Woman Down

by Colleen Hoover

Petra Rose era la penna d'oro della narrativa contemporanea, ma dopo il disastro della trasposizione cinematografica del suo romanzo più famoso, è diventata il bersaglio perfetto dei social. Accusata di essere una venduta e una bugiarda, ha imparato a proprie spese cosa succede quando Internet ti volta le spalle. La sua carriera è crollata e le parole, un tempo la sua salvezza, sono svanite. Ora, con un manoscritto in stallo e il conto in banca in rosso, si rifugia in una baita isolata sul lago. È un ultimo tentativo di rimettere insieme i pezzi e scrivere il libro che potrebbe salvarla. Ma la quiete del bosco viene spezzata dall'arrivo dell'affascinante detective Nathaniel Saint, che porta con sé notizie inquietanti... e qualcosa di più. La sua presenza riaccende in Petra la creatività che pensava ormai esaurita da tempo. Così, il poliziotto che vive sulla carta comincia a somigliare sempre di più a quello in carne e ossa. Le loro «sessioni di ricerca» confondono i confini tra finzione e realtà, tra attrazione e dipendenza, e la donna si scopre più viva che mai. Ma un'ispirazione così potente ha sempre un prezzo. Quando Saint inizia a prendere un po' troppo sul serio il suo ruolo nella carriera della scrittrice, lei è costretta ad affrontare il caos che ha creato. Anche se farlo potrebbe costarle ben più della reputazione che sta cercando di ricostruire. Quella che il mondo ha riscritto per lei. Quella che solo lei può rivendicare.

Genres: Thriller, Colleen Hoover, Mystery Thriller, Romance, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense

315 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 13, 2026

About the author

International and #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance, YA, thriller, women's fiction and paranormal romance.

I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.

My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com

Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.

Reviews

[Christa Anne]

CoHo is writing fanfic about herself now? Wild.

[Sophie]

yeah idc ill be reading this

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Verity or Too Late are your favorite CoHo reads, this one will be your next fave! An expanded story from her novella Saint (published in 2020 in the one more step anthology) longtime fans will see familiar themes from that novella and be SO HAPPY with all of the new details.

In true Colleen fashion, each chapter is quite a time. Typically you expect the twists to hit you at the end, but Colleen sprinkles little reveals at crucial points of the book that just keep you insanely hooked. I read this book in one sitting as soon as I got it in the mail. Completely unputdownable!!!

So happy to have Colleen publishing her stories again, and I look forward to the next.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

[Antonella]

to quote great poet shakira i would rather eat my soup with a fork than read this book

[emilybookedup · Rating 3 out of 5]

need to put my full thoughts together but this is a 3 star for me. didn’t dislike it but is not my fave of hers—hard to beat her impressive catalog!

pro tip: go in expecting a romantic suspense. this is NOT a thriller!!

what i liked: in true CoHo fashion it was a quick binge, addictive and easy to follow, had some good twists about 2/3 in and had a fun ending.

what i didn’t like: it was a bit darker/vulgar (the middle of the night and window scenes😳) than i was expecting and had a trope/plot that’s one of my least faves to read (trying to avoid spoilers). hard to get past that, but might not be an issue for others as its based on my personal reading taste

i’m really eager to see how people react to this one when it comes out 👀👀👀 Colleen starts the book off with a very clear statement, saying this is nothing about her personal life and to please do not draw any conclusions from it… but with the main character being a writer trying to work through a loooong writers block after a dramatic book adaptation it’s going to be inevitable that readers make comments about it. keep that in mind going in!! ❤️

thanks to Amazon for the gifted early copy. this is out mid Jan and is a fun quick binge!

[ଘRory]

The blurb is giving Verity’s unhinged older sister meta vibes ☠️

[Aaru ♡]

the first para sounds a LOT like her life with the it ends with us backlash...ahhh never thought I'll be excited for a colleen hoover book but here I am

[Bookish Boy]

Jobless immature kids are unnecessarily hating once again. Idc, idgaf this sounds GOOD and I WILL BE READING IT. GO, CRY ABOUT IT 🫶🏼

[Tami]

Woman Down is Colleen Hoover’s next novel, coming out January 13, 2026. It started as a short story called Saint in the One More Step anthology. Colleen has now taken that short story of about 18,000 words and rewritten it into a full-length book of 100,000 words. She explained that what began as a simple extension turned into a complete rewrite with new characters, extra twists, new storylines, and a new title so readers know this is a different experience. One difference is the heroine’s name, which has changed from Megan Andrews to Petra Rose. Another difference is the setup: in the short story the heroine was facing writer’s block, while in the novel Petra is also dealing with backlash from a movie adaptation of her work.

