‘November 9’ blazes with heart-wrenching twists
Review of Colleen Hoover’s contemporary romance novel
AP
November 9 by Colleen Hoover was a book full of emotion, excitement, and plot twists
4/5 stars
November 9 by Colleen Hoover is the perfect book if you are looking for a contemporary romance novel for Valentine’s Day.
I’ve read many of Colleen Hoover’s books, but this has to be one of my favorites.
Hoover’s writing style can come off as that of a Wattpad story, but she always includes realistic dialogue and topics that are relatable.
November 9 is a day Fallon dreads since it is the anniversary of the fire that left her body scarred as a child. Years later, on Nov. 9, Fallon is eating lunch with her dad when she meets Ben. They have an instant connection and spend the rest of the day together. Fallon tells Ben that she is moving across the country, for her dream of becoming an actress, so as Ben drops her off at the airport, they agree to meet every Nov. 9 at the same place and time without any outside connection. Ben, an aspiring writer, can concentrate on his book, and Fallon can focus on her career before a relationship. This gives both of them something to look forward to, since they got along so well. However, one November meet up changes everything, turning the years of happiness into a nightmare.
November 9 takes place in New York and California. The setting helps build the distance between Ben and Fallon for an entire year. Each chapter alternates between Ben and Fallon’s perspective every Nov. 9.
I was never bored while reading this book. I found myself turning page after page, especially after the big plot twist. What drove this book was the plot twist that happened in the second half. When rereading the book, I found moments of foreshadowing leading to the twist. I needed to know what happened next and I finished the book in one sitting.
I didn’t love the characters, but they were relatable, especially to young adults. I loved Ben in the first half of the book but found him slightly disturbing as the story went along. I felt indifferent to Fallon, there were moments when I loved her and her vulnerability, and there were moments I found her actions irritating.
Overall, I had no expectations going in, but I enjoyed it and I recommend it if you are looking for a fast-paced, exciting, romance book.