November 9: A Novel
[{'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Amazing'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2018', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'How?! How does Colleen do it?! Time and time again she writes these unbelievable stories that are so farfetched as to be realistic! She drags you in. She builds you up. Then, she tears it all apart. She breaks your heart. She makes you love, trust and then makes you fall. You fall so hard you break apart. You cry. You ugly cry. You hurt. Whatever you expect, she takes you in a completely different, unexpected direction that tears you up into little, tiny, broken pieces. I can never read her books when they are first released. I have to wait. Wait until I am emotionally ready because I do not look forward to the heartbreak I will soon feel when I delve in to the cover and read the first words. She always grabs you from the very first sentence, the first paragraph, the first page and then she doesn’t let you go. There is a rhythm to her stories. A wave of emotion you must ride only to come out wondering what the heck she was thinking. How could she write something so intense? Especially when she swears she does not have all the feels?! How?!\n\nThe story of Fallon and Benton is no exception. It starts off as crazy as all the other stories. You fall in love with the characters, you watch them grow, then Colleen takes them to a place you did not foresee and breaks your heart in all the worst and best ways. That is all I can say without giving anything away.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': '(PureTextuality.com)I am pretty new to the phenomenon that is Colleen Hoover. I had heard all about her books and finally read one, Maybe Someday, and realized just how good of a writer she is. So when Lexxie at Unconventional Book Views reviewed November 9 recently, I immediately bought and read it. As in, I could literally not put it down.\n\nIt’s Fallon’s last day in California, as she is moving to New York. She’s out to lunch with her arrogant actor father and having a rough time of it. Fallon’s face and left side were burned in a fire a couple of years before while she was staying with her dad. Her father tries to convince her that she can no longer have a career as an actor and even brings up the fact that she no longer even dates. Cringe worthy! When Ben steps in and pretends to be her boyfriend in order to get her father to lay off her, it begins an odyssey for both Fallon and Ben.\n\nBoth characters are eighteen and Ben is a college student/writer. Fallon had starred on a television show, but lost the job after the fire. November 9 is now, both the anniversary of the fire, and of their meeting. They spend the day together and each realizes that they have found someone special. They agree to meet on each November 9, until they are twenty three. Twenty three because that’s the age her mother thinks most people know what they want in life. So they agree to a pact-no phone calls, no numbers, no social media,or emails exchanged. Nothing but waiting for the next year.\n\nThe premise was different, and although there are similar book/movies out there, this one was a completely different type of story.Of course, I haven’t even delved into half of what happens in this read. Things aren’t always as they seem and sometimes people harbor huge secrets-the kind of secrets that are life changing. Sometimes, people can be completely wrong in their estimation of another person and that is explored as well. The book jumps in time from one November 9th, to the next.\n\nFallon and Ben were fascinating characters. Both have flaws and both have things that cause them angst.They are real in their feelings for each other, but as in life, five years can bring many changes and does for both.The reader is witness to all the changes in both of their lives, and to the deepening of their feelings for each other. What maddened me at times was that they go so long without being able to call or contact each other-relying on others to do so when needed and only on November 9th. In that respect, it was kind of unbelievable for me and had me practically yelling at my book at times.\n\nHoover’s writing is nothing short of amazing as can be expected from a #1 New York Times bestselling author. If you enjoy having all the “feels” in a read, this one definitely measures up, and in a big way.There’s a beautiful romance here, but the reader has to go through some major turmoil at times to get to the end. I think I loved every minute of the journey.\n\nHighly recommended adult read.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2019', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': "I read this book as I had heard many great things about it but boy was I wrong. This book is replete with abusive relationships and toxic characters. The book glorifies cheating and other such negative things that must never be part of any relationship. The male protagonist is a creep and a manipulative jerk which Hoover argues is okay as long as he is handsome. Colleen Hoover attempts to demonstrate through this book that a person's physical appearance should not be used to gauge their personalities. The main characters though literally fall in love and develop an instant connection on the first interaction as they are physically attracted to each other. I am sorry but no sane adult will like this book as it blatantly romanticizes stalking, cheating, and rape."}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2021', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-1 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I really must stop reading reviews! All the 5-star ratings made it seem like this was a very safe choice. But I could not stand this book. Seemed like it was written for adolescents. Two 18-year-olds engaging in heavy make-out sessions for like 80% of the book is not my idea of an interesting read! The repetition was maddening and the writing was as juvenile as the characters.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2015', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I am the first to admit that I haven\'t read a COHO book in awhile. And I can totally see how this book had over 600 5-star reviews in a week.\n\nI\'ll be honest here and say that I was reading and about halfway in - I was about to throw in the towel. I kept asking myself "Why is everyone so in love with this book?" and then at 58% - It hit me! It slammed right into me when I wasn\'t looking. My heart ached. I couldn\'t breath and my tears were flowing. That\'s the moment I KNEW this book was going to be amazing.