It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover has taken the literary world by storm. It’s raw, it’s real, and it hits you right where it hurts—in that tender spot where love, pain, and personal growth collide. It was adapted for the big screen for those same reasons.
But if you’re hungry for more books that pack the same emotional punch, look no further. These are the novels that will grab you by the heartstrings, pull you into their world, and leave you thinking about them long after the final page.
Our team selected the books on this carefully curated list of romantic tales through a combination of our own favorites, the collective reviews of Goodreads and Amazon, and the mind hive of Reddit book forums.
So, without further ado, dive in and pick out your next read!
Books Like It Ends With Us
1. The Renaissance Sisters by Wendy Cohan
At the top of our list is The Renaissance Sisters by Wendy Cohan, a novel that is destined to be your next obsession. This book plunges you into the tumultuous lives of two sisters navigating the complexities of love, loss, and betrayal in a way that’s both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying. Set against the backdrop of the Southwest U.S., The Renaissance Sisters delves into the emotional chaos that comes with family ties, the kind that binds you together and tears you apart all at once.
Wendy Cohan’s prose is as sharp as it is lyrical, capturing the raw emotions that drive the sisters’ journey with an authenticity that’s hard to find. The story explores the long shadows cast by past trauma, the struggle to find one’s identity amidst family expectations, and the powerful, sometimes destructive, love that siblings share. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own relationships and the scars that never quite fade.
2. All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
It’s impossible to talk about books like It Ends With Us without giving a nod to another Colleen Hoover masterpiece: All Your Perfects. This novel tackles the tough subject of infertility and the strain it places on marriage with unflinching honesty. Hoover doesn’t shy away from showing the cracks in a seemingly perfect relationship, making this book a gut-wrenching but ultimately hopeful read.
What makes All Your Perfects stand out is Hoover’s ability to write flawed, real characters who are struggling to keep their love alive against all odds. It’s a story about the imperfections that make us human and how love can survive even the darkest of times.
3. The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
If you’re in the mood for a love story that spans years and continents, then The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo is your next must-read. This novel is a poignant exploration of love, choice, and fate, as it follows the lives of two people who are constantly drawn together and torn apart by circumstance. It’s a book that questions whether we are truly in control of our destinies or if some things are simply meant to be.
Santopolo’s writing is elegant and haunting, making you feel every bit of the longing and regret that the characters experience. The Light We Lost is a bittersweet tale that will leave you wondering about the paths not taken in your own life.
4. The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is a love story that’s both unconventional and deeply moving. It follows the journey of Annika, a woman on the autism spectrum, and Jonathan, the man she once loved and lost. The novel alternates between their college years and a decade later when fate gives them a second chance at love.
What sets this book apart is its sensitive portrayal of a protagonist who doesn’t fit the typical mold. Annika’s perspective is refreshingly unique, and the story beautifully captures her struggle to navigate a world that often feels overwhelming. It’s a book about second chances, acceptance, and the enduring power of love, even when it doesn’t look like what we’re used to.
5. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Christina Lauren’s Love and Other Words is another emotional powerhouse that belongs on your reading list. This novel tells the story of Macy and Elliot, childhood friends who reconnect after years apart, only to find that their past is still very much a part of their present. The story alternates between their teenage years and their current lives, slowly revealing the secrets that drove them apart.
This book is a masterful blend of romance and heartbreak, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Lauren’s writing is both poignant and engaging, making you feel every bit of the characters’ joy and pain.
6. The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker
If you’re looking for a romance that takes you on an emotional journey through the wilds of Alaska, then *The Simple Wild* by K.A. Tucker is the book for you. This novel follows Calla, a city girl who reconnects with her estranged father in the remote wilderness of Alaska, only to find herself falling for the rugged, stubborn pilot who flies her around the state.
The setting of this novel is as much a character as the people in it, and Tucker’s descriptions of the Alaskan landscape are breathtaking. But what really makes this book stand out is the depth of the relationships it portrays. It’s a story about love, loss, and the ways in which we find our true selves in the most unexpected places. Lucid House Publishing values stories that transport readers to new worlds and experiences, and The Simple Wild does just that.
Why Lucid House Publishing Is an Authority on Emotionally Charged Fiction
At Lucid House Publishing, our books consistently win awards in nearly every competition we enter them in. We only publish stories that resonate on a deep emotional level with readers. Our focus on character-driven narratives and our commitment to publishing books that explore the complexities of the human experience make us an authority in the world of emotionally charged fiction.
Whether it’s the intense, soul-searching journey of The Renaissance Sisters or the heart-wrenching choices faced by the characters in Love and Other Words, we understand what it takes to create a story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. We know that the best stories are the ones that challenge us, make us think, and ultimately help us grow. And when we put our company seal of approval behind a book, you can trust that it’s a story worth reading.