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Confess
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Best Romance (2015)Auburn Reed is determined to rebuild her shattered life and she has no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to become deeply attracted to the studio’s enigmatic artist, Owen Gentry.
For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it—but can she do it?
For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it—but can she do it?
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2015
About the author
Colleen Hoover
95 books713k followersInternational and #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance, YA, thriller, women's fiction and paranormal romance.
I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.
My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com
Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.
I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.
My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com
Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.
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March 10, 2015
::: FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED ::: SPOILER-FREE :::
Exquisitely heart-wrenching and absolutely unputdownable, Confess is another unique Colleen Hoover masterpiece and one of the must-read books of this year!!
From the moment I read the blurb, I was intrigued by the story! And once I started reading, I discovered that there’s even more to this story than meets the eye. There’s an added layer to it that I absolutely loved but that I won’t mention because discovering it as you read is honestly best. This review is spoiler free.
I can honestly say that this was the first time ever that a book made me completely break down crying (like real tears-pouring-down-my-face tears) in the very first chapter. The pain and loss and love were so achingly profound that I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the emotions.
But, true to Colleen Hoover's amazing ability to make you feel a range of nearly every single human emotion possible, just a few pages later, I was laughing right out loud.
The story is about a heroine named Auburn who, by the age of 21, had already lost the most important thing in her life and was now just struggling to make ends meet. Faced with an impossible situation, she was desperate for any income she could get. When she came across a curious building, quite literally covered in scraps of paper with people's deepest, darkest confessions written on it, she had no idea what she'd find inside. She certainly wasn't expecting to find a quirky, ridiculously handsome, and very talented artist who practically begged her to work for him.
What she didn't know was that he was keeping a secret. He remembered her... knew her from before but couldn't tell her how. So the balance of their dynamic was very interesting as they both fell for each other while each respectively keeping back huge personal secrets that could change their lives...
I read this book as slowly as I could to prolong the experience. The story was completely unpredictable. Most books give you a vague idea of the direction they're heading in but not Confess. I read each page with no idea what would happen next and I honestly loved that about it. I have such complete trust in Colleen Hoover's writing that I never once doubted that she would take the story exactly wherever it needed to go. So I just sat back and enjoyed the ride!
True to CoHo style, Confess is completely different than anything else she's written. And, like I mentioned, there's an addition to the plot that added in just the perfect measure of heart-warming depth and heart-wrenching angst to the story. I loved the way it was introduced. It all felt so incredibly real.
One of the things I love most about Colleen Hoover's writing is how deeply she makes me care for her characters and how strongly she makes me feel for them. The opening chapter of this book (the one that had me break down crying) was the perfect representation of that because if she could make me feel that much for new characters in just a matter of pages, just imagine what she can do with an entire book.
While this book is certainly sexy, it's not overly steamy. However the circumstances of these characters' lives forced them to grow up fast, and this felt like a very mature book. The emotions and pure, raw intensity poured into even just a single kiss took my breath away over and over again.
All in all, reading Confess was a truly magical reading experience. Because of all the layers in this story, there were actually three completely separate but intricately entwined storylines happening. I know that might sound a bit contradictory but it'll make perfect sense as soon as you read it. I promise. I felt fully and equally invested in all of them and couldn't wait to see how they'd all come together.
This book is most certainly a romance, but it's also so much more. It's a story of survival, courage, unexpected chances, fate, sacrifice, confessions, lies, love, and healing. It's deeply emotional and very fast paced. I flew through the pages and was unable to put it down.
If you follow my blog, you'll know I'm a huge Colleen Hoover fan. I've loved everything she's ever written most especially because of the uniqueness of her stories and her ability to make me care so much for the characters. I feel like if she wanted to write a detailed account of the paint drying on her walls, I'd read it in a heartbeat. And I bet you she'd end up making me emotionally attached to that wall too!
Ooooh!! AND. This book has real artwork incorporated into it that was commissioned especially for Confess. As you read, you'll see these pieces inserted in the story in relevant places. In my advance copy, they weren't there yet but I read the descriptions of these paintings and I cannot wait to see them!
Guys, this book was truly fantastic.
Beautiful. Unique. Heart-wrenching. I LOVED IT!!
Rating: 5 stars! Standalone.
___________________________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Twitter
✦ Subscribe by email
Exquisitely heart-wrenching and absolutely unputdownable, Confess is another unique Colleen Hoover masterpiece and one of the must-read books of this year!!
From the moment I read the blurb, I was intrigued by the story! And once I started reading, I discovered that there’s even more to this story than meets the eye. There’s an added layer to it that I absolutely loved but that I won’t mention because discovering it as you read is honestly best. This review is spoiler free.
I can honestly say that this was the first time ever that a book made me completely break down crying (like real tears-pouring-down-my-face tears) in the very first chapter. The pain and loss and love were so achingly profound that I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the emotions.
“How can a fifteen year-old-girl defend her love when that love is dismissed by everyone?”
But, true to Colleen Hoover's amazing ability to make you feel a range of nearly every single human emotion possible, just a few pages later, I was laughing right out loud.
The story is about a heroine named Auburn who, by the age of 21, had already lost the most important thing in her life and was now just struggling to make ends meet. Faced with an impossible situation, she was desperate for any income she could get. When she came across a curious building, quite literally covered in scraps of paper with people's deepest, darkest confessions written on it, she had no idea what she'd find inside. She certainly wasn't expecting to find a quirky, ridiculously handsome, and very talented artist who practically begged her to work for him.
What she didn't know was that he was keeping a secret. He remembered her... knew her from before but couldn't tell her how. So the balance of their dynamic was very interesting as they both fell for each other while each respectively keeping back huge personal secrets that could change their lives...
“They are the past and this is the present, and Auburn is… somehow both. She would be shocked if she knew how much of her past has affected my present, which is why I won’t be sharing the truth with her. Some secrets should never turn into confessions.”
I read this book as slowly as I could to prolong the experience. The story was completely unpredictable. Most books give you a vague idea of the direction they're heading in but not Confess. I read each page with no idea what would happen next and I honestly loved that about it. I have such complete trust in Colleen Hoover's writing that I never once doubted that she would take the story exactly wherever it needed to go. So I just sat back and enjoyed the ride!
“I’m losing track of the lies I’m telling her, and lying to someone like her isn’t normally something I would do. But I don’t know how to tell her the truth…
I’ve never felt stronger than I feel when I’m with her. I’ve never felt like I had a purpose like I feel when I’m with her. I think about the first words I said to her when she showed up at my door. “Are you here to save me?”
True to CoHo style, Confess is completely different than anything else she's written. And, like I mentioned, there's an addition to the plot that added in just the perfect measure of heart-warming depth and heart-wrenching angst to the story. I loved the way it was introduced. It all felt so incredibly real.
