so well articulated - I appreciate your nuance of opinion!
"I cannot bear cultural snootiness. I have always believed that it is much harder to make art with mass appeal, than it is to make something niche. It is hard to create an intimate world, in which many, many people feel like they belong."
I read It Ends With Us because a male colleague who always reads non fiction read it and exclaimed to me that he “couldn’t believe that this was how women think and it was insightful”, so I was intrigued. And after reading I was horrified and had to speak to him about how awful Ryle’s behaviour.
I absolutely loved this piece Pandora, would love more of these deep dives in the free Tuesday letters. But I appreciate how much time and research they must take! But this was a 10/10!
I am not the biggest fan of LitFic so largely read outside of it – any genre, any age group. But Colleen Hoover's books are...I know they're mass appeal but I'm sad we don't want something better. I don't blame Hoover, but why are we so into trauma porn? (State of the world's reflection??) Considering her former profession, you'd think these books would have more nuance or a better arc. I do find BookTok's reccs to be quite middling in general (rarely good writing or bad writing with good storytelling). Hype is most important. There is no other explanation:
"He touches his hair now, pushing it back, staring down at me. There’s a war in his eyes, and I am by no means Switzerland, but he comes to me anyway." -C.H.
There are better page turners out there, even written for the masses and not lit snobs.
I know someone said it really reflected life around them; as someone from middle America they don't for me. It's a niche population she's portraying with, I think, universal themes – but isn't that true everywhere? That said, I loved this deep dive and I won't complain about people reading more even if it's not my cup of tea.
I agree with this verdict- they are so addictive! I love to hate on Hoover, but I’ve read 4 of her books and couldn’t put them down. Read all in a day haha. I think I get a weird hangover though. Especially when I’m reading a lot of lit fic and I’m like hmm that wasn’t nuanced or particularly smart? And then I write them off. But maybe I shouldn’t . Because they are literally so fun to read 😂
I think I’ve read 7- I will admit I once read two in one day while nap trapped under a sick 3 year old- Verity and All Your Perfects. Regretting You is still my favorite, read it on my anniversary weekend in 2021.
That title was a mess but I appreciated how it dealt with infertility- there’s so much pregnancy in her books, it was nice to see a different storyline! But I really disliked It Starts with Us and I haven’t read another one since- I bought and read it the week it came out. The kid in Reminders of Him reminded me of my oldest child and that made me like that one more.
I read the Slow Horses series like that - back to back, two in a day, over 4 days. Also got the weird hangover, but they were amazing for taking me 100% out of myself while I had a boring level of laryngitis
Yes yes yes! I have had so much trouble getting over the “if it’s not critically acclaimed or cerebral or social status-giving, it’s not for me,” mindset. But I love cheesy, addictive content that makes me feel things. Colleen Hoover is just that! There is space on my shelf for her, just like there’s space on my shelf for lit fic. Thanks for sharing!!
This was such a refreshing read. I went to see It Ends with Us at the cinema because I wanted to see first-hand what the hype was about Colleen Hoover but also because the whole PR drama around it. The movie was terrible and when it ended I burst into laughter, it was quite spontaneous and it caught me off guard. I had to keep it down because the other girls at the cinema that day (rather young, maybe early 20s) were sobbing quite uncontrollably. The points you make about how Hoover's books are structured and the preference for young characters to whom life happens too much and too soon are probably responsible for the intense reaction these girls had to the film while I was a bit more blasé about it. But as you rightly say, regardless of our personal taste or preferences, Colleen Hoover's novels are books like any other and people who read them are readers. I may not be a Hoover fan myself, but there was a time where I went through my Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic phase and I regret nothing.
I still pick up a Shopaholic book every now & then when I need a complete escape. “Don’t panic. DON’T. PANIC.” They’re so light and low-stakes. Although my absolute favourite by Kinsella was Twenties Girl. That one made me cry.
