The Recommended Reading Order for the Hopeless Series
When diving into Colleen Hoover’s emotionally heavy and romantic Hopeless universe, you have two primary options: the publication order (which is also the author’s recommended reading path) or a chronological route. However, because of a major late-series crossover, the reading path isn't as straightforward as just counting books one through four.
To get the absolute best experience and avoid major spoilers, we highly recommend following the hybrid order endorsed by Colleen Hoover. This route integrates the standalone novel All Your Perfects before you reach the final novella, as the ending of the series is a direct crossover that merges both storylines.
- Hopeless (December 2012) – The main novel, told from Sky's perspective.
- Losing Hope (July 2013) – A companion novel, retelling the events of the first book from Holder's perspective with essential new background.
- Finding Cinderella (October 2013) – A spin-off novella centering on secondary characters Daniel and Six.
- All Your Perfects (July 2018) – A standalone novel about Quinn and Graham that introduces a crucial thematic and narrative link.
- Finding Perfect (October 2019) – The crossover sequel novella that brings together characters from all previous entries to wrap up their stories.
Understanding the Hopeless Universe Books
Here is a detailed breakdown of each title in the saga, highlighting what they cover and why they are positioned where they are in the sequence.
1. Hopeless (2012)
The series kicks off with Hopeless, introducing us to seventeen-year-old Sky Davis. Homeschooled by her strict adoptive mother, Sky has lived a quiet, sheltered life in Texas. Everything changes when she meets Dean Holder, a passionate but volatile boy with a reputation. Their connection is instant and intense, but as they grow closer, Holder triggers buried childhood memories that Sky has long forgotten. This book handles heavy themes of childhood trauma, abuse, and survival, making it an emotionally raw read that established Colleen Hoover as a powerhouse of contemporary New Adult romance.
2. Losing Hope (2013)
Rather than a traditional sequel, Losing Hope is a companion novel that retells the events of Hopeless entirely from Dean Holder’s perspective. While some readers hesitate to read a retelling, this book is widely considered essential. It dives deep into Holder's internal guilt and grief surrounding the suicide of his twin sister, Less, and explains his actions and motivations during his initial encounters with Sky. It adds layers of context to their romance and fills in crucial gaps that Sky couldn't have known in the first book.
3. Finding Cinderella (2013)
Originally written as a free novella for fans, Finding Cinderella shifts the focus to Sky’s quirky best friend, Daniel, and another girl, Six. The two meet by chance in the dark at their school and share an instant, anonymous romantic connection, agreeing never to exchange names. When they eventually cross paths in the light, their romance becomes complicated. Although it starts as a lighter, fairy-tale-inspired romance, it deals with a serious secret pregnancy and a closed adoption that becomes the cornerstone of the entire series' finale.
4. All Your Perfects (2018)
At first glance, All Your Perfects seems completely unrelated to the Hopeless series. It is a standalone contemporary romance centering on Quinn and Graham, a married couple whose relationship is fracturing under the weight of infertility, depression, and years of unspoken grief. However, toward the end of the book, Quinn’s sister mentions tutoring a student from Texas named Seven Marie Jacobs—better known to readers as Six. Colleen Hoover structured this timeline intentionally so that Quinn and Graham adopt the baby that Six and Daniel placed for adoption years prior.
5. Finding Perfect (2019)
This novella serves as the grand finale of the entire Hopeless saga, acting as a direct crossover sequel to both the Hopeless books and All Your Perfects. Set during a Friendsgiving dinner, the story is told from Daniel's point of view. It gathers Daniel, Six, Holder, Sky, Breckin, Quinn, and Graham as they attempt to resolve the lingering secrets and pain surrounding the closed adoption. Reading this without having read both Finding Cinderella and All Your Perfects will ruin the emotional impact and spoil the endings of both books.
Chronological vs. Publication Order
Because Losing Hope covers the exact same timeframe as Hopeless, some readers wonder if they should read them in a different sequence. However, attempting to read them chronologically by chapter or reading Losing Hope first is not recommended. The mystery surrounding Sky's past is the driving force of the first book, and reading Holder's perspective first spoils all of the major twists and emotional revelations of Hopeless.
We strongly advise reading the books in their publication order. The only adjustment is deciding whether to read All Your Perfects. While it is technically a standalone, skipping it means you will miss the emotional weight of Quinn and Graham's journey, rendering the events of Finding Perfect far less impactful.
What to Know Before You Start
- Heavy Themes: The Hopeless series is known for its intense emotional triggers. It deals heavily with childhood sexual abuse, suicide, grief, and infertility. It is recommended for mature young adults and adult readers.
- Standalone Nature: While Finding Cinderella and All Your Perfects can be read as standalones, they are best enjoyed within the context of the larger series due to the crossover resolution in Finding Perfect.
- Tone Shift: The series shifts from young adult/new adult romance in the first three books to mature adult relationship dynamics and marital struggles in All Your Perfects.