\n\nI had been hit by a train and even behind the tears in my eyes I continued to read. I kept saying to COHO - "How could you do this to me?".... because she can hear all of us while we read her books....right?\n\nJust when I had come to terms with the events that happened. Around 78% I was hit again and took me by complete surprise! My heart was ripped out 100 % this time and I knew COHO wasn\'t\' giving it back. Twice now! I was aching... I was crying again......and I tried to piece it back together. I wasn\'t sure what I felt at this point. As much as I was mad - it was a game changer. I grabbed what was left of my heart and my emotions and carried on. I read thinking that whether these two got their HEA or not. I had to continue. I had to know what happens. THREE TIMES! Three times and you are OUT! COHO sucker punched me a third time from left field! Evil.... yes COHO...Evil =) And no matter how many times she hit me.... and how many times I sat there stunned with an aching heart and tears flowing like faucets. I knew that all of this led to their ending......and ending that left me with hope that if and when we meet those characters again on the Next November 9 that our hearts will be happy and that everything they went through together will have been worth it. That Nov 9 is now a day of Happiness.\n\nThis story is going to make you sad and cry! Be prepared. We\'ve all felt this before when reading a COHO book. It\'s a story about two people whose lives cross paths and each year something new about themselves is revealed while you read. It\'s about loving, losing, healing and forgiving.\n\nCan two people become friends? Fall in love? Overcome some obstacles that are meant to tear each of them down? Do Ben and Fallon get a HEA like in the books Fallon reads? In my mind I was left not knowing.....Will their story continue? Or are we left with only our imagination?\n\nThis story had EPIC first kisses...a Book BF worthy Alpha Male...Epic Goodbyes........ it gave me ALL THE FEELS! ALL OF THEM! It\'s full of angst - love - heartache- twists & turns. It\'s told in dual POV and I loved that.\n\nThis book is Totally worth every FIVE star review it gets. Click It Up! You won\'t be sorry! Especially if you love a good cry and a book full of every emotion possible! Definitely one that I wish to unread - just to read all over again for the first time.'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2017', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'Absolutely loved it!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2022', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'I honestly don’t even know how to start this review. I went into this book completely blind and oh how i enjoyed it! Everything about this book was perfect. I wish I could erase every memory i have of it and just read it again. Colleen KILLED IT with this book!!!!!!! It is my favorite book of hers and I don’t know what I’d do without it. If you’re thinking about reading it, please do so.. it’ll change your life! The plot twist this book holds is so captivating and insane!!!!!!!! I fell in love with the characters and the plot in all its forms!! Colleen is so talented and my goodness i question how someone can hold so much talent! I am inlove with this book, please don’t hesitate to read it! It’ll leave you TORN but gosh Colleen does such a good job at putting your heart back together by the end of the book. It’s the best book out there and I KNOW youre gonna enjoy it so please, don’t waste time. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2015', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': "Sigh...\n\nColleen Hoover gets me once again with this book. She has quickly become an author that I can count on to deliver each and every time, without fail. I look forward to the release of every one of her books as if they are an old friend coming to visit. I know that I will have a few enjoyable and entertaining hours ahead of me.\n\nI finished this book in one sitting. It was that good and that easy to read. I don't think I will ever look at November 9th the same way again. In fact, keeping with the theme of the book, I think I may have to re-read it every year on November 9th because I will certainly be thinking about it.\n\nI know I've said it a million times before but Hoover captures the emotions of her characters like no other. The reader is able to feel the emotions that are oozing off the pages. The attraction between Fallon and Ben is penned beautifully and as the reader you are drawn in from the very first word. I don't know how else to describe it. Hoover has the ability to really make you feel her characters. She also writes male characters like no other. Ben is no exception.\n\nI laughed, I cried and I sighed a lot as I devoured this book. It was emotionally charged and there were a couple shocking twists as well. One I had figured out but I didn't see the other one coming. Man oh man...what a twist.\n\nI also loved the whole book theme that was going on. The book related banter between Fallon and Ben was cute and it made me smile a lot. Book lovers will get a real kick out of it.\n\nI loved everything about this book and I won't soon forget it!"}, {'review_meta': 'Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020', 'review_star': 'a-icon a-icon-star a-star-5 review-rating', 'review_body': 'It’s the anniversary of the worst thing that has ever happened to Fallon. Fallon was 16, sleeping in her father’s house, an accomplished actress on a beloved TV show, when the house caught fire and burned 30% of her body. Now 18, Fallon has decided to move to across the country to New York and wants to confront her estranged father for his terrible treatment of her when she meets with him at a local diner in Los Angeles. While dealing with his arrogant, spiteful, boorish and completely awful behavior, Writer Ben steps in as her imaginary boyfriend to completely tell her dad off. They spend one day together and promise to come back every day, on the same year, to see each other, as they don’t want to fall prey to this relationship being the only thing they focus on. Okay seriously the biggest clap ever to Colleen because THAT PLOT TWIST. I did not see that coming and when it hit me, I had to put the book down, stare into the void, wonder if I actually time traveled through an alternate universe, decide my eyes were just bad and then re read it to find out, YES HONEY THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. This is why she’s one of the greats. Seriously, just rip my heart out. I loved it. I need more. Read this for a soul-crushing, soul-defining, epic love story.'}]