One of the things I love most about Colleen Hoover's writing is how deeply she makes me care for her characters and how strongly she makes me feel for them. The opening chapter of this book (the one that had me break down crying) was the perfect representation of that because if she could make me feel that much for new characters in just a matter of pages, just imagine what she can do with an entire book.
While this book is certainly sexy, it's not overly steamy. However the circumstances of these characters' lives forced them to grow up fast, and this felt like a very mature book. The emotions and pure, raw intensity poured into even just a single kiss took my breath away over and over again.
“The more we kiss, the more we realize what we’re losing…He pulls back and looks me in the eyes with a pained expression. He moves his hand from the back of my head and brings it to my cheek, brushing a thumb over my bottom lip. “This already hurts.”
All in all, reading Confess was a truly magical reading experience. Because of all the layers in this story, there were actually three completely separate but intricately entwined storylines happening. I know that might sound a bit contradictory but it'll make perfect sense as soon as you read it. I promise. I felt fully and equally invested in all of them and couldn't wait to see how they'd all come together.
This book is most certainly a romance, but it's also so much more. It's a story of survival, courage, unexpected chances, fate, sacrifice, confessions, lies, love, and healing. It's deeply emotional and very fast paced. I flew through the pages and was unable to put it down.
When he feels my tears falling against his chest, he doesn’t do anything to stop them. Instead, he simply holds me with a much tighter grip and presses his cheek against the top of my head…”I know, baby,” he whispers. “I know.”
If you follow my blog, you'll know I'm a huge Colleen Hoover fan. I've loved everything she's ever written most especially because of the uniqueness of her stories and her ability to make me care so much for the characters. I feel like if she wanted to write a detailed account of the paint drying on her walls, I'd read it in a heartbeat. And I bet you she'd end up making me emotionally attached to that wall too!
Ooooh!! AND. This book has real artwork incorporated into it that was commissioned especially for Confess. As you read, you'll see these pieces inserted in the story in relevant places. In my advance copy, they weren't there yet but I read the descriptions of these paintings and I cannot wait to see them!
Guys, this book was truly fantastic.
Beautiful. Unique. Heart-wrenching. I LOVED IT!!
Rating: 5 stars! Standalone.
___________________________________________________
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
✦ Subscribe by email
March 20, 2015
2 1/2 stars. Erm. I think I have a love/hate relationship with Hoover's work. I keep coming back for more of her addictive writing style, despite having so many issues with her characters and slut-shaming. Though, I think it's official that I enjoy her far more when she's writing intriguing, possibly supernatural thrillers with Tarryn Fisher, than when she's writing contemporary romance. Never Never is still my favourite. But Confess is not too bad.
One of the things that almost always bugs me about Hoover's novels is the way she characterizes her female protagonists. They're bland, innocent, good girls and often victims. They slut-shame other women, and when they start to behave in a flirtatious or sexual way themselves, we're treated to a piece of inner dialogue where they chastise themselves:
“What the hell am I doing? I don’t do this kind of thing. I don’t invite guys into my home.
Texas is turning me into a whore.”
The annoying use of whore aside, what is this, the 1800s?
Auburn Reed is another example of this. But I am prepared to admit that I think this is deliberate in a Bella Swan kinda way. Because Hoover is writing contemporary romance, I think she leaves her female protagonists deliberately open for interpretation so that her readers can imagine themselves in the story. I get it. I just don't really like it.
There's also a bunch of the usual tropes. The guy (Owen) has had many girlfriends but Auburn is inexperienced. There's another total douche in the picture whose attempted sexual assault (yes, another one!) of Auburn is supposed to make Owen look better. Owen is flawlessly beautiful, not a blemish to be found:
“...skin that looks so flawless, it makes me want to chase his father down and give him a high five for creating such an impeccable son.”
I suppose these are all small bits and pieces. My real gripe is that I never really got a sense of the sexual/romantic chemistry between Auburn and Owen. There were many things about their relationship that I liked (and will talk about in a minute) but I never wanted them to be together, which is generally the whole point of a romance novel. Instead of roaring "YES!" when they slept together, I found myself wanting to skim read the sex scenes.
Okay. So there's all the negative. Now, I can talk about what I did like.
Firstly, aside from his good looks, Owen seemed very different from other NA love interests. He was quirky, weird even, and a bit pretentious and hipster in a way that actually made him interesting, rather than annoying. I found his oddness charming. Secondly, there's a reveal about Auburn which I didn't see coming and thought was an unusual addition to a NA romance. I liked it.
I also really like it when authors attempt to do something a bit different, especially in a genre that is defined by cliches and tropes. In Maybe Someday, Hoover combined music and writing by releasing an album alongside the book with songs supposedly written by the characters. In Confess, Owen is an artist and there are some beautiful illustrations in the book. On top of the artwork itself, I really love the inspiration behind his art. He welcomes anonymous confessions in a dropbox at his art studio and his work is inspired by them. Very different.
Owen was a very interesting character overall and it actually seems a shame that he was wasted on a romance novel where I didn't buy into their chemistry. Oh well, at least he had some great dialogue with Auburn.
Definitely not a bad book, but I think I will wait for Hoover's less romancey novels. I'm still excited for Never Never: Part Two.
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One of the things that almost always bugs me about Hoover's novels is the way she characterizes her female protagonists. They're bland, innocent, good girls and often victims. They slut-shame other women, and when they start to behave in a flirtatious or sexual way themselves, we're treated to a piece of inner dialogue where they chastise themselves:
“What the hell am I doing? I don’t do this kind of thing. I don’t invite guys into my home.
Texas is turning me into a whore.”
The annoying use of whore aside, what is this, the 1800s?
Auburn Reed is another example of this. But I am prepared to admit that I think this is deliberate in a Bella Swan kinda way. Because Hoover is writing contemporary romance, I think she leaves her female protagonists deliberately open for interpretation so that her readers can imagine themselves in the story. I get it. I just don't really like it.
There's also a bunch of the usual tropes. The guy (Owen) has had many girlfriends but Auburn is inexperienced. There's another total douche in the picture whose attempted sexual assault (yes, another one!) of Auburn is supposed to make Owen look better. Owen is flawlessly beautiful, not a blemish to be found:
“...skin that looks so flawless, it makes me want to chase his father down and give him a high five for creating such an impeccable son.”
I suppose these are all small bits and pieces. My real gripe is that I never really got a sense of the sexual/romantic chemistry between Auburn and Owen. There were many things about their relationship that I liked (and will talk about in a minute) but I never wanted them to be together, which is generally the whole point of a romance novel. Instead of roaring "YES!" when they slept together, I found myself wanting to skim read the sex scenes.
Okay. So there's all the negative. Now, I can talk about what I did like.
