Colleen Hoover is ready to take readers on another winding ride.
Indeed, the author revealed that her new book Woman Down, set to be released Jan. 13, will be quite different from many of her previous works.
“It is a thriller,” Hoover said during a Sept. 10 appearance on Today, “probably one of the darkest books I’ve written so far.”
And that’s saying something considering her 2018 thriller Verity—soon to be a movie starring Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson—continues to make waves on BookTok years later due to its shocking twists and turns.
As for what fans can expect from Woman Down? Well, as the novelist shared, it follows frustrated author Petra Rose, who goes to a secluded lakeside cabin for inspiration, where detective Nathaniel Saint shows up with disturbing news, according to the synopsis. When he begins taking his role in her life too seriously, Petra is forced to confront her past and reclaim her own reputation.
With her last novel Too Late releasing in 2023—seven years after she first published it on WattPad—Hoover is well aware fans have been waiting for more. That’s why the It Ends With Us novelist shared a sweet message to her readers.
“I just want to say a quick thank you for being so patient and supportive,” the 45-year-old expressed. “This one took me a while to finally get another book out for you, but I’m excited for you guys to read it.”
Woman Down: A Novel by Colleen Hoover
The New York Times best selling author describes her upcoming novel as a dark thriller. Pre-order it now.
Indeed, Woman Down comes during a very busy time for Hoover as many of her biggest hits are soon seeing their big-screen adaptations come to life.
Just last month, fans were given a first look into the upcoming Regretting You film—starring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Allison Williams and Dave Franco—which bows in theatres in October.
The two-and-a-half-minute preview, released Aug. 5, shows a snippet of Clara (Grace) and her mother Morgan (Williams) as they grapple with the fallout from the deaths of Morgan’s sister and husband—Clara’s aunt and dad, played by Willa Fitzgerald and Scott Eastwood—in a tragic car accident.
Before that, fans got some major updates surrounding the Reminders of Him adaptation, set to be released next February, when Lauren Graham was added to the cast alongside Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers and Rudy Pankow.
“I am thrilled to be working with Universal to bring Kenna Rowan’s world to life,” Hoover told Deadline last October. “I hear from many readers who tell me they found something of themselves in her story of living with and through tragedy and doing the often messy and imperfect work of healing and turning the page to a fresh chapter in life.”
And when it comes to the long-awaited adaption of Verity, Josh recently explained why he thinks his character Jeremy Crawford—husband to Anne’s Verity Crawford—shouldn’t be labeled as the bad guy.
“It’s kind of a perspective thing,” he told E! News in May. “You could go either way with it. I think it depends on who you listen to.”
As for why the Trap star signed on to portray such a polarizing character? Well, Anne’s involvement in the project may have influenced his decision.
“We had a really fantastic time,” Josh gushed of filming. “Annie and I talked about working together before and when this came along—she’s producing it—and they sent it to me, I was like, ‘Yeah of course, I really want to work with you.’”
For more books you should read this fall, keep reading…
(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola
Release: Sept. 2
Years after the events in Honey & Spice, Kiki Banjo is at a crossroads in her career, is in the middle of a “Ross and Rachel”—a.k.a. on a break—with her tech bro boyfriend and is about to come face to face with ex Malakai Korede for the first time since their messy breakup years prior. And unfortunately for Kiki, unlike their relationship, their chemistry is very much alive and well. Babalola may be a self-proclaimed “Rom-Com Connoisseur” but she’s more than earned the title—and the very engaging and swoon-worthy Sweet Heat is just the latest proof.
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
Release: Sept. 16
A decade after her mesmerizing debut, The Turner House, Flournoy proves she certainly not hitting a sophomore slump in this dynamic, moving examination of friendship and life in an increasingly fraught 21st century. Following a group of Black women over the course of 20 years—spanning the 2000s through 2020s—the book delves follows the enduring bonds that may at times be tested but will hopefully never break.
The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards
Release: Sept. 16
Someone just swiped right on a date with their demise. A group of friends who reunite to celebrate the life of their former professor learn there’s a more sinister reason for their meeting: they must revisit the pivotal year they joined forces to create the framework for a dating website—one that had an alternative use and had deadly consequences—or they will die.
