CoHo's Latest is an Important Book About a Really Difficult Subject

Title: It Ends With Us
Author: Colleen Hoover
Narrator(s): Olivia Song
Series: stand-alone
Length: 11 hrs 11 mins
Publisher: Atria Books, Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Source: purchased ebook, audiobook received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

SOMETIMES THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU IS THE ONE WHO HURTS YOU THE MOST

Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

This book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.

April buddy-read this with a friend and I just received the audio from the publisher for review, but despite that, we both feel this is the type of story we should review together, for better or worse.

What made us read this/initial thoughts:

April: Colleen Hoover is on my auto-buy list. I own everything she has written and I usually drop everything I'm doing when her books hit my kindle. My initial thoughts on this one... I liked it. I didn't love it as much as some of her other stories. I'm glad I read it though.

Jen: I'm pretty much guaranteed to read whatever this woman writes. (With the exception of the Slammed series, which I haven't finished, and the Maybe novella, which honestly just didn't interest me.) She's from Texas, like me, and I always want to show Texas authors some love. But it's more than that. Despite it never explicitly being said in the synopsis, this book deals with abuse, and having just witnessed a very similar situation happen to someone very close to me, I thought maybe this story would lend some healing powers to the ordeal.

The Story:

Jen: There is no love triangle in this book, as the summary seems to imply. Some might call foul on that, but it's just not. I don't even know if I'd truly call this a romance because that was far from the focus for me. It's a story about abuse and how the ones we love can do us the most harm. It's about how some people never truly leave our lives. And it's based on the author's real-life experiences, which endeared the story to me even more.

April: Basically the story revolves around abuse. I kinda saw that coming from the beginning. I actually didn't realize it was based on real life experiences. That was a surprise when I got to the Authors note at the end.

The Characters:

April: I loved everyone except Ryle. I didn't like him at all. From the very beginning, and maybe it's because I had a bad feeling.. I don't know. I think it had a bit to do with his arrogance. Being a rich surgeon and not wanting any relationships.. his whole persona just reminded me of a different male book character that turned my stomach. Everyone else was great though.

Jen: I found some of the names in this book to be kind of ridiculous, but the characters are anything but. They take bad situations and turn them into dreams. And they're all incredibly well-rounded, considering everything.

The Friendships:

April: The friendships in this book were one of the highlights for me. With the story revolving around such a touchy dark subject, the friendship moments were almost a comic relief. It's what pulled me back and reminded me that I was reading a book written by Colleen Hoover.

Jen: I always love the friendships in CoHo's books. Honestly, I sometimes find myself wishing I had friends like them in real life. Even the husband of Lily's best friend made a lasting impression. It was kind of like watching an episode of How I Met Your Mother at times.

The Romance: 

Jen: There were two separate romances in this book. One from Lily's teenage years that helped her get through a tough time. And then what should have been a one-night stand that turned into something more later in her life. And though her first love does appear after she's met Mr. Just This Once, nothing happens. I repeat. Nothing. Happens. Yes, that old connection is there. Yes, Mr. First Love would like things to pick up where they left off. But Lily is faithful. She keeps a few things secret (especially from her past) that maybe she should have shared with her current love, but it is absolutely not her fault if he lets his mistrust of the situation get the better of him. I honestly never felt the love there, anyway.

April: The romance was seriously lacking for me. That's my biggest complaint about It Ends With Us. I wasn't buying either one. Like Jen says above, there isn't any infidelity, or any of that jazz going on. Since I wasn't a fan of Ryle, I didn't buy into their romance. But I guess that's part of the purpose of this book. I'm on the outside. I didn't see the appeal in him the way she did. I definitely felt more chemistry with them, than I did her first love.

The Family:

April: I like how Lily's family life ties into her current life. I really enjoyed her relationship with  her mom and how it changes throughout the book.

Jen: Lily's mother was actually kind of great as the story progressed and really helped me understand the thought process of an abused person. I mean, I've been through it, to a certain degree, but I refused to put up with it and walked away. So, it's hard for me to understand those who subject themselves to that kind of treatment for years. But I love that Lily also had the support of her best friend, who for all intents and purposes was a sister to her, even with her relationship to Mr. Just This Once.

The Elephant in the Room:

April: A big part of this story is about abuse. If you are sensitive to those kinds of things in your books, this might not be for you. But, its not just about abuse. It's about saving yourself from it. One of my best friends lived for 10 years married to a man who abused her. She fell right into another relationship where she was abused. I never really understood her, but I think I might understand her a little better now.