Colleen has described Woman Down as the darkest book she’s ever written. It’s also worth noting this one will be published through Amazon, so the ebook will be exclusive to them (including Kindle Unlimited), though print copies should be available in bookstores.

The story begins with Petra Rose, once a well-known author. After the film adaptation of her book received strong backlash on the internet, she retreats to a lakeside cabin in a last attempt to save her career. There she meets Detective Nathaniel Saint, who arrives with “disturbing news” and unexpectedly becomes part of her writing process. Since Petra already has a police officer in her draft, Nathaniel fits right in, and soon their “research sessions” start crossing the line between fiction and reality.

📌 Author’s clarification: Colleen said Woman Down has nothing to do with the publicity around her previous adaptations. She explained that she first wrote the story ten years ago as a novella called Saint. The main character is still a writer. Colleen said she often uses writing as therapy, so her thoughts and feelings appear in her books.

In Woman Down, the heroine faces backlash because a main character was removed from the movie of her book. Fans blame her for it. Colleen said this idea came from something that almost happened to her. A few years ago, one adaptation nearly cut a character, and she was afraid readers would turn against her. That fear gave her the idea for the story. She began writing this book two years ago. She said it was not added later to build conspiracies or to sell more copies.

Colleen said she writes only for herself. It took her years to start writing again, and she is very excited to finally have a release. The book helped her through a dark and disappointing time. She said she is both proud and horrified by the choices her character makes. Reworking the story was fun and also helped her release frustrations.




⚠️ Warning for Safety Gals: The original short story (Saint in the One More Step anthology) included on-page cheating. The heroine was married with two daughters and had both an emotional and physical affair with Nathaniel. It is not yet clear if Woman Down will keep that storyline, but some readers may want to know this before going in.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't normally condone cheating, or even want to read anything about it, but in classic Hoover fashion, Colleen managed to suck me in and keep me engaged despite my reservations.

There was just something about this book, this storyline, these characters, that were hard to resist, hard to ignore, and hard to put down.

The thrill of it all, the turn the story took, was well worth anything else. Add in what had to be, despite the intro, some connection for CoHo with the underlying storyline, and it all made one appealing story that kept me eagerly turning the pages wanting more.


*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Madison Barnes]

Give it to me now.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colleen Hoover is back, baby; and she came to slay.

WOMAN DOWN is quite possibly her darkest book yet. If you thought Verity pushed the boundaries, buckle up babes because Detective Nathaniel Saint is about to ruinnnn you in entirely new ways like you’ve never expected.

We meet Petra Rose, a bestselling author grappling with intense writer’s block after a series of career controversies. Desperate for inspiration, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin to finally knock out her next novel; one centered around a dangerously attractive cop. And then, at 5 a.m., life imitates art when a very real super hot detective knocks on her door to investigate an accident in the neighborhood.

From that moment on, Woman Down doesn’t let go. It moves at a breakneck speed.

The book is packed with Colleen Hoover’s signature emotional trauma, gut wrenching heartache, and deeply layered characters whose flaws and secrets will leave you gasping as you turn the pages. This may be her first published novel in three years, but it’s crystal clear the queen has not abandoned her throne.

She absolutely wrecked me; delivering twist after twist I never saw coming, all building toward a jaw-dropping, doozy of an ending that still has me reeling. I literally just finished this book, and all I want to do is go back and read it again. That’s how fun… and traumatic, it is.

[Casey Reads 🌸]

So many bad reviews already? Idc I will still be trying this one and hoping I enjoy!

[Carol C | shelfie.queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the marketing i went into this book expecting a thriller like Verity. This is definitely a romantic suspense and I wish it had been marketed as that so my expectations were set appropriately. Although the book begins with a note from Colleen asking the reader to not read too much into the subject matter of the book, and that it doesn’t necessarily reflect her life and opinions, I do think it’s obvious this feels like a cathartic novel for her. She got out a lot of her thoughts about being an author, well know especially, and the good & bad that comes with it including social media and outside opinions. For me this was just fine. It starts pretty slow and I was confused by the 100ish page mark when the “thriller” was going to appear. It got better as it went but overall not a favorite for me sadly.

[Katie Prouty · Rating 5 out of 5]

WILD, dark, and completely addictive. Colleen Hoover leans hard into psychological suspense, exploring obsession, creativity, and reputation in a way that kept me glued to the page. The tension builds fast, the vibes are unsettling, and nothing feels safe. A creepy, fast paced read that kept me turning pages late into the night.

