The third year, Ben brings his nephew to his meeting with Fallon and admits he’s now in a relationship with Kyle’s widow. Fallon leaves heartbroken. But, Ben later learned from his brother Ian that his mother actually committed suicide as a result of a terminal cancer diagnosis, so as not to burden her family with the mental, physical and emotional effects of her illness. When they first have sex Fallon describes it as: "lost a part of herself inside him, giving away part of her soul to him". That's just what conservatives tell young girls to discourage them from having sex: that they will loose something of themselves, "dirtying" themselves if they have sex. What are you teaching your audience, Colleen? Why do you think this is okay? The anniversary of the fire that horribly burned and scarred Fallon’s entire left side. The fire that caused her to lose her role as the lead in a hit TV show and ruined her dreams of becoming an star actress.

keep in mind, at this point they’ve known each other for about FIVE BLOODY HOURS. SHUT UP BEN. NO ONE EVER HAS A PLACE TO TELL SOMEONE THAT BUT MOST ESPECIALLY NOT YOU.

Games

November 9 by Colleen Hoover is most suitable for adults, as it contains sexual content, as well as drugs, alcohol, tragic deaths, and other adult themes. This novella follows Maybe Someday and focuses specifically on the first novel’s fan favorite side character, Warren. In Maybe Not, Warren finds himself living with a cold and calculating female roommate, Bridgette. This enemies-to-lovers fable forces readers to ask, will Warren and Bridgette fall in love or tear each other apart? Fallon is so obsessed with Ben, even though he has never done anything good for her. His disgusting, creepy and manipulative behaviour just gets constantly brushed off and excused. Those two have met three times and act like they are soulmates. I get that there are years in between but the fact is they don't communicate between each November 9. They literally meet 3 times. They know basically nothing about each other. They are in love with the idea of the other person, not with the actual person. This is not a good nor a romantic portrayal of love. They were talking about their favorite foods. Ben said Pad Thai. Fallon said Sushi. “they’re almost the same thing . . . [because t]hey’re both Asian food” (pg 121) lmao okay…………..

Anyway, right after that whole fiasco of him defending her in front of her dad (I feel like this is one of those scenarios where dudes talk about liking girls with daddy issues because they can go and be there heroes), he already starts sexualising her. Boom. This girl just got done having a Verity follows a struggling writer who accepts an unusual gig: to live in the home of a bestselling author and her husband, tasked with finishing that author's outstanding novels because the famous writer is injured and unable to write. As she rifles through Verity’s office, Lowen Ashleigh finds an unfinished autobiography that reveals a dark family secret. The third and final installment in the Slammed trilogy, This Girl takes the familiar story and turns it on its head, with the story unfolding from Will’s perspective, rather than Layken’s. The couple continues to struggle with the shadows of Will’s past, balancing the weight of that with the hope of their future. But not only did that not happen—he forgot I was there. No one knew anyone was in the house until they heard me scream from the second floor. I know he holds a lot of guilt for that. He apologized every time he saw me for weeks, but the apologies became as scarce as his visits and phone calls. The resentment I hold is still very much there, even though I wish it wasn’t. The fire was an accident. I survived. Those are the two things I try to focus on, but it’s hard when I think about it every time I look at myself. Keep in mind that this is after he 3rd November 9th they have spent together, roughly 12 hours they have spent together in total since they first met and after the first time they have sex....Fallon’s father, who at the beginning of the book told her “you’re too ugly for broadway, no one will hire you, your career is over, boys don’t love you, etc.” is posed as “misunderstood” and someone who doesn’t know how to communicate. HE RECEIVES FORGIVENESS. FOR THE DESPICABLE WORDS HE SAID TO HER AT THE BEGINNING, HE RECEIVES FORGIVENESS AND AN EXCUSE. If BookTok is doing its job right, you’ve heard of Colleen Hoover many, many times over. The bestselling author is the reigning queen of the young adult romance genre, with hits like Verity and It Ends With Us. The latter is currently being adapted into a feature film starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni—but production is currently on hold due to the writer’s strike. Solidarity, hooray! I wonder how many times he’s put his foot in his mouth during lunch today. He better watch out or his gums are going to get athlete’s foot. He honestly has no idea what today is. If he did, he would never have said something so careless. He laughs. That shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve only known you to go on one date, and that was over two years ago.

I suppose the only two actual reasons why I didn’t rate this zero stars was because the writing was gorgeous (just didn’t like what was being written) and because Fallon was enjoyable. The first time you walked past me—before I interrupted your lunch date with your father—I stared at your a** the whole time you were stomping away. And I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of panties you had on.” Fallon's internal monologue just constantly sounds like she's about to cry. I get it. I would too if I was spending even one second with Ben.He also, at one point, interrupts Fallon and puts his hand over her mouth so she can't speak while he delivers this big speech about how beautiful she is and only she cares about her scars. Which, as the book shows, actually isn't true, and also: get your controlling hands off her mouth, douchebag! In case you missed it, Ben's mom killed herself on November 9. That same day he sets he fire that ruined Fallon's life. Two years later, that's the day they first officially meet. So that date has an important significance for a number of reasons. All of which I'm sure were meant to add to this supposedly epic romance, but only ended up being over he top. I call bullshit on this book. I know the romance genre is unrealistic because it’s mostly just womens’ wish fulfillment, but a straight, not unattractive guy swooping in to save a girl from a verbally abusive dad, buys her dinner, is a creative writing student, etc.? It doesn’t happen. This doesn’t exist.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again: I like Hoover's writing, I like her concepts for novels that differ from the standard format of NA romance books, I really enjoyed Never Never and I also liked Confess. This book, however, reminded me of all the reasons her stories and characters have annoyed me in the past. Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist…you know what i’m worried about? all those thirteen year olds on tiktok who get recommended this book, over and over. they’re going to read it and think that this is okay. that if they say stop, and a guy keeps going, or god forbid say “i’m trying ask me again”, that’s okay. no. that’s literally perpetuating rape culture. After that point, I guess they like each other or some sh8t and they agree to meet every year for 5 years on November 9th until they're both 23 because apparently, that's the age you magically have your whole life figured out. One of his hands finds its way through the expensive implanted follicles of hair that line his forehead. Why are you doing this? He’s becoming increasingly annoyed with my attitude by the second. Are you still pissed that I didn’t show up for your graduation? I already told you, I had a scheduling conflict.