Firstly, aside from his good looks, Owen seemed very different from other NA love interests. He was quirky, weird even, and a bit pretentious and hipster in a way that actually made him interesting, rather than annoying. I found his oddness charming. Secondly, there's a reveal about Auburn which I didn't see coming and thought was an unusual addition to a NA romance. I liked it.
I also really like it when authors attempt to do something a bit different, especially in a genre that is defined by cliches and tropes. In Maybe Someday, Hoover combined music and writing by releasing an album alongside the book with songs supposedly written by the characters. In Confess, Owen is an artist and there are some beautiful illustrations in the book. On top of the artwork itself, I really love the inspiration behind his art. He welcomes anonymous confessions in a dropbox at his art studio and his work is inspired by them. Very different.
Owen was a very interesting character overall and it actually seems a shame that he was wasted on a romance novel where I didn't buy into their chemistry. Oh well, at least he had some great dialogue with Auburn.
Definitely not a bad book, but I think I will wait for Hoover's less romancey novels. I'm still excited for Never Never: Part Two.
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August 10, 2020
"OMG"... THIS BOOK!
THE NOTEBOOK, UGLY LOVE, TFIOS, AND HOPELESS HAD A SECRET LOVE CHILD! AND THAT LOVE CHILD IS CONFESS.
If you know anything about me then you know Colleen Hoover is my favorite author. If you don't know anything about me than that is pretty much all you need to know. She is the only author who has never let me down. Confess didn't let me down. I think Leah and I can both agree, the main thing we heard about this book was that it would induce tears within the first chapter.. And I had my doubts. Ten pages in. I REPEAT TEN PAGES IN, I WAS A COMPLETE MESS.
Confess follows the intertwining stories of Auburn and Owen. Both characters come from very separate yet equal backgrounds. Both facing more in the 20-something-years they've been alive than most will their entire lives. When Confess starts out right into Auburn's story you're more than likely, within the first few chapters, going to be thinking the same thing I was, "Ha I got this whole thing figured out". Please don't think that. If you've ever read a Hoover book then you know you'd be a fool to think that (yes I just called myself a fool, because God was I).
Auburn is desperate for a second job when fate shines its face on her and she get offered one by Owen. When stopping in front of a studio covered in anonymous people's confession she never thought things would turn out the way they do. Both Auburn and Owen are perfectly written characters. Always revealing the perfect amount of themselves at the perfect time, always giving banter at the right moments, and always pulling out all the romantic stops at the right time
"I'm scared I'll never feel this again with anyone else," I whisper
He squeezes my hands. I'm scared you will."
I can't (sadly) say much more about them, because I know once I got started talking about them I wouldn't be able to stop!Then I would spill out all the wonderful things that make this book up! That being said I will tell you the spoil free things I loved about this book. There are four things that stole my heart and won me over. First, of course, the Art. When you think about pictures being included into a book you automatically think it'll be cheesy. It's not, it's a wonderful addition and takes this book to a level others wont reach. Second, the real readers confession that are sprinkled throughout this book and also fit so well with the art theme. Third, is the romance. It's Georgia peach sweet. And Four, well, you'll have to wait a minute for that one... Promise I'll get to it in a second.
When it came to plot, I had a lot of fear. I feared that with so much hype to this book that it would let me down. Then once the first chapter brought me to tears all I could think of was "This book can only go down from here"... All that was laid to rest. The plot starts strong, stays steady, and just when you're winding up on the end of the book and you're thinking "ok that was great and all but what am I missing?"; Colleen hits you right in the face with one of her famous big reveal. That brings you to my number four love. The ending. I never ever thought the story would end the way it did. Didn't think the story would come together and collide how she had it. The closer it got to the end the more I had to know what the ending was going to be. What the big secret was. I couldn't have been more happy with the ending! With everything perfect laid out, and the expression "somethings are better left unsaid" taking a whole new meaning, Confess will leave you wanting more. It was perfect, amazing, and I don't think I took a single breath the whole last chapter. I constantly wonder if Colleen woke up one random morning and said "you know what I'm going to be a writer" or if she has always planned on becoming one... And I don't care, I thank the literary Gods every time she puts out a piece of work. Not only does she give us something of her own, but the way she constantly finds away to shed light on others art as well... It's just astounding.
1..2..3.. 5 OUT OF 5 "OMG" STARS
THE NOTEBOOK, UGLY LOVE, TFIOS, AND HOPELESS HAD A SECRET LOVE CHILD! AND THAT LOVE CHILD IS CONFESS.
If you know anything about me then you know Colleen Hoover is my favorite author. If you don't know anything about me than that is pretty much all you need to know. She is the only author who has never let me down. Confess didn't let me down. I think Leah and I can both agree, the main thing we heard about this book was that it would induce tears within the first chapter.. And I had my doubts. Ten pages in. I REPEAT TEN PAGES IN, I WAS A COMPLETE MESS.
Confess follows the intertwining stories of Auburn and Owen. Both characters come from very separate yet equal backgrounds. Both facing more in the 20-something-years they've been alive than most will their entire lives. When Confess starts out right into Auburn's story you're more than likely, within the first few chapters, going to be thinking the same thing I was, "Ha I got this whole thing figured out". Please don't think that. If you've ever read a Hoover book then you know you'd be a fool to think that (yes I just called myself a fool, because God was I).
Auburn is desperate for a second job when fate shines its face on her and she get offered one by Owen. When stopping in front of a studio covered in anonymous people's confession she never thought things would turn out the way they do. Both Auburn and Owen are perfectly written characters. Always revealing the perfect amount of themselves at the perfect time, always giving banter at the right moments, and always pulling out all the romantic stops at the right time
"I'm scared I'll never feel this again with anyone else," I whisper
He squeezes my hands. I'm scared you will."
I can't (sadly) say much more about them, because I know once I got started talking about them I wouldn't be able to stop!Then I would spill out all the wonderful things that make this book up! That being said I will tell you the spoil free things I loved about this book. There are four things that stole my heart and won me over. First, of course, the Art. When you think about pictures being included into a book you automatically think it'll be cheesy. It's not, it's a wonderful addition and takes this book to a level others wont reach. Second, the real readers confession that are sprinkled throughout this book and also fit so well with the art theme. Third, is the romance. It's Georgia peach sweet. And Four, well, you'll have to wait a minute for that one... Promise I'll get to it in a second.
When it came to plot, I had a lot of fear. I feared that with so much hype to this book that it would let me down. Then once the first chapter brought me to tears all I could think of was "This book can only go down from here"... All that was laid to rest. The plot starts strong, stays steady, and just when you're winding up on the end of the book and you're thinking "ok that was great and all but what am I missing?"; Colleen hits you right in the face with one of her famous big reveal. That brings you to my number four love. The ending. I never ever thought the story would end the way it did. Didn't think the story would come together and collide how she had it. The closer it got to the end the more I had to know what the ending was going to be. What the big secret was. I couldn't have been more happy with the ending! With everything perfect laid out, and the expression "somethings are better left unsaid" taking a whole new meaning, Confess will leave you wanting more. It was perfect, amazing, and I don't think I took a single breath the whole last chapter. I constantly wonder if Colleen woke up one random morning and said "you know what I'm going to be a writer" or if she has always planned on becoming one... And I don't care, I thank the literary Gods every time she puts out a piece of work. Not only does she give us something of her own, but the way she constantly finds away to shed light on others art as well... It's just astounding.
