[BOOK REVIEW] Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Title:  Hopeless


Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Year Published: 2013

Number of Pages: 406 pages

Date Read: 5/20/2014

Series: Hopeless #1

Publisher:  Atria Paperback


Source:  Library


Content Rating:  Ages 16+ (Child Rape and Child Abuse)

I will admit that I had just recently gotten into the new adult genre, since this genre was just recently created.  So, after I heard so many good things about Colleen Hoover’s popular contemporary romance book “Hopeless,” I just had to give this book a shot and man, did this book take me on one intense and thrilling ride!

Sky Davis was an ordinary senior in high school (well, except that her guardian Karen refuses any kind of technology in their house, causing Sky to be clueless around technology when she got to school), until she meets a mysterious guy named Dean Holder, who seem to have a terrible reputation at school for getting into many fights years ago.  But when Sky and Holder get to know each other, Sky soon realizes that Holder is not as terrible as he seems to be and she slowly starts to fall in love with him.  Unfortunately, Sky ends up discovering a dark secret about herself once memories of her old life starts haunting her and her love towards Dean Holder will soon be tested to its limit once that secret is out.

Whoa…if I have any words to describe Colleen Hoover’s tale of secrets, betrayals and forbidden love, it would have to be…ABSOLUTELY INTENSE AND EMOTIONAL!  Colleen Hoover had done a brilliant job at weaving true and raw emotion into this story while balancing the story with suspense and terror.  I loved the way that Colleen Hoover portrayed Sky and Dean’s relationship with each other as they truly care for each other when they are protecting each other from their own insecurities about being together due to the both of them having tragic pasts that they have to overcome throughout the book.  I also loved the sarcastic bantering that went on between them as it made them intriguing and cute as a couple and they both always give out the best comebacks to each other!  I really loved most of the characters in this book, especially Sky’s best friends Six and Breckin since they were so hilarious to read about, but the two characters I loved the most in this book were both Sky Davis and Dean Holder themselves!  I was really intrigued in Sky’s character as she is shown to be a strong and intelligent teenage girl who is always yearning to learn more about the world around her.  However, when Sky’s tragic past ends up haunting her, I actually felt sympathy for her, especially during the moments where she would break down and cry, since I cannot imagine having to go through the horrific situation she experienced in her past.  Now, Dean Holder was definitely one hero that ended up growing on me towards the end of the book and for that, I am grateful!  I loved the fact that Dean really cares about Sky’s feelings and how he tried to do everything in his power to protect Sky from getting hurt from her own insecurities about being close to anyone in a relationship.  I also loved Dean Holder’s personality as he is both kind and tough, which is something I love in many romance heroes.

The reason why I took off half a point from the rating was because I felt that the first half of the book was a little too slow in starting up the story line.  I will admit I got a bit annoyed with both Sky and Dean holding back their feelings for each other for the majority of the first half of the book since it slowed down the pacing of the story.  Therefore, things only got more interesting when Sky’s tragic past comes to light and the book’s tone shifted from heartwarming moments to pure terror and heartbreak.  Also, there are some unsettling moments in this book, especially in the second half of the book where Sky’s tragic past is revealed, so readers who are easily offended by these moments might want to trend the second half of the book lightly.

Overall, “Hopeless” is a great book about finding out the true meaning of love and also finding the strength in yourself to live through life despite going through some terrible situations.  I would highly recommend this book to new adult fans everywhere!