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November 9 Review: Back-of-Book Description
Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Starts with Us, It Ends with Us, and All Your Perfects returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.
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 Los Angeles 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.
Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?
November 9 Review: My Thoughts
My friend gave me this book as part of a 12-month “blind date with a book” gift. This was November’s book, which – c’mon. How adorable, right?
Even though I was technically reading a nonfiction business book, and even though I haven’t been able to read many of the other months yet, I decided to bring this one with me to my family’s house for Thanksgiving. And boy am I glad I did!
November 9 is the second book by Colleen Hoover I’ve read, the first was Verity. (Click on that title to check out my review of that one – it was CRAZY!) And just like that one, November 9 was such a gripping, compelling story and I breezed through it in under 3 days! It was the first time in a long time that I was able to sit and just be completely absorbed in a story! A much-needed little break, for sure.
At first, I thought it was reading a little like a Young Adult book. I think this was in large part because the characters start out as 18 years old. The story follows them until they are 25 so we do get to see them mature a bit, which also helps make the story feel more mature. Another thing that helps with that is some steamy romantic scenes.
The characters felt really well developed and like they were really growing with the progression of time and events. I think the author did a really good job of making them feel like real, challenged people.
The dialogue between all characters was natural and witty. The settings were easy to picture, though I don’t think any of them play a large part in the story at all.
All the chapters are fairly short, which helps create natural stopping points (if you can stand to put the book down). It also helps make the book shorter in the long run.
The writing in general was well done and gripping – just enough provocative thoughts and action to make you want more!
Favorite Quotes from November 9:
“I just sometimes find it difficult to control my indignation in the presence of absurdity.”
“You’ll never be able to find yourself if you’re lost in someone else.”
“…comfort can sometimes be a crutch when it comes to figuring out your life. Goals are achieved through discomfort and hard work. They aren’t achieved when you hide out in a place that’s nice and cozy.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that the foundation you taught me to stand on is made from quicksand?”
“We don’t get to choose our parents and our parents don’t get to choose their children. But we do get to choose how hard we are willing to work in order to make the best of what we’re given.”
“A body is simply a package for the true gifts inside…Youth and beauty fade. Human decency doesn’t.”
November 9 Review: In Conclusion
I really, really enjoyed this book! 4.5 stars from me for November 9. The story really gripped me and I read for a whole day because I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. The only drawback was that there were parts that read as kind of Young Adult. But hey – that’s not always bad.
I would recommend this to people who like romantic suspense books. It would also make a great gift for a young woman.
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