Release Date: May 7th 2013
Published By: Atria Books
Pages: 406
Goodreads: Add it to your reading list

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis: Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies.In this #1 New York Times bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover, author of Slammed and Point of Retreat, Sky meets Dean Holder, a guy with a reputation that rivals her own. Holder has the ability to invoke feelings in Sky she’s never had before. In just one encounter he leaves her terrified yet captivated and something about him brings up a rush of memories from the past that she’s worked so hard to bury away.

Sky knows Holder is nothing but trouble and tries to keep him at a distance, but he is adamant about learning everything he can about her. Sky finally caves to his unwavering pursuit, but she soon finds out that Holder isn’t the person he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life changes forever.

Review: WOW!!!! Colleen Hoover just became my favourite contemporary author.

I don’t often get engrossed in a story like I did with this one. I was hooked from the very beginning, I did not stop reading until the very last page and it stayed with me long after I finished. Hopeless is an emotionally charged story so compelling that you get lost in its pages and feel every emotion of it. Hopeless is breathtaking, raw, bleak, inspirational, heartbreaking, vivid, intense and just beautiful. In one word - PHENOMENAL.

And until this book, I never really understood the “fictional crush”… but then I was introduced to Dean Holder J

As excellent as this book is, it’s very hard to review with spoiling it for you. The storyline is the heart and soul of this book, so I can’t tell you too much, as that would be depriving you of the wonderfulness that is Hopeless.

Sky is not your average teenage girl. She only has one friend, does not own a TV, does not have a mobile phone or a Facebook account, and has been home-schooled her whole life. Although she is sheltered, she is not completely inexperienced with boys – she has kissed her share, but she has never had a physical reaction to a boy, she has never felt lust – actually she has never felt anything at all for a boy. But then Sky meets Dean Holder (known as Holder) and her heart skips a beat. And that is not normal, as Sky does not have feelings for boys – ever! Understandably Sky is confused by her reaction to Holder – he has made her feel something for the very first time. The problem however is that while Holder in gorgeous and intriguing, he is equal parts terrifying.

Holder is mysterious, moody, beautiful, scary, sweet, hot and cold, deep and damaged. Sky already knows that Holder has a reputation, and she should stay away from him – however she cannot seem to be able to do that, as he seems determined to learn more about her and insert himself into her life. And as much as she tries to resist, she cannot deny the intense chemistry between them. And as Sky gets to know Holder, she feels that Holder is hiding something from her - but finding out what he is hiding will destroy everything Sky has ever known.

I actually felt Sky’s emotions in this book – her confusion, her pain, her strength and her love. She is such a strong character who goes through so much, but her emotions and her reactions are realistic and not at all melodramatic.

The chemistry in this book is undeniable – passionate, powerful and real. And I never thought I would ever say this: this book has the BEST NON-KISS SCENE EVER! This non-kiss scene is written with such intensity that I have to say it is the best kiss scene I have ever read (even without an actual kiss). I know this sounds very confusing and contradictory, but you really have to read it yourself to understand.

Oh, and did I mention Holder? He is the perfect amount of swoon and sarcasm. Tattoos and dimples. Bad-boy and sweetheart.

I also loved the minor characters, especially Sky’s best friend Six, and her new bestest friend ever in the whole wide world, Breckin, aka the “mormon” - he rocks! These characters are such strong characters in their own right – relatable, loyal, funny, solid.

I don’t know what I expected from this book, but it wasn’t what I got – and I truly and utterly loved it! There were not many major surprises, as there are clues as you go, and you work out things just before they happen. Don’t get me wrong, I am not calling this predictable in any way – it is done is such a clever way I think you are supposed to work it out (probably to stop your heart from breaking if the shock of it hit you like a truck).

Oh, and Holder… I live him (okay maybe love). Sarcastic, sweet, funny, erratic, but towards the end you got to see his more sensitive side. He is a multifaceted character and seeing all of these sides to him just make you fall in love with him even more.

So much happens in this book, and yet every characters reaction is realistic – even in the most heartbreaking and mind-boggling situations. I cannot think of another book that showed so many human complexities, monstrosities or compassion. I wish there were enough words to describe how beautifully tormented this book is.

Hopeless is a total roller-coaster of emotions. You will laugh, you will cry, your heart will race, you will be dumbfounded, you will hurt, you will feel joy, and you will be angry, shocked, relieved, sad, happy, mortified and joyous.

Hopeless does contain sensitive subjects, and even though they were exceptionally handled, due to the rawness of them, Hopeless is best for those 17 years and over.

I didn’t like this book – I didn’t live this book – I totally LOVED this book! Everything about it was fantastic - the delivery of the storylines, the realism, the non-annoyance, the emotion of it, the sweetness of it, the rawness of it, the hotness of it, the hopelessness of it.

… And Holder

Quotes:

“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it’s dark or rainy or cloudy, it’s still beautiful to look at….it’ll be there no matter what…and I know it’ll always be beautiful.”

“Somehow in the course of sixty seconds, this guy has managed to swoon me, then terrify the hell out of me.”

“Dean Holder? Messy brown hair? Smoldering blue eyes? A temper straight out of Fight Club?”

“I can already tell he isn’t the kind of guy a girl gets a simple crush on. He’s the kind of guy you fall hard for, and the thought of that terrifies me.”

“The moment my lips touch yours, it will be your first kiss. Because if you’ve never felt anything when someone’s kissed you, then no one’s ever really kissed you. Not the way I plan on kissing you.”

“I live you”

“F#%k all the firsts, Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.”

“You can’t get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It’s the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”