us began in May 2023.{{cite web | title='It Ends with Us' Cast| website=msn.com | date=June 1, 2023 | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/it-ends-with-us-cast-here-s-who-s-playing-lily-ryle-and-atlas-in-the-movie-adaptation/ar-AA1bXk6I | access-date=June 1, 2023}} It was released in August 2024 to mixed critical reviews but large commercial success, grossing over $250 million worldwide. Hoover has stated, in interviews, that the inspiration for the novel was the domestic abuse that her mother endured.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=Blake Lively says It Ends With Us is both tragic and inspiring |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clynlj1lm08o |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Following the film, numerous studios have shown an interest in optioning some of her other books.{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Dessi |date=2024-11-20 |title=Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? ‘Verity’ & ‘Regretting You’ Will Join ‘It Ends With Us’ |url=https://deadline.com/feature/colleen-hoover-books-to-movies-1236038122/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2024-08-12 |title=Dave Franco Latest To Join Josh Boone Adaptation Of Colleen Hoover’s ‘Regretting You’ |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/regretting-you-movie-dave-franco-joins-allison-williams-mckenna-grace-1236037908/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

A sequel to It Ends with Us, It Starts with Us, was published on October 18, 2022, by Atria Books.{{Cite web |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Atria to Publish Colleen Hoover's 'It Starts with Us' in October |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=3611 |access-date=February 12, 2022 |website=Publishers Weekly}} Simon & Schuster released the details of the extensive marketing campaign for the novel, which became the publisher's most-preordered book of all time.{{Cite web |last=Comerford |first=Ruth |date=October 17, 2022 |title=S&S unveils campaign details for most pre-ordered title to date |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/new-colleen-hoover-becomes-sss-most-pre-ordered-title-to-date-as-campaign-unveiled |access-date=October 17, 2022 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}} A planned coloring book for It Ends with Us was canceled in January 2023 following online backlash due to the novel's subject matter.{{Cite news |last=Ronald |first=Issy |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Bestselling writer Colleen Hoover apologizes for planned coloring book based on domestic violence novel |url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/colleen-hoover-coloring-book-cancellation-intl-scli/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250213064930/https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/colleen-hoover-coloring-book-cancellation-intl-scli/index.html |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |access-date=March 5, 2025 |work=CNN}}{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Kelly |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Colleen Hoover apologises for ‘tone-deaf’ colouring book based on domestic violence novel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/13/colleen-hoover-apologises-for-tone-deaf-colouring-book-based-on-domestic-violence-novel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250305185734/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jan/13/colleen-hoover-apologises-for-tone-deaf-colouring-book-based-on-domestic-violence-novel |archive-date=March 5, 2025 |access-date=March 5, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}

In October 2022, Simon & Schuster UK acquired two standalone novels by Hoover.{{Cite web |last=Comerford |first=Ruth |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Colleen Hoover's new thrillers signed by Simon & Schuster and Sphere |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/ss-and-sphere-hoover-up-colleens-novels-in-double-deal-for-tiktok-star |access-date=October 17, 2022 |website=The Bookseller |language=En}}

As of October 2022, Hoover has sold more than 20 million books. Reflecting on Hoover's success in 2022, Alexandra Alter of The New York Times wrote, "To say she's currently the best-selling novelist in the United States, to even compare her to other successful authors who have landed several books on the best seller lists, fails to capture the size and loyalty of her audience."{{Cite web |last=Willingham |first=A. J. |date=2023-08-27 |title=Colleen Hoover is the hottest author in America. She also may be the most controversial |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/27/entertainment/colleen-hoover-books-controversy-cec/index.html |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=CNN |language=en}}