1..2..3.. 5 OUT OF 5 "OMG" STARS
November 5, 2019
5/5 stars.
I have only one thing to say about this book: OMG! (only those who read the book will understand the connotation).
I don't like novels. Neither in books nor in movies, most of them simply surrounding around the couple, their love. There is usually nothing beyond.
And that's what makes the amazing writer Colleen Hoover unique.
Her books are far beyond just a love story.
In this book there is also pain, there is another (non-romantic) love, there is laughter, there is sadness, there is reality.
You see, in most love stories the reality is far from being realistic.
But in Colleen Hoover's books, there is a realistic love, something that can happen in real life, something that wasn’t meant to please the reader and for making a love story between a couple from “heaven”.
This book got deep into my heart and soul.
The main characters in this book were just so touching and moving, that it's hard not to like them.
And the writing ... so unique, interesting, inviting. I think I fell in love with Colleen.
So after reading the book in just a day and a half, I can give the book 5 stars here on the site, and million stars in my heart. I will definitely pick up this book in the future, and will read it again.
Warmly and highly recommended.
I have only one thing to say about this book: OMG! (only those who read the book will understand the connotation).
I don't like novels. Neither in books nor in movies, most of them simply surrounding around the couple, their love. There is usually nothing beyond.
And that's what makes the amazing writer Colleen Hoover unique.
Her books are far beyond just a love story.
In this book there is also pain, there is another (non-romantic) love, there is laughter, there is sadness, there is reality.
You see, in most love stories the reality is far from being realistic.
But in Colleen Hoover's books, there is a realistic love, something that can happen in real life, something that wasn’t meant to please the reader and for making a love story between a couple from “heaven”.
This book got deep into my heart and soul.
The main characters in this book were just so touching and moving, that it's hard not to like them.
And the writing ... so unique, interesting, inviting. I think I fell in love with Colleen.
So after reading the book in just a day and a half, I can give the book 5 stars here on the site, and million stars in my heart. I will definitely pick up this book in the future, and will read it again.
Warmly and highly recommended.
May 26, 2015
5 OMG stars
Colleen Hoover is a genius. Every book of hers so different, and every one gets me right in the feels. Confess was no exception. If anything, this one hit me harder than many of her others. I can’t say it’s very often that I cry in the prologue of a book, but when you start out this way, it’s bound to happen…
I loved the confessions. I thought that was such a brilliant and unique idea for a story. To base it on real confessions. Things we have that are scary to put out there. I loved the connections between the characters, the sacrifice, and the writing.
Most of all, I love how every thing became full circle in the end. EVERYTHING. This was a beautiful story that I won’t ever forget. And the art was just gorgeous. I was so happy I had the paperback at home as well as the kindle copy so I could look at both.
This story was real and raw and beautiful. It wasn’t perfect, the characters were flawed, but I love that too. I don’t want a story with perfect characters that make no mistakes. If you’re looking for a story that will grip you from the very start, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you FEEL, pick this one up!
Colleen Hoover is a genius. Every book of hers so different, and every one gets me right in the feels. Confess was no exception. If anything, this one hit me harder than many of her others. I can’t say it’s very often that I cry in the prologue of a book, but when you start out this way, it’s bound to happen…
I loved the confessions. I thought that was such a brilliant and unique idea for a story. To base it on real confessions. Things we have that are scary to put out there. I loved the connections between the characters, the sacrifice, and the writing.
Most of all, I love how every thing became full circle in the end. EVERYTHING. This was a beautiful story that I won’t ever forget. And the art was just gorgeous. I was so happy I had the paperback at home as well as the kindle copy so I could look at both.
This story was real and raw and beautiful. It wasn’t perfect, the characters were flawed, but I love that too. I don’t want a story with perfect characters that make no mistakes. If you’re looking for a story that will grip you from the very start, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you FEEL, pick this one up!
April 14, 2015
Loved Confess! Here's a link to my booktalk: https://youtu.be/-VxNI8eh7A0
July 20, 2016
You know that a book will haunt you for a very long time when it brings you tears from the very first pages.I finally understand the Colleen Hoover hype.She is totally worth it.
Probably not one of the most popular quotes,but it touches the essence of this extremely beautiful and heartbreaking story.Fate was cruel and brutal to both Owen and Auburn,but they were given a second chance in happiness when they met.And then,they were torn apart.Auburn had some priorities,and a relationship with Owen could jeopardize everything she fought for all these years.She silenced her heart,but it was not enough,because when she was with him,she felt like someone truly found her.
I don't think I would be able to read Confess again.Not because it wasn't a gem,but exactly because it was.Every page,every sentence hold pain,a gut-wrenching,lifesucking pain.I lost count of the times I was on the verge of tears and I could taste bile in my mouth.It consumed me in a unique way,I wanted so badly to right the things that went wrong,to kill Trey and Lydia with my bare hands,to align the stars in the sky so that Owen and Auburn would end up together.I swam in a sea full of emotions and despair,I was struggling to reach the surface with every breath I had left,and then I kept thinking that if I felt this way about a secondhand experience,then Owen and Auburn are some of the strongest protagonists I had ever met.
Owen and Auburn are two characters I came to love deeply.Their lifes were messy and they had not complete control over them.Auburn was treated horribly by the same people she tried to appease,a tragedy was tattooed in her soul,yet she found the courage to love fiercely.Owen expressed himself through art,but he had to confess his sins and take the blame for sins he didn't even commit,to help his father become a father again and to show Auburn that she was a wonderful person who deserved a lot more.She deserved him.And I deserved Confess.And you deserve it.Every reader deserves it.
Hopefully,she has more than one fate,Owen.
Probably not one of the most popular quotes,but it touches the essence of this extremely beautiful and heartbreaking story.Fate was cruel and brutal to both Owen and Auburn,but they were given a second chance in happiness when they met.And then,they were torn apart.Auburn had some priorities,and a relationship with Owen could jeopardize everything she fought for all these years.She silenced her heart,but it was not enough,because when she was with him,she felt like someone truly found her.
I'm afraid if I listen to my heart once,I'll never figure out how to ignore it again.
