Colleen Hoover (real name: Margaret Colleen Fennell) is an American bestselling author whose life story reads like a real‑life modern fairytale—rising from a challenging childhood to become a powerhouse in contemporary and YA romance. Here’s her inspiring six-part journey:
1. Origins & Early Hardships
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Real Name: Margaret Colleen Fennell
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Date of Birth: December 11, 1979
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Birth Place: Sulphur Springs, Texas, U.S.
Raised in Saltillo, Texas, Colleen grew up in a broken home—her father was abusive, leading to her parents’ divorce when she was a toddler -
Her mother later ran a small dairy farm, enduring financial hardship that shaped young Colleen’s resilience
2. Education & Early Career
She graduated from Saltillo High in 1998, then earned a B.A. in social work from Texas A&M–Commerce in 2004.
Before writing, she worked in roles supporting women and children, including with the WIC federal program.
3. Turning Point: Writing as Therapy
At age 31, living in a single‑wide trailer with her truck‑driver husband, Heath, and their three young sons, she turned to writing to pass time during her sons’ after-school plays.
She began writing Slammed in November 2011, self-publishing it to get it into her mother’s hands. Amazingly, it hit the NYT Bestseller list in August 2012, fueled by enthusiastic blog reviews.
4. Breakthrough & Climbing to Fame
Following Slammed, she self-published Point of Retreat and This Girl. Hopeless later became the first self-published novel to reach No. 1 on the NYT list.
Atria Books picked up her early works and published acclaimed titles like It Ends with Us (2016), widely praised for its sensitive portrayal of domestic abuse, drawn from her own experience.
5. The TikTok Phenomenon & Mainstream Stardom
During the pandemic, the #BookTok trend skyrocketed her popularity. By October 2022, nine of her books simultaneously ranked on the NYT Best Seller list, and she sold over 20 million copies.
Her sequel, It Starts With Us (Oct 2022), became Simon & Schuster UK’s most‑preordered novel ever.
The film adaptation of It Ends With Us premiered in August 2024, grossing over $250 million.
6. Today: Continued Growth & Giving Back
Hoover—nicknamed “CoHo” with her fans known as “CoHorts”—now resides with her husband, Heat, and three sons in East Texas
An impostor syndrome sufferer, she channels energy into creating a strong writer–reader community, even hosting her own Book Bonanza fan convention for thousands.
Named among Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023, she continues writing, producing adaptations, and using parts of her proceeds to support charity work.
🔍 Personal Snapshot
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Residence: East Texas, USA
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Profession: Author (romance, YA, New Adult)
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Nationality: American
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Religion: Not publicly documented
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Partner: Married to William Heath Hoover since 2000
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Father: Eddie Fennell
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Mother: Vannoy Gentles Fite (Fennell)
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Horoscope: Sagittarius
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Age: 45
Body & Appearance Stats (from publicly available sources):
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Height: 5′9″ (175 cm)
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Weight: ~70 kg
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Body Measurements: 36-28-34 (in)
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Bra Size: ~36C
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Hip Size: 34″
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Body Type: Athletic
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Eye Color: Blue
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Hair Color: Blonde
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What inspired her breakthrough novel, It Ends with Us?
It draws from her childhood—her experiences with domestic violence shaped the narrative about Lily breaking cycles of abuse
Q2: How did she market her early books?
She self-published and gave e‑copies to bloggers and BookTok influencers, building grassroots word-of-mouth that translated into spiking sales
Q3: What is her educational background?
She holds a social work degree from Texas A&M Commerce (2004) and briefly worked in counseling before writing full time
Q4: How many books has she written and sold?
Over 25 novels and novellas, selling more than 20 million copies as of October 2022
Q5: Is It Ends with Us a movie?
Yes—a major film adaptation released August 2024 starring Blake Lively, grossing over $250 million
Q6: What’s “Book Bonanza”?
It’s a fan convention she founded in 2018, now drawing thousands and raising funds for charity