Review: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Stand Alone

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 367

Rating:4 Stars

How I Got It: Christmas Gift

Genre: Contemporary Romance,

Publisher: Atria books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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.

Review

To start I'll say this is probably my least favorite Colleen Hoover book. It was a good read, but I wouldn't call it enjoyable.

This book was written with a purpose. It is a very valid purpose and an important message especially for new adult and romance. But that may have taken away from the story.

At it's core, this is about Lily. The romance is a much more secondary. But it feels like Ms. Hoover couldn't write it without some love, so it comes across a little confused.

I plan on doing a video review when I can be more coherent.

Trigger Warnings: Rape and domestic abuse/violence

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Birthday/Christmas Book Haul 2017

I thought I would put my holiday book haul here as well as on my YouTube channel. 

I'm so thankful that my family will spoil me like this. It helps me out-especially when I haven't bought a lot of books this year to save money and will probably continue to do so.

Here are the books I was gifted:

Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan

Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder

Pipe Dreams by Sarina Bowen

Bountiful by Sarina Bowen

United by Melissa Landers

Take the Key and Lock Her Up by Ally Carter

Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Manners and Mutiny by Gail Carriger

Starflight by Melissa Landers

Starfall by Melissa Landers

Storyteller by Jody Piccoult

Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

What did you get this year?

Thanks for reading!

Holly 

Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Stand Alone
Format: Paperback
Pages: 307
Rating: 5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Atria Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

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.

 
Review

I probably shouldn't write this review right now, because I'm still keyed up. But I probably won't write it if I wait. So here we go.

November 9 isn't my favorite Colleen Hoover book, but it's definitely up there. I liked that it's kind of a meta romance novel. And I like the characters and their story.

Fallon is great. I loved seeing her grow into herself and rediscover her self-confidence. And her outlook on life is cool.

I know some people have a problem with Ben, but I don't. I understand he did something bad. But I also believe people can make mistakes. He made a choice in one intense situation that he regrets and spends the rest of his life in penance. Years of remorse and redemption forgive him for me.

The story being told one day per year makes it interesting. It created a tension that made me want to keep reading. At the same time, it was frustrating because I wanted to know what was going on throughout the year. It also makes you look at life differently. Seeing a snapshot of someone's life only shows you so much. Remember that.

Couldn't you give me an epilogue or something though, Ms. Hoover?

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Top 10 Tuesday: Books I’ve Read So Far (2015)

Top 10 Tuesday was created by the Broke and the Bookish. You can find more information here

 

Like almost any list I do (here or on Youtube) there is no actual order to this. I just don’t like picking favorites. Also I’m putting series on here as one section-otherwise the Addicted Series by Krista and Becca Ritchie would be half the list.

On to the list:

1)      Confess by Colleen Hoover

2)      Trade Me by Courtney Milan

3)      The Addicted Series by Krista and Becca Ritchie

4)      Nowhere but Here by Katie McGarry

5)      Asking for It by Lilah Pace

6)      For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

7)      Amour Amour by Krista and Becca Ritchie

8)      The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath

9)      The Year We Fell Down by Sarina Bowen

10)   Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Thanks for reading!

Confess by Colleen Hoover

Format: Paperback

Pages: 320

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

This was freaking fantastic. But I think this is going to be a short review. I am doing a non-spoiler review and discussion on my Youtube channel if you want to know more of my thoughts.

Colleen Hoover just continues to impress me and grow as a writer. I was quickly invested in these characters and there were many tears shed. Being able to actually see the art added another layer to the story.

I love Owen. He is a truly nice guy. It’s kind of refreshing to read about someone like that in a world of moody bad boys. His POV was my favorite. He had a beautiful way of describing things. I don’t have any complaints about Auburn though.

Yeah, I think that’s it. Told you this would be a short one.

Non-spoiler Book Review

Spoilery Book Discussion

 

Thanks for reading!

~Holly

Top 10 of 2014

Here are my top 10 reads of 2014 in no particular order.

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

The Program by Suzanne Young

Easy by Tammara Webber

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Lux Series/Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

I also did a video on this if you want to check it out:

Thanks for reading!

Holly 

Most Anticipated Books of 2015

These are the books I’m most anxious to read in 2015. Off course there are other books I’m planning on reading and buying, but these are the most exciting. Most of these are part of a series I’ve been reading. And I broke them down by month.

January

Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost (Night Prince Series)

Last Call by Alice Clayton  (Cocktail Series)

February

The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines Series)

March

Fall With Me by J. Lynn (With Me Series)

Confess by Colleen Hoover

May

Nowhere but Here by Katie McGarry (The first in a new series)

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (The first in a new series)

The Heir by Kiera Cass (The Selection Series)

September

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare (The Dark Artifices)

Sweet Temptation by Wendy Higgins (Sweet Series from Kaidan’s perspective)

Unknown

The Boy Most Likely by Huntely Fitzpatrick (This follows one of my favorite side characters from My Life Next Door)

I also did a video talking about this. You can check it out here:

Are there any books you can’t wait to get your hands on?

Thanks for reading!

Holly