A review by katie_lacour
Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Hook Shot is an incredibly well-written novel. The story follows Lotus, a complex woman confronting her childhood trauma, as she falls in love with Kenan, whose messy divorce means he has plenty of problems of his own. The characters’ patience, love, and fight for one another makes it a special relationship the reader has the privilege to witness.

I always appreciate when authors include content warnings at the beginning of their book, and it is especially appreciated that the author included the specific location of a graphic scene in the book which could trigger certain audiences.

My absolute favorite aspect of this book is the vivid imagery the author provides in her writing. The descriptions are some of the best I have ever read and are truly an example every author should follow. 

Some of my favorite imagery is “We linger that way, lingering in elastic seconds, stretched for us to revel in one another”; “a communion of flesh and bone and heart and soul”; “here between our chests, our hearts beat like ancient drums”; “I feel his eyes on my profile as tactile as a caress.” Every page includes such descriptive writing I was shocked at how vividly I was able to sense the emotions and sensations of the characters.

I really liked the unique perspectives this book offers; for example, the book illustrates the meaningful place voodoo has in New Orleans culture. I especially appreciated the diversity of the characters in the book; the inclusion of characters from so many different backgrounds is an example of how all books should be (and an accurate representation of our world today).

While I appreciated the respectful manner in how Lotus’s healing process is written, I would have liked to read more about her healing process, especially as towards the end it is not mentioned as much. Healing from trauma is often a continuous process, and I wish the book reflected that more.

I also would have liked to have had more of Kenan and Simone’s relationship explored and discussed especially in the later part of the book. I liked Kenan less as a character because not enough was included about his role as a father. Although this was a side plot, I think it would have been prudent to include more about his development as a father in order to fully flush out the story. 

Kennedy Ryan is an incredibly talented writer and it is clear she puts a lot of thought and work to her writing. It is admirable to see so much research and dedication to one’s craft. I would love to read more books by her and I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with!
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