Check out my book review of Hopeless by Colleen Hoover to see if this young adult romance set in high school is a book for you!
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Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover
Category: Young Adult Romance, Contemporary Romance
Romance Trope Tags: High School, Abuse, Friends to Lovers
Series: Hopeless
Published December 2012
Amazon | Goodreads
Rating: ★★★½
Boyfriend Rating: 
Hopeless Summary:
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.
He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past 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.
My Hopeless Review:
You may think that Hopeless is just a coming-of-age story from the book summary, but if you know Colleen Hoover books then you know you’re in for so much more.
And gear up you should for this is an emotional read.
Sky is a 17-year-old girl who’s been homeschooled by her single mom her whole life. She was adopted at age 5 and has had a life devoid of technology – no TV, no phone and no Internet.
For her senior year she’s enrolled into the public school, and she’s a lamb to the slaughter since her neighbor and best friend Six is going abroad on an exchange program.
Not only is she entering high school with a reputation of a homeschooler, but with a reputation as a “slut“ for making out with several guys.
Before her first day, however, she meets Holder, a fellow senior who’s been “away” the last year after an altercation at school. Both are captivated by each other after their first meeting – he feels like he recognizes her, and she catches feelings like she’s never felt before with a guy.
What transpires is a story of young love, awakening, and discovery in ways you don’t see coming.
Well, actually, I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t see where this was going initially when I should have caught on straight away once guy describes feeling nothing with the boys she makes out with – almost disassociating. So yeah, should have noticed this trigger warning as I typically steer clear books with the storyline, but I am glad that I continued with the book.
Why? Because I trusted Colleen Hoover‘s background and social work to do this justice.
I thought Hopeless was very well written with great pacing, and with a slow unraveling of their back stories, and the climactic “aha” moment. I admit, I was kind of surprised how Sky handled some things after her discoveries, but I’m so glad she had Holder and her trust in him.
As a romance reader, I wish there was even more build up to their connection but really the story wasn’t totally about them in my mind.
If you get hooked on Hopeless, check out the rest of the books in the Hopeless series – to get Holder’s perspective read Losing Hope, and later Sky’s friend Six’s story in Finding Cinderella and finally a story of them all together in Finding Perfect.
Pick up Hopeless if you just love Colleen Hoover books, love young adult romance, romance books with strong heroines and books that give all the feels. It’s worth it.
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- Colleen Hoover Books in Order: The Ultimate Guide
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- Best Colleen Hoover Books Ranked
- Best Teen Romance Books Set in High School
- Slammed Series by Colleen Hoover: The Ultimate Guide
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More Colleen Hoover Book Reviews:
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