The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
Release: Sept. 16
Hilderbrand is swapping out the beach for back-to-school drama. The beloved beach read novelist teams up with her college-aged daughter on this new chapter in the classroom, following a scandalous year at an elite boarding school in Massachusetts.
Best Woman by Rose Dommu
Release: Sept. 23
Whether you know her from her Substack newsletter Mall Goth or X (formerly Twitter), Dommu knows how to capture an audience. And she brings that in full force with her delightful—and stressful at times—debut novel following Julia, a trans woman returning home to Florida to serve as the titular Best Woman at her brother’s wedding. With her high school crush serving as the Maid of Honor, Julia is ready for them to finally have their moment, prompting her to allow a white lie to spiral into something a whole lot bigger. It’s engrossing, at times stressful—in the best possible way—and is easily one of those books that you accidentally read in one sitting because you just couldn’t put it down.
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan
Release: Sept. 23
In just under a century from now, a nuclear incident leaves the world decimated, mostly flooded and yearning for the past. Specifically, for Thomas Metcalfe, the early 21st century. However, has he dives into this past he’s so deeply romanticized and the scholars he idolized in search for the meaning behind a mysterious poem, his illusions are shattered and understanding of life during this time is irrevocably changed.
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
Release: Sept. 23
Prepare for a wild ride in this sequel to Awad’s 2019 novel Bunny—which also works as a standalone. In it, protagonist Sam has released a best-selling book inspired by her time with the Bunnies, think Heathers-level vapid but with some extra shocking secrets, only for the group to kidnap her so they can set the record straight and share the real story of the Bunnies.
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman
Release: Sept. 30
After taking a break from the Thursday Murder Club’s shenanigans last year, Osman is back—without missing a beat. The gang—and their ever-expanding group of associates on both sides of the law—reunite at a wedding, only to be ensnared by a missing person case. As they mourn the loss of a loved one, this thrilling adventure may be exactly what they need to move into their next chapter together.
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Release: Sept. 30
King is back with another enthralling, character-driven story about love and friendship following the narrator, dubbed “Jordan,” and the two men she forms a deep connection with during their late college years. Spanning during that formative time and picking up decades later, the book is a deep reflection about those meaningful moments and how, for better or worse, they shape us.
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
Release: Oct. 14
The celebrity book club maven becomes the author—joined by one of the biggest names in the thriller genre. It follows Maggie McCabe, a disgraced Army combat surgeon who becomes the provider for a mysterious patient, who subsequently disappears, leaving Maggie on the hook—and on the run.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
Release: Oct. 28
In war-torn Dominion, the legend of Una Everlasting, the warrior who sacrificed herself for the good of the country centuries prior, endures—certainly more so than the true story of the woman herself. That is, until historian Owen Mallery gets sucked into the past, becoming entangled with Una. The pair are locked in a devastating time loop that in order to break, they must rewrite history.
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Release: Nov. 4
Eniiyi is born on the day her mother’s cousin Monife is buried, leaving the family convinced she is Monife reincarnated—complete with the curse that will lead to her doom. However, desperate to avoid the same lonely fate, Eniiyi seems to break the curse that has plagued her family for generations, bringing deeply hidden secrets to the surface.
Fallen City by Adrienne Young
Release: Nov. 4
Romantasy’s latest It Couple may have just emerged. Luca and Maris fall in love just as the simmering tensions in their city Isara boil over and a rebellion breaks out, ultimately leaving them on opposing sides of the war. Still, they battle to find their way back to one another no matter the cost—even if that cost is everything.
The Strength of the Few by James Islington
Release Date: Nov. 11
Two years after Islington’s The Will of the Many, he’s back with the follow-up in his Hierarchy series, which picks up right where the cliffhanger left off. So, where does The Strength of the Few find Vis? Well, it takes readers far beyond the Ancient Rome-inspired empire of Caten and on an interdimensional journey to prevent an incoming Cataclysm.
Brimstone by Callie Hart
Release Date: Nov. 18
Hart’s first Fae & Alchemy novel quickly took BookTok by storm last year, and now the story of Saeirs Fane and Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate continues, with Saeris as Queen of Sanasroth. But the threats to their realm are far from over. In fact, they loom larger than ever and it’s up to the lovers to find a way to save their people and their cities.
