Confess by Colleen Hoover

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…

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Colleen Hoover delivers another fantastic, book hugging story with Confess. This time, Colleen creates a unique reading experience by incorporating the art work of Danny O'Connor (check him out on FaceBook) and anonymous confessions from readers. The artwork and the confessions (and trust me, some of the confessions are not happy ones) added another dimension to the story. They were real and tangible, taking the story beyond words printed on a page. Combine this with her beautifully crafted characters, and there is no escaping the hold of this book. After finishing it, I both loved and hated her for my emotional state, but this has become my expectation when I open the pages of a Colleen Hoover novel. It can be read as a stand-alone and is well worth the read. 

Maybe Not (Maybe #1.5) by Colleen Hoover

When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

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Maybe Someday is one of my favorite Colleen Hoover novels, and I loved Warren's character in it. His character provided  much needed comic relief, and I found his character very endearing, like the big brother that I always wished I had. Of course when I heard that she was going to release this novella about Warren and Bridgette's relationship, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Colleen doesn't disappoint, either. The story was exactly what you would expect with Warren involved - heartwarming, with plenty of humor. Don't read this one until you have read Maybe Someday, but it is definitely worth the read.

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

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.

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Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. That's all I have to say after reading this book. Colleen delivers another fantastic read that left me emotionally slain and a sobbing puddle. Colleen has the amazing ability to create characters that you instantly connect with, and they take you on emotional journeys full of highs and lows. Every time I pick up one of her books I think, "It can't get better than this," but she continues to put these stories out into the world that just keep getting better.

What I loved about this book was its honesty. Love is UGLY sometimes, and this book portrays that raw brokenness so beautifully. Love is a powerful thing - it can tear you down just as quickly as it can build you up. When love gets ugly, it leaves room for fear and doubt, and can leave you closed off and dead inside, which is exactly where Miles was. Miles' story is truly heartbreaking, and left me feeling shattered. I loved how his story was revealed slowly throughout the book, instead of all at once. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another piece would be revealed, and I would find myself surprised and my heart breaking just a little bit more. The devastation that I felt over Miles' story, only made me root for his and Tate's relationship even more (because I'm a sucker for a happy ending, just as much as the next girl!)

I couldn't put this book down. I was so emotionally invested in it, that I became all but obvious to my surroundings while reading it. Have some tissues handy while reading this book, as it will not just pull on your heartstrings, but damn near rip them out of your chest. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It definitely earned a book hug, and left me with a book hangover. I found myself thinking about it, and going back and rereading passages days after I had finished it. It's amazing. Read it. 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Sydney's twenty-second birthday is not going how she envisioned. Finding herself homeless after discovering her boyfriend of two years and her best friend/roommate have been cheating behind her back, and unemployed, Sydney now faces a decision: turn to her less than supportive parents for help, or accept the offer of help from her extremely attractive neighbor, Ridge.

Ridge is facing a dilemma of his own...writer's block. For months he has been unable to pen any song lyrics. When he sees Sydney, from his balcony, singing along to the melodies from his guitar, he can't help but be intrigued. When Ridge discovers Sydney's boyfriend's infidelity, he finds himself compelled to tell her, even if he doesn't want to be the one who has to do so. Determined to keep his new found muse, Ridge offers Sydney the spare bedroom in his apartment.

As time passes, Ridge and Sydney's musical collaboration brings them closer and closer. They find themselves communicating their feelings through the lyrics they write together. But Ridge is not free, and he finds himself torn between the girlfriend he can never leave and the feelings he has developed for Sydney. Their situation leaves them with nothing but heartbreak and the dream of maybe someday.

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Colleen Hoover is a literary genius. I swear she could write a phone book, and I would buy it and love every page of it. I have loved every book of hers that I have read, from the Slammed series to the Hopeless series. However, her books should come with a warning label stamped on the front - Warning: You will be emotionally wrecked by the end of this novel. Maybe Someday was no exception.

She had me hook, line, and sinker from the very first page. Colleen has the amazing ability to create these characters and relationships that you instantly want to root for. I felt every moment of joy, pain, and heartbreak right along with Ridge and Sydney. I found myself reduced to a crying mess as the hopelessness of their love story washed over me again and again, and I found myself profoundly grateful that I was reading this book in the privacy of my own home. Had I been in public, people would have probably wondered about my mental stability. And the ending? I won't talk about it because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it brought on a whole new wave of tears.

Maybe Someday offers readers a truly unique reading experience with the addition of a soundtrack. Because music was such an important element to this story, I was intrigued when I heard that Colleen was collaborating with Griffen Peterson to record the songs featured in the novel. I had heard a few of the songs prior to reading the book, and while I liked them, it wasn't until I heard them in conjunction with the story that I fell in love with them. The songs added so much to my reading experience because I didn't have to imagine what the songs would have sounded like. While I have always had a vivid imagination and consider myself somewhat musical, I am by no means a song writer or a musician. Having the songs took the pressure off me to create them in my mind and allowed me to simply enjoy them for what they were - an honest form of communication between Sydney and Ridge.

