Can My Teen Read Colleen Hoover Books? Discovering Authors and Books Like Colleen Hoover
If your teen has started to gravitate away from their former childhood favorites and is showing an interest in reading more adult novels, such as books like Colleen Hoover’s, you may be wondering what to do.
Should you allow your teen to move onto a new stage in their reading journey, or is the content too mature? And just what are Colleen Hoover’s books’ age ratings, anyway? We can help. Keep reading for the information you need to help you decide whether or not to let your teen read authors like Colleen Hoover.
Contents:
- Who is Colleen Hoover?
- What Parents Need to Know About Colleen Hoover Books
- Age Ratings for Colleen Hoover Books
- What Your Teen Can Read Instead: 15 Books Similar to Colleen Hoover for Teens
- FAQs
Who is Colleen Hoover?
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American author Colleen Hoover is best known for her romance fiction, such as the hugely popular 2016 novel It Ends With Us. She also writes in the new adult genre.
Hoover was born in 1979 in Texas, graduating from Saltillo High School in 1998 and subsequently from Texas A&M-Commerce with a degree in social work. She worked in various teaching and social work jobs before starting a career as a writer.
As of October 2022, Hoover has sold over 20 million books. Her self-published story, Hopeless, was the first self-published novel to top the New York Times bestseller list in January 2013. Fast forward to the year 2022, and Hoover was once again on the publication’s bestseller list, with the multi-million-copy selling It Ends With Us, which now boasts a sequel, It Starts With Us, and is being adapted into a movie.
What Parents Need to Know About Colleen Hoover Books
Colleen Hoover has written many books, from stand-alone novels such as Ugly Love, Verity, Confess, and Regretting You, to book series including Slammed and Maybe Someday. Colleen Hoover’s books are popular with readers largely due to their emotional content. They’re a rollercoaster for the feelings, often concerned with tortured young love, something many of us can relate to. This relatability is key to Hoover’s novels being so widely read.
Hoover is also known as an author prepared to deal with and explore difficult issues, such as domestic violence, and the darker aspects of being in a relationship. For Hoover’s legions of fans, it’s her depiction of both heartbreak and happiness that keeps them turning the pages.
With more authors than ever before turning to socials such as TikTok to publicize their novels, kids are more likely to become aware of extremely popular writers such as Hoover, who have a powerful presence on the platform. Even if, as a parent, you don’t have any books by this author in the house, there’s a good chance your teen (or younger child) will have come across Hoover online. But before putting a copy of Hoover’s latest offering (or a similar novel) into your kid’s hands, it’s important to first understand their recommended age ratings, and be aware of any content not suited to young readers.
Are Colleen Hoover’s Books Appropriate for Young Readers?
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The big question. How old should your child be before you let them dive into a Colleen Hoover book? Generally speaking, none of Colleen Hoover’s books are suitable for anyone aged under fourteen years. This is because they typically contain mature themes such as addiction, trauma, domestic abuse, and violence. Further, some of Hoover’s novels fall into the “new adult” category, which is aimed at those aged eighteen to twenty-five. So, in short, this author’s books are recommended for those aged at least fourteen, if not eighteen plus.
It’s important for parents to be aware that, as well as the thematic content, some readers think that the genre of new adult fiction is liable to present themes of sexual or domestic violence through a rose-colored lens, which could normalize unhealthy relationships.
Teens are likely to be drawn to Colleen Hoover’s books partly due to their popularity and high visibility on online platforms, but there will also be a “forbidden fruit” element. Books that kids know they shouldn’t read are the most appealing of all!
Age Ratings for Colleen Hoover Books
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14+ Rated Colleen Hoover Books
The books below are generally concerned with high school-age characters and have little (or no) romantic sexual content. Issues such as fidelity and grief may occur, but there isn’t anything that should be problematic for a reader aged fourteen plus.
- Point of Retreat
- Slammed
- This Girl
- Regretting You
- Heart Bones
- Never Never
- Shatter Me
17+ Rated Colleen Hoover Books
The Colleen Hoover novels in the list below incorporate more graphic sexual and romantic content and often contain darker themes, such as tragedy, domestic violence, infertility, and imprisonment.
- Losing Hope
- Finding Cinderella
- Maybe Someday
- Maybe Not
- Confess
- November 9
- It Ends with Us
- All Your Perfects
- Without Merit
- Maybe Not
- Finding Perfect
- Layla
- It Starts with Us
- Reminders of Him
18+ Rated Colleen Hoover Books
Only recommended for very mature readers aged eighteen and over, the books below have extremely explicit sexual scenes, and very dark subject matter, like murder, sexual assault, and drug abuse.
