Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Hopeless (Hopeless #1) by Colleen Hoover

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…
That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.
Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

Publishes in US: December 19th 2012
Genre: NA contemp
Source: free on amazon (not anymore though)
Series? Hopeless #1

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   I wanted to read Hopeless because I love NA, and I have heard so many great reviews about it. So, when I saw it for free on amazon about a month ago, I knew that I had to get it, and my trip to NJ provided some time in my reading schedule that I could get to it. 

   I was not disappointed. I loved Sky's character even though I was a bit confused by the opening. I was yearning to know what was going on and it took us back so that we could piece together what led her and Holder to that moment. Sky has some unique relationships all around and that kept things interesting. Her adoptive mom Karen is strict on no-technology and then very lenient in others, and I love the way they are together, just accepting but still Karen wanting the best for Sky. Sky and her best friend from next door have this friendship where they love and support each other even if they may not necessarily agree with the other's choices. Six, the above mentioned best friend, sleeps with a lot of guys and has gotten quite a negative name for herself, which makes me so infuriated--guys can do whatever and sleep or say they sleep with all kinds of girls and its okay, but women get judged and I think that its an important issue that they talk about. 

    Holder is infuriating at times, and so sweet, thoughtful and considerate at others. Sky just doesn't blindly accept his mood swings though, she knows that he has a dark past and she knows part of it about his sister. They also share the bond of rumors about them both going around of which, not all of it or none of it is true. They feel this deep connection though and they talk about so much and try to always be honest with each other, but some things are hard to talk about and they cover that well. 

    TRIGGER alert and Spoilerish paragraph. Highlight to read. I also must give disclosure, I think that some of my readers also have suicide triggers, so be aware, it is in here. Someone sees it, and it is in another family and is talked about. I was effected more than usual because I wasn't expecting it. Nothing was gory but a character did witness and it was so similar to my dad's. For those with sexual abuse triggers, also present in this story. 

    They have an undeniable chemistry and sexual tension between them, and I love every second of it. Knowing that Sky feels numb when kissing most boys, Holder really takes that aspect slowly. Especially kissing on the lips, kissing other places is def okay, and we see that he makes Sky feel things. Sexy things. Romantic things. Lustful things. But they never really get as explicit as most NA, so I think that makes a good transition if you've never read an NA before and used to just kisses or fade to black in YA. 

    I really appreciate how they don't jump to saying I love you, and admit that they aren't there but still want to acknowledge that its deep and they haven't really felt that before. 

     The more we learn about Holder though and see his actions at times, the more that I want to know about what he hasn't told yet. 

     The secret that finally came out was def unique and shocking, but little clues and some of her dreams and the timing led me to believe something similar. I just couldn't piece together the details and man were they amazing and so well thought out. I can't imagine being in a similar situation for any of them or what I would have done. 

Bottom Line: Powerful and romantic NA.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Any time where believing lies is better than truth?