November 9: A Novel

“Go easy on me, Fallon. My heart is fragile.” I’m right there with you Ben, my heart is fragile too and Colleen Hoover (in true CoHo fashion) did a number on it in this book! I had butterflies, I laughed, I got angry, I got teary-eyed, you name it and it probably happened to me in this book. It’s always a treat to read a Colleen Hoover book, it’s like Christmas when she releases something new! And what a gift this book was, from the unique concept to the engaging characters and the rock-solid writing it was such fun to read (even when she was stomping all over my heart) from start to finish! This is definitely in my top 5 books I’ve read this year. The concept of this book was so awesome and so unique! Ben and Fallon meet one November 9th when they are both 18, and let me tell you, their first meeting was so cute and will make you instantly fall in love with Ben’s character. They hit it off immediately and end up spending the rest of the day together, it seems like the start of a wonderful relationship. One minor hitch though, Fallon happens to be moving across country that night to try to start over (I won’t spoil anything but due to some unfortunate circumstances her young acting career was cut short). And upon the sage advice from her mother she is determined to not fall in love until she’s found herself first (which according to her mom can’t happen until she’s 23). So while she is appreciative of Ben and all he did for her in the short time they’ve known each other, she is set to part ways from him and start her new life. Desperate to think of some way to see her again, Ben (who happens to be a writer) proposes an ingenious idea: “What if we meet up again next year on the same day? And the year after that? We’ll do it for five years. Same date, same time, same place. We’ll pick up where we left off tonight, but only for the day. I’ll make sure you’re following through with your auditions and I can write a book about the days we’re together.” Fallon agrees and they both depart with their ‘homework’ for the year to come. From there we basically we follow Ben and Fallon over the years as they meet up again each November 9th. Part of their agreement is that they are to have no contact with each other aside from that one day and they are encouraged to go out and live their lives during that time. This idea totally fascinated me and I thought it was a brilliant concept. It kept me on the edge of my seat as each new November 9th came around because as a reader we also have no contact with Ben or Fallon during this time. Everything we learn about what happened in the prior year we learn on November 9th along with them. Considering there was a 1-year time jump every few chapters, I didn’t feel like I missed anything, much like them I lived for the ‘next’ November 9th to see what was going to happen (only lucky for us, all we had to do was turn the page to get to the next year, rather than waiting a full year like Ben and Fallon did!). I was always wondering if this was going to be the time where everything fell apart. And as the years go by, you see their connection continue to evolve and how hard it is to part ways again, as a reader it was also hard to say ‘goodbye’ for another ‘year’ when their time was up! And in certain years your heart is going to break and in others it will rejoice. There’s no shortage of feels in this book, that’s for sure! “For one day each year, I wanted to be this guy who was falling for this girl, because everything about you captivated me.” As with all of Colleen Hoover’s books, you’re going to fall hard for her characters, both separately and for them as a couple. She just has this amazing ability to make her characters seem so real and full of life, they jump off the page and are people that you totally want to be friends with. This was definitely the case here, as I said earlier I fell in love with Ben right from the start and while there were a few things I got upset with him about, I loved how Colleen Hoover tied everything together so that by the end you still love him. Fallon was also an awesome heroine, I love how she evolved from the self-conscience girl we first met to the strong, confident woman we know by the end. And I loved, loved, loved Fallon and Ben together. Their chemistry was amazing and their quirky little conversations and inside jokes were just pure gold. It was awesome that Fallon was a fan of romance books, that right there instantly bonded me to her and her and Ben’s book conversations were priceless! Any book lover will get a kick out of those little nuggets. Oh and randomly, there is an easter egg hidden in this book for fans of one of her other books. I won’t say what it is, but I was delighted when I made the connection! It was unexpected but a welcome surprise! Colleen Hoover is the master of plot twists and there are no shortage of jaw dropping twists in this book. There was one that I saw coming and I thought for sure that was going to be the big one but then she drops another bomb on us that made my eyes bulge out of my head! I had certain suspicions but I did not expect that to happen at all! But I love that about her books, you definitely have to expect the unexpected and even then you’ll probably never see it coming. It really is mind boggling how she can so perfectly weave these stories together, I would seriously recommend a Colleen Hoover book to anyone, they are in a league of their own and I know I’ll always be anxiously awaiting her next masterpiece! ‘I laugh, relieved that she’s… that she simply exists. And that we were lucky enough to exist in the same lifetime, in the same area of the world, in the same state. And that, after all these years, I surprisingly wouldn’t change a single thing about what ultimately brought us together.’ Sigh…. (and yes, for those that read the book, I just said ‘sigh’ instead of actually sighing.)

