Another Hoover book, another toxic relationship we all pretend is normal. What do you think?
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.
Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak? (Goodreads Blurb)
I think what Colleen Hoover tried to do here was really cool. I appreciated that she mentioned the two books that I felt she was slightly ripping off. I’ve read a few books now where you could tell the author was inspired by existing books and gives a nod in the story.
Again, I’m not going to get too emotional over this book, but I did notice other reviewers did. It can be triggering (a good amount of Hoover’s books are…). And although I feel that they got a little too heated about this book in their reviews, I wouldn’t say they are wrong.
This book definitely represents an unhealthy relationship with a forced happy ending. (Someone should check on Hoover, she’s very good at writing these toxic relationships ha)
It is hard to read a book where the author is trying to give a perspective of a man that hopefully the young female readers will swoon over. Ben is not my type. (?) I don’t think he should be a lot of people’s type. (?) Obviously a lot of women will be reading this book and I didn’t find Ben’s obsession with Fallons body that “hot”.
It’s a very unhealthy relationship, mixed with the fact that they are so young with so little life lived.
Then mix it with the fact that the big reveal is very criminal/illegal.
I think when someone does something wrong, even if they feel really, really bad for it – it doesn’t mean it still wasn’t wrong. For example, someone, totally sober, got in a car accident and killed someone. Obviously, they didn’t mean to hurt anyone, obviously they don’t feel great about it, but it still doesn’t mean that we all hug this person and forgive them and most importantly put them on a pedestal. (?) do you know what I’m saying?
Anyway, we could go pretty deep into that moral dilemma here and I dont want to do that.
When it comes down to is, this is a trashy novel. It is a classic Hoover novel about a boy and a girl who have a bad relationship. Also add in a bunch of cliché lines like, “ I don’t wanna be your first, I want to be your last.” So depending on if that line makes you swoon or gag – you can make up your own decision if you would like to read this book.
For me, I’m going to stay neutral.
Stats: 448 pages – First published June 22, 2023
cmacs paperbacks 
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