If you’re wondering what books are in the Hopeless series, you’re likely looking for the Colleen Hoover novels connected to Hopeless and its companion stories. The series is small, emotionally intense, and centered on love, trauma, memory, and healing.
Below is a clear reading guide to the books commonly grouped in the Hopeless series, along with context on how they fit together and which order makes the most sense for new readers.
What books are in the Hopeless series?
The Hopeless series is generally understood to include Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, and All Your Perfects, though the last title is sometimes discussed as a thematic companion rather than a direct sequel. The core connected books are Hopeless and Losing Hope, with the novella Finding Cinderella expanding the same world.
The books in the Hopeless series, in reading order
1. Hopeless
Hopeless is the novel that introduced the series and remains its emotional center. It follows Sky, a teenager whose life changes when she meets Dean Holder and begins uncovering painful truths about her past.
The book blends romance with psychological suspense, and much of its power comes from the way memory, identity, and trauma are gradually revealed. Readers often approach it as both a love story and a story about survival.
2. Losing Hope
Losing Hope is a companion novel that retells parts of Hopeless from Holder’s point of view. It is not a separate sequel in the usual sense, but it deepens the emotional and narrative perspective of the original book.
If you enjoyed the first novel and want to understand Holder more fully, this is the most important follow-up. It adds context to his behavior, his memories, and the emotional weight behind his choices.
3. Finding Cinderella
Finding Cinderella is a novella connected to the same fictional universe. It focuses on a different couple and is often read as a lighter, shorter companion piece after the heavier emotional material of the main novel.
Because it is shorter and more self-contained, it works best once you already know the world of Hopeless. It gives readers another angle on Hoover’s style: fast-moving, romantic, and emotionally direct.
4. All Your Perfects
All Your Perfects is not a direct sequel to Hopeless, but many readers associate it with the same emotional territory. It explores marriage, infertility, and the strain that grief can place on a relationship.
For readers asking what belongs in the “Hopeless series,” this title is best understood as a thematic companion rather than a strict part of the narrative sequence. It shares Hoover’s interest in pain, resilience, and intimate relationships.
Which books are essential, and which are optional?
If you want the shortest answer, the essential books are Hopeless and Losing Hope. The novella Finding Cinderella is optional but rewarding, while All Your Perfects is best treated as a related recommendation rather than a required installment.
- Must-read: Hopeless
- Strongly recommended companion: Losing Hope
- Optional novella: Finding Cinderella
- Thematic companion, not a direct sequel: All Your Perfects
What is the Hopeless series about?
At its core, the series explores how people live with buried trauma, fragmented memory, and the need to be understood. The romance is central, but it is never just about attraction; it is tied to recognition, trust, and emotional recovery.
Colleen Hoover’s writing in these books often uses suspenseful reveals, alternating emotional registers, and a style that moves quickly while still building strong psychological tension. That combination is a major reason the series appeals to both romance readers and readers who enjoy contemporary drama.
Main themes in the Hopeless books
Memory and truth
One of the most important ideas in Hopeless is that the truth can be hidden even from the person living inside it. The story uses memory gaps and delayed revelation to show how identity can be shaped by what has been forgotten or suppressed.
Trauma and healing
The books are deeply concerned with the effects of trauma, especially how it can influence relationships, self-image, and the ability to trust. Healing is not presented as simple or immediate; it is messy, emotional, and ongoing.
Love and recognition
The romance in the series works because the characters do not simply fall in love; they begin to see one another clearly. That sense of being recognized, rather than merely desired, gives the books much of their emotional force.
Family and hidden history
Family relationships matter throughout the series, especially the way secrets can shape a household for years. The books suggest that family history is never truly separate from personal identity.
Who are the key characters?
The central characters of the series are Sky and Dean Holder. Their relationship drives the main novel and gives the companion book its emotional foundation.
- Sky: the protagonist of Hopeless, whose past is gradually uncovered.
- Dean Holder: the male lead, whose perspective becomes central in Losing Hope.
- Secondary characters: important for family context, school life, and the unfolding of the mystery.
Because the books rely on emotional discovery, the supporting cast often matters less as a long list of names and more as a network of pressures, comforts, and revelations around the central pair.
Why readers often ask about the order
The reading order matters because the books do not all function the same way. Hopeless is the best place to start, while Losing Hope depends on knowing the original story. Reading them out of order can weaken the suspense and reduce the impact of the revelations.
Finding Cinderella can technically be read on its own, but it lands better after the main novel. All Your Perfects can be read independently, since it is not a direct continuation of Sky and Holder’s story.
How does the series compare to other Colleen Hoover books?
Readers who like the Hopeless books often enjoy Hoover’s other emotionally intense novels because they combine romance with difficult subject matter. The difference is that Hopeless leans more strongly into mystery and revelation than some of her other works.
If you prefer stories with a strong emotional payoff, high-stakes secrets, and a central romance shaped by trauma, this series is a natural fit. If you want a lighter contemporary romance, it may feel heavier than expected.
Should you read the Hopeless series?
You should consider it if you like contemporary romance with suspense, emotional depth, and a story that gradually uncovers hidden truths. The books are especially appealing to readers who want a fast-paced narrative that still deals seriously with pain and recovery.
If you are sensitive to trauma-related content, it may help to approach the series with care. The emotional material is central to the experience, not incidental.
Quick reading guide for new readers
- Start with Hopeless.
- Read Losing Hope next for Holder’s perspective.
- Move to Finding Cinderella if you want the companion novella.
- Read All Your Perfects separately as a thematic companion.
Final takeaway
The answer to what books are in the Hopeless series is simple at the core: Hopeless and Losing Hope are the essential pair, with Finding Cinderella as a companion novella and All Your Perfects as a related but not direct follow-up. If you want the fullest experience, begin with Hopeless and read forward from there.
For more reading guidance, you may also want to explore what order to read the Hopeless series and the related discussion of why Kenna left Scotty to die.