Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Simon & Schuster
Goodreads
Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.Review by Nara
Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of 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.
How clever is the premise of this book? It's honestly the perfect set up for a contemporary romance novel. Two people meet on a fateful day: November 9. They agree to meet only once a year until the age of 23, with absolutely no contact in between. They don't have each others' phone numbers or emails; all they have is the promise to meet at a particular place at a particular time on a particular day every year.
I still seriously admire how well Colleen Hoover balances the amount of angst in her books. It's enough that the book isn't too boring, and it's not to a degree that makes you want to tear your hair out. There are so many things that happen in this book even though it basically only takes place over five days. And each of these events gives you so. Many. Feels.
The romance was pretty freaking fantastic. Fallon and Ben complement each other in all the best ways, and the way they interact with each other is quite realistic. It's odd, since they technically only know each other for a total of less than five days, you'd think that a romance wouldn't be as believable, but dayum, Hoover pulls it off. It strangely never feels like an instalove, which is quite the incredible feat.
And holy shit, that Colleen Hoover twist. You'd think that after so many books, I'd be looking out for it, but nope, there she goes, pulling the rug out from under me yet again. Unbelievable.
So basically, Colleen Hoover does it again. Get your hands on this book.
Incredible
RatingsOverall: 9/10
Plot: 4.5/5
Romance: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
