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A review by arianna_w
November 9 by Colleen Hoover
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I recommend giving this book a read.
November 9 is the third Colleen Hoover book I've read in a row. I previously read It Ends with Us and Verity, in that order.
Like those novels, this one is also written in the first-person, present tense, which really gives the story a B-movie vibe. Also, in typical Hoover-fashion, this one delivers a plot twist, has love triangles, and has a steady pulse. I don't ever get bored. Of course, it helps that her stories are chock-full of coincidences that make for soap-opera drama and tension. Another pattern is that in all three of these novels, Hoover employs letters/diary entries/autobiographical manuscripts as a way for characters to "speak" without being physically present or who are literally not capable of verbalizing (as in the case of Verity). If this pattern extends into her other 20+ novels, it may be a cheap plot device on Hoover's part.
Except some of the cringe dialogue, there is no doubt that Hoover knows how to accurately and vividly portray/capture human emotions. Also, her novels alway have a handful of good "life" tips/insights. You know, those kind of daily-reminder quotes or the ones you write on a post-it note and stick on your mirror.
I now understand why Hoover has a dedicated following. If you want Lifetime movie entertainment but you also want to contribute to your yearly reading goal, then she's got you covered. Fun Fact: Time magazine named her one of the most influential people of 2023. However, I will not be reading any more of her works (at least for a long while). Ultimately, romance is not my genre; before this month, I had not read contemporary romance fiction. But now I'm a bit curious about some of the other popular romance novels written by Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry, etc. Do they read similar?
November 9 is the third Colleen Hoover book I've read in a row. I previously read It Ends with Us and Verity, in that order.
Like those novels, this one is also written in the first-person, present tense, which really gives the story a B-movie vibe. Also, in typical Hoover-fashion, this one delivers a plot twist, has love triangles, and has a steady pulse. I don't ever get bored. Of course, it helps that her stories are chock-full of coincidences that make for soap-opera drama and tension. Another pattern is that in all three of these novels, Hoover employs letters/diary entries/autobiographical manuscripts as a way for characters to "speak" without being physically present or who are literally not capable of verbalizing (as in the case of Verity). If this pattern extends into her other 20+ novels, it may be a cheap plot device on Hoover's part.
Except some of the cringe dialogue, there is no doubt that Hoover knows how to accurately and vividly portray/capture human emotions. Also, her novels alway have a handful of good "life" tips/insights. You know, those kind of daily-reminder quotes or the ones you write on a post-it note and stick on your mirror.
I now understand why Hoover has a dedicated following. If you want Lifetime movie entertainment but you also want to contribute to your yearly reading goal, then she's got you covered. Fun Fact: Time magazine named her one of the most influential people of 2023. However, I will not be reading any more of her works (at least for a long while). Ultimately, romance is not my genre; before this month, I had not read contemporary romance fiction. But now I'm a bit curious about some of the other popular romance novels written by Ali Hazelwood, Emily Henry, etc. Do they read similar?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicide and Death of parent