Jen: As I said before, this book focuses on the cycle of abuse. It's a tough subject on its own, but even more so if you have personal experience with it. Like me. Like the author. I know this had to be the most difficult novel CoHo's written to-date because of that, but I think it's the one that spoke to me the most. It's not my favorite, and not just because it brought out a lot of feelings I still don't want to deal with. But this book is still important.

The Narrator:

April: I read the kindle edition, so sadly I have no opinion on this. :)

Jen: I don't have any previous experience with Olivia Song as a narrator...as far as I know, anyway. Sometimes narrators go by different pseudonyms depending on the type of book they're performing. But regardless, I think her presentation of this novel was beautiful and heartfelt. I'd like to hear more of her narrative performances. Maybe even on another CoHo book.

Overall:

April: Hmmm, overall, I'll be honest. I'm torn. I probably would have rated it 3 stars had I reviewed it on my own. I love that Hoover went there with this story. Not a lot of authors do, and I feel like there need to be more books like this. My biggest complaint is that it's over the top in places. As stated above, I have a best friend who went years living in abuse. She didn't stay because she "loved him" She stayed because he tore her down, and told her she could never do better than him. She stayed because they had 3 kids and financially she wasn't sure she could support them on her own. The characters in this story are pretty well off financially. Obnoxiously so. I think it would have been more relatable had some of those factors been toned down a bit. It dealt with a very real subject but it felt a little unrealistic at times. So it was not a favorite of mine, but I still liked it. I will still buy everything that woman writes.

Jen: This is an important book. An emotionally fraught book. Did I like it? Not really, but that's because of the subject matter. I did enjoy the moments of levity, the friendships and the support...the overall message that you are not alone in this. And although I'll never truly love this story, it did make me feel a lot of things.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and This Girl. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Find Colleen:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: audiobooks, colleen hoover, contemporary, it ends with us, new adult, reviews, simon schuster, tx authors

Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

Title: Confess
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: March 10th, 2015
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

I have pretty much loved every book I've read by Colleen Hoover. With the exception of Never Never, that story just had a totally different feel for me. I'd be lying if that didn't make me nervous going into Confess, but there was no need.

Confess was like coming home. All of the feelings I'm so accustomed too in a Hoover novel, were there waiting for me. *happy sigh* 

There is just something about her characters. I fall madly in love with them. I think that was part of my issue with Never Never, because I hated those characters. But then again, she co wrote that, so the characters might not have really been her doing. 

Oh but Auburn Reed and Owen Gentry. They were perfect. Well, as perfect as they could be. I wasn't completely sold on Owen straight away, but he grew on me.. once I got to really know him. Auborn, while I loved her to death, I wanted to slap her at times. But I understood completely why she did the things she did. She didn't have much of a choice. There is always a choice, but in this instant... her motives were in the correct place. 

And guys, there is a dinger of a surprise in here. I was like... whoa! But I had some suspicions, that I shrugged off and ended up true. lol. 

Oh and the art through out the story was awesome. I love how Hoover incorporates the arts in her stories. It adds so much and I love it. 

The ending to this story was just wonderful. I was drunk of the perfection. It was just that good. Once again Hoover has stolen my heart with her words.. and I cannot wait until her next novel comes out. <3 

About the author:

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and This Girl. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Find Colleen:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: all the feels, atria books, colleen hoover, confess, favorites, reviews

Waiting on Wednesday: November 9 & Six of Crows

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:




Title: November 9
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: n/a
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 10, 2015

This is a love story between a guy (me) and a girl (Fallon). I think. Can it even be considered a love story if it doesn’t end with love? Mysteries end when the mystery is solved. Biographies end when the life story has been told. Love stories should end with love, right? Maybe I’m wrong, then. Maybe this isn’t a love story. If you ask me…I’d say this might even be considered a tragedy. Whatever it is—however it ends—I promised I would tell it. So without further ado.

Once upon a time…I met a girl. The girl.

Colleen Hoover is always a must read for me. Cannot wait for this one, although I'm annoyed that it comes out November 10th and not the 9th. My ocd is screaming!

