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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So glad the Blake lively drama didn't ruin this for me. Glad it was a happy ending, some of it was a tough read but great book!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was kinda skeptical to start reading this book, cause it was so hyped up on TikTok. But I decided anyway to step on the Colleen Hoover train and I’m glad I did. I absolutely love this book. It definitely one of my favorites now. And I can’t say my eyes were dry during the whole book.
I feel when reading any book it is always beneficial to learn a little about the author too. Colleen Hoover's mother was in an abusive relationship when Colleen was young; her father openly admitted to being abusive and changed his ways. When I learned about the book and it was recommended it me, I was told it was a romance and went into the book expecting lots of fluff with some angst. I would disagree with those who target this as a romance. As Colleen writes in the End Notes, she intends to show the struggles of women in abusive relationships which unfortunately is very prevalent.
Spoilers Below (Read At Own Risk): I took this story as an empowering story of young women stuck in the cycle of abuse which began with her mother and her choices to end that cycle. Colleen makes the reader attracted to Ryle Kincaid and slowly shows the struggles of toxic relationships and domestic abuse. I loved this tale because of the eyeopening description of domestic abuse and the cycle of abuse. I think it is important that we don't brush topics like these under the rug. Colleen is not trying to push an epic romance, she is trying to showcase the harsh reality of domestic abuse and show how hard it is to leave an abusive relationship.
I only rate it 4 stars for a few reasons. I wish we could have seen more of Atlas Corrigan; we learn he went to the Marines and is an award winning Chef, but it would have been nice to know a little more of what happened during that time. The ending for romance fans leaves a lot to the imagination; we don't learn if Atlas and Lily have kids or remain together. I would have loved to have seen more interaction. Also, I feel like Atlas' homelessness was not fully addressed. It is brought up in a couple scenes, but we do not learn more about his struggles. Overall, with the plot of overcoming the cycle of abuse, the homelessness is just another feature that is fairly quickly brushed to the side. It would have been more appropriate to leave out the topic of homelessness if Colleen was not going to fully address it.
Finally, I truly believe that this a beautifully written story of overcoming abuse and would recommend to those who are emotionally mature enough to handle the adult content of the book. I beg of all readers not to just take this as another angsty romance; this is a story unfortunately similar to a lot of women and I believe Colleen's intent was to show how strong the victims of domestic abuse (Yes, men can be victims of domestic violence as well) are and look inside their mind.
Spoilers Below (Read At Own Risk): I took this story as an empowering story of young women stuck in the cycle of abuse which began with her mother and her choices to end that cycle. Colleen makes the reader attracted to Ryle Kincaid and slowly shows the struggles of toxic relationships and domestic abuse. I loved this tale because of the eyeopening description of domestic abuse and the cycle of abuse. I think it is important that we don't brush topics like these under the rug. Colleen is not trying to push an epic romance, she is trying to showcase the harsh reality of domestic abuse and show how hard it is to leave an abusive relationship.
I only rate it 4 stars for a few reasons. I wish we could have seen more of Atlas Corrigan; we learn he went to the Marines and is an award winning Chef, but it would have been nice to know a little more of what happened during that time. The ending for romance fans leaves a lot to the imagination; we don't learn if Atlas and Lily have kids or remain together. I would have loved to have seen more interaction. Also, I feel like Atlas' homelessness was not fully addressed. It is brought up in a couple scenes, but we do not learn more about his struggles. Overall, with the plot of overcoming the cycle of abuse, the homelessness is just another feature that is fairly quickly brushed to the side. It would have been more appropriate to leave out the topic of homelessness if Colleen was not going to fully address it.
Finally, I truly believe that this a beautifully written story of overcoming abuse and would recommend to those who are emotionally mature enough to handle the adult content of the book. I beg of all readers not to just take this as another angsty romance; this is a story unfortunately similar to a lot of women and I believe Colleen's intent was to show how strong the victims of domestic abuse (Yes, men can be victims of domestic violence as well) are and look inside their mind.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger Warning: This story deals with domestic abuse.
