Love to binge CoHo books? This guide to the Colleen Hoover Hopeless series of coming-of-age romance fiction books tells you everything you need to know before you dive in and/or read your next novel.
Learn the series order, then get a summary and review of the storyline (by my long-time friend and part-time freelance writer, who read the full series and wrote the first draft of this post) and characters in each of the four books in the series.
Lastly, get answers to frequently asked questions about the Hopeless Colleen Hoover series and a printable PDF of all Colleen Hoover books so you can track your reading.
But first, watch the unofficial (fan-made) book trailer below for a visual reference as to what the Hopeless Colleen Hoover series is about:
Colleen Hoover Hopeless Series Order
For the best reading experience, you should read the Colleen Hoover Hopeless series in order:
1. Hopeless (2012)
2. Losing Hope (2013)
3. Finding Cinderella (2013)
4. Finding Perfect (2019)
However, Finding Cinderella can also be read as a standalone book. Contrary to the previous two books which focused on Sky and Holder, this novella features two supporting characters from the first two books: Daniel and Six. The final book, Finding Perfect, includes all four of these characters.
Colleen Hoover Hopeless Series: Characters
- Sky: a sheltered former foster child who is entering public school for her senior year after being homeschooled her whole life
- Holder: the brooding bad boy who seems to have a secretive past
- Daniel: a high school student who is friends with Holder
- Six: Sky’s best friend who spends time studying abroad
Colleen Hoover Hopeless Series: Book Summaries and Reviews
Age Rating: The age rating for the Hopeless series is generally for mature adults aged 17 and over. We think it would be best enjoyed by persons aged 25 to 40 as, while the characters are in high school, the storyline is very advanced. These are young people dealing with very complex situations and emotions. The traumatic sexual content may also be triggering to some people.
(If you’re shopping for a present, this book series is a great gift for fans of Colleen Hoover.)
Below are summaries, reviews, and quotes of the three books in the Colleen Hoover Hopeless series. We tried to keep it as spoiler-free as possible; however, since this is a chronological book series, there are necessarily some plot spoilers. This is especially true for the summary and review of the fourth book, since it concludes the series.
Hopeless (Hopeless Series Book 1 of 4)
#1 New York Times bestseller
- Trigger Warnings: child sexual abuse, suicide, and incest
- Spice Level: 2 out of 5
“Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies.”
Hopeless is the first of four books in the Hopeless book series by Colleen Hoover.
This book follows Sky, a sheltered former foster child who is entering public school for her senior year after being homeschooled her whole life, and Holder, the brooding bad boy who seems to have a secretive past.
Sky and Holder are initially drawn together by lust and a mutual fascination with one another, but Holder’s mood swings and mixed signals soon begin to confuse Sky. As the skeletons begin to come out of each of their closets, both the past and present become much clearer for this young couple.
Is Sky who she thinks she is? Does her adoptive mother have her best interest at heart? Does Holder’s hot-and-cold attitude have anything to do with all this?
This book features a trademark we often see from Hoover: a happy couple drawn together by love and lust with some deep secrets which expose their most vulnerable sides. Also, this book does not lack the spicy scenes that aided in making Hoover the household name that she’s become. It’d be a great book to begin with if you’re considering diving into the Colleen Hoover rabbit hole.
Losing Hope (Hope Series Book 2 of 4)
GoodReads Choice Award Nominee
- Trigger Warnings: child sexual abuse, suicide, and incest
- Spice Level: 2 out of 5
“In order to miss someone, that means you were privileged enough to have them in your life to begin with.”
Losing Hope continues the Hopeless series from Dean’s point of view.
This book follows the exact plot line of the first book from a different point of view. Narrated by Holder, our broody leading man from Hopeless, we hear of how he first meets Sky and all the events and unravel thereafter, with a different twist.
The storyline follows Holder as he first spots and meets Sky, falls in love with her almost immediately, and proceeds to learn more about her past, his past, as well as both of their present. We watch both characters learn to heal themselves as they try earnestly to heal the wounds of one another’s past.
The personalities of these two characters and the thoughts they possess are so vastly different; hearing them tell accounts of the same events is gripping.
Additionally, Hoover shows the reader a beautiful seesaw effect in this book: the parts where the reader was utterly bewildered by Holder’s actions in Hopeless are laid out on a platter and explained beautifully in this installment since Holder is narrating this piece.
Hoover’s decision to retell a story she’s already told was undoubtedly a risk, but it certainly was one worth taking. The character development in this story really shines as we meet Holder in a new light — his own light.
Hoover’s ability to weave love, lust, everyday issues, and extremely complex and sensitive issues into one story should not be overlooked. This is a must-read for fans of Sky and Holder.
Finding Cinderella (Hopeless Series Book 3 of 4)
- Trigger Warnings: pregnancy, miscarriage
- Spice Level: 2 out of 5
“We all have deal-breakers, Daniel. Some of us just hope we can keep them hidden forever.”
