Wednesday, July 24, 2013

[Musing Maddie's Review]: "Losing Hope"

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books (July 8, 2013)
Series: Hopeless, 2
Genre: New Adult (Contemporary)
 
In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.
 
 
 
 




 
 

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Musing Maddie's Review:







Losing Hope, by talented author, Colleen Hoover was intense. The despair and sadness was palpable. Be prepared.

 

Be prepared to fall even further in love with the forlorn and desolate Dean Holder. This boy. This broken, heavily burdened, protective, boy. How can you not but love him when he is so remarkable? How he so passionately loved his family, yet so fervently despised himself - how he could so accurately define devastation. Grief stricken. Alone.

 

His thoughts of Hope and Les were irrevocably linked. He couldn’t think of one without the other. He felt that he failed them both.

 


"I deserve to be reminded every second that I'm alive that I let both of you down, so that I can be conscious not to let myself ever do this again to anyone else."




 
 

Losing Hope explored Holder's journey from pain and self-flagellation to having restorative hope. The letters to Skye, from Holder were ingenious. How else could you capture what's in the heart of an eighteen-year-old boy? The core question of Losing Hope was whether Holder would be able to finally let go of the guilt and misplaced responsibility he had been burdened with for thirteen years.

 

It's not necessarily how Colleen Hoover writes, but it's what she writes. She managed to capture many human emotions in Losing Hope. In some ways, Hoover's first person, simplistic yet elegant prose was simply that. But, in so many ways, it was much more. Her ability to create a parallel story that explained the life-changing ripple effect of one man's malevolent acts, previously written about in Hopeless, was stunning.

 

Once again, it was the clever, changing significance of the title Losing Hope that impressed me. It held so many distinct reasons for the different characters: for Holder, Holder's mom, Skye and even Les. Incredible.

 

Some parts were so poignant and melancholy. Some parts were ridiculously funny. Daniel and Breckin, in particular, were brilliant counterparts in humor to the seriousness of the story.

 

You will need tissues; virtually from the first page, and I'm sorry to warn you, but you'll keep them right to the end.  Close yourself off from the world, sit down and devour this powerful tale. You will cry, smile, moan, laugh and shudder in amazement when reading Losing Hope. Another stunner in my opinion.





5 STARS!





 
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Musing Maddie received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for her honest opinion.

*Note: The quote used belongs to Colleen Hoover; Musing Maddie and TBQ's Book Palace do not claim it.
 
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Meet Musing Maddie:

Musing Maddie is an avid reader, who mainly devours all things romance. She loves series, but only when the story warrants a few books rather than one. A strong, intelligent female with a bit of sass and wit is the preferred heroine in the books she reads, and some sizzle between the sheets is welcome too. Well, ok...more than welcome! Well, not just between the sheets is just fine too! She’s from Down Under, so her humor is on the crazy side. Captivating storylines, with well developed plot and yes, hot, hunky Heroes, is definitely a preference, but she loves it when the characters are damaged, and their story brings hope and restoration. Yes please to HEAs!

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Wow...I want to read this book now, thanks MM! :D Is it necessary to read book one or can I just jump right in?

Have you read any of Colleen Hoover's books? Do you have a favorite? How about emotional books--what book made you cry recently?







 


Enjoy!



Until Next Time,

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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

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