It's been a long time since I've read a book by Colleen Hoover. Not that I have been putting this one off, it's just how things have worked out. And now that I read it, I get it. I get the Instagram posts of the open heart tattoo; I get the comments from people say this book ripped them apart. Hoover usually does this in her novels anyway, but this one was different because it was so real. And it didn't have as many of those steamy scenes to counteract, that new romance to forget the painful past. The new romance is the pain.
I won't really talk too much about the plot because as with all CoHo books, it is best to go in knowing very little, I think especially this one.
I will say that I absolutely loved Lily. She was brave and bold. She knew what she didn't want. There were times when she made decisions I wasn't sure I agreed with, but at the same time, she gave me the perspective to understand her actions. My stomach was in knots for her, but somehow she made it through.
This book truly makes you feel the entire range of emotions. The happiness of falling in love with the characters of the story, the joy of seeing them interact, but also you see the pain they feel. The regret, the disappointment, the rage. This book does not try to hid it's feelings, it lays everything out there for you.
I briefly touched on it earlier, but the perspective this book gives is incredible. I have been fortunate to not be in situations that Lily has, but that also clouds my judgement. Not being able to fully understand what is going through people's minds in these situations. And I am so grateful to this book and to Colleen for opening my eyes. People are not good OR bad. Things are not black OR white. Those lines are blurred, there are grey areas that you never know exist until you are in that situation.
This book will be hard for many people. It will hit too close to home; it will go against everything they believed in; it will hurt. But hopefully it will cause change. Understanding that things don't have to be the way they are, that there is hope, that they are not alone.
Like Colleen says in her authors note, every story like this is different. And I think that is what makes this such a hard read. There are some similar situations where the decision might be clearer, but like Lily's it might be a little harder to find.
I cannot recommend this book enough.