Finding Cinderella is a novella, and it’s the third book by Colleen Hoover in the Hopeless series. However, it can also be read as a standalone book. Contrary to the previous two books which focused on Sky and Holder, this novella features two supporting characters from the first two books: Daniel and Six.
Daniel, a high school student like his friend Holder, has a steamy encounter with a fellow classmate in a maintenance closet at school. The two barely speak, never learn one another’s names, don’t even turn on the light in the closet, and agree that what they shared would be a one-time thing.
The most riveting rule for their tryst? That they pretended, for that entire hour, that they were madly in love. Daniel moves on but is unable to shake the thoughts of his mystery woman and how perfect their encounter was.
A year later, enter Six, Sky’s best friend who recently returned from being abroad. Her quick wit and sarcasm are a perfect match for Daniel and soon the two become more than friends.
If Daniel is so happy with Six, why is he still having thoughts of his fling in the closet? Moreover, why are his feelings for Six starting to feel an awful lot like the feelings he had for his pretend lover?
As opposed to the heavy content and themes from the first two books, this lighthearted read features new and unexpected love, some steamy scenes, and lots of witty banter. We also get a fair amount of Holder and Sky in this story who we already know and love from the prequels.
Considering this is a novella, on the shorter side, and only highlighting minor characters, do not expect this to have the character development and intensity of the first two books in the series. That being said, it is a well-written fun story with some classic Hoover twists and turns that will be sure to keep you smiling and rooting for Daniel and Six.
Finding Perfect (Hopeless Series Book 4 of 4)
- Trigger Warnings: pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility
- Spice Level: 0 out of 5
“True love exists and the people in this house are proof of that.”
Finding Perfect is a novella that concludes the Hopeless series. It ties everything up into a neat little bow, as novellas often do. Told from the point of view of Daniel from Finding Cinderella, this story focuses on his and Six’s relationship and brings back characters from All Your Perfects as well (though this book is not officially part of the Hopeless series.)
(PLEASE NOTE THIS SUMMARY CONTAINS SPOILERS BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE PLOT.)
At the start of the book, Daniel and Six are both in a bit of a funk and Six finally explains to Daniel that it’s because she placed their child for adoption while studying abroad in Italy and, since it was a closed adoption, she has no contact with the adoptive parents. She, therefore, is lacking closure, and she is feeling unfulfilled and depressed.
When Six placed their son for adoption, she was aided by a teacher at her school in Italy, who also happened to know the couple who adopted their baby. Despite contacting her teacher, the adoption is closed and there is no information Six’s teacher can legally lend her.
Enter persistent Daniel. He goes on a one-man mission to get information for Six and show her that their son is happy and healthy with his new parents.
As for a review of the book, it was an incredibly easy read that can be devoured in one sitting and ends with a smile on the reader’s face. Daniel and Six are very likable characters, as are Quinn and Graham. The reader certainly roots for both couples, anticipating a happily ever after.
It should be noted well that infertility and adoption are very sensitive topics. Not all adoptions will have a happy ending or adoptive parents who are so good to the biological parents. In fact, the way this story plays out is a bit of a reach, so I would never want this book to give readers false hope about this sensitive topic.
Overall, I felt this was a good, easy, feel-good read taking into consideration the above caveats. For those who read the first four books in the series and want to see it all tie together, this is the book for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Colleen Hoover Hopeless Series
Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the Hopeless Colleen Hoover series books:
Yes. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover is the first book in a series of four books.
There are four books in Colleen Hoover’s Hopeless book series.
For the best reading experience, you should read the Colleen Hoover Hopeless series in order of publication: Hopeless (2012); Losing Hope (2013); Finding Cinderella (2013); and Finding Perfect (2019).
No. For the best reading experience, you should read the Colleen Hoover Hopeless series in order of publication: Hopeless (2012); Losing Hope (2013); Finding Cinderella (2013); and Finding Perfect (2019). However, Finding Cinderella can also be read as a standalone book. Contrary to the previous two books which focused on Sky and Holder, this novella features two supporting characters from the first two books: Daniel and Six. The final book, Finding Perfect, includes all four of these characters.
Yes. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover continues the Hopeless series from the other main character’s point of view.
No. You should read Colleen Hoover’s Hopeless, which was published in 2012 before Losing Hope, which was published in 2013. Losing Hope continues the Hopeless series from the other main character’s point of view.
No. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover is a standalone book that is not part of her Hopeless book series.
The #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless by Colleen Hoover is a coming-of-age romance fiction book (and series) that begins with the story of high school senior Sky and Dean Holder, a troubled man with a reputation. As their bond grows, he reminds Sky of something in her past, and secrets are revealed, challenging Sky’s ability to trust.
The Hopeless series by Colleen Hoover is good for mature adult readers who enjoy coming-of-age romances between characters with dark pasts, along with some steamy romance scenes.
Conclusion
That’s everything you need to know about the Hopeless series.
Bonus: Get your printable PDF of the list of Colleen Hoover books in order below to track your CoHo reads.
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