I always know when I find a book deserving of 5 stars when two things happen: First, I feel compelled to hug the book to my chest after reading the last page, and second, I instantly want to turn back to page one and start reading it again. Both of these occurred after I finished Maybe Someday. Ridge has joined the ranks of my favorite book boyfriends, right along with Will, Holder, and Daniel. In the few days since I have finished the novel, I still find myself humming the songs and pulling it back off my self to reread some of my favorite parts. I'm sure my future holds many rereads of this book. Colleen Hoover delivers another unforgettable read.

Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5) by Colleen Hoover

Let me start by saying that Colleen Hoover could charge whatever she wanted for her novels and I would gladly fork it over. I love her that much! To show her appreciation to her fans, she released this novella for FREE! As if I needed another reason to love her. Now some might think that because it is free, that Colleen might not have put that much effort into it, or that it is really just a fluff piece....well let me put that thought straight out of your mind. This novella is AMAZING!!

Finding Cinderella focuses on Holder and Sky's best friends, Daniel and Six. I loved these characters in the other Hopeless novels. Daniel is hilarious and truly has a way with words and Six is the kind of friend that I would want to have. When I heard that they were getting their own story I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. So this is how is plays out...

Daniel has a chance encounter with a mystery girl in the maintenance closet at school. Neither one of them knows what the other one looks like, but in the brief time they spend together they form a connection. When their time is over, Daniel forces himself to push his Cinderella to the back of his mind. Moments like that don't really happen and it was all pretend anyway...right? Despite his best efforts, Daniel can never completely forget Cinderella. One year and one bad relationship later, Daniel is no closer to finding Cinderella or believing in real love, until he meets Six. Daniel and Six connect almost instantly and they fall for each other hard and fast. Discovering that Six is in fact Cinderella should have sealed the deal on happily ever after, but this revelation only exposes other secrets with the potential to ruin everything.

This novella was absolutely perfect and Daniel and Six are perfect for each other. There is plenty of humor and one hell of a twist at the end that I didn't see coming at all. I truly enjoyed watching these characters fall in love with each other. My only hope now is that with all four of our favorite characters set to head off to school together in the fall that Colleen is setting the stage for more books to come in the Hopeless series...Please? Pretty please? I'll even throw in the cherry...

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

Losing Hope is the companion novel to Colleen Hoover's Hopeless (review here), one of my favorite books of all time. Hopeless is the story of Sky, a sheltered 17 year old, whose world is changed forever after an encounter with Dean Holder at the grocery store. While Sky and Dean fall for each other, the secrets of their pasts unfold, shattering everything they know. Together they will have to find the strength to confront the past and find hope again.

"I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back. I think about the past way too much and I think about what I should have done and everything I did wrong and I've never once looked forward in my life. Being with her had me thinking about tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and next year and forever."

Losing Hope is Dean's side of the story and we get to see the events of Hopeless through his perspective, as well as learn more about Dean's life before he finds Sky. This book is not a straight retelling of Hopeless and truly is a companion novel. You NEED to read Hopeless before you read Losing Hope. Questions will be answered like where Dean went for a year and why he returned, how he felt when he saw the bracelet, why he stayed away for a month, and more.

I love Dean Holder. He is one of my favorite book boyfriends, but I fell in love with him all over again in Losing Hope. This book adds so much dimension to his character and the emotion in the story was both heartbreaking and heart swelling. As much as Dean helps Sky to heal in Hopeless, it wasn't until reading Losing Hope that I realized the depth of Dean's suffering and how much Sky helps to heal him in return. This book was perfection for me and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. It was everything I expected and then some. It added so much more clarity and understanding to the story and didn't once feel like fluff. Colleen Hoover is amazing and I am so grateful that she wrote it. After reading Losing Hope, I'm left with the feeling that Sky and Dean's story has come full circle and I feel hopeful, very hopeful.

"Time has completely stopped, and all I'm thinking about while we kiss is how this is what saves people. Moments like these with people like her are what make all the suffering worth it. It's moments like these that keep people looking forward and I can't believe I've let them slip by for an entire month. I know I told her that she's never really been kissed before, but until this moment I had no idea that I had never really been kissed before. Not like this. Every kiss, every moment, every moan, every touch of her hand on against my skin. She's my saving grace. My Hope. And I'm never walking away from her again."

This Girl by Colleen Hoover

This Girl is the third installment in the Slammed series (review here) by Colleen Hoover. This time we get to see the events that happened in Slammed through the eyes of Will. I loved how Colleen approached this book. It is not just a straight retelling of Slammed. Instead the book picks up where Point of Retreat (book two) leaves off - with Will and Layken on their honeymoon.

