Series: Hopeless #2
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 8, 2013 by Atria Books
Format: Trade Paperback
Source: Purchased
Find it here: GoodReads | Amazon
Synopsis
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.
My Thoughts
Once again I am left almost speechless after Colleen Hoover has had her way with my heart and emotions - and feeling utterly incapable of writing a review that does it justice. So this may be short and sweet.
It's been almost four months since I read Hopeless. (I had to give my poor heart time to heal.) Getting Holder's story in Losing Hope was simply priceless. I fell in love with him in Hopeless but getting his perspective, being privy to his thoughts and his own pain... I was reduced to a teary pile of emotions. When it comes to male protagonists, I have a thing for young men who show a level of maturity beyond their years, who take on responsibilities and bear burdens (either willingly or due to circumstances), who are selfless. And Holder encompasses all those qualities. Getting a first hand look at the incredible guilt he felt over Hope and his sister, his utter conviction that he had failed them both, was so heartbreaking. While Holder was taking care of Les over the years and being there for her however he could, drowning in guilt over Hope, who was there for him? Where was his shoulder to lean on? It just hurt my heart that this guy was practically crushed by the weight on his shoulders and yet he never once stopped trying to do the right thing for his sister and for Sky.
Holder is intense and passionate. And reliving certain scenes from Hopeless, but from his perspective, provided a complete picture that made the story so much richer. Losing Hope is not just a retelling a from a different point of view. It's a full story on its own that gives a look at Holder's background, fills in some holes from Hopeless, and shines a light on his relationship with his sister. In particular there are the letters he writes to Les where he pours out his soul to the sister he couldn't save. Those letters, where he let his pain show, brought me to tears more than once.
But it was Holder's relationship with Sky that brought all the smiles to my face. The fierceness with which he loved her was breathtaking. And their banter and sarcasm were laugh out loud funny. They were so adorably cute together that I just wanted more and more.
My mind is so exhausted and so tired and my heart hurts so much right now. I just need her to help me figure out how to stop trying to be the hero for once. - Holder, Losing Hope
But it was Holder's relationship with Sky that brought all the smiles to my face. The fierceness with which he loved her was breathtaking. And their banter and sarcasm were laugh out loud funny. They were so adorably cute together that I just wanted more and more.
I'm pretty sure it's too soon to love her, but shit. She's got to stop doing and saying these unexpected things that make me want to fast-forward whatever's going on between us. Because I want to kiss her and make love to her and marry her and make her have my babies and I want it all to happen tonight. - Holder, Losing HopeObviously this is less of a review than an outpouring of All The Feels, but I've never been able to review a Colleen Hoover book calmly and objectively. I'm never able to share the real impact they have on me. Instead I'm left with this: A stream of consciousness rambling about how much it made me feel. And sometimes that's just perfect. ♥
What's the very best book you've read lately... the one that made you laugh or cry or swoon (or preferably all three)?
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