diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.test.tsx b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0970680
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { renderHook, waitFor, act } from '@testing-library/react';
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react';
+import { MessagingProvider } from '../provider';
+import { MockAdapter } from '../adapters/mock';
+import { useConversations } from './use-conversations';
+import type { MessagingAdapter } from '../adapter';
+
+const wrap = (adapter: MessagingAdapter) =>
+  function Wrapper({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+    return <MessagingProvider adapter={adapter}>{children}</MessagingProvider>;
+  };
+
+describe('useConversations', () => {
+  it('starts loading, then resolves the adapter list', async () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useConversations(), { wrapper: wrap(new MockAdapter()) });
+    expect(result.current.loading).toBe(true);
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.loading).toBe(false));
+    expect(result.current.conversations).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(result.current.conversations[0]!.threadId).toBe('th_mock_1');
+    expect(result.current.error).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('surfaces adapter failure as error state and never throws', async () => {
+    const adapter = new MockAdapter();
+    vi.spyOn(adapter, 'listConversations').mockRejectedValue(new Error('data door down'));
+
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useConversations(), { wrapper: wrap(adapter) });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.loading).toBe(false));
+    expect(result.current.error).toBe('data door down');
+    expect(result.current.conversations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('refetch picks up newly opened threads', async () => {
+    const adapter = new MockAdapter();
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useConversations(), { wrapper: wrap(adapter) });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.conversations).toHaveLength(2));
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await adapter.openThread({ participantIds: ['pp_dan'] });
+    });
+    await act(async () => {
+      result.current.refetch();
+    });
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.conversations).toHaveLength(3));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.ts b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8507eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/iios-messaging-ui/src/hooks/use-conversations.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useAdapter } from '../provider';
+import type { Conversation } from '../types';
+
+export interface ConversationsState {
+  conversations: Conversation[];
+  loading: boolean;
+  error: string | null;
+  refetch: () => void;
+}
+
+export function useConversations(): ConversationsState {
+  const adapter = useAdapter();
+  const [conversations, setConversations] = useState<Conversation[]>([]);
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [nonce, setNonce] = useState(0);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let alive = true;
+    setLoading(true);
+    adapter
+      .listConversations()
+      .then((list) => {
+        if (!alive) return;
+        setConversations(list);
+        setError(null);
+      })
+      .catch((e: unknown) => {
+        if (!alive) return;
+        setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+        setConversations([]);
+      })
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (alive) setLoading(false);
+      });
+    return () => {
+      alive = false;
+    };
+  }, [adapter, nonce]);
+
+  const refetch = useCallback(() => setNonce((n) => n + 1), []);
+
+  return { conversations, loading, error, refetch };
+}