Will tells Lake about some of the most memorable moments from when they first met - the first moment he saw her, their first date, when he realized he was her teacher, the moment when he first realized he loved her, the poetry slams, etc. The book flows back and forth between the present and Will's remembrances  which was an interesting style choice. I enjoyed it because it was more like a conversation. She asked him about something, he would tell her about it, and then we got to see her reaction to Will's thoughts and feelings.

The epilogue takes us 3 years into the future and was the perfect ending for this series. The final poem - my last piece - was so touching and perfect. God, I would love to find myself a guy who can write poetry like that! Will is definitely one of my favorite book boyfriends :) I'm so happy that Colleen decided to write this book. I love when we are able to see both sides of the story. I think it adds so much more depth to the characters and the events in the story. Another great one from Colleen!

The Slammed series has just been re-released with new covers. Make sure to check them out!

Slammed and Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Layken Cohen's life has changed dramatically in the last 6 months. Her father died unexpectedly and now her mother, younger brother Kel and Layken have packed up their home, left Texas behind, and moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan. Just when all hope seems lost, Layken meets Will Cooper. Will is her 21-year-old, attractive neighbor with a passion for slam poetry. Layken and Will form an intense emotional connection and Layken finds herself falling for Will hard, even after only knowing him a few days.

Their relationship takes an unexpected turn when Layken discovers that Will is in fact her new poetry teacher. Will, who is caring for his younger brother, Caulder, after the death of their parents cannot afford to jeopardize his job, which means that Layken and he have to break it off. Now the two are left with daily awkward exchanges and broken hearts. Layken's world is further rocked when the real reason why her family moved to Michigan is revealed. The only thing that Layken seems to know for real is that she loves Will, but will they ever be able to overcome all of the obstacles life has placed in their way?

Point of Retreat is the continuing story of Layken and Will, and told from Will's perspective this time. Having overcome enough of the obstacles to their relationship to be together, Layken and Will soon find that love may not be enough to get them through. When Will's ex-girlfriend reemerges after 3 years, Layken is left questioning the very foundations of their relationship. Will must now figure out a way to prove to Layken that their love is real, that "sometimes two people have to fall apart to realize how much they need to fall back together."

I loved this series! Loved, loved, loved it! I have to admit when it was revealed that Will has in fact Layken's teacher I thought that was it, that there was no way I was going to make it through this book. As a teacher, the idea of anything but a professional relationship between student and teacher just grosses me out. But I am also OCD when it comes to finishing a book and I'm glad that I was able to work past that little issue, because I really enjoyed this series. The characters are fantastic and create a wonderfully imperfect family, proving yet again that blood does not always a family make and that the human heart is stronger than it may appear.

I was slightly annoyed with Layken in Point of Retreat and felt that most of her hang ups where the result of her own insecurities and not Will's actions, but I also really loved watching Will find ways to prove her wrong. I enjoyed the poetry element of the book, as I myself am a big fan of slam poetry, although it loses some of its essence when read and not seen. It would be a really cool element to include should these books ever be made into a movie. This series is a quick read and full of plenty of angst, which will appeal to romantics and YA lovers. Solid 4 stars for me! 

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Seventeen-year-old Sky has led a sheltered life - home schooled, no TV, no cellphone, no internet. Her best friend, Six, lives across the street and has a horrible reputation. A reputation that has given Sky a reputation simply through association, and not based entirely in fact. Now Sky is getting ready to attend public school for senior year, just as Six is heading off to Europe via an exchange program. High school turns out to be just as horrible as Sky predicts and she is forced to endure her classmates rather unimaginative slurs and attempts to bring her down. Her only solace is Breckin, a fellow outcast.

Sky's life takes a most unexpected turn after a simple trip to the grocery store where she meets Dean Holder, a boy with a reputation worse than hers. She finds herself drawn to him and feeling things that no one else has ever made her feel. Sky knows that Holder is no good and that she should stay away from him, but he seems determined to know everything about her. He feels dangerous to Sky and his mood swings leave her reeling. What she doesn't know is that Holder is tied to a past that she never realized she had, and being with Holder drags her back into it. Meeting Holder changes every single facet of Sky's life and she is left questioning who she is, where she comes from, and what the future holds for her.

This book was heart-achingly good and Dean Holder is my new literary hero. Readers be warned - this book deals with some heavy stuff, including sexual abuse. The twists in this story are amazing and Colleen Hoover weaved this story together beautifully. It was in no way predictable for me. Usually I can figure out where stories like this are headed fairly quickly, but with Hopeless I often found myself not realizing a twist until it was just about to happen. Sky and Holder are beautifully flawed and their love story made my heart swell over and over while my eyes fill with tears. They are two damaged souls who save each other. This is a solid 5 star read for me, a rating that I do not dish out often. I know that this book will become a re-read (several times over) for me. Fantastic book!

Update 1/19/13:

Just when I thought I couldn't be any more in love with Holder I come across this bonus scene told from his point of view. Check it out here. God I love him!