Review: It Ends With Us

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
373 pages
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

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My Review

Although Maybe Someday is still my all time favorite Colleen Hoover novel, It Ends with Us is my new runner-up!

I had a million different feelings slap me across the face while reading It Ends with Us. The writing was fantastic. The characters memorable. The plot a little predictable, but intense. The tough subject matter was handled with frankness, heartache, care, and honesty. This story was so freaking real.

Lily is one amazing woman and a damn good main character. Lily had a tough childhood. So when she gets the chance she moves away to Boston where she makes her dream come true, while also battling her heart. I felt her love and pain. I wanted nothing more than for her to be happy. I too fell in love with Ryle just like Lily. I too wanted nothing more than for everyone in this story to have their happy endings, but I can't tell you if that happened or not without giving away the whole plot. Love, friendship, and families are a central part of this book, just like they are in life. My favorite character out of everyone has to be Ryle's sister, Lily's new friend. I hope you read the book so you can make a new friend too, because I know you will.

I don't have anything negative to say about this book. I absolutely loved It Ends with Us. It broke my heart and made me smile. I think it is a hard but important novel that everyone should read the next time they are in the right place of mind for something serious. 

New Adult Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

November 9 by Colleen Hoover (Nov. 10, 2015)
320 pages
Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

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My Review

There were many things I liked and disliked about Colleen Hoover's new novel November 9. I think her fans will devour this book just like her others, but for a new Hoover fan I gotta say that I wasn't that impressed. I liked the writing and the characters, but this story wasn't as captivating as the other books that I have read by her.

Fallon and Ben are an interesting pair. I liked them from the second I met them. Ben was rather humorous, see for yourself.. "She's probably pissed at me right now, and we've only been fake-dating for half an hour." ~ Ben, pg. 23 I really did cheer this couple on and hope for the best.

But it wasn't the characters I didn't like or the unique way their story was told. I liked that they met up every year on November 9 and that was when we found out what happened to our characters. So what didn't bother me? It was the crazy things that happened that I swear would only occur in a romance novel. I know I read a lot of fantasy and other unrealistic novels, but when I am sitting down to read a contemporary romance I do expect it to have some sort of realistic vibes to it, because I like reading a romance novel that is at least somewhat believable, because it gives me hope that big romance can happen in real life. Does that make sense at all?

Anyway, I did like November 9, but I didn't love it. I didn't really like where the plot went and I'm just not sure this one was for me. It did still pack a punch on my feels though as all of Colleen Hoover's books tend to do, but Maybe Someday is still my favorite book of hers and probably will be forever.

Two Mini Reviews: Colleen Hoover Edition

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover (2014)
322 pages
Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn't even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn't want love, she doesn't have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don't expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can't handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

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My Mini Review

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover blew me away and made me want to read more of her books. So I asked a friend and she recommended Ugly Love. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

Ugly Love is the perfect title for this book filled with ugly love. Don't worry, there is also cuteness and hope throughout the story as well. But on the downside, it was also a pretty typical new adult romance.

I do like the mystery surrounding Miles and his past, but this book is mostly just simply a romance. I also thought Miles and Tate were super adorable and steamy together. The not so great thing about Ugly Love, Tate's brother was a little over the top and Miles and Tate's relationship wasn't really healthy thanks to some issues in Mile's past. I am warning you of these things because I think that if you know what to expect of this book in advance it helps you enjoy the story more. 

To end on a more happy note, I think my favorite part about Ugly Love is the lyrical writing of Colleen Hoover. Once I finished this one I had to grab another. Even though this book wasn't epic and didn't blow me away, I was still completely engaged with the story and enjoyed the fast read.

Confess by Colleen Hoover (March 2015)
306 pages
Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: The library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

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My Mini Review

Confess is another solid well written book by Colleen Hoover. 

Maybe Someday is still my favorite Hoover novel, but this one didn't disappoint. Even though it is another new adult romance it does have some uniqueness to it. This book deals with confessions, Owen uses anonymous confessions as inspiration for his art work. I love this idea. The most interesting thing, all of the confessions in the novel are real. Real people sent them in to Colleen Hoover to use in her book. I also really liked that Hoover included pictures of Owen's art along with some of the confessions. 

What else did I enjoy? The dual POV between Owen and Auburn. I liked both of these characters equally and I am glad I got both of their point of views. Another great thing about Confess that I just have to mention, Auburn's roommate. She is hilarious, caring, and weird. I loved her!

I had a lot of feels reading this one! I will probably continue to read more Colleen Hoover books in the future if the synopsis catches my eye.

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover (March 2014)
367 pages
Genre: New Adult/Romance
Publisher: Atria
Source: The Library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.

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MY REVIEW

I did it! I read my very first Colleen Hoover book. I feel like I am the last person on earth to read a book by her. Since I am sure you are all just dying to her what I thought I will give it to you straight. I loved it.

When my friend at work forced this book on me I was nervous to read it. I was worried that this book was going to be another romance novel where everyone has baggage, is childish, there is a bad boy, and they never talk out their feelings. It turns out that this book didn't really have any of those things, at least not to their extremes. It was different. Maybe Someday is a book that I won't soon forget. 

Did I love the characters? You bet. I wish Sydney and Ridge were real so they could be my friends too. No joke. Their dynamic and attraction were wonderfully written. The sexual tension was glorious. Sydney is a cool girl who ended up with a crappy guy, but that led her to Ridge. I don't want to talk all that much about their friendship because I don't want to ruin any of the tiny surprises and plot points. Let's just say I love all the characters in this book, and I mean ALL.

Did I love the writing? I sure did. I laughed. I got teary eyed. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading Maybe Someday. After a handful of pages in I became addicted to the story and Hoover's writing. There was just something about it that drew me in. The story was unique and real. It was painful and playful. I felt raw. It was marvelous even if it was a little drawn out in the middle when the story seemed to stall just for a few beats.

Should you read Maybe Someday? Yes. Will I read more books by this author? Definitely. When I picked up this book I was in the mood for a love story, one that would make me laugh and was a little emotional but not overly depressing. I got what I was looking for.