I haven’t read that one of hers, but I have fond memories of Shopaholic. I believe the last one I read was the one after she had a baby, I felt my job there was done 😅
Love this nuanced review of Hoover's books. I read a few, before the controversy, and was neither here nor there about them. I understand where people are coming from when they criticize the books, but I wish more people would review books with such nuance.
I think James Patterson might be the only male author that gets slammed by other authors (namely Stephen King) & publications.
I’ve never read any Colleen Hoover but as a hater of romance I know they aren’t for me. Honestly nothing worse than reading a sex scene.
Only 7 of her books are classified as YA. Most are New Adult which makes sense as they are the ages of most the characters. My main issue with It Ends With Us is that I’ve seen TikToks recommending it as a great romance book and not ever touching the DV plot which I think is very disingenuous and could be damaging to young readers who are picking it up.
See also Anne Tyler for creating wonderfully observed tableaus of the intergenerational dynamics in ordinary family life (love) and Nicci French for dreamy character worlds (in often gruesome circumstances). CHICKLIT FOREVS!
Thank you - what a fun, insightful piece. And brave! You and I are so on the same page - I write about Jane Austen, and did a complete post mashing up 'It Ends With Us' with Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. Toxic heroes and our complicated feelings about them! Straight out of the 18th century, as you say. Looking forward to reading more with you and this community. 💮
Nice piece! I like the idea of having a fixed and focussed binge for the month, to digest and make sense of. Does this tend to be your process? One thing at a time or do you multi-binge?
I loved reading this, even though I have no interest in Colleen Hoover! Think I enjoy hearing you discuss something you have mixed feelings about…
that’s my goal!! for people with no interest in a subject to enjoy my translation of it. So thank you - that thrills me 😊
You were made for Substack and these geeky longreads. <3
God grant me the serenity to stop doing lashings of voluntary homework
so well articulated - I appreciate your nuance of opinion!
"I cannot bear cultural snootiness. I have always believed that it is much harder to make art with mass appeal, than it is to make something niche. It is hard to create an intimate world, in which many, many people feel like they belong."
I loved this balanced and well reasoned article. Brilliant
I read It Ends With Us because a male colleague who always reads non fiction read it and exclaimed to me that he “couldn’t believe that this was how women think and it was insightful”, so I was intrigued. And after reading I was horrified and had to speak to him about how awful Ryle’s behaviour.
I absolutely loved this piece Pandora, would love more of these deep dives in the free Tuesday letters. But I appreciate how much time and research they must take! But this was a 10/10!
I would love to do more of them!! In another world I would work on this full time and go ham on the deep-dives weekly
The dreammm!
I am not the biggest fan of LitFic so largely read outside of it – any genre, any age group. But Colleen Hoover's books are...I know they're mass appeal but I'm sad we don't want something better. I don't blame Hoover, but why are we so into trauma porn? (State of the world's reflection??) Considering her former profession, you'd think these books would have more nuance or a better arc. I do find BookTok's reccs to be quite middling in general (rarely good writing or bad writing with good storytelling). Hype is most important. There is no other explanation:
"He touches his hair now, pushing it back, staring down at me. There’s a war in his eyes, and I am by no means Switzerland, but he comes to me anyway." -C.H.
There are better page turners out there, even written for the masses and not lit snobs.
I know someone said it really reflected life around them; as someone from middle America they don't for me. It's a niche population she's portraying with, I think, universal themes – but isn't that true everywhere? That said, I loved this deep dive and I won't complain about people reading more even if it's not my cup of tea.
I agree with this verdict- they are so addictive! I love to hate on Hoover, but I’ve read 4 of her books and couldn’t put them down. Read all in a day haha. I think I get a weird hangover though. Especially when I’m reading a lot of lit fic and I’m like hmm that wasn’t nuanced or particularly smart? And then I write them off. But maybe I shouldn’t . Because they are literally so fun to read 😂
I had a hangover too bc they are sugary and quick hit but I think I’d get a hangover from ANY author I read 7 times in a row
I think I’ve read 7- I will admit I once read two in one day while nap trapped under a sick 3 year old- Verity and All Your Perfects. Regretting You is still my favorite, read it on my anniversary weekend in 2021.
