Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover

November 9
By Colleen Hoover

Paperback, 310 pages

Published November 10th 2015 by Atria Books

Average Rating: 4.51

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before 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.

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MY EMOTIONS. MY MIND. MY LIFE IS A MESS. THAT WAS SUCH AN INTENSE READ. I LOVE IT.

Like a true storyteller, Colleen Hoover does it again with another fabulous, captivating standalone novel that breaks hearts and puts them back together again in the most original and heart-breaking ways.

Meet our new couple that faces Colleen’s wrath of pain, love, sadness and joy: Fallon and Ben.

Fallon. She wanted to be an actress but after a horrible fire that left half of her body scarred, her dreams of being on the big screen crumble into tiny pieces that her own father continues to crush under his feet like the asshole he is.

Ben. An aspiring writer who needs a story. A good one. And seeing Fallon, in the same café he so happened to be at being attacked by her father, he couldn’t let up the chance of being her pretend boyfriend to one up that bastard. It makes a great story, right?

One day. One decision, and Fallon and Ben’s lives are changed forever.

I don’t believe in love at first sight. I say that every time that subject of “love” comes up, but I do believe in “the click”. That immediate connection you get with someone whether it be your best friend or a significant other. You just click with them. Ben and Fallon just clicked. From the very first pages of the novel, I could feel their intense connection and that is the magic of November 9. This click, this amazing, wonderful connection, kick starts the next 6 years of their lives.

I love this book so very much. I love every single book written by Colleen Hoover and this isn’t any different. She just has this thing with words, the stories and the characters she creates. She is an expert at controlling my emotions and I’m definitely not the only one who believes the same, especially with that awesome rating of 4.51 stars on Goodreads!! Those who have read Colleen’s books will pick this one up (YOU BETTER HAVE ALREADY!!) and expect nothing less than Colleen’s beautiful, heart-wretching writing.

The novel was divided into each meeting Ben and Fallon had every year on November 9. It restricts the readers to one day a year of Fallon and Ben’s lives when they see each other again. Luckily, we get both of their perspectives but it was torture not knowing what happened every other day of the year but this restriction emphasized the changes in Ben and Fallon’s lives in the course of that one year. This highlighted the fact that in one year, a lot can happen. And it does. This novel was so realistic and relatable that it made it all more emotional to me. Fallon and Ben is the very definition of change (and character development 😛 ) and just life. Every single year, you could tell that something was different whether it be Ben or Fallon’s life but I love seeing the strength of their friendship and the extent of that, despite having no contact for one freaking year. I’m seriously in love with how easy they could go back to the way they were even with no contact. If that’s not love then I don’t know what is!

This wouldn’t be a Colleen Hoover novel if there wasn’t some damn realistic obstacles before getting a HEA. Damn. Those obstacles…no, let’s call them plot twists because the whole story was a plot twist, every single detail was a plot twist that I never saw coming, making this novel even better. Those plot twists sucked me in like never before. It was an amazing feeling being so engrossed with the story which is probably why I got so emotional. I cried so much during this novel. I was in distress. I was jumping for joy and pumping my fist in the air, screaming “YES”. I was feeling my heart break every page I turned yet I was feeling so much hope for the future of these two characters that I got attached to them so strongly and so quickly. When I say I got attached, know that that is the understatement of the century. Some plot twists were like a knife in the gut and a smack in the chest…no, more like a wrecking ball wrecking havoc in my body. Other plots twists made me smile so hard and laugh out loud. There was angst, tears, pain and laughter. The four perfect elements of every Hoover novel.

AND YOU KNOW THE BEST PART? THERE’S A SONG. A BEAUTIFUL SONG WRITTEN BY GRIFFIN PETERSON THAT JUST EMBODIES THE WHOLE NOVEL AND THE ESSENCE OF THE CHARACTERS. IT EVEN HAS THE SAME NAME AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL. I LISTEN TO THIS SONG ALL THE TIME AND EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. IT HITS ME IN THE FEELS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS SONG. ❤

*takes a deep breath* November 9 is  the ultimate romance. One that I will be remembering and rereading for years to come. You HAVE to read this amazing novel. It will be the best decision of your life and you will become addicted to Colleen’s novels and writing. Also, go check our November 9 by Griffin Peterson if you haven’t already!!! You absolutely need to!!

November 9 changed my life and left a permanent imprint on my body and soul. I hope it does the same for you.

Keep calm and read on,

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