Confess by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis: At age twenty-one, Auburn Reed has already lost everything important to her. In her fight to rebuild her shattered life, she has her goals in sight and there is no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping a major secret from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

To save their relationship, all Owen needs to do is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin.

Review: I am always carried away by the stories written by Colleen Hoover, we pass each time by a whirlwind of feelings that can only snatch us in her novels. Also, with the release of Confess, I was once again very curious to get into this new volume, how not to be elsewhere? Besides, as always I was delighted by this story!

The author never presents simple themes but it is with pleasure that we find her pen and that we discover her characters. This time we find a romance shared between two POVs, Auburn, a young woman who would do anything for those she loves, and Owen, a person who was waiting for her. We have many questions throughout the story: How did Owen know Auburn? What’s happening exactly in the life of this young man? Many secrets of both sides that we are eager to understand but yet we will have to wait until the end of the story for some revelations.

Returning specifically to the story and the characters: Auburn came to town for some quite personal reasons although we do not understand why at the start when we see that she does not like her job and abhors this city. Yet, her life will change when she crosses path with Owen, a young artist who needs a person for help for his inauguration. But an undeniable link is created between them from the start, something that the young woman did not expect and that will evolve throughout the story despite all the difficulties. What is very touching firstly is represented by all the confessions that can be read in this place (especially when we know that they are real). As we might also think some are very beautiful, while others are sad, even abominable. But the touch of originality also lies in the fact that Colleen Hoover presents the paintings of the young man, and it also allows us to plunge us deeper into the story that is presented to us, paintings which are also really impressive.

I will not say much more but it’s true that even if it is difficult for us to accept the choice of Auburn, we can also understand the reason for her decisions. However, she is naive enough to believe that by sacrificing important things, the rest will follow as she wants … It is quite sad to see she accepts what life offers even though it breaks her heart. As for Owen, he is a quite elusive man even if we immediately understand that his feelings for the young woman are very strong. We would like to understand them both, know their secrets and this is what will take us throughout the novel. This is not necessarily an easy story for both characters and I admit I had tears in my eyes but it was certainly a great discovery for me.

4

mellianefini

 

Confess de Colleen Hoover

Résumé : Auburn Reed a des plans très précis pour son avenir, et elle ne laissera personne se mettre sur son chemin.
Lorsqu’elle franchit la porte d’une galerie d’art à Dallas pour un entretien, elle s’attend à tout sauf à l’irrésistible attraction qui la pousse vers Owen Gentry.
Cet artiste énigmatique semble avoir beaucoup de choses à vouloir cacher à tout prix. Pour tenter de découvrir ses secrets les plus intimes, Auburn va baisser toutes ses barrières, pour comprendre qu’elle risque bien plus gros qu’elle ne pensait.
Elle n’a qu’une solution : s’éloigner d’Owen au plus vite. Mais la dernière chose que souhaite Owen, c’est la perdre. Pour sauver leur relation, il devra tout confesser. Mais parfois, les mots peuvent être bien plus destructeur que la vérité…

Avis : Je suis toujours emportée par les histoires de Colleen Hoover, on passe à chaque fois par un tourbillon de sentiments qui ne peut que nous happer dans ses romans. Aussi, avec la sortie de Confess, j’ai été une fois de plus très curieuse de me lancer dans ce nouveau volume, comment ne pas l’être d’ailleurs ? D’ailleurs, comme toujours je suis enchantée de cette histoire !

L’auteure ne nous présente jamais de thèmes simples mais c’est avec plaisir que l’on retrouve sa plume et qu’on découvre ses personnages. Cette fois-ci, nous retrouvons un roman partagé entre deux points de vue, Auburn, une jeune femme qui ferait tout pour ceux qu’elle aime, ainsi qu’Owen, une personne qui n’attendait qu’elle. Nous avons de nombreuses interrogations tout au long de l’histoire : Comment Owen connaissait-il Auburn ? Que se passe-t-il exactement dans la vie de ce jeune homme ? Beaucoup de secrets de chacun des deux côtés que l’on est impatient de comprendre mais pourtant il faudra attendre la fin de l’histoire pour certains.

