Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

 

“…this book is packed full of surprises that left me breathless and
just sad.  It really speaks loudly for the quality of the writing that
even while reading some hard things, I felt every bit of this book.” ~Under the Covers

How come am I just finding out about Colleen Hoover?  This was the first book by her I’ve ever seen around GoodReads and when a lot of my friends where reading it, and loving it, I decided to be brave and dive into the new adult waters.  Mind you, I stay away from new adult books like the plague (usually).

I’ll admit when I started and got just on the first few pages, I thought maybe this wasn’t for me.  The heroine was presenting herself as a teenager of loose morals, who just didn’t care about anything but having a good ol time.  And I put the book down then for a few days.  Then the new year rolls around and it’s 2am and I can’t sleep…So I picked it back up thinking I would read a few more pages.  A few more pages turned into “I-can’t-put-it-down-even-though-my-eyes-are-burning-and-it’s-5am”.  This was an unexpected emotional ride!  The story of Sky and Holder was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time.

First I fell in love with Sky.  She’s like very few teenagers out there, which is probably why I didn’t have a problem with the age group of the characters.  She’s been sheltered somewhat by her mother, never had TV, cellphone, internet, basically anti-technology.  She’s been home schooled.  But she’s always had her best friend, her neighbor Six.  Six talks her into enrolling in public school for her senior year, intending to enjoy one year together, but then ends up going away on the first day of school.  Sky still pushes ahead with her plan, even though she doesn’t really know anyone, and is going in with Six’s reputation, one that might not be too flattering.

Sky has always had issues, and a lot of them she doesn’t know what triggers them or why she feels or doesn’t feel certain ways.  This book was her discovery of her own self, her emotions and her past.

Dean Holder is the sexy bad boy.  He’s got temper issues, and even then I thought he was hot.  But when he decides to turn on the charm and be sweet, I might’ve been putty in his hands, just like Sky.  His relationship with Sky was perfect from the moment they first laid eyes on each other.  Even when things weren’t all roses.

And things aren’t all roses.  Like I said, once the story unfolds, this book is packed full of surprises that left me breathless and just sad.  It really speaks loudly for the quality of the writing that even while reading some hard things, I felt every bit of this book.  More than reading it, I experienced it with the characters.  From when it gave me butterflies in my stomach to when it made my heart ache.

The focus of this book was the romance for sure, don’t let the darkness of the story and how they got there take away from that.  Sky and Holder deserved the happiness that awaits them and I loved how the author just made them slowly come together.  Gradually, believing they were falling in love every step of the way.  Along with all their firsts, and forevers.

I do feel the need to warn people that this might not be a story for everyone as it deals with topics that may be hard to read for some people, like suicide and abuse.  It’s not a mushy teenage story, even though the characters are teenagers.  And definitely not YA reading material.  But it is one of those stories that will probably stay with me for a long time and make me think back.

I will definitely be looking forward to reading more of Colleen Hoover in the very near future!

Favorite quotes:

“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.”

“I know you’re mad at me,” he says, looking down at me. His eyes and his words are full of remorse, but the apology still doesn’t come. “I need you to be mad at me, Sky. But I think I need you to still want me here with you even more.”

“Fuck all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.”

“I want you to keep them open…because I need you to watch me give you the very last piece of my heart.”

“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it’s dark or rainy or cloudy,it’s still beautiful to look at. It’ s my favorite thing because I know if I ever get lost or lonely or scared, I just have to look up and it’ll be there no matter what…and I know it’ll always be beautiful.”

Did you like this review? If so, please tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

[about-author author=”Colleen Hoover”]