Review: November 9 – Colleen Hoover

Posted 11 November, 2015 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 37 Comments

Review: November 9 – Colleen HooverNovember 9 by Colleen Hoover
Published by Atria Books on 10 November 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Pages: 310
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase
|
5 Stars

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of 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.

I don’t even know where to start to share my love for November 9! This author! This book! I’ve gone through all the feels, and now that I just finished reading, tears are falling down my cheeks – and they are both happy and sad at the same time. I have no idea how Hoover does it – but she always writes stories that are just perfect for me.

My November 9 review:

As soon as I got out of bed on November 10, I checked my kindle to see if my pre-order of November 9 had been delivered yet. And then, I did a happy-dance, made coffee and went outside on my terrasse in my PJ and a thick jacket to start my journey with Ben and Fallon. There are swoons. There are broken hearts. There is beautiful, beautiful writing. There are amazing characters. There is a great story. There is a fabulous plot. There is an interesting and original premise. November 9 was complete success when it came to me!

I love using the highlight function on my kindle to find quotes to use for my fave quotes, and also for my Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts meme… With November 9, I actually have so many to choose from it’s going to be difficult! At one point, I gave up (not really!) and just highlighted a whole page. And as you can see, I can’t stop squeeing and just being a total fangirl who can only share jumbled thoughts!

November 9 is written in dual points of view, alternating chapter between Fallon’s and Ben’s perspective. Because of the first person and present tense, I immediately felt like I knew Ben and Fallon, and I really loved both of them! They are bookish, Ben a writer and Fallon a former actress, but still a bookworm, and the way Fallon explained romance books to Ben just made me smile! It also made the story a little meta at times, and it was great! What a way for Hoover to show that she really knows the genre she’s writing in, while also poking a little fun at it in some instances. And towards the end, both Fallon and the readers get to read long parts of Ben’s book, which was also a very nice twist.

Don’t walk to a bookstore to buy November 9, run! I really mean it, this is my favorite book of 2015, it was so awesome, just thinking about some of the scenes, I have tears in my eyes once more, some because I’m laughing, and others because I’m so sad I want someone to hold me.

Some of my favorite November 9 quotes:

I wonder what kind of sound it would make if I were to smash this glass against the side of his head. It’s a thick glass. His head is hard. The potential for a nice big THUD is there. I wonder if he would bleed. There are napkins on the table, but no the good kind that could soak up a lot of blood.

The scars feel like stretched velvet, and it would be normal to be as revolted by their feel as I am by their appearance. But instead, I actually like the way the feel. I’m always absentmindedly running my fingers up and down my neck or arm, reading the braille on my skin, until I realize what I’m doing and stop.

Why did I feel the need to step in? Why did I think she wasn’t capable of handling her father on her own? She’s probably pissed at me right now, and we’ve only been fake-dating for half an hour. 

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,077 other subscribers

37 responses to “Review: November 9 – Colleen Hoover

  1. I’ve seen this book around the blogosphere a few times now and most people say it’s a very emotional book and a good one. I’ve only read Hopeless by Colleen Hoover so far and I really enjoyed that one, so I am not sure why I haven’t read any of her other books yet. It’s great when you find an author that writes stories that are perfect for you, I have a few of those authors too and it’s just amazing reading one of their books.

    I really like the sound of the premise for November 9 and how the male guy is a writer. And I like the sound of the dual point of view I really like how you can get to know both characters that way. I definitely plan on reading this one eventually! Great review Lexxie!

    Lola recently posted: Review: Submerged by Katie Hayoz
    • I have read every book Hoover has written and released, and I love her writing! She always touches my heart with her characters and their lives! There’s just something about her way of expressing the characters feelings that get to me 🙂
      I hope you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did, Lola!

    • I think for those of us who have read Hoover’s books already, it’s a given there will be emotions going all over the place… And I totally get why some people don’t enjoy that, Braine, but I do. I just know I have to be in a good place when I read one of her books, because she always makes me cry. But there was laughter and lightness, too 🙂

  2. OMG! You are right, thinking back on scenes now brings tears to my eyes too! I loved reading Ben’s book and getting his perspective and learning his secrets! The part in the middle where she pushed him away, and returned the following year made my heart ache for Fallon! I can see why Ben created a new life, but it killed me! Awesome review girl!

    • Those are very important decisions, Kristin! I usually prefer reading a CoHo book when I’m actually in a good, happy mood myself. However, if you’re looking for books with a happy mood, you should probably wait a little bit before you dig into this one. Because while there are a LOT of laugh out loud moments, I ugly-cried as well…

  3. This has been on my TBR list for a few months now, ever since I started hearing talk about it. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it, I know it’ll be good now. ?

  4. Loooooooooooved November 9. I binge read it one day a few weeks ago and sobbed. Not a couple tears here and there, but full on sobbing at times. (The wine might’ve also led to this.) I think I highlighted roughly 1/2 the book. The words were beautiful. I’m glad to see you loved this book as much as I did! I have a new CoHo favorite and a new book to reread when I want to feel all the feels!

    Kim @ kimberlyfaye reads recently posted: That’s a Wrap Weekly [17]
  5. Yay!!!!! I’m so excited. I can’t wait!!! You’ve wrote a beautiful review!!! Your review just makes me more excited!!! Thanks so much for sharing! Now the wait for the next one. Happy reading.

    Mandy recently posted: The Sunday Post

Thanks for commenting - chat soon!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.