Review: I loved it! I’m giving it 4 stars but it’s closer to a 4.5. I couldn’t put the book down. I love stories that tackle the nuances of love, where nothing is ever black or white. And this story did just that.
At 23, Lily is in a stage of transition. She’s left her hometown in Maine to live in Boston, works a job in corporate America that she would rather quit, and has just buried her father who she really doesn’t have any love for. The same day she buries her dad, she meets a neurosurgeon named Ryle who simply wants to fuck her (his words, not mine). Thus begins their love story….
But wait a minute, flashback to Lily at 15, who once fell in love with a homeless boy who used to crash in an abandoned home next to her. This guy, Atlas, makes an unexpected appearance in Lily’s life 8 years later just as she is beginning to fall in love with Ryle. Thus begins the drama!
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. I actually thought this was a murder mystery; it’s not. But it still was suspenseful all the same as I didn’t know exactly what would happen next. It was also very emotional. I have nothing but respect for author’s who can draw out such feelings from me as I read their books. I felt little tiny butterflies when reading about how Lily fell in love with both Ryle and Atlas, I felt moments of cringe and apprehension during the scenes of domestic violence, and I felt fully satisfied with the book’s conclusion. This is the second book of Colleen Hoover’s that I’ve picked out to read and once again, I was not disappointed.
Review: I loved it! I’m giving it 4 stars but it’s closer to a 4.5. I couldn’t put the book down. I love stories that tackle the nuances of love, where nothing is ever black or white. And this story did just that.
At 23, Lily is in a stage of transition. She’s left her hometown in Maine to live in Boston, works a job in corporate America that she would rather quit, and has just buried her father who she really doesn’t have any love for. The same day she buries her dad, she meets a neurosurgeon named Ryle who simply wants to fuck her (his words, not mine). Thus begins their love story….
But wait a minute, flashback to Lily at 15, who once fell in love with a homeless boy who used to crash in an abandoned home next to her. This guy, Atlas, makes an unexpected appearance in Lily’s life 8 years later just as she is beginning to fall in love with Ryle. Thus begins the drama!
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book. I actually thought this was a murder mystery; it’s not. But it still was suspenseful all the same as I didn’t know exactly what would happen next. It was also very emotional. I have nothing but respect for author’s who can draw out such feelings from me as I read their books. I felt little tiny butterflies when reading about how Lily fell in love with both Ryle and Atlas, I felt moments of cringe and apprehension during the scenes of domestic violence, and I felt fully satisfied with the book’s conclusion. This is the second book of Colleen Hoover’s that I’ve picked out to read and once again, I was not disappointed.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a masterpiece! The tears and emotions I felt after finishing this was so surreal.
“Don’t be like me, Lily. I know that you believe he loves you, and I’m sure he does. But he’s not loving you the right way. He doesn’t love you the way you deserve to be loved. If Riley truly loves you, he wouldn’t allow you to take him back. he would make the decision to leave you himself so that he knows for a fact he can never hurt you again. That’s the kind of love a woman deserves, Lily “
“it was the proudest I have ever been of you. You were the only one in my life who ever stood up for me. You were strong when I was scared.“ A tear falls from her eye. When she says, “be that girl, Lily. Brave and bold.“
“Cycles exist, because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain encouraged to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it’s easier to just keep running, and 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.“
OOOOHHHH. This is one of those books that I will forever remember!
“Don’t be like me, Lily. I know that you believe he loves you, and I’m sure he does. But he’s not loving you the right way. He doesn’t love you the way you deserve to be loved. If Riley truly loves you, he wouldn’t allow you to take him back. he would make the decision to leave you himself so that he knows for a fact he can never hurt you again. That’s the kind of love a woman deserves, Lily “
“it was the proudest I have ever been of you. You were the only one in my life who ever stood up for me. You were strong when I was scared.“ A tear falls from her eye. When she says, “be that girl, Lily. Brave and bold.“
“Cycles exist, because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain encouraged to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it’s easier to just keep running, and 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.“
OOOOHHHH. This is one of those books that I will forever remember!
tense
fast-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