Revenons plus précisément à l’histoire et aux personnages : Auburn est arrivée en ville pour des raisons assez personnelles bien qu’on ne comprenne pas sa présence au départ quand on voit que son travail ne lui plait pas et qu’elle a en horreur cette ville. Pourtant, sa vie va changer quand elle croise la route d’Owen, un jeune artiste qui a besoin d’une personne pour l’aider pour son inauguration. Mais voilà, un lien indéniable se crée entre eux dès le départ, quelque chose que la jeune femme n’attendait pas et qui évoluera au cours de l’histoire malgré toutes les difficultés. Ce qui est d’abord très touchant est représenté par toutes les confessions que l’on peut lire dans cet endroit (notamment quand on sait qu’elles sont véritables). Comme on pourrait d’ailleurs le penser certaines sont très belles, tandis que d’autres sont tristes, voire abominables. Mais la touche d’originalité réside aussi dans le fait que Colleen Hoover nous présente les toiles du jeune garçon, et cela nous permet aussi de nous plonger un peu plus dans le récit que l’on nous présente, des tableaux qui sont d’ailleurs vraiment impressionnants.

Je ne vais pas en dire encore beaucoup plus mais c’est vrai que même s’il est difficile pour nous d’accepter les choix d’Auburn, on peut aussi comprendre la raison de ses décisions. Elle est cependant assez naïve de croire qu’en sacrifiant les choses importantes, le reste suivra comme elle le veut… C’est assez triste de voir qu’elle accepte ce que lui propose la vie même si ça lui brise le cœur. Pour ce qui est d’Owen, c’est un homme assez difficile à cerner même si on comprend tout de suite que ses sentiments pour la jeune femme sont très forts. On aimerait les comprendre tous les deux, connaitre leurs secrets et c’est ce qui nous portera tout au long du roman. Ce n’est pas forcément une histoire très facile pour les deux personnages et j’avoue avoir eu les larmes aux yeux mais c’était en tout cas une très belle découverte pour moi.

4

mellianefini

 

Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover

Maybe, Book 1.5

Synopsis: When Warren has the opportunity to live with a female roommate, he instantly agrees. It could be an exciting change.

Or maybe not.

Especially when that roommate is the cold and seemingly calculating Bridgette. Tensions run high and tempers flare as the two can hardly stand to be in the same room together. But Warren has a theory about Bridgette: anyone who can hate with that much passion should also have the capability to love with that much passion. And he wants to be the one to test this theory.

Will Bridgette find it in herself to warm her heart to Warren and finally learn to love?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Review: I really liked Maybe Someday when it came out and it was intriguing to find the characters once more for a novella by the author. We follow this time Warren and Bridgette. We are witnessing elsewhere their first meeting and the arrival of Sidney (which is a real pleasure) in the end, even if she is very little present.

As I said, we witness the meeting of Warren and Bridgette which is quite complicated … And yet, despite the feelings they apparently have, something very hostile, something appears between them and changes quite fast. I confess that I had a little trouble to hang on the character of the girl in light of her actions and at the same time with all she has gone through, we understand that she had forged an armor to survive the world. Warren seems to be rather “the good friend”, always ready to make jokes but when it comes to his roommate, he is very determined in his actions and when he learns that the latter had participated in a porn movie, I can not tell you his determination to find the one in question.

This is another nice read for fans of the first book and as I said, I was happy to see the characters again. And it’s Colleen Hoover right? how to resist?

3-5 

mellianefini

Maybe Not de Colleen Hoover

Maybe, Tome 1.5

Résumé : Quand il a l’opportunité de s’installer en colocation avec une jolie blonde, Warren accepte sans hésiter. Ce pourrait être une expérience excitante… Mais peut-être pas. Surtout quand cette coloc est Bridgette, une fille un peu froide et très têtue. Rapidement, la tension est tellement palpable que ces deux-là ont du mal à rester dans la même pièce. Mais Warren a une théorie : quand on est capable de tant de haine pour une personne, on peut facilement transformer ces sentiments en passion. Et il a bien l’intention de le tester sur Bridgette. Réussira-t-il à réchauffer son coeur et lui apprendre à aimer ? Peut-être. Mais peut-être pas.

Avis : J’avais beaucoup aimé Maybe Someday quand il est sorti et c’était intrigant de retrouver les personnages une fois de plus pour une nouvelle de l’auteure. Nous suivons cette fois-ci Warren ainsi que Bridgette. On assiste d’ailleurs à leur rencontre et à l’arrivée de Sidney (ce qui est un réel plaisir) vers la fin, même si elle est très peu présente.

Comme je le disais, nous assistons à la rencontre de Warren et Bridgette qui est d’ailleurs des plus difficiles… Et pourtant, malgré les sentiments qu’ils présentent à l’extérieur, quelque chose de très hostile, quelque chose apparait entre eux et évolue de plus en plus fort. J’avoue que j’ai un peu de mal à accrocher au personnage de la jeune fille au vu de ses actions et en même temps avec tout ce qu’elle a traversé, on comprend qu’elle se soit forgée une carapace pour survivre au monde. Warren semble être plutôt le bon copain, toujours prêt à faire des blagues mais quand il est question de sa coloc, il reste très décidé dans ses actions et quand il apprend que cette dernière a participé à un film porno, je ne vous raconte pas sa détermination pour trouver celui en question.