I don't think I would be able to read Confess again.Not because it wasn't a gem,but exactly because it was.Every page,every sentence hold pain,a gut-wrenching,lifesucking pain.I lost count of the times I was on the verge of tears and I could taste bile in my mouth.It consumed me in a unique way,I wanted so badly to right the things that went wrong,to kill Trey and Lydia with my bare hands,to align the stars in the sky so that Owen and Auburn would end up together.I swam in a sea full of emotions and despair,I was struggling to reach the surface with every breath I had left,and then I kept thinking that if I felt this way about a secondhand experience,then Owen and Auburn are some of the strongest protagonists I had ever met.
There are people you meet that you get to know,and then there are people you meet that you already know.
Owen and Auburn are two characters I came to love deeply.Their lifes were messy and they had not complete control over them.Auburn was treated horribly by the same people she tried to appease,a tragedy was tattooed in her soul,yet she found the courage to love fiercely.Owen expressed himself through art,but he had to confess his sins and take the blame for sins he didn't even commit,to help his father become a father again and to show Auburn that she was a wonderful person who deserved a lot more.She deserved him.And I deserved Confess.And you deserve it.Every reader deserves it.
I’ll love you forever.Even when I can’t.
March 12, 2015
No one could accuse Colleen Hoover for not being creative with every single thing she's released thus far. She always has a knack of infusing something unique to her books from poetry, to songs, to plot twist. In this book, it was art. They were beautiful. The way she used the confessions with the art was very unique. They were the best part of the book for me.
Unfortunately, the rest left me underwhelmed.
I have no problem with cliches or whatever as long as I am able to relate to the characters. Sadly, Owen and Auburn left me cold. I couldn't find anything remotely interesting about them. Sure their lives are fucked up and they suffered tremendous tragedies in their young lives...but most characters in this genre often have tragic pasts so they don't automatically make me feel sympathetic anymore. What keeps me interested is how the characters deal with their tragedies.
In this book, it was a big fail. At least for me. I feel for Auburn somewhat. Her situation wasn't an easy one for sure. But I wasn't impressed with the fact that she only grew a backbone AFTER she met Owen. Prior to that, she just moved with the flow. It was as if her life didn't start until she met Owen. She wasn't sure what she wants to do or even what she likes. She's only doing but even then, her attitude was all, "Poor me, I have no talent and I suck at being a hairdresser. Poor me." I do understand. Her choices were fairly limited but her whole attitude was off putting.
Oh, the irony.
And when Owen told her about how his art chose him, she thought...
Owen gave me the heebei jeebeis- ...and he didn't get better. It only got better after I realized 'Gosh, he's the hero! Of course, it's perfectly fine to act possessive towards a girl he just met. Silly me.'
No worries though, there's always Trey (the token douchenozzle) to pin my righteous anger on.
I wanted him to disappear. The fact that he's everywhere annoyed me. The fact that he and Auburn seems to have more page time together was disappointing.
It didn't help that I didn't feel any connection between Owen and Auburn. They saw each other and boom--a day later they are obsessed, in love or whatever. I couldn't handle it. There was no build up to their romance whatsoever. I kept being told 'This happened' and 'I felt this for her/him' but I wasn't shown. Of course, the last 2% of the book 'explained' how they're connected but even then, it still didn't make sense to me.
Maybe I'm getting too old for these types of "fated to be together" stories...because I didn't find anything remotely romantic about their connection. When I got to that part, I was like...
It was cute. Very cute. But my cynical heart wasn't a bit persuaded.
Or...
Never mind.
Sorry, CoHo. I still love you but this one wasn't my cuppa.
EDIT: Trigger warning.
Unfortunately, the rest left me underwhelmed.
I have no problem with cliches or whatever as long as I am able to relate to the characters. Sadly, Owen and Auburn left me cold. I couldn't find anything remotely interesting about them. Sure their lives are fucked up and they suffered tremendous tragedies in their young lives...but most characters in this genre often have tragic pasts so they don't automatically make me feel sympathetic anymore. What keeps me interested is how the characters deal with their tragedies.
In this book, it was a big fail. At least for me. I feel for Auburn somewhat. Her situation wasn't an easy one for sure. But I wasn't impressed with the fact that she only grew a backbone AFTER she met Owen. Prior to that, she just moved with the flow. It was as if her life didn't start until she met Owen. She wasn't sure what she wants to do or even what she likes. She's only doing but even then, her attitude was all, "Poor me, I have no talent and I suck at being a hairdresser. Poor me." I do understand. Her choices were fairly limited but her whole attitude was off putting.
“I suck at cutting hair. I hate listening to everyone’s problems while they sit in the salon chair. I swear, people take so many things for granted, and hearing all their whiny stories puts me in such a bad mood.”
Oh, the irony.
“There are a few really good clients. People I look forward to. I think it’s not so much the people that I don’t like, but the fact that I had to choose something I didn’t want to do.”
And when Owen told her about how his art chose him, she thought...
I love that answer. I’m also jealous of it, because I wish I could have been born with a natural talent. Something that would have chosen me, so that I wouldn’t have to cut hair all day.
Owen gave me the heebei jeebeis- ...and he didn't get better. It only got better after I realized 'Gosh, he's the hero! Of course, it's perfectly fine to act possessive towards a girl he just met. Silly me.'
No worries though, there's always Trey (the token douchenozzle) to pin my righteous anger on.
I wanted him to disappear. The fact that he's everywhere annoyed me. The fact that he and Auburn seems to have more page time together was disappointing.
It didn't help that I didn't feel any connection between Owen and Auburn. They saw each other and boom--a day later they are obsessed, in love or whatever. I couldn't handle it. There was no build up to their romance whatsoever. I kept being told 'This happened' and 'I felt this for her/him' but I wasn't shown. Of course, the last 2% of the book 'explained' how they're connected but even then, it still didn't make sense to me.
Maybe I'm getting too old for these types of "fated to be together" stories...because I didn't find anything remotely romantic about their connection. When I got to that part, I was like...
It was cute. Very cute. But my cynical heart wasn't a bit persuaded.
Or...
Never mind.
Sorry, CoHo. I still love you but this one wasn't my cuppa.
EDIT: Trigger warning.
December 2, 2022
trees are being chopped down to print literal wattpad fanfiction are yall not ashamed
March 10, 2015
3 stars overall, but with many 2 star moments that were only balanced out by the occasional but memorable 4-5 star parts
I feel like the first thing I need to say here is that I didn’t hate this book. Yes, there were many parts that were hard for me to read and made me angry but overall I did like it.
See that picture of my Confess paperback up there with all the orange sticky-notes? Half of them bookmarked a scene where I was about to chuck the book at my wall because the characters were so frustrating or I didn’t see eye to eye with their actions. But the other half highlighted quotes that made me smile, and the exquisite artwork that was integral to the story. So half-half but now that I’ve had about a day to process things my feelings are not that torn, which is why I could bring myself to rate it rather than leave a blank for the rating.
