joannaphipps's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
maryesthernev's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up this book not expecting much and it might be one of my all time favorites now. I'm obsessed! Spoiler alert: I bawled my eyes out during the last chapter and I'm typically not a cryer.
lynntabbarah's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
letty92's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eterry2's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful book about ending the pattern of abuse in families. The Naked Truth for sure. The author does not claim to lump all abusers together. She states in the author's note that this situation was actually based on her own mother and father and her experiences growing up.
afcsantos's review against another edition
2.0
Kinda cringe, why did she have to write letters for ellen? especially with that kind of detail that you can't just remember to put in a diary, it should have just come to her in a form of flashback or something. Really cringe that he had to get on his knees begging to have sex with her? And all the times he apologized? Just leave him, babe. EXTREMELY unrealistic that the sister just wanted to work cuz she was bored, and do you have to mention that marshal's rich in every interaction? Nothing about these characters is authentic, they live perfect little lives (except for the abuse) and don't get me started on how donating to charities makes someone a good person or the stupid interaction where the sisters brags about what the charity has done with their money. I simply do not like Colleen's writing. Also, pretty nice for her that Ryle has insight, otherwise this wouldn't have ended so nicely
ella_louises's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
bubbles_plus_lily's review against another edition
4.0
I’m going to be honest, I went into this book knowing it wasn’t a romance and definitely believing it was going to be one big trigger warning, and it was! As a woman, I feel many of us would take a man back just because he says sorry but continues to make the same mistakes over and over again, whether or not it’s abuse. I have to say the obsession with Ellen DeGeneres is an odd story, and I cringed a lot. For most of the book, I wished things had been different for Ryle and Lily, but it wouldn’t be realistic if that were the case.
eileenwolf's review against another edition
1.0
This book is written like a young adult novel that I hope no teenager ever reads. Everyone is named some dumb ass name. Ryle? Atlas? RYLEE?? Big Renesmee vibes.
Really though, it’s obvious that Ryle is not a good person at the onset. From the moment Lily meets him, he is taking his anger out on an inanimate object (“I want to date the guy who punches walls and chairs” said no one ever) and then immediately starts trying to feel her up. AND SHE’S INTO IT. WHY.
I understand that this novel was sort of a passion project for CoHo who herself grew up in an abusive household. But I can tell you now that the teenagers who are reading this book are into Ryle and would keep giving him chances - just scroll through some of the comments on the endless IEWU tiktok videos to see thoughts like “she should have stayed with him” and “even after everything I still like Ryle”. This book, just like every other Colleen Hoover book, is an insult to literature and I wish literally any other author had the stardom and reach she does with young women.
Really though, it’s obvious that Ryle is not a good person at the onset. From the moment Lily meets him, he is taking his anger out on an inanimate object (“I want to date the guy who punches walls and chairs” said no one ever) and then immediately starts trying to feel her up. AND SHE’S INTO IT. WHY.
I understand that this novel was sort of a passion project for CoHo who herself grew up in an abusive household. But I can tell you now that the teenagers who are reading this book are into Ryle and would keep giving him chances - just scroll through some of the comments on the endless IEWU tiktok videos to see thoughts like “she should have stayed with him” and “even after everything I still like Ryle”. This book, just like every other Colleen Hoover book, is an insult to literature and I wish literally any other author had the stardom and reach she does with young women.