REVIEW: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Title: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: August 5th 2014
Format: eBook | Pages: 337
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Amazon

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.

Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.

Promises get broken.

Rules get shattered.

Love gets ugly.

Why, Colleen Hoover? Why? Why do you constantly insist on pulverizing my feelings?

Sigh.

It's okay. I still love you.

I always think that I'm emotionally ready to pick up one of her books. Yet every time I do she proves to me how wrong I was. I thought I had some idea where things were going to go with Ugly Love and for the second time in this paragraph, I admit that I was very wrong. Maybe the lesson here is I need to just stop thinking altogether.

Even though I'm a person who believes that the whole "friends with benefits" thing, or I guess in the case of Tate and Miles acquaintances with benefits, will never, ever work, I absolutely love reading a book with this trope. They always seem to prove my point that for at least one person in a relationship of this type, feelings will inevitably be impossible to avoid. You can tell yourself that you won't get your heart involved but I always feel like it's an impossible mission. I don't know, maybe I'm just not a cold enough person and I'm too much heart. But regardless on how you view the FWB game...I'm addicted to reading about them.

Loved both Tate and Miles. Granted, I had moments of pure and utter frustration with both of them from time to time as I made my way through their story. In the case of Miles it was his constant mixed signals. He would preach one thing but his actions would say something completely different. Had I ever at any point felt like he was doing this on purpose I would be writing a totally different review all together. However, it's practically impossible not to love Miles, especially as the story goes on and you learn his deep dark secrets. Then that practically slips away and it's just inevitable. Miles's story completely ripped my heart to pieces. It was dust. Like, I am surprised there was anything left of it to put back together. He is my new favorite Colleen Hoover book boy!

Tate was also a really great character. Tate was essentially every single girl who's met a great guy and walked into a situation with her eyes wide open, knowing all the rules...and couldn't help but break every single one of them. Which I guess is why at times she could be so frustrating. She did stupid things because of a boy she lost her heart to and sure at times the relationship was pretty unhealthy but I respect every direction her character went in. Why? Because it was so damn real. She saw something in Miles that was worth all the heartache, tears and pain and we do crazy things when we're in love. Therefore, I loved Tate and how real she was.

I really don't know where else to go from here. So I guess it's time to just go ahead and wrap this one up!

There is something so addicting about picking up a Colleen Hoover book. You know it's bad for you (emotionally), you know it's going to hurt you. It's not going to be fluffy and puppies and rainbows. Yet like every addict out there, getting your hands on that next fix is so satisfying and you can't wait to lose yourself in the moment and ride the high it gives you. Ugly Love toyed with my emotions and I can't even hate it for that. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. And I loved every single emotion and feeling it pulled me through. I'm already ready for my next CoHo fix.

ARC REVIEW: Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: Losing Hope | Hopeless #2
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books

Published: July 8th 2013

Format: eBook | Pages: 336

Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance

Source: NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I started Losing Hope already in love with Holder and Sky, from reading Hopeless, and their beautifully written story that touches on a very delicate and sensitive subject. Every time I dive into a Colleen Hoover book thinking I'm fully prepared for the emotional assault that she is sure to lay on me, I always find out that I'm sorely mistaken. This book was no exception.

I know there's those of you out there, unlike myself, who have a hard time with authors putting out books like this from the male characters POV. "Why would I want to reread the same thing from someone else's perspective?" I totally get that, I know quite a few people who once they've read, seen whatever it may be, something that's it. They don't want to revisit it. Well let me just say that this book is quite different, and yet the same. You, of course, are going to be seeing scenes that you've read before, but you're also going to see a whole new side of Holder.

I thought it would be easy you know? I know what is going to come of these two. I've lived it all before. I couldn't possibly love this story more could I? Wrong. I think reading Holder's side was just that much more difficult. He's living through double the pain. Double the heartache. This horrific and tragic event has touched his life in more ways that can be imagined, with two of the people he's loved most in the world. It's been almost two weeks since I've finished this book and I'm still feeling everything, right there on the surface, as if I just finished it hours ago. If it's one thing Colleen Hoover is good at, it's writing things that stick with you for quite a while.

I pull the pen out of the spiral binding, then press the tip of the pen ot the paper and begin to write her a letter. I don't even know why I'm writing her. 