**** Also, I scheduled this to go up this morning I thought, but it was scheduled for this evening:/ I just noticed it because I was busy at work today. here I messed up the blog already the first week Jen leaves me alone. lol



's Pick:



Title: Six of Crows
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Dregs, book #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-new book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Dude. Leigh Bardugo. A criminal prodigy. A deadly heist. Give it to me NOOOOOWWWWW. Like, I can't even with that cover. I remember when I first discovered Leigh's Shadow and Bone at ALA Midwinter 2012, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And I feel the same about this new series. But at least now, I already know to expect amazing things. =)


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

Read More

Labels: atria books, beautiful covers, colleen hoover, fantasy, favorite authors, leigh bardugo, macmillan, november 9, the dregs, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Review: Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Title: Never Never

Author: Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
Series: Never Never #1
Publisher: Hoover Inc
Publication Date: January 7th, 2015
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Hopeless joins forces with the New York Times bestselling author of Mud Vein. Together, they have created a gripping, romantic tale unlike any other.

"How odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you've never met."

Charlize Wynwood and Silas Nash have been best friends since they could walk. They've been in love since the age of fourteen. But as of this morning...they are complete strangers. Their first kiss, their first fight, the moment they fell in love...every memory has vanished.

"I don't care what our real first kiss was," he says. "That's the one I want to remember."

Charlize and Silas must work together to uncover the truth about what happened to them and why. But the more they learn about the couple they used to be...the more they question why they were ever together to begin with.

"I want to remember what it feels like to love someone like that. And not just anyone. I want to know what it feels like to love Charlie."

Hmmmm, What can I say about Never Never? There isn't a whole lot to say, really, because there's not much too it. lol. Jen loved this one, I saw she blew through it rather quickly. Me however, it was just alright.

When the buzz first started about Never Never, it was supposed to be a full size novel. Standalone even, I think. But then it was changed. My pre order was canceled and it was now to be a series. You can read more about that here. Never Never preorder cancellation . Which is no big deal. I like standalones and I like series books.

Never Never is pretty darn short. Like 156 pages short. In her post, it reads that they knew they couldn't wrap this story up in one piece. Um... Hopeless was 410 pages. I'm not understanding. Of course it can't be wrapped up in 156 pages. Hell it barely even got started. A full size standalone book would be lots of pages...??? huh.

Which is my biggest issue with Never Never. It's starts off in the thick of things. You're totally confused, your characters are totally confused, you have no idea what the hell is going on. Just when I started to become mildly interested I was faced with the dreaded...

To Be Continued

So maybe I get that it couldn't be wrapped up in one installment, but maybe a dualogy? I'm now wondering how many books will be in this series, since they are so tiny. Some would say this just a ploy to bring in more money. I'm not saying that's the case here, but I've seen these "Novella" series books becoming a thing. But hey, what do I know. 

On top of that, I wasn't really feeling the characters. They were kind of assholes. I didn't feel as invested in what was happening to them. Either of them. It's told from two point of views btw. Sillas and Charlie. I'm not sure if it was because Fisher was a part of this project, or what. I don't think so though, maybe it's just a matter of preference. I won't go into any detail as to why I didn't like them, you will see for yourself if you read it.

As far as the writing goes, It seemed on par with how Colleen Hoover usually writes. I didn't notice any difference, like where Tarryn Fisher fit into it all, but it did have a darker feel to it, so maybe that was her contribution. I bought her book Mud Vein a while back, and I've been wanting to pick it up.

So I didn't hate Never Never, by all means. I just wish it had been longer. I think the length was part of why I couldn't connect with the characters. I mean, so much is going on and then bam, it's over.

Will I buy the next one? You bet your ass I will because Colleen Hoovers name is on it, and I have hopes that she can make me fall in love with this story at some point. I'm just not there yet.

About the author:

I would like to write a novel that every, single person loves, but not even J.K. Rowling
could do that. Instead, I try to write stories that pull on people's emotions. I believe that sadness is the most powerful emotion, and swirled with regret the two become a dominating force. I love villains. Three of my favorites are Mother Gothel, Gaston and the Evil Queen who all suffered from a pretty wicked case of vanity (like me). I like to make these personality types the center of my stories. I love rain, Coke, Starbucks and sarcasm. I hate bad adjectives and the word "smolder". If you read my book-I love you. If you hate my book-I still love you, but please don't be mean to me; I'm half badass, half cry baby.

