Colleen Hoover - November 9

 

Colleen Hoover - November 9 

3.5⭐

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Pages: 310

Format: Paperback 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK 

Date Published:  10th November 2015

 

Book Blurb: 

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

My Review: 

I had such high hopes for this book, but it was such a disappointment. Unrealistic scenario, with two-dimensional characters, instant romance and love, a predictable twist and just such a messy and toxic storyline/relationship between the two main characters. This book had so much potential with the storyline being that Fallon and Ben meet every year on the same day, November 9, but don’t talk or communicate any other time, that could have been explored so much better, but in this case, just fell flat.

The book follows Fallon, who on a day that she is ready to leave Los Angeles she meets Ben. She is instantly attracted to him and so is he. However, after spending all day together they make a pact that they are going to meet each other on the same day, November 9, for the next 5 years to see where their relationship might go. One rule though, they can’t be in contact with one another at all on any other day of the year. Throughout the book, we follow both of their stories, as they meet each other one day a year, as they grow up and as their relationship progresses…

The only thing that I liked about this book was that it linked to Ugly Love and that readers got to see some of the characters from it. Oh, and of course Hoovers writing, which I adore. However, other than that, I didn’t really like this book and in my opinion is too overrated.

Now about the negatives. Firstly, the plot twist was just really meh and predictable. It just didn’t shock me as much as all the other twists in other Hoover books. Also, the twist for me was predictable and let’s face it already has been done in a few of her books.

Secondly, I didn’t really care about the characters or their love story. Mainly because both, Fallon and Ben just felt two dimensional and over the years since they meet on November 9, I didn’t feel any character growth from both of them. Like they were acting childish, being toxic to each other, and not communicating enough. Some of the misunderstandings that they had, could have been solved in like 5 minutes if they just communicated and talked to each other in depth.

Thirdly, I just didn’t like Ben. Without spoiling, I felt that he was super toxic and that many (if not all) things he did throughout the book were not romantic. Yes, he might be a cute and flawed character who is searching for redemption, but there are so many red flags about him (e.g. The panties incident, being controlling, etc.).

Overall: Toxic love story with the main male character having a mountain of red flags. Predictable twist, two-dimensional characters, unrealistic plotline…As always, I loved the writing, but this book in my opinion was the worst Hoover book I have read so far. 

About the Author:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels and novellas. Hoover’s novels fall into the New Adult and Young Adult contemporary romance categories, as well as psychological thrillers. 

Colleen Hoover is published by Montlake Romance, Grand Central Publishing and Atria Books. Colleen also has several indie titles, including Heart Bones.

In 2015, Colleen’s novel CONFESS won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance. That was followed up in 2016 with her latest title, It Ends With Us, also winning the Choice Award for Best Romance. In 2017, her title WITHOUT MERIT won best romance.

Colleen founded The Bookworm Box, a charity subscription service and bookstore, with her family in 2015. The Bookworm Box is a subscription service that provides readers with an exciting opportunity to receive signed novels in the mail each month from authors all over the world. All profits from the subscription service are donated to various charities each month. To date, The Bookworm Box has donated over $1,000,000 to help those in need.

https://www.colleenhoover.com/about-coho/