By Colleen Hoover
OVERVIEW
Small-town girl Lily has had nothing but an easy life. After graduating college, she moves to Boston and it is there that she meets Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon with an assertive, brilliant but slightly arrogant personality.
Despite growing feelings and sexual tension, Ryle remains completely opposed to the idea of a relationship. It is when Atlas Corrigan, her first love and tie to the past, that makes Lily question everything she has built with Ryle and he is certainly not happy about it.
MY THOUGHTS
This was the first romance-focused book I had read in a long time. My expectations weren’t particularly high but this was a heartbreaking and emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. The story is made all the more powerful because of its connection with the author. She certainly paints the scene of abuse vividly, making the reader see that those that tolerate abuse are not weak. It’s not black and white.
The ending was the perfect way to bring closure and hope to the main characters. The cathartic moment they share gives you an overwhelming feeling of relief and you feel the weight of the decision. Despite everything, the choice Lily made was not an easy one.
So why 3 stars? Whilst Ryle and Lily’s relationship was well-rounded, her relationship with Atlas seemed lacking in places and the epilogue feels forced. As a reader, I would have preferred Atlas to play a more minor role without forcing that relationship right at the end. It just left me a little unsatisfied.
Favourite Quotes
“IT STOPS HERE. WITH ME AND YOU. IT ENDS WITH US..”
COLLEEN HOOVER
“ALL HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES. WHAT DETERMINES A PERSON’S CHARACTER AREN’T THE MISTAKES WE MAKE. IT’S HOW WE TAKE THOSE MISTAKES AND TURN THEM INTO LESSONS RATHER THAN EXCUSES.”
COLLEEN HOOVER
The Silver Bookworm 