✨THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-revenge with a pen
-suspense! Creepiness!
-method writing
-love triangle
-remote cabin
-cop x author
-betrayal and dangerous secrets
-#IsThisAKissingBook open door

Thank you Leo PR and Amazon Publishing for the advanced copy!

[pinky]

SHE’S RELEASING SAINT AS FULL LENGTH NOVEL??/?? 🪑🪑

[Diana]

would read anything from Colleen if this is a thriller!

[🌊🐚 𝐻𝑒𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓃🩵🌴]

I AM SO EXCITED I MAY VOMIT

[Katie]

Own - Release 1/13/26

[Danni]

I'm a big Colleen Hoover fan, but this probably should have stayed a short story.

I only read 80 torturous pages before DNFing. At least 20 of those pages were the main character (an author) having a conversation with her author friend about all the hard things about being a writer. It just felt like a weird personal essay that did absolutely nothing to drive the story forward. And once she meets the cop character, it didn't get any better honestly.

Don't waste your time.

[Chandler (chapterswithchan)]

3.5

I have been marinating on this for a few days now, because I had to get my feelings in order. I went into this book with romantic suspense vibes but quickly found out it was a suspense with some craziness in it. When I changed my mindset, this was actually a pretty good suspense book.

A famous book author, Petra Rose, is going to her favorite getaway spot to lock herself away to write a new book. She has recently been canceled from the fallout of a movie adaptation and is struggling to put pen to paper and produce anything. She has the bare bones but with all the drama surrounding her right now is not in a place to write. But when inspiration strikes in the form of a handsome cop who shows up at her door one night, the creative juices start flowing and it is like riding a bike. But Petra’s world is about to be flipped upside down, AGAIN, and this time she will have no one to blame but herself.

THOUGHTS… this book was a wild ride. I really struggled with the “cheating” aspect in this book. HOWEVER, cheating in a romance? Heck no. Cheating in a suspenseful thrillerish book? Totally fine. Karma will come back to them. But that is when I needed to change my mindset about the way this book was going. There was no white knight to come in and save the day, this was not about a woman who would be rescued. This was about a woman who was lost and decided to then lose herself even more to get her goal accomplished. The ending of this book of this book fit perfectly, leaving me as the reader to wonder… “WELL WHAT DID SHE DECIDE“?? I really would love to talk to another reader who read this so we can discuss.

Many people think the whole premise of the author being canceled is a sob story, but I actually enjoyed how CoHo added this into her story. Write what you know and all of that. To be fair, CoHo haters were not going to like anything she produced so no matter which direction she went she would have been screwed.

Overall, I am giving this book 3.5 stars. I really struggled with all the cheating and also the fact that Petra just kind of sucked. BUT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO! Which is why I added the .5 points. That was the character. I do recommend this book to people who enjoy thrillers and also coho. I am not going to say it gave off Verity vibes because nothing can really do that but Verity itself, but it did give the same feelings of “WTF?”.

Can you handle cheating in a book?

[Mouna Abdellati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit boek was echt goed. De plot was wel voorspelbaar, maar een heel deel van de plot weer niet. Het boek is echt goed geschreven. Ik kon het echt niet neerleggen. Ik wou het boek sparen omdat ik het van begin tot einde echt goed vond, maar kon het niet laten. Colleen Hoover really did something, ben heel blij dat ik dit boek heb gelezen.

Wel opmerkelijk: het is niet echt een thriller, maar wel echt een goede starter voor mensen die willen zien of ze into thrillers zijn en gewoon plots in het algemeen.

I recommend 100%. Ik denk dat dit mijn teken was om Colleen Hoover toch meer te appreciëren als auteur en haar boeken ook meer aan te kopen.

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woman Down
Colleen Hoover
Publishing: 1/13/26

The ways in which I’ve been waiting for a new(ish) CoHo book! This originated as a short story called Saint from the One More Step anthology, however I had never read it, so this is all new to me.

In true Hoover fashion I was instantly sucked in and hooked. I love how Colleen can write multiple genres. While her main foray is romance, she definitely knows how to write a jaw dropping twisty thriller. Petra’s story kept me engaged and at times on the edge of my seat. It was suspenseful, creepy, a tad uncomfortable(as was intended), and I had fun with it.

CoHo described this as the darkest book she’s ever written and Woman Down definitely leaned more towards Verity and Too Late. If you enjoyed those, I think you’ll like this one too.

A huge thank you to Montlake and Leo PR for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen | karentalksbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good thriller for the girlies that want to dip their toe into the genre!

[Break From Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

When I heard Colleen talk about this book, I'm not going to lie I wanted to read it asap for a couple of reasons ...

