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Quick answer: If you loved It Starts with Us, try Colleen Hoover's Ugly Love, Reminders of Him and Verity first. For similar heartfelt romance with hard topics, add The Friend Zone, Normal People and Mad Honey.
Colleen Hoover's sequel to It Ends with Us is about second chances, hard choices and a love that has to grow past a painful past. The books below keep the emotional pull, messy characters and page-turning pace. Many deal with serious topics, so check the notes before you start.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ugly Love | Colleen Hoover | Adult | more Hoover |
| Reminders of Him | Colleen Hoover | Adult | second chances |
| November 9 | Colleen Hoover | Adult | twists and romance |
| Hopeless | Colleen Hoover | Teen | trauma and healing |
| Verity | Colleen Hoover | Adult | dark thrillers |
| Things We Never Got Over | Lucy Score | Adult | small-town romance |
| The Spanish Love Deception | Elena Armas | Adult | fake dating |
| Twisted Love | Ana Huang | Adult | steamy intensity |
| Icebreaker | Hannah Grace | Adult | sports romance |
| The Friend Zone | Abby Jimenez | Adult | funny with heart |
| Mad Honey | Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan | Adult | issues-driven drama |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | Adult | funny and emotional |
| Normal People | Sally Rooney | Adult | literary love stories |
| Before We Were Strangers | Renee Carlino | Adult | lost loves |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | Adult | big emotional reveals |
1. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Tate and pilot Miles agree to a no-strings arrangement, but secrets from his past make that hard. It is one of Hoover's most popular novels and hits the same emotional notes.
Best for: more Hoover.
2. Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Kenna is released from prison and wants to meet the daughter she has never known. A tear-jerker about guilt, forgiveness and second chances.
Best for: second chances.
3. November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Fallon and Ben meet on the day before she moves, and they agree to meet every November 9th. A twisty love story with a surprising reveal.
Best for: twists and romance.
4. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Sky has avoided relationships until she meets Holder, a boy who knows more about her than she does. It deals with abuse and trauma and is a favorite among Hoover fans.
Best for: trauma and healing.
5. Verity by Colleen Hoover
A struggling writer is hired to finish an injured author's series and finds a disturbing manuscript. A dark psychological thriller with a famous ending.
Best for: dark thrillers.
6. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
Naomi runs from her wedding and ends up in a small town where she clashes with Knox, a grumpy local. It is a long, funny, emotional small-town romance.
Best for: small-town romance.
7. The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina needs a fake date for a wedding in Spain and asks her colleague Aaron. A popular slow-burn fake-dating story with lots of tension.
Best for: fake dating.
8. Twisted Love by Ana Huang
Ava is a college student, and Alex is her brother's friend who is cold and controlling. A steamy, intense romance with a big fan base.
Best for: steamy intensity.
9. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
Figure skater Anastasia must share the ice with hockey star Nathan. A funny, sporty enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional beats.
Best for: sports romance.
10. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
Kristen and Josh become friends but she cannot tell him about a medical problem that would end the romance. Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply honest.
Best for: funny with heart.
11. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
A mother questions what happened when her son is accused of killing his girlfriend, while a love story unfolds in parallel. Emotional and thought-provoking.
Best for: issues-driven drama.
12. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Two writers of different genres challenge each other to swap styles for a summer. It mixes grief, humour and romance beautifully.
Best for: funny and emotional.
13. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Connell and Marianne grow up in Ireland and keep finding each other over the years. A quiet, powerful look at love and class.
Best for: literary love stories.
14. Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino
Two college sweethearts reunite after fifteen years when they reconnect through an old message. A bittersweet story of lost love and second chances.
Best for: lost loves.
15. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
An aging Hollywood star finally tells her life story to a young journalist. Glamorous, dramatic and emotionally full.
Best for: big emotional reveals.
How to Choose
Match the book to your mood. For the closest feel, start with Hoover's other novels such as Ugly Love, Reminders of Him and Hopeless. For heavy topics told with care, pick Mad Honey or Normal People. For lighter romance with tears and laughs, go with The Friend Zone, Beach Read or Things We Never Got Over. Many of these books include trauma, abuse or grief, so read a content note before you buy if that matters to you.
Related: It Starts with Us Ending Explained · 15 Books Like It Ends with Us You’ll Love: Emotional Romance and Hard Choices
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read It Ends with Us first?
Yes, It Starts with Us is the direct sequel and gives away the ending of the first book.
Which Hoover book should I read next?
Reminders of Him and Ugly Love are great next steps, while Verity suits readers who want a thriller.
Are these books very sad?
Several have heavy themes, but most end with hope.
What book is similar but less intense?
Beach Read and The Friend Zone have emotional depth but more humour.
Are there audiobook versions?
Yes, nearly all of these are available as audiobooks.