These letters really killed me. They reached out and stroked a place in my soul I didn't know existed and turned me inside out in a puddle of tears and emotion. The emotions Holder expresses in his writing to Les are just so raw. Whether it's anger or despair or hope or even a few that made me chuckle. It was pure Holder and gave great insight into his thoughts at the time.

One of the things I loved from reading this side of the story was getting to see the interactions with Holder and Breckin and also Holder's friend Daniel.  There wasn't a lot but the scenes with those boys had me laughing. Daniel is one of those larger than life people who isn't afraid to throw himself out there and be the center of attention, he sort of thrives on it. It's very entertaining.

He leans forward in his chair and glares at her. "I'll tell you what's wrong with me. I'm pissed that you're a girl because if you had a dick, I'd be punching you in your disrespectful fat mouth right now."

But best of all is getting to witness this amazing and heart warming love story through the eyes of Holder. And boy did I fall hard for him. Again. It's hard not to. You get to see how after all those years even though he was so young at the time, losing Hope really affected him and he never once gave up or quit thinking about her. How amazing would that be to have a guy be that moved, devoted, dedicated, loyal to your memory. All of that! Sigh. Only in fiction.

I wonder if it's possible for people to fall in love with a person one characteristic at a time, or if you fall for the entire person at once. Because I think I just fell in love with her wit. And her bluntness. And maybe even her mouth, but I won't allow myself to stare at it long enough to confirm.

If you fell in love with Hopeless, and I can't see how it's even possible that you couldn't have, then you really need to read Losing Hope. Even those of you who don't like the same book written from the male MCs POV because trust me this isn't just a simple retelling. And don't even go in trying to think you're ready, because you'll never be ready. Oh and grab a box of tissues. On second thought...better make it two.

ARC REVIEW: This GIrl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: This Girl | Slammed #3
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: April 30th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 256
Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble  
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

There are two sides to every love story. Now hear Will’s.

Colleen Hoover’s New York Times bestselling Slammed series has brought countless readers to their knees with a whirlwind of love, passion, and heartache.

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from his point of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series.

I'm just so

butterflying

in love

with 

This Book

No, no

This Series

Period

This one was probably the easiest of the three to read, of course. For the obvious reason that, for the most part, I already know everything that will be said or done because I've lived through it with Slammed. I mean there are quite a few surprises and "Aha!!" moments. Which were both awesome and "ohh crap".

It's unbearably sweet. We're once again in Will's POV and Lake is wanting to know his side of the story. They lay there reminiscing on key points of their relationship and points of his life that brought him to her. So we go back and forth between past and present. Like I said there were quite a few surprises along the way. A lot of them were happy and had me squealing with delight when certain situations take on a whole new light. Will's poem "The Lake" for instance took on a whole new meaning after reading the first flashback in this book. Loved it. But it wasn't all happy. I mean you didn't think we'd get through an entire book filled with Sweet right? There definitely was some Suck. Big Suck.

Overall I'm so happy with how this series progressed. Through all the good and the bad both. Even when I was crying my eyes out and wanting to curse Colleen Hoover for giving me so many feels. From start to finish each book just kept getting better and better. You know how in some cases** where we get a retelling from the guys POV of our favorite novels and we're so excited only to have it just feel sort of....flat? Yeah this isn't one of those. This lived up to what I would have wanted and like I said even surprised me.

For the entire series...My Suck? Right now. I mean it's over. I have to say goodbye to these people. Yes. I know I can reread and revisit them any time I want, I am one of those rereading types. But the firsts are all gone. The surprises have been uncovered. So that's a huge suck. My Sweet? Right now. It's over but it was so much fun. I'm glad for being able to get to know these characters. For all the tears shed. For the laughter it pulled from me. The heartache. The pulse pounding love. All of it. Huge sweet. It ended on a high. For me.

You: "Good lord Sheri can you be a little bit more over dramatic? It's just a book..."

Me as I smile and laugh at you: "They're never just books..." :)

**I'm not saying that book was bad! It just felt rushed and not a full on retelling from an opposite POV. I still enjoyed it a lot. 