C’est une nouvelle assez sympa à lire pour les fans du premier tome et comme je le disais un plaisir de voir les personnages à nouveau. Et puis c’est Colleen Hoover, comment résister ?

3-5 

mellianefini

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis: When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Review: I did only read one book by Colleen Hoover (Maybe Someday) but I was really touched by the pen of the author and the history that encompasses us completely. And it’s true that when I heard about the release of Ugly Love, I was immediately intrigued and interested in everything that this new novel could offer. I have not yet read a lot of novels from Hugo Romance (French editor), but the little I have tried (Maybe Someday & Life Unaware by Cole Gibsen) pleased me more than I expected. The two facts combined have forced me to throw myself as soon as I could in this new novel and it has completely transported me once again. Admittedly, Colleen Hoover shakes our heart, tickle our tears and our feelings while presenting us a story full of emotions.

We follow here two main characters: Tate and Miles. These two POVs are written at a different period which adds a twist to the story. Indeed, we find Tate nowadays, a girl actually living with her pilot brother, the time to resume her life and find a new apartment. Alternatively, we can also follow Miles, his history six years ago, the events that made him what he is today. I admit that I was curious to know about his past, to understand what had been pushing him to become that bitter regarding personal relationships, what happened to the young woman that we hear about at the beginning of the story. But the novel is done so that we can only know the truth when we reach the end of the story.

In all cases, we follow the meeting between these two characters, two people who did not expect to experience such feelings towards each other. It’s quite sad to see Tate fall gradually in love with the young man, to see that she gets stuck in feelings that do not seem reciprocal and so that Miles accepts a possible relationship without particular expectations behind it. Yet he does not realize the harm he does to the young woman, the hope he places, or the ignoble way he treats her sometimes. At the same time, it is very difficult to Tate to come off, to realize that nothing will be possible and that perhaps he is not the one for her. It’s a difficult history, unhealthy, but we’re curious to see the purpose and the consequences. We remain touched by the feelings of the young woman, to see how she will react.

You’ll understand that I spent once again a great time with the author and I advise you to discover one of her writings, you will pass from joy to sadness in no time without being able to let go of the novel before finishing it.

4-5

mellianefini

 

Ugly Love de Colleen Hoover

Résumé : Quand Tate Collins rencontre Miles Archer, elle sait que ce n’est pas le coup de foudre. Et pour cause, le beau pilote n’a de temps que pour les aventures sans lendemain. Ils ne peuvent pourtant pas nier leur attraction mutuelle, aussi immédiate que brûlante. Alors pourquoi ne pas se laisser séduire, quand le sexe est si bon ? Pas d’attaches, simplement la passion… Leur arrangement semble parfait, tant que Tate accepte de respecter les deux règles de Miles : Pas de question sur le passé, Ne pas espérer de futur. Cependant, ils vont vite comprendre que le coeur ne suit pas d’autres règles que les siennes. L’amour, même quand il n’est pas une évidence, sera-t-il plus fort que leurs promesses ?

Avis : Je n’ai lu qu’un seul livre de Colleen Hoover (Maybe Someday) mais j’avais vraiment été touchée par la plume de l’auteur et par son histoire qui nous englobe complètement. Alors c’est vrai que quand j’ai entendu parler de la sortie de Ugly Love, j’ai tout de suite été intriguée et intéressée par tout ce que ce nouveau roman pourrait nous offrir. Je n’ai pas encore lu énormément de romans provenant de chez Hugo Romance, mais le peu que j’ai tenté (Maybe Someday & Blacklistée) m’avaient enthousiasmée au plus au point. Les deux faits combinés m’ont forcée à me lancer au plus tôt dans ce nouvel écrit qui m’a une fois de plus complètement transportée. Il faut dire que Colleen Hoover nous serre le cœur, chatouille nos larmes et titille nos sentiments tout en nous présentant une histoire pleine d’émotions.