November 9 was my most anticipated read of 2015, partially because of all of the hype, but mainly because it’s another release by Colleen Hoover, my favorite author. While following her on social media outlets, I noticed that she has even stated multiple times that she has never been more excited about one of her books as much as this one in particular. So here we go… I actually went into the book with a chip on my shoulder for the main male character, thinking that there was just no way that he could top Will Cooper. Impossible! Well, ladies (and maybe a few gentleman, I guess), Benton James Kessler comes as close as possible and may even be sitting directly next to Will Cooper in a dead heat tie on the first place tier of best male fictional character ever. The female character, Fallon O’neal has had a rough go at life, having undergone a traumatic event that left her physically scarred and emotionally ruined. Benton Kessler has also had some interesting and sad things happen in his life that have him at a standstill. Fate put these two people in the right place at the right time and they crash into each other. Their chemistry and witty banter is instant but the timing of their introduction is horrible as Fallon is moving across the country the very next day, inhibiting them from exploring each other further. They agree to meet once a year, in that very same spot on that very same day, November 9th, without any contact what so ever in between, and the story in between is so much fun. Being a sucker for artists, Benton had me from the first scene. He’s creative, smart, hilarious, so relatable, and drop dead gorgeous. His sense of humor alone had me falling in love with him. Fallon is feisty and trying to come into her own but struggling to really spread her wings when her heart is elsewhere. “You'll never be able to find yourself if you're lost in someone else.” I can’t imagine falling for someone one day at a time and then not being able to speak to them for an entire year. So much can happen in a year. But these two are meant for each other. “You can’t leave yet. I’m not finished falling in love with you.” As with any Hoover novel, you find yourself unable to stop turning page after page as the story unfolds itself, often ignoring meals, the need to use the restroom, necessary sleep, and so on. Her words are so beautiful and you are so invested in the characters that time just slips away…and then you get slapped in the face. Cold water dumped onto you like the ice bucket challenge. The crazy PLOT TWIST! The turn that this story takes is brilliant and original, impeccably revealed gently, layer by layer, and then all at once. My heart broke for the both of them and I was devastated. All of my hopes and dreams for this couple shattered. “Why didn't you tell me that the foundation you taught me to stand on is made from quicksand?” I loved the beginnings of each chapter, the prose of Benton setting the scene before you dove in. I chuckled at Hoover’s mockery of romance authors and stereotypical alpha male heroes. And Benton’s letter… the excerpts from the book. Gahhh! The anxiety, the tears, the white-knuckled anger, and the beauty of it all. The words sinking into your soul making it all okay. The narcotic feel of her storytelling blanketing your fears. I don’t want to say too much because this book is something you need to experience without anything being spoiled. Please, trust me. Colleen Hoover does not disappoint. She has yet again, surpassed my expectations and November 9 is my new favorite of her works. The writing is fantastic, the storytelling genius, and the characters addictive. It is simply perfection. Just get it, people. Buy it, now. Set aside some time and commit. Devote yourself to this experience and you’ll come out of it all a slightly better person, as per usual of this author. THE QUEEN! ***Disclaimers*** You will find yourself incapable of not bursting into out loud boastful laughter at the sight of seeing any man wearing trousers with tiny embroidered whales on them. You will forever look for the faces of celebrities like Gary Busey in blood stains. You will (or at least should) view suicide a little differently. You will be addicted to X-Ambassadors. You won’t be so quick to avoid looking at someone with facial scars or deformities. They want eye contact. They deserve eye contact. Thank you, Colleen for once again sharing your gift with us. I will treasure this story and share with as many as I can possibly reach.

Totally love the entire look of the book. Excited to stay up all night and read...

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~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. ~ This book is so cute honestly. I liked it more than it ends with us. Personally i felt more connected to this book since it talks about loving your insecurities and how the male lead loves the female lead despite her flaws. Colleen Hoover is truly a writing gem! The book came in great condition, however there was a line on the book cover that bothered me.

I would like to know at this point where is the one million-stars button. Sometimes it's absolutely necessary. And this is one of these times. I'm a huge fan of Colleen Hoover's work, I think she's brilliant. She has this way about her, how her mind works and the way she writes that I find amazingly magic and fascinating. This said, I think this one is her best book to date. And that's saying a lot. I'm not one to cry easily, less when reading a book. But this one, oh this one, had me gutted several times... In a good way. For those who haven't had the pleasure to enjoy her writing yet, you don't know what you're missing. Colleen Hoover es una de mis autoras favoritas. La que más me gusta. Me fascina la forma en la que trabaja su mente, la forma en la que escribe. Siempre he dicho que es mágica. He tenido el placer de leer mucho, pero cuando me leí su primer libro, al cerrarlo pensé: "Es por libros como este, por lo que me hacen sentir al leerlo, por lo que leo". Y me encanta todo lo que ha hecho, todo. Pero creo que este es su mejor libro hasta la fecha. Me entristece que haya muchas personas de habla no inglesa que se pierdan el absoluto placer que supone leer un libro de esta autora. No saben, no se imaginan, lo que se están perdiendo.