I’ll start positive. With every Colleen Hoover book there’ll be a unique aspect to it that’s never been done before in her previous works. In Slammed it was slam poetry. In Maybe Someday it was music. And in Confess it’s artwork. This aspect is probably my favorite part because in the context of the book, the art adds a depth to the story and is a big reason why Auburn and Owen connect so deeply. The writing flowed well, and it’s easy to get sucked up in the story. I also loved that the author included real-life confessions, some that truly warmed my heart and others that made me tear up a little. And then there were definitely a few scenes that were moving and ones that had me smiling. That – for now – is probably the extent of what I loved about this book.
Now there was also a lot about the book that didn’t work for me, number 1 being I didn’t really like Auburn or Owen individually, and I never felt their romantic connection when they were a couple. But Owen first. I can’t pinpoint it exactly but from the beginning his character got on my nerves. He was so aloof and unapproachable in my eyes. This book is written in dual POVs, so in the first chapter that I got to hear his thoughts, he came off as a judgmental perfectionist.
“I hope Auburn isn’t like Hannah [his ex-girlfriend]. There were so many things I didn’t like about her…Hannah disappointed me when she spoke, which is why we spent a lot of our time together not speaking.”
I’m sorry but that up there? Not the best first impression of a hero I’m supposed to connect with. I feel like people need to impress him and have to connect with his art for him to accept that person at all, so his character felt standoff-ish to me and I already wanted to emotionally distance myself from him. And while later on some of his actions were heroic and made me feel a little better about him, he didn’t particularly stand out as a hero to me. My overall thoughts about him are just meh.
Then there’s Auburn. Before I can explain to you why her character eventually drove me up a wall, I have to mention something else about this book. You see, there’s an extra hidden layer to this story that’s not mentioned anywhere (for good reason of course) and it’s supposed to be enough to justify why Auburn sacrifices her future and her happiness. I’ve never been in her shoes so I really wouldn’t know how authentic her situation is portrayed but it makes her romance with Owen forbidden, and with that comes a bunch of character stupidity and conflict that made me want to throw my book at the wall. I like that Auburn is a sweet, gentle and kind-hearted heroine, but I NEEDED her to stand up for herself more and fight for what she wanted and not always give in. She wasn’t exactly a doormat but gosh, her indecisiveness truly frustrated me.
And then there’s Auburn and Owen’s romantic connection, which I never felt in the first place and even now that I’ve finished the book their bond still feels weak to me. The book timeline runs a couple of months but because of side character interference (I can’t say what exactly without spoiling) the total amount of time they actually spend with each other is ONE WEEK. Honestly, I think their relationship got heavy and intense way too fast and even with this author’s stellar and evocative words I still didn’t feel that special spark that both Auburn and Owen claimed they felt.
At this point with all of these things I wasn’t fond of, because of how truly amazing the book flow, the writing, the artwork, and the confessions were, I could still see myself giving this book 3.5 or 4 stars because nowhere here did I completely dislike any part of the story. However, there were 2 things that happened later on that made me go WTF and dragged down my rating considerably. They’re both HUGE spoilers though and I’m not articulate enough to explain without including them so read at your own risk here...
Number 1
Number 2
That’s pretty much the gist of things. In the past I wholeheartedly put my faith and trust in this author and would dive right in to her books without hesitation but her recent works Ugly Love and now this book have personally left me mindboggled. Her characters are so unlikeable (for me that is) and certain plot twists leave me more frustrated than wowed. The only constant is that her writing is beautiful and gripping as always, and will probably be the reason why I will always read her books. Maybe there’s a change in her approach to NA? Or maybe I’ve become more jaded and cynical and can’t accept how she addresses sensitive issues and ties up loose ends in her stories? Either way, I’m sad that her books aren’t appealing to me as much as they were before. This book wasn’t a total fluke for me, and when I weighed all the positive with all the negative, scraping 3 stars is still good in my eyes. I liked it yes, but it’s not a book I’m eager to recommend to everyone.
Confess is a NA second chance romance standalone unrelated to this author’s other books.
I feel like the first thing I need to say here is that I didn’t hate this book. Yes, there were many parts that were hard for me to read and made me angry but overall I did like it.
See that picture of my Confess paperback up there with all the orange sticky-notes? Half of them bookmarked a scene where I was about to chuck the book at my wall because the characters were so frustrating or I didn’t see eye to eye with their actions. But the other half highlighted quotes that made me smile, and the exquisite artwork that was integral to the story. So half-half but now that I’ve had about a day to process things my feelings are not that torn, which is why I could bring myself to rate it rather than leave a blank for the rating.
I’ll start positive. With every Colleen Hoover book there’ll be a unique aspect to it that’s never been done before in her previous works. In Slammed it was slam poetry. In Maybe Someday it was music. And in Confess it’s artwork. This aspect is probably my favorite part because in the context of the book, the art adds a depth to the story and is a big reason why Auburn and Owen connect so deeply. The writing flowed well, and it’s easy to get sucked up in the story. I also loved that the author included real-life confessions, some that truly warmed my heart and others that made me tear up a little. And then there were definitely a few scenes that were moving and ones that had me smiling. That – for now – is probably the extent of what I loved about this book.
Now there was also a lot about the book that didn’t work for me, number 1 being I didn’t really like Auburn or Owen individually, and I never felt their romantic connection when they were a couple. But Owen first. I can’t pinpoint it exactly but from the beginning his character got on my nerves. He was so aloof and unapproachable in my eyes. This book is written in dual POVs, so in the first chapter that I got to hear his thoughts, he came off as a judgmental perfectionist.
“I hope Auburn isn’t like Hannah [his ex-girlfriend]. There were so many things I didn’t like about her…Hannah disappointed me when she spoke, which is why we spent a lot of our time together not speaking.”
I’m sorry but that up there? Not the best first impression of a hero I’m supposed to connect with. I feel like people need to impress him and have to connect with his art for him to accept that person at all, so his character felt standoff-ish to me and I already wanted to emotionally distance myself from him. And while later on some of his actions were heroic and made me feel a little better about him, he didn’t particularly stand out as a hero to me. My overall thoughts about him are just meh.
Then there’s Auburn. Before I can explain to you why her character eventually drove me up a wall, I have to mention something else about this book. You see, there’s an extra hidden layer to this story that’s not mentioned anywhere (for good reason of course) and it’s supposed to be enough to justify why Auburn sacrifices her future and her happiness. I’ve never been in her shoes so I really wouldn’t know how authentic her situation is portrayed but it makes her romance with Owen forbidden, and with that comes a bunch of character stupidity and conflict that made me want to throw my book at the wall. I like that Auburn is a sweet, gentle and kind-hearted heroine, but I NEEDED her to stand up for herself more and fight for what she wanted and not always give in. She wasn’t exactly a doormat but gosh, her indecisiveness truly frustrated me.
