Ugly Love — spice level
Colleen Hoover · reviewed by Zakes Mdluli · 23 August 2026
3 out of 5 chillies
3 out of 5 — Hot
A three, and the hottest thing Colleen Hoover is widely read for. Explicit, but the bruise it leaves is emotional rather than physical.
How we rate: from wide reading and what readers consistently report, not a fresh page-by-page re-read of every edition. Where we are less certain, we say so.
Rated on our five-chilli scale, the same one on every story here.
Where it sits
An arrangement with rules: no questions about the past, no future. You already know the rules will not hold.
It is explicit — more so than most of Hoover's catalogue, which tends to sit around two chillies and earn its reputation through emotional damage rather than heat. Here the physical relationship is on the page and central to what the book is doing.
Three chillies for this one. If you are working through her other titles, expect most of them to run cooler.
What to expect
Two timelines, a grief you can see coming, and an ending that people remember for years. Go in knowing it is not a comfort read.
Who it is for
Readers who want to feel something and do not mind if it hurts. If you want heat without the gut-punch, this is the wrong shelf.
FAQ
What is the spice level of Ugly Love?
3 out of 5 chillies. A three, and the hottest thing Colleen Hoover is widely read for. Explicit, but the bruise it leaves is emotional rather than physical.
Is Ugly Love explicit?
Yes — the scenes are open-door and written for an adult reader.
What do the chilli ratings mean?
One chilli is warm — attraction and a closed door. Two is steamy. Three is explicit and part of the story. Four is scorching, frequent and central. Five is filthy, with nothing faded out. Every story on No Safe Word carries a rating.
What should I read after Ugly Love?
Ntombi only went in to quiet his nightmares. A year of grief, one sleeping embrace, and a want she can no longer hide. Chapter one is free on No Safe Word.
If you loved it, read this next
COMFORTING THE WIDOWER
Scorching
Ntombi only went in to quiet his nightmares. A year of grief, one sleeping embrace, and a want she can no longer hide.
Chapter one is free — no signup, no card.
More ratings on the spice level guide.