I do have a semantic problem that I do not know if I can overcome w that title, ‘all your perfects’ - possibly her most word salady yet
That title was a mess but I appreciated how it dealt with infertility- there’s so much pregnancy in her books, it was nice to see a different storyline! But I really disliked It Starts with Us and I haven’t read another one since- I bought and read it the week it came out. The kid in Reminders of Him reminded me of my oldest child and that made me like that one more.
Oh I didn’t know that, yes agree, that’s a valuable topic especially for her with all the young pregnancies in her books
2 in one day - 2 books in one day, period - is solid work
I truly believe my law career made me a much faster reader- I enjoy fiction so much more now compared to reviewing medical records!
I read the Slow Horses series like that - back to back, two in a day, over 4 days. Also got the weird hangover, but they were amazing for taking me 100% out of myself while I had a boring level of laryngitis
Yes yes yes! I have had so much trouble getting over the “if it’s not critically acclaimed or cerebral or social status-giving, it’s not for me,” mindset. But I love cheesy, addictive content that makes me feel things. Colleen Hoover is just that! There is space on my shelf for her, just like there’s space on my shelf for lit fic. Thanks for sharing!!
This was such a refreshing read. I went to see It Ends with Us at the cinema because I wanted to see first-hand what the hype was about Colleen Hoover but also because the whole PR drama around it. The movie was terrible and when it ended I burst into laughter, it was quite spontaneous and it caught me off guard. I had to keep it down because the other girls at the cinema that day (rather young, maybe early 20s) were sobbing quite uncontrollably. The points you make about how Hoover's books are structured and the preference for young characters to whom life happens too much and too soon are probably responsible for the intense reaction these girls had to the film while I was a bit more blasé about it. But as you rightly say, regardless of our personal taste or preferences, Colleen Hoover's novels are books like any other and people who read them are readers. I may not be a Hoover fan myself, but there was a time where I went through my Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic phase and I regret nothing.
I still pick up a Shopaholic book every now & then when I need a complete escape. “Don’t panic. DON’T. PANIC.” They’re so light and low-stakes. Although my absolute favourite by Kinsella was Twenties Girl. That one made me cry.
I haven’t read that one of hers, but I have fond memories of Shopaholic. I believe the last one I read was the one after she had a baby, I felt my job there was done 😅
Love this nuanced review of Hoover's books. I read a few, before the controversy, and was neither here nor there about them. I understand where people are coming from when they criticize the books, but I wish more people would review books with such nuance.
I think James Patterson might be the only male author that gets slammed by other authors (namely Stephen King) & publications.
I’ve never read any Colleen Hoover but as a hater of romance I know they aren’t for me. Honestly nothing worse than reading a sex scene.
Only 7 of her books are classified as YA. Most are New Adult which makes sense as they are the ages of most the characters. My main issue with It Ends With Us is that I’ve seen TikToks recommending it as a great romance book and not ever touching the DV plot which I think is very disingenuous and could be damaging to young readers who are picking it up.
This is all very useful intel - thank you!
See also Anne Tyler for creating wonderfully observed tableaus of the intergenerational dynamics in ordinary family life (love) and Nicci French for dreamy character worlds (in often gruesome circumstances). CHICKLIT FOREVS!
This is BRILLIANT.
Thank you - what a fun, insightful piece. And brave! You and I are so on the same page - I write about Jane Austen, and did a complete post mashing up 'It Ends With Us' with Jane Eyre and Sense and Sensibility. Toxic heroes and our complicated feelings about them! Straight out of the 18th century, as you say. Looking forward to reading more with you and this community. 💮
Nice piece! I like the idea of having a fixed and focussed binge for the month, to digest and make sense of. Does this tend to be your process? One thing at a time or do you multi-binge?