Nous suivons ici deux personnages principaux Tate et Miles. Ces deux points de vue sont écrits lors de périodes différentes ce qui ajoute une touche d’originalité à l’histoire. En effet, on retrouve Tate de nos jours, une jeune fille emménageant chez son frère pilote, le temps de reprendre sa vie en main et de trouver un nouvel appartement. Alternativement, nous pouvons aussi suivre Miles, son histoire 6 ans auparavant, des évènements qui ont fait ce qu’il est aujourd’hui. J’avoue que j’étais curieuse de connaitre son passé, de comprendre ce qui avait bien pu le pousser à devenir aussi amer face aux relations personnelles, ce qui était arrivé à la jeune femme dont on entend parler au début de l’histoire. Mais le roman est fait de telle façon que l’on ne connait la vérité que lorsque l’on arrive en fin d’histoire.

Dans tous les cas, on suit la rencontre entre ces deux personnages, deux personnes qui ne s’attendaient pas à éprouver de tels sentiments l’un envers l’autre. C’est assez triste de voir Tate tomber petit à petit sous le charme du jeune homme, de voir qu’elle s’enlise dans des sentiments qui ne semblent pas réciproque bien que Miles accepte une possible relation sans attente particulière derrière. Pourtant il ne se rend pas compte du mal qu’il fait à la jeune femme, de l’espoir qu’il lui laisse, ou de la façon parfois ignoble de la façon dont il la traite. Et en même temps, il est très difficile à Tate de se détacher, de se rendre compte que rien ne sera possible et qu’il n’est peut-être pas celui pour elle. C’est une histoire difficile, malsaine dont on est curieux de voir la finalité et les conséquences. On reste touché par les sentiments de la jeune femme, à voir comment elle réagira.

Vous l’aurez compris, j’ai passé une fois de plus un très bon moment avec l’auteur et je vous conseille de découvrir un de ses écrits, vous passerez de la joie à la tristesse en un rien de temps sans pouvoir lâcher le roman avant de l’avoir fini.

4-5

mellianefini

 

Maybe someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe, book 1

Synopsis: At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.

Review: I’ve heard so much about Colleen Hoover through some blogs these recent months, particularly with the release of most of her novels in French. A large majority of the books she has written have received overwhelmingly positive reviews and it is true that I was very curious to finally discover a story by her hand. Maybe Someday is an example of the volumes which I have heard a lot of great things about and when I realized that there would be a release in France, I was attracted right away. I confess that I have not even read the summary, the author alone mattered at first but once I started reading it, I knew that I was going to discover something different. Indeed, I never had the opportunity to read a story starring a deaf character, all with an atmosphere of music that takes us completely away. The greatest thing? A soundtrack of the book is also available in order to immerse ourselves even more in the history. I think it is a sublime and original idea that Collen Hoover had here. I know that many writers leave a playlist in their novels, but I think that here it is even more than that, as the music is the soul of the novel.

I have perhaps not said it before, but I really had a great time with this first volume and it was great pleasure to discover the characters and their story, although it is not simple. Sydney is a young woman disillusioned by life, by the love and friendship of the people she considered close to her. After that her boyfriend had cheated on her with her best friend on her birthday, our heroine finds herself in a situation that she would never have predicted. Eloping with a person she doesn’t really know, a deaf boy who loves music more than anything else, she will understand that all is not lost, she discovers a new purpose in her life, one where music is essential. But through this story, we will also follow two destinies that were supposed to bind, two people who will create an unbreakable bond, and simultaneously a love story which is perhaps not to be. But while an attraction develops between Ridge and Sidney, nothing is really possible between them, or is this the case?

I enjoyed seeing these two different characters evolving together. It is very easy to appreciate Sydney, to understand her pain over her separation, discovering her doubts, hopes and finally her reconstruction over the events. It was just so sad to see all the obstacles she must go through, the feelings she develops. Ridge also really touched me. He tries to do the best whatever the circumstances but it’s something very difficult in the end. But it’s true that what makes this character unique is also his love for music, the fact that despite his deafness, he manages to make something beautiful. As I said, this is not a topic to which I am accustomed, and I enjoyed to learn more about him, to see how he lived and finally it’s true that everything was really interesting. But there is more because we also discover Warren, the Ridge’s best friend but also Bridgette or Maggie and I confess that all the characters have carried me in their own way. We vibrate with them, we’re sad, happy and we always hope that everything will end well. This is also what we’re waiting the most for, finally knowing how the story will end, how the events will unfold and what will happen. For this, Colleen Hoover had some really great ideas, moreover even her pen is a delight to follow. I think she is a very talented writer and this volume there really made me want to discover more.

You’ll understand that it was a very nice discovery for me. The story touched me deeply and I am curious to read more now. Also, I have not said it before but even the format of the book is a bit different. Yes, there is a regular pattern of narration, all interspersed with texting, songs, letters, something that I always enjoy discovering. So yes, Maybe Someday is a novel to be discovered, one that will surely touch you too.

4-5 

mellianefini