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A review by laurynsmith
Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“That’s exactly why I won’t do it again, Merit. You need to fall in love with yourself first.”
Colleen Hoover is a master in writing these morally grey, fast-paced books where you have no idea what to make of the characters or the plot at hand, and Without Merit is no exception. I don't hear many people talking about this book, and on one hand I am surprised because of how unique it is and on the other I kind of get it. This book follows Merit and her rather dysfunctional family, and though I generally enjoyed reading it, I have no clue what to make of it...it's really just bizarre at points. I was left having no clue who or what to root for, who I was supposed to forgive, and how I feel about what actually happened. Perhaps that is the point and I think that is why Colleen is such a phenomenal writer, but it just left me feeling weird. It did seem like some of the plot was used as a device to push the narrative further--and that didn't fully sit right with me--and I would argue that the same effect could've been achieved without that. Nonetheless, it was a book that kept me wanting to turn the pages, had a good message about mental health, and I would recommend CoHo stans to check it out if they haven't already!
Colleen Hoover is a master in writing these morally grey, fast-paced books where you have no idea what to make of the characters or the plot at hand, and Without Merit is no exception. I don't hear many people talking about this book, and on one hand I am surprised because of how unique it is and on the other I kind of get it. This book follows Merit and her rather dysfunctional family, and though I generally enjoyed reading it, I have no clue what to make of it...it's really just bizarre at points. I was left having no clue who or what to root for, who I was supposed to forgive, and how I feel about what actually happened. Perhaps that is the point and I think that is why Colleen is such a phenomenal writer, but it just left me feeling weird. It did seem like some of the plot was used as a device to push the narrative further--and that didn't fully sit right with me--and I would argue that the same effect could've been achieved without that. Nonetheless, it was a book that kept me wanting to turn the pages, had a good message about mental health, and I would recommend CoHo stans to check it out if they haven't already!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Incest