And then there’s Auburn and Owen’s romantic connection, which I never felt in the first place and even now that I’ve finished the book their bond still feels weak to me. The book timeline runs a couple of months but because of side character interference (I can’t say what exactly without spoiling) the total amount of time they actually spend with each other is ONE WEEK. Honestly, I think their relationship got heavy and intense way too fast and even with this author’s stellar and evocative words I still didn’t feel that special spark that both Auburn and Owen claimed they felt.
At this point with all of these things I wasn’t fond of, because of how truly amazing the book flow, the writing, the artwork, and the confessions were, I could still see myself giving this book 3.5 or 4 stars because nowhere here did I completely dislike any part of the story. However, there were 2 things that happened later on that made me go WTF and dragged down my rating considerably. They’re both HUGE spoilers though and I’m not articulate enough to explain without including them so read at your own risk here...
Number 1
Number 2
That’s pretty much the gist of things. In the past I wholeheartedly put my faith and trust in this author and would dive right in to her books without hesitation but her recent works Ugly Love and now this book have personally left me mindboggled. Her characters are so unlikeable (for me that is) and certain plot twists leave me more frustrated than wowed. The only constant is that her writing is beautiful and gripping as always, and will probably be the reason why I will always read her books. Maybe there’s a change in her approach to NA? Or maybe I’ve become more jaded and cynical and can’t accept how she addresses sensitive issues and ties up loose ends in her stories? Either way, I’m sad that her books aren’t appealing to me as much as they were before. This book wasn’t a total fluke for me, and when I weighed all the positive with all the negative, scraping 3 stars is still good in my eyes. I liked it yes, but it’s not a book I’m eager to recommend to everyone.
Confess is a NA second chance romance standalone unrelated to this author’s other books.
May 5, 2019
oh, the feels! queen CoHo has done it again!!
there is something about colleen hoovers writing that wraps itself around my heart, squeezes, and never lets go. she has a way of creating words i never knew i wish i could say. and once again, she has mastered conveying emotions and feelings and desires; and it effectively ruins me every time.
i have come to the conclusion i will never not love her stories.
↠ 4.5 stars
there is something about colleen hoovers writing that wraps itself around my heart, squeezes, and never lets go. she has a way of creating words i never knew i wish i could say. and once again, she has mastered conveying emotions and feelings and desires; and it effectively ruins me every time.
i have come to the conclusion i will never not love her stories.
↠ 4.5 stars
March 6, 2015
Oh, em, gee!!! FIVE STARS!
Finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.
2 truths and a lie about Owen
Owen’s dad is a lawyer
Owen has a cat named Owen
Owen has only 2 phone numbers in his phone
2 truths and a lie about Auburn
Auburn gave Owen a drunken haircut
Auburn grew up in Portland, Oregon
Auburn has a roommate named Emory
2 truths and a lie about Confess
The horror movie 1408 is mentioned
The story is broken into 3 parts
Two states play a major role in this story
I have a confession-> out of the 9 things mentioned above 7 are true and 2 are lies. Have fun figuring out which ones are the lies and which ones are the truths. :)
While reading this book I had to keep stopping to tell my husband what a great book I was reading. And then, throughout the day, I would give him an update on what was happening in the book. When he arrived home tonight he asked me if I had finished my book. I wonder if he’ll miss hearing me talk about the book or if he was checking to see if I’ve come back to reality. *lol*
The dedication is was what prompted me to tell my husband about Confess:
The confessions you read within this novel are true confessions, submitted anonymously by readers. This book is dedicated to all of you who found the courage to share them.
Whoa! That dedication intrigued me. Then the first confession left me with my mouth hanging up. It still haunts me to think about it. I have so many questions for this anonymous person. I suppose that will be one confession that goes to the grave with the person. Actually, all the confessions were fascinating and left me pondering the person behind the secret.
CoHo is one of my favorite authors. When I open her books I know I’m in for something special. Her stories challenge me to think outside the box. My first CoHo experience was with Slammed. I had never even heard of Slammed poetry prior to reading that book. I had the same experience with this book… the concept in this book with the confessions was a brilliant idea. I LOVED IT!!! I want to live in CoHo’s brain and figure out where she gets all these awesome ideas.
Also CONFESS includes original artwork by Danny O’Connor to augment your reading experience! As an arc it didn't include the artwork. I'm looking forward to the published version so I can view his artwork. I love how CoHo enhances your reading by offering more to her stories... like in Maybe Someday it had music that accompanied the story.
I don’t want to elaborate too much on the story line because something's are best experienced on your own.
RELEASE DATE: 3/10/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1kuzOFq
STANDALONE
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
Finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.
2 truths and a lie about Owen
Owen’s dad is a lawyer
Owen has a cat named Owen
Owen has only 2 phone numbers in his phone
2 truths and a lie about Auburn
Auburn gave Owen a drunken haircut
Auburn grew up in Portland, Oregon
Auburn has a roommate named Emory
2 truths and a lie about Confess
The horror movie 1408 is mentioned
The story is broken into 3 parts
Two states play a major role in this story
I have a confession-> out of the 9 things mentioned above 7 are true and 2 are lies. Have fun figuring out which ones are the lies and which ones are the truths. :)
While reading this book I had to keep stopping to tell my husband what a great book I was reading. And then, throughout the day, I would give him an update on what was happening in the book. When he arrived home tonight he asked me if I had finished my book. I wonder if he’ll miss hearing me talk about the book or if he was checking to see if I’ve come back to reality. *lol*
The dedication is was what prompted me to tell my husband about Confess:
The confessions you read within this novel are true confessions, submitted anonymously by readers. This book is dedicated to all of you who found the courage to share them.
Whoa! That dedication intrigued me. Then the first confession left me with my mouth hanging up. It still haunts me to think about it. I have so many questions for this anonymous person. I suppose that will be one confession that goes to the grave with the person. Actually, all the confessions were fascinating and left me pondering the person behind the secret.
CoHo is one of my favorite authors. When I open her books I know I’m in for something special. Her stories challenge me to think outside the box. My first CoHo experience was with Slammed. I had never even heard of Slammed poetry prior to reading that book. I had the same experience with this book… the concept in this book with the confessions was a brilliant idea. I LOVED IT!!! I want to live in CoHo’s brain and figure out where she gets all these awesome ideas.
Also CONFESS includes original artwork by Danny O’Connor to augment your reading experience! As an arc it didn't include the artwork. I'm looking forward to the published version so I can view his artwork. I love how CoHo enhances your reading by offering more to her stories... like in Maybe Someday it had music that accompanied the story.
I don’t want to elaborate too much on the story line because something's are best experienced on your own.
RELEASE DATE: 3/10/2015
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1kuzOFq
STANDALONE
**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**
December 29, 2015
I am very surprised by how much I disliked this, considering everything else I have read by Colleen Hoover I have given 5 stars. Confess is told in two points of views, Auburn, who lost the love of her life when she was only 15 and now at the age of 20 she desperately needs a job, which leads her to Owen, a young artist who is looking for an assistant.