Find Tarryn:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

About the author:

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and This Girl. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Find Colleen:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: colleen hoover, never never, tarryn fisher

Waiting on Wednesday: Confess & Of Dreams and Rust

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: Confess
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: n/a
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: March 10th, 2015

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

If it's a Colleen Hoover book, then I'm guaranteed to be waiting for it. Not just on Wednesdays. On every other day of the week too! And it's funny, because I'll read the descriptions and think, "meh", but then I pick up the book and it sucks me right in. I will for sure be grabbing this one as soon as it comes out. :)

And I just love this cover. I didn't notice it as first, but there is a girl in the lettering. So cool.





's Pick:





Title: Of Dreams and Rust
Author: Sarah Fine
Series: Of Metal and Wishes, book #2
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: August 4, 2015

War erupts in this bittersweet sequel to Of Metal and Wishes, inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and called “relentlessly engrossing” by The Romantic Times.

In the year since the collapse of the slaughterhouse where Wen worked as her father’s medical assistant, she’s held all her secrets close. She works in the clinic at the weapons factory and sneaks away to nurse Bo, once the Ghost, now a boy determined to transform himself into a living machine. Their strange, fragile friendship soothes some of the ache of missing Melik, the strong-willed Noor who walked away from Wen all those months ago—but it can’t quell her fears for him.

The Noor are waging a rebellion in the west. When she overhears plans to crush Melik’s people with the powerful war machines created at the factory, Wen makes the painful decision to leave behind all she has known—including Bo—to warn them. But the farther she journeys into the warzone, the more confusing things become. A year of brutality seems to have changed Melik, and Wen has a decision to make about him and his people: How much is she willing to sacrifice to save them from complete annihilation?

I know, I know...I'm featuring a book with a release date almost a year away?!? But I got to help Sarah Fine reveal the cover for this sequel last week, and ever since I first saw it, I've been unable to stop thinking about it. I covet this book like no other! Of course, the cover is gorgeous and just as stunning -- if not more so -- than the first book in this duology, but it's what's between the covers that I'm particularly interested in. Especially after reading that summary! My heart hurts just thinking about it!

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

Read More

Labels: alternate history, atria books, beautiful covers, colleen hoover, confess, fantasy, favorite authors, favorites, of metal and wishes, sarah fine, simon schuster, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Title: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: August 5, 2014
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

I’ve been waiting for this book for a long time. As I do with anything Colleen Hoover writes. I’ve learned to push back my New Adult fears where she is concerned. There is such a thing as mixing sex with plot and Hoover has mastered it tenfold.

As tradition goes, my friend Jess and I decided to buddy read it. Ugly Love, Oh my, what can I say. The word that describes it best would be addictive. Jess couldn’t even wait up for me, she blew through it and left me in the dust. Lol. If I wasn’t so busy lately I would have done the same. It’s a very hard book to put down.

There is sex, quite a lot of it. I think Ugly Love read more as an adult book honestly. The characters were mature, and had their shit together it seemed. Unlike the immaturity you sometimes find in the NA genre.

Speaking of characters, there is Tate and Miles, told from both point of views. I loved that, and I especially loved it this time around because the Miles bits in the beginning tell the story of his past. While we are watching Tate and Miles relationship, you are getting the background that Tate is not. That was important, because without that, I would have written Miles off as a total douche.

Their relationship is messy, and ugly. I get where the title comes from. Miles has gone through a shit load of stuff, and it’s rough. I really felt for him and what went down all those years ago. It’s a doozy, let me tell you.

Tate, she can’t help herself but fall for him, and I’ve been there. I’ve been in a relationship where sex is supposed to be it, but it never ends up that way. It gets complicated.

What I loved most about Ugly Love is how it sucks you in. From the get go, I was attached to these characters. I especially loved Tate’s brother. He was great. Also, Miles best friend Ian was pretty awesome too.

My only qualms with this book were… Miles name. He’s a pilot you see, and his name is Miles. For some reason that annoyed me, but that’s just nit picking. Also, the ending was kind of cheesy. I mean I loved it, but after reading all the heartache, I wasn’t prepared for such a mushy gushy ending.

Overall, Ugly love really is beautifully written. I love how the words cascade down the page in some parts. It adds to the feeling of it all. Fans of Colleen Hoover need to read this. I’m so glad I did, and it was definitely worth the wait.

This was me when I put down my kindle

About the author:

Colleen Hoover is the New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, and This Girl. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

Find Colleen:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Read More

Labels: atria books, colleen hoover, new adult, reviews, ugly love