Huge thanks to NetGalley/Atria Books for putting this out there on "auto approval" for those of us who were lucky enough to grab a copy in exchange for a fair review while it was up there. I'm butterflying thankful ;)

REVIEW: Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: Point of Retreat | Slammed #2
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: February 25th 2012
Format: eBook | Pages: 302
Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Purchased Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

In the second book in the Slammed series by New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, Layken and Will's relationship has endured through hardships, heartache, and a cruel twist of fate, further solidifying the fact that they belong together. But the two lovers could not have expected that the things that brought them together may ultimately be the things that tear them apart. Their connection is on the brink of being destroyed forever and it will take an extraordinary amount of willpower to keep their love afloat.

Layken is left questioning the very foundation on which her relationship with Will was built. Will is left questioning how he can prove his love for a girl who can't seem to stop "carving pumpkins." Upon finding the answers that may bring peace back into their relationship, the couple comes across an even greater challenge—one that could change not only their lives but the lives of everyone who depend on them.

Things I've learned from reading this book, well Slammed as well so I guess you can say the whole series:

1. Suck and Sweet is probably the best daily family event/game ever and I think everyone should do it. (We'll see if my 15yr old agrees...lol)

2. Butterfly and all it's many possible forms is the absolute best curse word on the planet. And it sounds pretty saying it.

3. No matter how prepared you think you may be for anything, sometimes life will slap you in the face and show you how very much you really aren't. So prepare for the unthinkable.

4. Family isn't defined by your mom, dad, brother, sister, etc. Family isn't always blood. Sometimes family can be your friends, your neighbors. Blood doesn't define family. (It was worth repeating.)

5. Always. ALWAYS. Seriously always, tell the person you love what's going on in your head. Don't hide things. Even harmless things. Even if you're afraid they'll jump to conclusions now or be hurt now. It's easier to fix it in the now than them finding out down the road and trying to explain why you didn't tell them then. (Always been my philosophy.)

That's all. There's more. But these were my favorites. The serious and the funny.

I really don't know what I was thinking. Maybe that since Slammed ended on such a good high that possibly we could have an entire book two filled with nothing but rainbows, sunshine, puppy dogs and cupcakes. Was that too much to ask? Yes. I was entirely unprepared for this book. I wish I could lay blame to a "rookie mistake" But I can't. I should of known better by now.

Emotional Roller Coaster. It should be a new genre. And Colleen Hoover would be it's reigning queen! This one was entirely in Will's POV. It was butterflying fantastic. I loved being inside his head, so to speak. So much happens, I mean after everything we go through (yes we!) with Slammed you can't help but hope for a tiny break. And we get it... in the beginning. Then we get knocked to the floor and picked back up and knocked to the floor and picked back up. Up and down. I think I'm emotionally spent.

I wanted to quit a couple times.  Like when the first shoe dropped. And I saw it coming, I just knew before--but that's all I can say, really, without spoilers. And then next thing I know, I'm crying again. But the good cry. The beyond good type of cry and smiling and just happy. And it's only like 60-ish%, so I'm cautious and waiting for the other shoe to drop. And then it's the end of Part One. And there's two words that end it. And if you've read this then I'm sure you know what I mean. I cried. I turned off my Kindle. I just didn't want to know what those two words would turn into. I couldn't move on to Part Two. Not yet. I almost quit again! It was getting to be too much.

It took me about an hour to be able to pick it up again. Honestly I couldn't not know.  And I think from that point on is where I was really touched by the definition of their family. Lake, Will, Kel, Caulder, Eddie, Gavin, Kiersten and Sherry. I mean they have other people in their lives but when push comes to shove those people would all do just about anything for each other. And it was awesome. I was a bit suspicious at first with the addition of Kiersten and Sherry but by the end I don't think anything would have been the same without them. Especially Kiersten who taught me my last thing. Sometimes it feels good to stand up for yourself and just say "Butterfly you".

REVIEW: Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: Slammed | Slammed #1
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: September 18th 2012
Format: Paperback | Pages: 317
Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Purchased B&N
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Falling in love can feel like poetry. Or it can feel like a slam to the heart.

Colleen Hoover’s romantic, emotion-packed debut novel unforgettably captures all the magic and confusion of first love, as two young people forge an unlikely bond before discovering that fate has other plans for them.

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she's losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together and the forces that tear them apart. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret.