Awards and achievements

class="wikitable"
YearAwardWorkCategoryResultRef
2012rowspan="3" | Goodreads Choice Awards SlammedYoung Adult Fiction{{Nominated}}{{cite web|title=The Best Books of 2012|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-young-adult-fiction-books-2012|website=Goodreads|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
rowspan="2" | 2013Losing HopeRomance{{Nominated}}{{cite web|title=Best Books of 2013|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-romance-books-2013|website=Goodreads|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
This GirlRomance{{Nominated}}
2014UtopYA Con AwardsMaybe SomedayMost Innovative Marketing{{Won}}{{cite web|title=2014 UtopYA Awards Winners Announced|url=http://mybookopolis.com/2014-utopya-awards-winners-announced/|website=My Bookopolis|access-date=July 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628050526/http://mybookopolis.com/2014-utopya-awards-winners-announced/|archive-date=June 28, 2014}}
2015rowspan="2" | Goodreads Choice AwardsConfessRomance{{Won}}{{cite web|title=Best Romance of 2015|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-romance-books-2015|website=Goodreads|access-date=November 25, 2016}}
2016

|It Ends with Us

|Romance

|{{Won}}

| {{cite web|url= https://www.geekwire.com/2016/votes-goodreads-reveals-20-best-books-2016/ |title= The votes are in: Goodreads reveals 20 best books of 2016 |first= Monica |last= Nickelsburg |work= GeekWire |date= December 6, 2016 |access-date= December 22, 2023 |archive-date= December 22, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231222105538/https://www.geekwire.com/2016/votes-goodreads-reveals-20-best-books-2016/ |url-status=live}}

= ''New York Times'' Best Sellers =

In 2022, Hoover held six of the top ten spots on the New York Times paperback fiction bestseller list.

  • Slammed (#8)
  • Point of Retreat (#18)
  • This Girl (#9)
  • Hopeless (#1)
  • Losing Hope (#6)
  • Maybe Someday (#3){{cite news|date=April 6, 2014 | title=E-Book Fiction Best Sellers | work=New York Time| url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-04-06/e-book-fiction/list.html | access-date=July 10, 2014}}
  • Ugly Love (#4)
  • Confess (#4)
  • November 9 (#9)
  • It Ends with Us (#1)
  • Verity (#2)

Works

= Books =

== ''It Ends with Us'' series ==

== ''Slammed'' series ==

  • Slammed (2012)
  • Point of Retreat (2012)
  • This Girl (2013)

== ''Hopeless'' series ==

  • Hopeless (2012)
  • Losing Hope (2013)
  • Finding Cinderella (novella; 2013)
  • All Your Perfects (2018)
  • Finding Perfect (novella; 2019)

== ''Maybe Someday'' series ==

  • Maybe Someday (2014)
  • Maybe Not (novella; 2014)
  • Maybe Now (2018)

== Standalone novels ==

{{div col}}

  • Ugly Love (2014)
  • Never Never (2015, digital; 2023, physical) three part novella series with Tarryn Fisher
  • Confess (2015)
  • November 9 (2015)
  • Too Late (2016)
  • Without Merit (2017)
  • Verity (2018)
  • Regretting You (2019)
  • Heart Bones (2020)
  • Layla (2020)
  • Reminders of Him (2022)

{{div col end}}

Source:{{Cite web |date=2017-01-11 |title=Books {{!}} Colleen Hoover |url=https://www.colleenhoover.com/books/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622124228/https://www.colleenhoover.com/books/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Books By Colleen Hoover |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5430144.Colleen_Hoover| website=Goodreads.com |access-date=August 14, 2014}}

= Short stories =

  • "A Father's Kiss" from The Kiss (An Anthology of Love and Other Close Encounters)
  • "Saint" from One More Step (An Anthology)
  • "The Dress" from Two More Days (An Anthology)

Film and television adaptations

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Library resources box|by=yes|onlinebooks=yes|viaf=259222571}}

  • [https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorColleenHoover Colleen Hoover's Official Wattpad Profile]

{{Colleen Hoover}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoover, Colleen}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:American romantic fiction novelists

Category:American women novelists

Category:American women romantic fiction writers

Category:American women writers of young adult literature

Category:American young adult novelists

Category:Novelists from Texas

Category:People from Sulphur Springs, Texas

Category:East Texas A&M University alumni