Ce roman est une lecture commune avec TheLovelyTeacher et je peux vous dire que la frustration a été à son comble pendant notre lecture. Je n’avais jamais testé Colleen Hoover en VO et je dois dire que l’essai est très concluant, le niveau également abordable. Si je devais décrire cette lecture en un mot, ça serait : envoûtant. Je vous conseille de le commencer en ayant conscience que vous voudrez le terminer avant la fin de ma journée. Nous, nous avons divisé notre lecture en 2/3 jours et je peux vous dire que je n’arrêtais pas d’y penser avec l’envie grandissante d’avoir enfin la conclusion. Fallon est actrice, Ben écrivain. Lorsqu’il se rencontre le 9 Novembre, immédiatement l’alchimie passe. Seulement la jeune femme part pour New-York dans moins de vingt-quatre heures. Ils n’ont que quelques heures pour se découvrir et la complicité entre eux est indéniable dès les premières secondes. Sur une idée folle, ils décident de se rencontrer tous les 9 Novembre jusqu’à leurs 23 ans, sans aucun contact entre chaque année. Seule cette date, pourra les réunir et leur offrir une journée magique. Rapidement, l’auteure met l’accent sur l’histoire de Fallon qui de part son histoire personnel est liée à jamais au 9 Novembre. Au fil des pages, on vit au gré de leur rencontre, on constate qu’ils évoluent et c’est grâce à Ben, que la jeune femme va s’épanouir d’année en année. Je trouve totalement dingue le concept de se voir seulement une fois par an et l’histoire en soi n’est pas si frustrante que ça, mais devoir attendre un an pour que nos héros se retrouvent c’est vraiment, vraiment excitant. Sans compter l’écriture du livre de Ben, à l’intérieur du roman. Au fil des ans, il va raconter leur histoire dans son récit, Fallon va être sa muse, son intrigue et son inspiration. Un jour dans l’année et ils vont retrouver le bonheur d’être ensemble, leur complicité évidente va prendre de l’importance et leurs sentiments ne vont cesser de grandir malgré la séparation. Ils vont donner leur maximum pour se découvrir en tant qu’adulte, sans que l’amour ne vienne interférer dans leur rêve, avec pour seule optique de retrouver l’autre l’année suivante. Je dois dire que, cette idée est grandiose et frustrante car on aurait envie que les jours rallongent et devoir attendre un an afin de pouvoir obtenir des réponses va parfois nous avoir créée des sueurs froides. Et la frustration. Tellement de frustration. Et à côté de ça, les moments de retrouvaille sont magiques, c’est vrai que 1 an c’est long, mais ils vont conserver leur alchimie et lorsqu’ils sont ensemble ça fait des étincelles et on oublie vite qu’ils ne peuvent pas se voir longtemps. Je crois que je suis passée par toutes les émotions, j’ai éprouvé de la colère face à l’histoire de Fallon, de la tendresse en voyant qu’elle n’était que l’ombre d’elle-même et puis vient les rires, les sourires que Ben vient apporter et mon cœur s’est réchauffé devant tant d’amour. Et puis vient les moments douloureux, où mon cœur s’est littéralement fissuré face aux révélations, comme seule Colleen Hoover sait le faire. J’avais l’impression d’appartenir à leur histoire. Je suis incapable de rendre justice à ce roman, car il est unique. Il faut rencontrer Ben et Fallon pour se rendre compte à quel point les émotions sont à leur comble. J’ai vu venir le twist donc la chute a été un peu amortie, mais je voulais me tromper. Ma lecture a été vraiment exceptionnelle et j’aurais pu très facilement avoir un coup de cœur, seulement une étoile s’est perdu sur le chemin à cause d’une chose stupide ! J’ai été très en colère que l’auteure nous fasse un truc pareil et ça m’a empêché d’être au sommet. J’ai vécu leur histoire totalement captivée et lorsque je reposais le livre, j’avais un sentiment de manque qu’il me fallait combler. Encore une fois, la magie a opéré et je crois même qu’il est un level au dessus de Ugly Love. Colleen Hoover est définitivement une auteure exceptionnelle qu’il faut découvrir. Je crois qu’on a plus qu’à attendre de pouvoir enfin la relire, que ce soit en VF ou en VO.