The fact that the storyline was based around an author, her book, the film based upon her book and the shenanigans that ensued well, of course I was curious. Disclaimer ~ I've seen the film It Ends With Us a few times and I absolutely refuse the let the crazy that has happened ruin my experience. I have no idea what happened behind the scenes nor do I care to know. I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed the film. That said, I was beyond curious about this book and I am so happy I received an arc and that I experienced the creative world of Woman Down.

I refuse to post any spoilers because I have a feeling this will be read by, my gosh I couldn't even image how many people.

The characters are brilliant. I literally felt like I was participating in the storyline at certain times in this book. The creativity of writing each character with such incredible realism was perfect. I could have been friends with all the female characters without a doubt. The male characters, well hells bell I can't even. I literally could play a game of sleep with, marry, and kill LOL. The male characters in this book were perfectly scripted, relatable, desirable, and honestly, they just seemed so real as did the women. One of my favorite parts about the characters were their unique quirks. I could visualize every scene which left me feeling completely immersed in the story.

In books like this, I love the unexpected and I was not disappointed. Surprises .... oh yes there were a few. First, well I was shocked and then I just rolled along from there.

This book is entertaining for many reasons. It is a fast and engaging read.

If you think by reading this, you are going to get to the center of the controversy that has happened you will probably be disappointed.

If you are looking for a storyline that is fresh, engaging and entertaining I think you’ll enjoy Woman Down.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒅𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔, 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆. 𝑨 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌. 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍. 𝑰𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆...

WOMAN DOWN opens with a compelling premise: Petra Rose, a once-celebrated author, finds herself isolated after a public misstep involving a film adaptation of one of her books. Humiliated and devoid of inspiration, she escapes to a secluded cabin to try to finish the book that just won't come. A knock at the door brings Detective Nathaniel Saint arriving with disturbing news. However, his presence ignites a creativity in Petra that she feared was gone, and when he accepts her invitation to question him on police procedure, their 'research' blurs the lines between fiction and reality. As the words and chapters pour out of her, Petra has never felt more alive. But she has no idea that her creation will come at a terrible cost.

I absolutely loved how this book explores fame and accessibility and how being visible and interactive can quickly become a liability. The blurred lines between an author's public persona and private self, especially when fans feel entitled to constant access, was thoughtfully conveyed in a frank manner. The theme of fans turning against a writer they once loved is definitely timely, but it was the rumination of those negative opinions invading Petra's mind and making her doubt herself and her talent that carried an emotional weight that was deeply unsettling and painfully realistic.

While I didn't find this to be a thriller on par with VERITY, it maintains a consistently suspenseful tone and isn’t afraid to dip into darker territory. The tension simmers rather than explodes, allowing the psychological aspects to breathe. Overall, it’s moody and thought-provoking with an ending that will shake you to your core. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing and Hunter PR for the early copy. This book will publish January 13, 2026.

[Holly (hollylovesbooks1519) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Partner @hunterprny and @amazonpublishing for my gifted copy and amazing promo box.

#ColleenHoover is back!!! This book is dark and completely unhinged, but it was so addicting I couldn't put it down. The first plot twist totally shocked me, and I just wanted to yell and scream at the main character. The ending was absolutely perfect!

Petra Rose is finally writing her next book after disappointing her fans with her previous book's to screen adaptation. She rents a cabin, hoping to find inspiration. Then Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives at her door. Petra is writing a book about a cop, and she starts to get inspiration from Saint, but the inspiration comes at a huge cost that can cause her life to shatter into a million pieces. 4.5 stars!

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colleen Hoover knows how to write a thriller. Woman Down is a book full of suspense, thrills, and creepy moments. Petra is a struggling author who meets Saint at just the right time.

I had many moments of shock and discomfort at what Petra was doing and where her story seemed to be heading. Yet, I thought it would all work out for her. I am unsure that her story is done or that it all worked out but it did come together in a way that I did not see coming. Colleen Hoover kept me guessing and anticipating the entire book. I could not put it down.

Thank you Montlake for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Christine Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the short story version of this a few years back when it was called “saint” and part of an anthology. Reading this again as a more fully fleshed out novel felt a bit like dejavu. Hoovers writing is definitely addictive and makes you not want to put it down until you finish, but the characters in this one were hard to really root for or care for so that’s why it gets a three from me.
Here’s hoping this broke the writers block for CoHo and we’ll get more from her soon.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Jamie Hug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woman Down? That was me, because I could not put this book down!

From the very first page, I was hooked. It's dark, emotional, and intense in all the best ways. It has all the emotional chaos that Colleen is known for and had me in an absolute chokehold with the twists. This book had me squirming, stressed and begging for more by the end!