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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 star for me! I liked that it was a fast read and simple to follow. I also definitely got hooked on the characters and appreciated the story more after reading that the author based it off of her mother’s experiences. Kind of predictable though.
I've never read a Coleen Hoover book before and was curious about all the hate and strong opinions people had regarding this book. So here's what I thought about it.
*REVIEW INCLUDES SPOILERS (literally the last line of the book)*
There are several other ideas expressed in the book that I'm not interested in divulging details of. Regardless of the objective influence of the book, its still a one star for me because nothing makes up for the lack of novelty and shallow writing of the characters. The male lead, "the extremely rich and brilliant neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid!" has a soft spot for the female lead because!!! *drumroll*.......... he's horny!! and the female lead Lily Blooms (yes she owns a flower shop) totally digs that becauseeeeeeee, she's kinky!! It's not even like Colleen was objectively incapable of making them like one another on a deeper level because the second male lead, Atlas had more depth and was better written than the down bad neurosurgeon. Furthermore, as someone who doesn't usually read this genre of books, I assumed I spent my money for all 376 pages of the book but had to skip about every few chapters because of the off putting nature and randomness of the smut. It's not an entirely objective complaint but just a reminder that if ur not into that kind of stuff then u might also end up wondering why u spent so much money on smutty fan fiction (this gives fanfic a bad name tbf. I'm gonna make my money's worth by annotating the book with Ryle hate and putting an index tab on every page he behaved like a red flag). My other complaint is about how misleading the first paragraph of the book is. The first few lines were almost entirely disconnected from the main purpose of the book. I even ended up questioning when those few lines would eventually make sense.
In conclusion, based on just this book alone, I understand why people would show discontent towards Colleen Hoover's writing. Personally, I'm not a fan of her work but I can also see why people would enjoy her writing. There is no reason to hate on the book or the readers but rather reason to discuss the book and why the audience reacts a certain way to it. Her writing can be problematic but if people are going to complain about CoHo books then they might as well be original about it and read it before they form an opinion.
*REVIEW INCLUDES SPOILERS (literally the last line of the book)*
The book was too simple, too straightforward and extremely predictable. Yet, the simplicity and to the point writing style can be forgiven to an extent because of the kind of topic being discussed. The book discusses the cycle of domestic abuse that the protagonist, Lily Blooms witnesses between her parents and then experiences firsthand with her husband. In such a case, the accessible language and cliche plot makes it easier for readers to grasp the concepts being discussed in the book. There were some core ideas that were expressed in the text such as the inner turmoil one experiences when being in an abusive relationship and why it isn't as easy as it seems to simply extricate oneself from it. The quote from the book that best sums up that intent is:
“Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.My mother went through it.I went through it. I'll be damned if I allow my daughter to go through it.I kiss her on the forehead and make her a promise. "It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.”
There are several other ideas expressed in the book that I'm not interested in divulging details of. Regardless of the objective influence of the book, its still a one star for me because nothing makes up for the lack of novelty and shallow writing of the characters. The male lead, "the extremely rich and brilliant neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid!" has a soft spot for the female lead because!!! *drumroll*.......... he's horny!! and the female lead Lily Blooms (yes she owns a flower shop) totally digs that becauseeeeeeee, she's kinky!! It's not even like Colleen was objectively incapable of making them like one another on a deeper level because the second male lead, Atlas had more depth and was better written than the down bad neurosurgeon. Furthermore, as someone who doesn't usually read this genre of books, I assumed I spent my money for all 376 pages of the book but had to skip about every few chapters because of the off putting nature and randomness of the smut. It's not an entirely objective complaint but just a reminder that if ur not into that kind of stuff then u might also end up wondering why u spent so much money on smutty fan fiction (this gives fanfic a bad name tbf. I'm gonna make my money's worth by annotating the book with Ryle hate and putting an index tab on every page he behaved like a red flag). My other complaint is about how misleading the first paragraph of the book is. The first few lines were almost entirely disconnected from the main purpose of the book. I even ended up questioning when those few lines would eventually make sense.
In conclusion, based on just this book alone, I understand why people would show discontent towards Colleen Hoover's writing. Personally, I'm not a fan of her work but I can also see why people would enjoy her writing. There is no reason to hate on the book or the readers but rather reason to discuss the book and why the audience reacts a certain way to it. Her writing can be problematic but if people are going to complain about CoHo books then they might as well be original about it and read it before they form an opinion.
The author’s note at the end saved this book. I wish she put it as the preface instead. I wasn’t prepared for/ didn’t enjoy the elements of SA
Colleen Hoover is my new Sarah Dessen...This book till the middle had me in such hopes of it ending in a heart-wrecking satisfying manner but something went a little off. Don't get me wrong, the book still had me almost shed a tear at certain parts, but the predictability and the melodramatic ending were a shame.
I found the book predictable and boring. I did read it all in two days but that's mainly due to my inability to leave a book half read so I felt a duty to keep going, especially as everyone raves about this book but I can't see why. The first part was incredibly boring, then as the story went on I knew what was going to happen and yet I couldn't understand why she still tried to make the reader feel bad for Ryle? I get a reason isn't always an excuse but in this situation I don't see why he was so romanticised. I don't say this often but I do regret reading this book.
Also, are we just gonna ignore the fact that Atlas was 18 and fancied a 15 year old?! I know she was 16 when they fucked but I mean thats still pretty fucking creepy.
Also, are we just gonna ignore the fact that Atlas was 18 and fancied a 15 year old?! I know she was 16 when they fucked but I mean thats still pretty fucking creepy.
When I picked up this book, I had no idea it was about abuse. While I did love the book, it was absolutely heartbreaking to read. I identified so much with Lily, having been in an abusive relationship. Like Lily (and her mom before her) I rationalized it and make excuses for it and wanted to stay because of love. Unlike Lily, I stayed for a very long time.
I wanted her to leave Ryle after the first time. I never had sympathy for him like Hoover wanted me to (I think) or like his sister did or like Lily did. But that rarely happens with abuse. Virtually every victim wants to believe it won't happen again, that their abuser will change. They don't change.
Hoover did a pretty good job trying to make someone who hasn't been in abuse to understand the conflicts that go on in your mind when you know you should probably leave but the love you have for your abuser, and the good times you remember, make you want to stay and try. "If only I was better, acted better, loved him better..." But Lily knew it would never change from watching her own father.
I was mostly indifferent about Atlas honestly.
I wanted her to leave Ryle after the first time. I never had sympathy for him like Hoover wanted me to (I think) or like his sister did or like Lily did. But that rarely happens with abuse. Virtually every victim wants to believe it won't happen again, that their abuser will change. They don't change.
Hoover did a pretty good job trying to make someone who hasn't been in abuse to understand the conflicts that go on in your mind when you know you should probably leave but the love you have for your abuser, and the good times you remember, make you want to stay and try. "If only I was better, acted better, loved him better..." But Lily knew it would never change from watching her own father.
I was mostly indifferent about Atlas honestly.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
doesn't even deserve a 1...... burn this book