Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Ugly Love

Let me just say that just like every other CoHo Book, this one also made me cry a little bit. At first I didn't know if I would have to cry bc honestly, the plot was very predictable and for most of the time I didn't feel like I could really connect with the characters bc of that. Of course, the last chapters got to me, even if they were some of the sappiest, cheesiest ones i've ever read - and don't get me wrong, I am a sucker for dramatic lines, but I physically cringed at some of them in this one. (And what was that one scene with the balls about?!? Why, Colleen, why???)

I actually liked the main characters, even though they were annoying af inbetween bc they were so aware of the struggles/problems but just didn't do anything about it. Some things just didn't feel thought-through, for example that Tate is supposed to be "so focused on her career that she doesn't have time for love". I think I can count the times her "career" was mentioned besides constantly saying she had a lot of homework and wore scrubs on one hand. I liked Miles' story, but MAN was he technically a walking red flag. To the point where I just could not fully support Tate anymore, like girl, please. We 👏🏻 are not 👏🏻 rehabs 👏🏻 for broken 👏🏻 men 👏🏻. (but also same girl). Like that man was fully gaslighting her and just bc he was also gaslighting himself doesn't make it okay lol.

Most of the side characters were nice, I wish we had seen more of Ian. But they all seemed quite one-dimensional and cliché (aka overprotective brother, wise father figure, funny sidekick friend,...) All in all the story and characters did not seem that fleshed out like I expected them to be, which took a lot of the emotional side of it away. So: made me feel something but with a better plot and developed characters it could've DEVASTED me.

Content Warnings

sumflake's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I didn't really like the relationship and I don't think he truly loved her, I think he loved that she was like his ex

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deluna's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Content Warnings

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A devastating, gorgeous, heart-wrenching story of love and loss, this book broke my heart. The characters are loveable, the plot line is completely believable, and the ending is immaculate per usual. Colleen did it again. Home run.

Content Warnings