A review by mariiiiiiiiiia
Too Late by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 This book absolutely wrecked me. I knew it would be intense, but I still wasn’t prepared for just how disturbing and emotionally brutal it would get. And Asa? I don’t think I’ve ever hated a character more. Every time I thought he couldn’t possibly get worse—he did. 

 

Let me be clear: this is not your typical cozy romance. If you’re looking for something lighthearted or sweet, this isn’t it. Too Late dives into some extremely dark, uncomfortable territory and includes major, graphic triggers—especially around abuse and manipulation. This book is not for the faint of heart. 

 

That’s why I highly recommend reading Colleen Hoover’s introduction at the beginning. She explains how this story came to be, why she wrote it the way she did, and outlines trigger warnings in an honest and respectful way. It really helped me mentally prepare for what I was about to read—and it gave important context for how to approach the story. 

 

Sloan, the main character, goes through so much. Honestly, I don’t know how she survived everything she endured. Her strength is staggering, but also heartbreaking. I found myself constantly questioning how someone could ever learn to trust again after what she experienced—except maybe with Carter (or Luke), who brought a rare, much-needed sense of compassion and hope to the story. 

 

As always, Colleen Hoover creates characters that are layered, messy, and deeply human. That’s part of what makes writing reviews for her books so hard—you want to talk about all the things, but you also don’t want to spoil anything. Just know that this book is emotionally heavy, morally complicated, and hard to put down. 

 

There is a happily ever after, but the road to get there is raw and intense. If you can stomach the triggers and emotional weight, Too Late is a gripping, powerful read. Just be sure to take care of yourself along the way.