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In Colleen Hoover’s latest novel, Woman Down, Petra Rose is a disillusioned, down-on-her-luck, bestselling author in desperate need of a Hail Mary. It’s been 18 months since she wrote anything publishable, and the overwhelming criticism the movie adaptation of her last novel received has been anything but inspiring. So, she retreats to a cabin in the woods to get some much-needed focus time, only to wake in the middle of the night to a cop knocking on her front door. A man who just happens to resemble a character in her next book.

A real-life muse could be just what Petra needs to cure her writer’s block. It’s not every day that an author gets to live the life of one of her characters, and she would be a fool not to seize the opportunity. Especially when handsome, intense and mysterious Nathaniel Saint is such a willing participant. Saint ignites a fire in Petra she’s never experienced before, but once creativity sparks, the lines between fantasy and reality blur, forcing Petra to question whether the end truly justifies the means.

Hoover’s latest is a gripping romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages long into the night, or… morning. I’ve read Hoover’s work before, but the true genius of this novel is the artfully placed plot twists that propel you forward, right over the edge. I even found it challenging to write the synopsis above without revealing one! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, she pivots, taking the story in a direction you won’t see coming. It’s not exactly a false sense of security. You’ll learn enough about Petra in the first 20 pages (including a riveting Chapter Three that will resonate with you if you’re a creator of any kind) to embrace going along for the ride.

And it’s definitely the kind of rollercoaster thrill ride that results in an adrenaline rush and a wildly beating heart. I have this relationship with many of Hoover’s books. I’m thinking, is this a good idea? until I’m strapped into my seat and, by the time I get to the peak, I wouldn’t get off, even if I wanted to.

I think it’s because Hoover’s characters are real, relatable and, as Petra says in the book, “fallible,” but what I most appreciate about this author are the risks she takes. I love the way she unapologetically makes her characters stare truth in the face and acknowledge the, sometimes terrifying, consequences of their actions. We all make choices every day that may seem insignificant in the moment but can sometimes have considerable repercussions. Woman Down dares us to ask ourselves: What are your limits? When is enough, enough, and just how much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?

These are questions that, as an author, I hope to enable my audience to ask and, as a reader, I seek to understand about myself. And what better time is there to gain some perspective than at the beginning of a new year?

If nothing else, Woman Down will be a stimulating start to your 2026 reading list… and remind you to always lock your doors.