- Too Late
- Verity
Keep your teen’s reading and internet activities safe and monitored. Download the Kids360 app today and protect their online journey!
What Your Teen Can Read Instead: 15 Books Similar to Colleen Hoover for Teens
So now we’ve established that Colleen Hoover’s books may not be suitable for all teens and young readers—with some only recommended for those aged eighteen and over—what can we suggest they read instead? After all, if your kid is keen to turn pages, it’s great to encourage this.
Here are the fifteen books you can give your teen to read as an alternative to a Colleen Hoover novel.
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
One of the queens of YA romance novels, Sarah Dessen paints an engaging and realistic tale of seventeen-year-old Ruby, who goes to a good school, lives with her sister in her own room, and whose future looks bright. But what about the adorable boy who lives next door? Could his presence derail Ruby’s life plans—and is she able to open her heart again, anyway?
This book details themes including neglect, abuse, and addiction, but does so sensitively, and in a way that’s always mindful of its relatively young audience.
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
A Goodreads Choice and nominee for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, A Very Large Expanse of Sea is a heart-rending story about first love, fear, and the impact of prejudice. Shirin is a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who is fed up with being stereotyped. To protect herself, she’s erected high emotional walls, not allowing anybody to get close. Music and breakdancing are where Shirin finds both release and joy.
This semi-autobiographical novel is a careful consideration of loneliness, family, and identity, and challenges various assumptions about, for example, why Muslim women cover their hair.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
This hugely popular YA novel tugs on the heartstrings like no other and is a great choice if you’re looking for a more teen-friendly alternative to Colleen Hoover. Sixteen-year-old Hazel has terminal cancer and believes that the final chapter of her story has already been written—until a handsome young man called Augustus Waters turns up at the Cancer Kids support group she attends…
An international best-seller that’s loved by critics and readers alike, The Fault in Our Stars is uplifting, heartbreaking, and widely regarded as one of the most moving and genuine love stories in modern American literature.
A Year to the Day by Robin Benway
Related in fascinating reverse chronological order, A Year to the Day is told through the eyes of Leo, who’s desperate to find out what happened to her beloved Nina, who was killed by a drunk driver on the night of a party. Leo has spent a year mourning and missing Nina deeply and needs to remember what happened to have any chance of moving on. But can she ever find happiness in a world without Nina?
Full of warmth and humor and told gently, the novel is also about self-discovery, abandonment, betrayal, and what it means to be a family.
Meet Me in the Middle by Alex Light
Looking for a great book for a teen to read a Colleen Hoover novel? Alex Light’s Meet Me in the Middle could be an excellent choice. Katie’s older brother, Truman, is an artist and a recluse—but on the night Katie has an accident her best friend, Eden, had just let Truman into her world. Now, with Katie in the hospital and Truman withdrawn into grief, Eden wonders if she can ever let him return into her life—when letting him in is what turned everything upside down in the first place.
Already a YA classic, this novel will quickly draw readers into its world, and could even turn the most reluctant of readers into a certified bookworm.
Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreño
An effervescent love story that teen readers will adore, Rosa is caught between cultures and choices, between the Cuba of her Abuela and the South Florida home where she lives with her family. Rosa who, it is said, is cursed by the sea, needs to make a decision about college—and soon. Her future life may be on the line, and things become even more complicated when Alex, with his mysterious ocean tattoos, arrives in her life.
Don’t Date Rose Santos is a magical, contemporary tale, full of heart and larger-than-life characters and locations that jump, sparkling, off the page.
The Stepping Off Place by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
It’s the summer of her senior year, and Reid finds herself in the popular set of her high-school, thanks to Hattie, her best friend, who has been bolstering her social status since middle school. However, with Hattie about to go away for the summer, where will this leave Reid—condemned to spend the months in her room, or determined to make the most of this special time? Just before Hattie is due to return home, however, Reid receives some devastating news.
Cameron Kelly Rosenblum’s debut novel boasts a large cast of carefully drawn characters and is a beautifully written and heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery.
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
An Amazon Teachers’ Pick novel and a National Book Award finalist, The Sun is Also a Star tells Natasha and Daniel’s love story. It’s not an easy one. Natasha’s family is just twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica—but Daniel is convinced that the universe will conspire to help keep them together.