I know, I know. Guess who's late jumping on the Slammed bandwagon? This Girl....Oh that was terrible. I mean I knew once I typed it but once I got to the Point of (no) Retreat it was a bit late to stop...Okay. Yeah. I hate myself for that too. I think we should all just walk away now.

No more stupid jokey puns. *Serious face*

I made a small error before starting this book. Things I thought: There was going to be a cute, swoon worthy boy. There was going to be a great girl. There was going to be an amazing love story. There was going to be poetry. Yeah I was sure there were other elements too but my error was assuming that this was going to be an easy read. No heart stomping. But see I forgot one very important element. Two words. Well, really, more so a name than two words. Colleen Hoover.

Things I know now: By page 27 I was already in love with Will. By page 59 I was on a cliff so high off the ground, thinking there was no where to go but to keep going up after their adorable first date. By page 65 rocks started to give way beneath my feet. I didn't even see that one coming. More rocks crumble. I'm slipping and there's no way to stop it. I keep turning and turning, page after page. And for every inch I get of hope and happiness I get knocked back down about five feet within a matter of minutes. But I kept going. Eventually the path evened out. And I made it to the top. And you know what? The view from up here is amazing. This book was amazing.

I mean honestly I picked it up this afternoon to start it and, except for stopping for a few life/mom things, I couldn't put it down until I was done hours later, sitting here at 2:30am writing this. (Hence the weirdness of all this. It's sleep deprivation). I laughed, I cried, I cheered on the inside when Layken stood up in class and read "Mean" (read the book you will too), basically if you can feel it, this book pulls it out of you. No scratch that Colleen Hoover pulls it out of you. She's 2 for 2 with me. *Pats Point of Retreat* And I'm about to go for round three. After I sleep.

Before I go, I've always been a big slam poetry fan and so I'll leave you with a little inspiration. Found this a few weeks back and I love it. :)

REVIEW: Hopeless (Hopeless #1) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: Hopeless | Hopeless #1
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Colleen Hoover
Published: December 19th 2012
Format: eBook | Pages: 391 
Genre: YA, Romance, Drama
Source: Purchased B&N

 ★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Due to heavy subject matter and mature content, this book is recommended for ages 17+

From the NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of SLAMMED and POINT OF RETREAT.

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past she wishes could just stay buried. 

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever. 

A couple of warnings first...be prepared to fall in love with this book. Second, have some tissues on hand...you're going to need them. Third, you really need to be ready because where this book takes you really isn't for the faint of heart. That being said, this book was absolutely fantastic. So emotional.

This book has everything. After Sky and Holder quit fighting their feelings there is such a sweetness...a passion to their relationship. I can't tell you how many swoon worthy moments there are, I lost track! 

“The moment my lips touch yours, it will be your first kiss.

Because if you've never felt anything when someone's kissed you, 

then no one's ever really kissed you. 

Not the way I plan on kissing you.”  

*Insert dreamy sigh here* I mean come on does it get any better than that? I swear I would gladly tell a guy I've never felt anything if he would respond the way Holder does. Book Boyfriend perfection!

But sweetness and love and passion aren't the only things they have between them. There is so much playfulness and humor. I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud at times. Her best friend Six is in a foreign exchange program and while she's away she's told Sky she's going to text motivational type messages and at one point Holder reads one and is like are you kidding me? So he decides, in order to avoid her getting a big ego, he's going to be Mister Anti-Positive Affirmation so you get things like this:

Six:

   “Sky, you are beautiful. 

You are possibly the most exquisite creature in the universe 

and if anyone tells you otherwise, I’ll cut a bitch.”

Holder:

“You fell asleep right when she was about to find out her mother’s secret. 

How dare you. I’ll be back tomorrow night so you can finish reading it to me. 

And by the way, you have really bad breath and you snore way too loud."

Colleen Hoover definitely has a great sense of humor and it popped up through the book. Just enough to break up the seriousness and the tragedy that the book centers around. Like I said, prepare yourself for the worst because the closer these 2 get and the further they travel down the road of secrets they find the truth about the tragedies of their pasts and they are very heavy issues for a mature audience.

But regardless of the heaviness of this book, it is A-MA-ZING. You really should read it. Go on! Do it!! You'll thank me later. :)