Themes & Triggers:
Self-discovery, acceptance, love, relationships, forgiveness, abuse, domestic violence and homelessness.
Synopsis:
Lily has just graduated and moved to Boston to start her own business. She's worked hard and come a long way from the small town where she grew up. When she meets Ryle, a young, attractive neurosurgeon, there's an instant spark and everything seems too good to be true. Although Ryle has his flaws, Lily can't help but see the good in him. Not to mention, his 'no dating' theory doesn't help - but Lily soon becomes the exception.
As thoughts and questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, Lily wonders of her first love - Atlas Corrigan. When Atlas suddenly reappears, old feelings are stirred and everything she has with Ryle is threatened.
Review:
Wow. Just wow. Without saying too much, this book was truly unputdownable - I just couldn't read it fast enough. I picked this book up for it's stunning cover and simple blurb. I thought it would be a typical love triangle story of 'will they' or 'won't they' (and I love an easy romance read) but this book took a complete 360 turn and turned out to be so much more. At it's surface it is a romance but as the story develops it's an inspiring tale of one woman's courage and journey to freedom.
I don't often come across a strong female lead who I would consider a role-model in a fiction novel but Lily is so brave, inspiring and uplifting. The rawness and honesty in her thoughts and feelings show her vulnerability and strength. I found myself torn alongside Lily, experiencing the same confusing emotions as her - holding hope in places impossible. It was beautiful to see Lily grow throughout her experiences and take control of her life, to make the right choice for herself in a difficult situation.
What I loved most about this book was the subtle way in which the main topic is embedded in the story from the very start. But because it's unexpected, it's easy to overlook and go unnoticed until (like Lily) you slowly put the pieces together and see the truth of the situation. The book addresses real and important issues which people are afraid to talk about. I think Colleen Hoover wrote about these in the most sincere way, both in childhood and adulthood. If you have read any of her work before, you'll know she has a talent with words. With her skilful writing it's easy to visualize each scene, connect to the characters and sense the atmosphere. It had me feeling every emotion from happiness and excitement to sadness and terror, then sympathy and pride. I think many readers will resonate with Lily and find guidance and support following her story, if they find themselves in a similar situation.
An excellent book with an important message, it's eye-opening and insightful to see things from different perspectives and learn how people are affected by things differently. This story discloses at first-hand the turmoil of dealing with mixed, complex feelings, wanting what is harmful and ultimately making the right choice. Although the ending was satisfying, I would love a follow up to see what the future holds for Lily. This was a touching, hopeful book and I think everyone should it.
Rating:
5/5
Favourite Quotes:
'Fifteen seconds. That's all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Fifteen.'
'Just because someone hurts you doesn't mean you can simply stop loving them.'
'What determines a person's character aren't the mistakes we make. It's how we take those mistakes and turn them into lessons rather than excuses.'
Disclaimer* - As always, please be mindful before getting into a new book especially if the topics involved are difficult for you. It may be best to do some background reading or look at reviews and summaries first. I have linked some resources below which could be helpful if needed.
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