For a long time, books have been of particular value to society. For some, they become a way to distance themselves from problems; for some, it is an aid to relaxation and a source of answers to disturbing questions. With every decade, the public’s preference for what they prefer to read changes. Hence, in modern society, the phenomenon of the book world has become the writer Colleen Hoover, who has won the hearts of readers around the world with her works. This report will summarise the article by Alexandra Alter under the title “How Colleen Hoover rose to rule the best-seller list,” which provides a unique view on the phenomenon of the success of a modern writer.
Before considering Colleen Hoover’s contribution to the modern literary world, it is essential to gain an understanding of who is behind this famous name. Therefore, the official website of the writer says that at the moment, she has published twenty-two works that have earned her the title of #1 New York Times bestselling author. The source also notes that her “novels fall into the New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance categories, as well as psychological thriller” (“About me,” 2022, para. 1). This becomes the justification for a large number of young audiences who are interested in Hoover’s work. The writer began to gain popularity after the publication of her first novels titled “Slammed” and “Point of Retreat.” After that, she got the opportunity to quit her job and continue working in the literary field.
The constantly growing popularity of Collen Hoover inevitably attracts a lot of attention from various media sources. Thus, the article by Alexandra Alter titled “How Colleen Hoover rose to rule the best-seller list” examines the phenomenon of this writer who took the publishing world by storm. The author emphasizes that Hoover sold more than 8.6 million print books in 2022 alone, almost every one of which was met with outstanding reviews by critics and positive reviews from readers. Moreover, at the moment, in addition to writing books, the writer conducts talk-show and podcast tours, participates in speaking gigs, and receives literary awards.
Of particular importance in the growing success of Hoover books are social networks. Among such platforms are TikTok and Instagram, which are filled with various reviews and reviews, which only increase the prevalence of the writer’s works. When searching for hashtags like #booktok, you can find a vast number of videos, and each of them will mention at least one Hoover book. The article states that “to date, the hashtag #colleenhoover has amassed more than 2.4 billion views” (Alter, 2022, para. 18). Due to the fact that social networks are top-rated among the younger generation, which is the primary audience of the author, her books are flying off the shelves of all bookstores with lightning speed. Alter (2022) notes a large number of such reviews as, for example, this “I want Colleen Hoover to punch me in the face. That would hurt less than these books” (para. 9). This shows the extent to which the writer’s books affect the emotions and experiences of the public, which only strengthens her loyalty and commitment.
Another vital characteristic of Colleen Hoover’s creativity underlined in the article is her versatility. Hence, she cannot be called the author of one genre, which gives her uniqueness and relevance among readers. She writes books on completely opposite genres, including romances, psychological thrillers, and ghost stories. In addition, her portfolio includes works on topics such as domestic violence, drug abuse, homelessness, and poverty. The writer herself refuses to put herself in a specific framework, saying that her personal brand is her name, and she does not want to consider herself a writer of one genre (Alter, 2022). Thus, it gives a unique feature to this Hoover’s creativity and gives even more charm and attractiveness.
A feature of Coleen Hoover’s activity is that she is a self-publishing author. At the same time, she has several contracts with well-known publishers such as Grand Central, Hachette, Atria, Simon & Schuster, Montlake, and Amazon Publishing (Alter, 2022). Thus, Hoover has control over its activities and does not depend on a specific single contract. This is an advantage for the writer, as it prevents the possibility of writing out and losing motivation to create worthwhile, interesting arbitrariness.
The most famous book that is widely discussed on social networks by Hoover fans is “It ends with us.” This book has become an impetus to the popularity of the writer due to its intriguing, while quite a simple plot revealing the relationship of two completely different characters. The book has been holding No. 1 on The New York Times paperback list for a long time. The success of the book was brought by the story of an ordinary girl from an average family who wants to improve her life. She begins a relationship with neurosurgeon, which at first glance seems to be exactly what she has been waiting for. However, a young man has a special attitude to forming a connection with a girl, which often causes difficulties and conflicts in a couple. This leads to a discussion of such topics in the book as domestic abuse and violence, which touched fans to the core. Subsequently, the writer released a sequel to the novel titled “It Starts with Us,” which was also met with highly positive fans of Hoover.
The article notes the extraordinary influence of the audience on the performance and creativity of the writer. Henceforth, with the help of its active presence on social networks, Hoover has the opportunity to study the wishes of its fans. Research stated that “social media tools provide two-way communication and low-cost marketing to gain information and communicate and build a relationship with its customers” (Irfan et al., 2019, p. 1). Alter (2022) writes that, at the moment, the recommendations and reviews of readers of the writer contribute to an even greater publication of her works, which are constantly being sold out at all sites and stores. Thus, the demand for Collen Hoover as a writer for a new generation is maintained.
Of particular importance in the work of Colleen Hoover are her fans. Alter writes that they often treat a meeting with an idol as a religious pilgrimage. They gather in long queues to sign books by the writer so that at least they get the opportunity to chat with the creator of their favorite novels for at least a couple of minutes. Many notes that Hoover’s books helped them cope with the most challenging periods of life and “helped laugh, cry, fall in love and learn how to feel again” (Alter, 2022, para. 29). These particular emotions and experiences contribute to increase loyalty and the desire to get new sensations from reading other works of the writer.
Despite the high level of popularity, Hoover still could not get used to it. A woman is somewhat introverted and prefers to be away from the spotlight and everyone’s attention. Moreover, receiving a relatively large financial compensation from the sale of her books, the writer still adheres to the ordinary way of life and lives on her family plot. The star of the literary world attaches particular importance to relationships with loved ones. In the acknowledgments in her book, she mentions her mother, with whom she is in a warm and close relationship (Alter, 2022). Despite the desire to preserve her everyday life, the writer has to resort to some precautions to ensure privacy. In addition, due to the high level of stress associated with the book tour, Hoover had to abandon this initiative due to concerns about health and well-being. Moreover, a woman often worries about negative reviews related to her work.
In conclusion, Colleen Hoover has become a natural phenomenon in the modern literary world. She has made a decisive breakthrough with her relatable but, at the same time, intriguing works in various genres that attract entirely different audiences. Moreover, her uniqueness is given by her personal brand and refusal to adhere to a particular style of writing books. The article by Alexandra Alter titled “How Colleen Hoover rose to rule the best-seller list” provides a deeper understanding of the factors that affected the success of the writer and the aspects that make her work different from other contemporary figures in the writing industry.
References
Irfan, A., Rasli, A., Sulaiman, Z., Sami, A., & Qureshi, M. I. (2019). The influence of social media on public value: A systematic review of past decade. Journal of Public Value and Administrative Insight, 2(1), 1-6. Web.
Alter, A. (2022). How Colleen Hoover rose to rule the best-seller list. New York Times. Web.
About me. (2022). Coleen Hoover. Web.