Synopsis:

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?

Disclaimer: I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked this book to review for several reasons. First, I keep hearing about Colleen Hoover, and I decided it was about time I read one of her books. Second, I love the (UK edition) cover: it’s so beautiful and made me think of Christina Perri’s haunting song ‘Jar of Hearts’. Third, I was intrigued by the premise, the echoes of One Day, which I love, and the muse–writer relationship.

It took me a little while to settle into the writing style and some of the language use, but I liked the colourful and punchy way the author writes. I was quickly engaged with the story, especially because the characters meet almost straightaway and in an attention-grabbing way.

As the story unfolded, I found myself become more and more emotionally invested with the characters, especially Fallon, and really believing in them. There is a grittiness to the writing that makes it immediate and quite difficult to detach from.

I liked the importance of career, a future path, for each of the main characters. There is always the sense that they will go somewhere, never stand still. At the beginning I ached for Fallon, whose dream of being an actress seemed entirely lost to her now.

More than anything, I was impressed by the author’s handling of the theme of beauty. Fallon is horrifically scarred, and as a result she is, understandably, very insecure about her looks. But Ben sees past those scars and is determined to help Fallon do so too, which elicits some moments so beautiful that they brought tears to my eyes.

As the climax built, I had already decided I was quite enjoying the book. Then: oh my goodness! The plot twists that the author introduces left me staggered, and so moved I had to put the book down and gather myself before continuing. Quite honestly, if you read this book for no other reason than you enjoy a clever and surprising twist, then you will not be disappointed.

This book is an easy recommendation, and has proved to be a wonderful introduction for me to Colleen’s writing.

November 9 is available to order from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.