Whether you’re a fan of Colleen Hoveer or not, it is impossible to deny the literary identity the popular author has built for herself. Since her rise to fame, she has sold over 20 million copies and was titled one of the world’s most influential in 2023.
Her writing style is known for its effectiveness and simplicity. Hoover is able to blend dark themes like trauma and domestic abuse with romance and hopeful themes like healing. One thing about Hoover’s books is the combination of emotional depth, relatable characters, and engaging plots.
Whether you’re a beginner in the Colleen Hoover literary world or you’ve gone through all the books in her collection, you’ve most likely identified common patterns making them fall under the CoHo umbrella. So what exactly defines Colleen Hoover writing style and what are the recurring themes in Colleen Hoover books that keep readers engaged?
Impressive Storytelling Techniques
One of the tricks Colleen Hoover has managed to hack when it comes to her books is how innovative her storytelling techniques are. With the way she crafts every chapter and writes every page, readers become engaged and captivated.
Her stories are usually told in first-person, but she sometimes uses a narrative style, delivering authenticity and raw emotions which creates instant intimacy between the narrator and reader. That is the signature Colleen Hoover writing style – you won’t find elaborate prose or excessive word building.
Rather, the language is simple and usually conversational. She manages to paint vivid pictures through her words. It is as though they are living the lives of the characters as Hoover’s books always feel real and extremely authentic, resonating deeply to her audience.
Dialogue
You’ll often come across dialogue-heavy chapters and inner monologues but they’re not likely to bore you out. This is another area where Hoover’s talent shines through – her characters’ conversations are always engaging and natural, drawing readers further into the story.
Hoover’s dialogue has been praised for being realistic and emotionally authentic and perhaps this is the reason why many readers can relate to her stories. She explores difficult topics and themes while still managing to make her characters and their actions relatable, hooking readers from the very first page.
Heavy Emotion but Light Structure
This may be one major reason why readers of Colleen Hoover’s books keep coming back for more – she has mastered emotional storytelling in romance. One major thing she is known for is being able to evoke deep emotions, making her stories hit harder than usual. One page could make you cry while the next could make you sigh dreamily.
She usually explores difficult topics that are avoided by other romance authors, creating a whole new romance world and giving readers something different. For example, the theme of childhood trauma in Hopeless, domestic abuse in It Ends With Us, and grief in Reminders of Him.
The best part is, the emotional journeys of the characters in the books are expressed with authenticity, allowing readers to connect on a deeper level.
Redefining Romance
We cannot deny that Colleen Hoover redefines romance by creating modern romance with depth. In other words, she manages to balance romance with other themes and difficult subjects like mental health, domestic abuse, grief, and trauma which serves as a new perspective in the world of romance.
Hoover doesn’t give us plain old fiction. Instead, she writes about life as it is – showing more depth to loving and being loved. It’s never just about falling in love; it’s about who you become when you allow yourself to be loved. This kind of romance caters to readers that want more than just a happily-ever-after.
Twists, Reveals, and Gut Punches
The kind of themes in Colleen Hoover books are already gut-wrenching enough, as she explores recurring motifs like trauma and healing alongside the idea of redemption. These themes, and more, tend to add depth to her stories but Hoover doesn’t leave it at that – she is a master of plot twists and has great talent creating shifts in plots that catch you off guard.
With Hoover’s books, you’re taken on a journey, one filled with emotional rollercoasters. All the dark, and even lighter themes explored, are expressed with vulnerability. This takes romance to the next level.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to writing modern romance with depth, Colleen Hoover is one of the best there is. The difficult topics she explores, the surprise twists at every turn, the flawed but relatable characters. That sums up the Colleen Hoover Writing Style in a nutshell.