Without Merit

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Rating: 1 out of 5

Pages: 385

Date Started: 2 November 2022

Date Finished: 6 November 2022

This book left me with mixed feelings. While it explores the complexities of family dynamics and personal struggles, it did so in a manner that felt quite convoluted. The characters and their actions often left me perplexed, making it challenging to truly engage with their stories. The family at the center of the narrative, with their unusual living situation and strained relationships, seemed almost unreal. Additionally, the introduction of certain characters and subplots, like Luck, raised more questions than they answered. Throughout the book, I found myself waiting for a significant twist or revelation, only to be left somewhat unsatisfied. The story's length and pacing could have been streamlined, as it often felt like it was meandering without clear direction. That said, Colleen Hoover's writing style remained engaging, which kept me reading to see how the story would ultimately conclude. While this book may not be my favorite of Hoover's works, it still presents a narrative that delves into the intricacies of family and relationships, even if it sometimes loses its way in the process.

Favorite lines from the book:

• Out of all the places we could be, we’re right here. At the same time.

• No one in this family notices my presence or my absence. They would all notice Honor’s. But I was born second, which just makes me a faded copy of the original.

• My spontaneity and refusal to weigh the consequences of my decisions are my two favorite things about me.

• Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.

• I wonder if this is what death is like. Just . . . nothing.

• So many people dream of living in a house with a white picket fence. Little do they know, there’s no such thing as a perfect family, no matter how white the picket fence is.

• Tuqburni is used to describe the all-encompassing feeling of not being able to live without someone. Which is why the literal translation is, ‘You bury me.’

• You don’t get to decide what your life means to anyone else.

• I found out that depression doesn’t necessarily mean a person is miserable or suicidal all the time. Indifference is also a sign of depression.

• Maybe that’s the root of a lot of family issues. It isn’t actually the issues people are hung up about for so long. It’s that no one has the courage to take the first step in talking about the issues.

• It annoys me when people try to convince other people that their anger or stress isn’t warranted if someone else in the world is worse off than them.

What Happened To The Bennetts

Author: Lisa Scottoline

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Rating: 1 out of 5

Pages: 391

Date Started: 28 October 2022

Date Finished: 2 November 2022

This book started off with an intriguing premise and delivered an engaging narrative initially. However, as the story progressed, it seemed to veer away from its promising beginning. The plot took on a cinematic quality with an abundance of action sequences that, at times, felt excessive. Additionally, the introduction of numerous characters and an intricate web of events made the latter part of the book somewhat convoluted. It was challenging to follow the story amidst the increasing complexity and the rapid pace of events. While the action-packed nature of the book may appeal to some readers, it overshadowed the subtler aspects of the narrative, such as character development and the exploration of the emotional impact on the Bennett family. The excessive descriptive detail occasionally disrupted the flow of the story. In essence, this book offers a thrilling experience that might suit those who enjoy fast-paced, action-oriented narratives. However, it could benefit from a more balanced approach, maintaining the intrigue of the initial premise while allowing for deeper character exploration and a smoother narrative flow.

Favorite lines from the book:

• Suddenly a magnificent blue heron flew overhead, flapping its angular wings, leading with its long neck, graceful and strong, the hue of heaven itself. Tears came to my eyes. I took the heron as a sign. It resonated within me. It felt like Allison’s soul, beautiful, strong, and proud, set free, taking flight.

• That’s grief, man. It gets in you. Your body carries it. It’s embedded.

• Marriage was reading each other’s minds, but knowing what had to remain unsaid.

• The people you love, like Pop and Allison, even the pets you love, like Max and Wendy, they never leave you, not as long as you love them. You’ll always have them as long as you love them. And you’ll love them forever. That’s what lasts forever. The love.

• He had lost a son, I had lost a daughter. No one expected to bury his child, even if the child had been a thug.

• Cigarette companies sell death. Drug companies sell rehab.

November 9

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Rating: 2 out of 5

Pages: 320

Date Started: 22 October 2022

Date Finished: 26 October 2022

In 'November 9', Colleen Hoover takes readers on a journey of love and self-discovery. The story begins with a chance encounter between Fallon and Ben, two individuals who find an inexplicable connection in the midst of unexpected circumstances. Their annual meeting on the same date each year forms the foundation of their evolving relationship, even as the plot takes unexpected turns. Ben's character is relatable as he grapples with love and the weight of his past decisions. His efforts to mend his past mistakes and his honesty with Fallon about his flaws and missteps add depth to his character. While the story holds the reader's attention and keeps them engaged, it occasionally delves into the territory of young adult romance more than adult fiction. The emotional journey of the characters, particularly Ben, reflects a certain level of immaturity in their approach to love and relationships, which might leave some readers yearning for more complexity. The narrative's twist adds a surprising element to the story, but it may not be entirely relatable. The likelihood of someone behaving as Fallon and Ben do is a stretch. 'November 9' leans into the genre of feel-good, cheesy romance, making it suitable for readers seeking a lighthearted and romantic tale. However, if you're looking for a more substantial and realistic exploration of relationships, this book might fall short of expectations.

Favorite lines from the book:

• My flaws are what wake me up in the morning and what keep me awake every night.

• In case you’ve forgotten, your mother also chose to marry me, and you seem to like her just fine.

• Why do I always stoop to his level? I’m better than this.

• I think he mourns the idea that he’s not the father of an actress more than he mourns almost losing his daughter to a fire that was caused by his carelessness.

• Whoever said the truth hurts was being an optimist. The truth is an excruciatingly painful son of a bitch.

• People say not to judge a book by its cover, but what if you somehow read the inside of the book without seeing the cover first? Because who wants an incredibly written book sitting on their bookshelf if they have to stare at a shitty cover?

• You’ll never be able to find yourself if you’re lost in someone else.

• People want to stare at you. Believe me, I’m one of them. But when everything about you screams, ‘Look away,’ then that’s exactly what people are going to do. The only person who gives a shit about a few scars on your face is you.

• Why the hell does luck exist if I’m not supposed to push it?

• I suddenly feel grateful for her scars… because they’re a reminder of how it could have been much worse. She could have died in that fire, and she wouldn’t be next to me right now.

• “One of the things I always try to remind myself is that everyone has scars,” she says. “A lot of them even worse than mine. The only difference is that mine are visible and most people’s aren’t.”

• Comfort can sometimes be a crutch when it comes to figuring out your life. Goals are achieved through discomfort and hard work. They aren’t achieved when you hide out in a place where you’re nice and cozy.

• Whether or not the couple ends up together at the end of a book doesn’t determine whether that book has a happy ending or not. As long as the two people end up happy, it doesn’t really matter if they end up happy together.

• When you find love, you take it. You grab it with both hands and you do everything in your power not to let it go. You can’t just walk away from it and expect it to linger until you’re ready for it.

• It’s hard to grieve people you don’t remember.

• Fate. A word meaning destiny. Fate. A word meaning doom.

• If parents have been able to survive the loss of children, then men and women can easily live with the loss of a relationship.

• We sit around the kitchen table and talk about anything except why our mother hated her life more than she loved us.

• After the first death, there is no other.

• I talk to my mother sometimes. Of course the conversations are one-sided, but I still talk to her. I don’t feel like I need to stare at a headstone in order to do that.

• A body is simply a package for the true gifts inside. And you are full of gifts. Selflessness, kindness, compassion. All the things that matter. Youth and beauty fade. Human decency doesn’t.