This profoundly beautiful book explores life, and love, and shines with hope—even amidst heartbreak, and is a great choice for older teen readers.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Ranked as one of the best of BookTok, The Summer I Turned Pretty is both authentic and full of genuine heart that follows a fifteen-year-old girl called Belly during one unforgettable summer. Friendship, summer love, and a beach house give this coming-of-age tale—already a modern classic—enduring appeal. Your teen may already be aware of this title from the TV show adaptation, and the book makes for a perfect vacation read.
The best news? If your teen devours this sweet novel, they’ll be delighted to learn that it’s the first in a series!
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
This best-selling novel has an unnerving premise: a pair of strangers, Rufus and Mateo, meet through an app on what they both believe will be their last day alive. In this world, where people receive a phone call on the day they’ll die, the Last Friend app provides a way to live one’s final hours to the absolute fullest.
Encouraging reflection on how we live our lives now and how we would like to live them, They Both Die at the End is a bold, contemplative, and heart-wrenching novel that your teen reader will never forget.
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
Popular Samantha McAllister may appear like the other girls in her school, but she has a secret: she suffers from Purely Obsessional OCD and second-guesses every word, thought, and move, making daily life almost impossible. When Sam meets a new friend, Caroline, who introduces her to Poets Corner, the home of a close-knit group of misfits, Sam finally begins to feel “normal”—until her secret is under threat of exposure.
Teens will love the relatability of this YA novel, as well as its unpredictability, page-turning appeal, and carefully drawn characters.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
Named a Time Best YA Book of All Time in 2021, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is now a major motion picture and a great choice for teen readers keen to explore beyond their “childhood” books. Aristotle is an angry teenager whose brother is in prison, while Dante has a unique way of looking at the world and a know-it-all attitude. These unlikely friends form a bond that will change their lives, last a lifetime, and help them both become the people they want to be.
As well as being honored by Time, this novel was a Stonewall Award winner, Lambda Literary Award winner, Printz Honor book, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award.
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Published in 1999, this novel is still hugely popular with teen and adult readers alike. Every year, Landon Carter’s memory springs back to his final year in Beaufort High in 1958—when he met Jamie, the daughter of the town’s Baptist minister. A moving story that was inspired by the life and courage of Nicholas Sparks’ own sister, A Walk to Remember is a beautiful, gentle story of star-crossed young love.
This novel is about a time when the world was sweeter—and teen readers will be charmed by its poignant, nostalgic- and yet still relevant—vibe.
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
The summer before her senior year, Beatrix Adams knows exactly what she’ll be doing: drawing real-life cadavers. In an effort to follow in Da Vinci’s footsteps, she’s determined to give herself the edge in the forthcoming scholarship contest sponsored by the museum. But, after trying to sneak into the hospital’s Willed Body program, Beatrix misses the last metro home, and bumps into a boy who is destined to turn her summer plans upside down.
Concerned with love’s capacity to promote healing and growth, this novel is engaging, romantic, and fast-paced, and your teen will enjoy the unconventional characters and the unusual situations in which they find themselves.
We Are Okay by Nina Lacour
A little book that packs a big punch, We Are Okay follows Marin, who left her old life behind taking just her wallet, phone, and picture of her mother with her. Since that day, she’s not spoken to a soul from this previous life, but still feels the resonance of the trauma she’s trying to outrun.
An honest and heart-rending portrayal of grief and identity, this short novel has received widespread critical acclaim and makes for a great alternative to a Colleen Hoover book for older kids.
Best Books to Give to Teens Who Are Interested in Colleen Hoover Novels
If you’ve got a teen who is interested in reading the novels of Colleen Hoover but isn’t ready for the mature—even dark—content of these books—then the above list of alternatives could provide a great solution. And who knows, you may even find your new favorite author, too!
What is your teen reading right now? And what’s your opinion on our recommended age ratings of Colleen Hoover’s books—do you agree or disagree with how we’ve ranked them? Drop us a line in the comments box below!
FAQs
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Can a 14-year-old read It Ends with Us?
Generally speaking, It Ends with Us isn’t suitable for a 14-year-old. The recommended minimum age to read this novel is seventeen to eighteen.
Can a 13-year-old read Verity?
Given Verity’s very mature content and dark themes, it’s suitable only for those aged over eighteen.
What age rating is Too Late by Colleen Hoover?
The novel Too Late is recommended as being suitable for those aged eighteen and over.
Can a 14-year-old read Shatter Me?
Shatter Me by Colleen Hoover is recommended for teens aged over fourteen, although parents should first satisfy themselves that it is suitable for their child due to the mature content.
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