The writing in this novel wasn’t the problem. In fact the writing was the only thing I liked. Colleen Hoover knows how to construct beautiful sentences and because of that I was blinded for the first half of the book into believing I loved it. Once I was able to see past the beautiful writing I was able to see all the problems.
The characters in the book were awful. Auburn was so passive I couldn’t take it. She had no backbone and refused to stand up for herself. It seemed like she was just waiting for someone to swoop in and save her rather than fight to fix her own problems which irritated me so much.
For as much as I disliked Auburn, Owen was worse. Firstly, he went on and on about how all of his previous relationships failed because he couldn’t stand his ex-girlfriends. But then he says that he’s always the one that gets dumped so I think we know what the real problem is here.
It annoyed me so much how he constantly told Auburn he is the only person in the world that deserved her. He told her that so much I wanted to puke. In the scene where they finally have sex he says the word “deserve” 7 times. Like dude. It’s not romantic, it’s just creepy.
We learn early on in the book that Owen knows Auburn and about her past, but she doesn’t know him. And we don’t find out how he knows her until the last few pages of the book. But what really frustrated me was that he kept this big secret from her the entire book and it’s never resolved! And I really feel like not wrapping that up was just a cop out.
The romance in the book really didn’t work for me. I felt like we were told they were in love but I never saw it. It was like I blinked and missed it happening. I don’t know what they saw in each other. They really didn’t have any chemistry.
Other than the writing I did really love the artwork that was in this book. It was beautiful and added a lot more to the story. Something I love about Colleen Hoovers books is that she always takes that extra step to add something special to her books. While I didn’t like this book I do still love her writing but this book just fell short for me.
November 16, 2022
LOVED this book!
July 17, 2017
"There are people you meet that you get to know, and then there are people you meet that you already know."
A 4 hour sitting, that's how long it took me to finish this! I just couldn't put it down.
I'm honestly not that big on contemporary, they usually dwell on the illusion of reality every hopeless romantic day dreams when they have a tediously long lecture or some other form of every day responsibility they couldn't spare the required attention. So I tend to lean more towards fantasy, things I know are so simply surreal that indulge my habits of fantasizing about the impossible.
So I really want to give Colleen Hoover a standing ovation for a book, that while dwells on the most perfect scenarios, quells such a compelling argument of reality, that one simply surrenders. Everything was pitch perfect, but you just couldn't help but love these perfect perfections. I wanted to dive into the characters and never resurface. While there were parts of Owens 'deserving' beliefs that irritated me, he was such an adorably broken-hearted puppy that I simply couldn't bring myself to truly place any dislike for him.
I usually disagree with the portrayal of teen pregnancy as a simple issue. It tends to give teenagers the impression that things will work out even if they are careless in their relationships and decisions. So I guess my only complaint is that while Colleen Hoover works to depict a dedicated loving teenage mother who pays the price of loving her child with all the hardships and things she has given up, I personally felt the burden of unplanned motherhood is not portrayed sharply enough.
Overall the book was intriguing, it drops you into a middle of a whirlpool where you have no choice but to surrender to being sucked in. After the epilogue, it plunged into the middle of story that we knew next to nothing of, like where it had started and where it would end. It had a tinge of mystery that makes the people who are shamelessly curious pave through the pages at the Gods pace, to get where we finally understand what in the name of heavens is actually going on.
This was my first Colleen Hoover novel, it definitely won't be the last!!!!!
finishing two painful books in one day, that has to be some new record of self torture.
A 4 hour sitting, that's how long it took me to finish this! I just couldn't put it down.
I'm honestly not that big on contemporary, they usually dwell on the illusion of reality every hopeless romantic day dreams when they have a tediously long lecture or some other form of every day responsibility they couldn't spare the required attention. So I tend to lean more towards fantasy, things I know are so simply surreal that indulge my habits of fantasizing about the impossible.
So I really want to give Colleen Hoover a standing ovation for a book, that while dwells on the most perfect scenarios, quells such a compelling argument of reality, that one simply surrenders. Everything was pitch perfect, but you just couldn't help but love these perfect perfections. I wanted to dive into the characters and never resurface. While there were parts of Owens 'deserving' beliefs that irritated me, he was such an adorably broken-hearted puppy that I simply couldn't bring myself to truly place any dislike for him.
I usually disagree with the portrayal of teen pregnancy as a simple issue. It tends to give teenagers the impression that things will work out even if they are careless in their relationships and decisions. So I guess my only complaint is that while Colleen Hoover works to depict a dedicated loving teenage mother who pays the price of loving her child with all the hardships and things she has given up, I personally felt the burden of unplanned motherhood is not portrayed sharply enough.
Overall the book was intriguing, it drops you into a middle of a whirlpool where you have no choice but to surrender to being sucked in. After the epilogue, it plunged into the middle of story that we knew next to nothing of, like where it had started and where it would end. It had a tinge of mystery that makes the people who are shamelessly curious pave through the pages at the Gods pace, to get where we finally understand what in the name of heavens is actually going on.
This was my first Colleen Hoover novel, it definitely won't be the last!!!!!
finishing two painful books in one day, that has to be some new record of self torture.
November 3, 2015
*4.5*
Such an emotional and stressful ride! I adore the story and romance. However, the main character, Auburn, fell a little flat for me.
Such an emotional and stressful ride! I adore the story and romance. However, the main character, Auburn, fell a little flat for me.
December 13, 2016
If this is Colleen Hoover's example of many people's "not my favorite book of hers" I can only imagine the treat I'm in store for. Despite others not connecting with this one so much I loved it! I fell hard for Auburn and Owen which was clearly visible by the fact I read the entire book today. While the ending was a little tidy and "too perfect", it didn't stop me from enjoying reading this one. I particularly loved the artwork included in the story and the idea behind confession inspired paintings.
The story is fairly short and the characters are fairly surface level, but the author did a great job of having me root for Owen/Auburn and disliking Trey/Lydia. This book was also surprisingly tame for a romance novel; it almost had a YA feel to it and seemed more modest than some I've read recently, so this would be a good option for those looking for a cleaner love story. Really excited to read more from CoHo and am glad I picked this up from the library on a whim!
The story is fairly short and the characters are fairly surface level, but the author did a great job of having me root for Owen/Auburn and disliking Trey/Lydia. This book was also surprisingly tame for a romance novel; it almost had a YA feel to it and seemed more modest than some I've read recently, so this would be a good option for those looking for a cleaner love story. Really excited to read more from CoHo and am glad I picked this up from the library on a whim!
December 11, 2020
OMFG please watch this trailer! So far I have watched it more than 10 times and Ryan Cooper (as Owen) & Katie Leclerc (as Auburn) looks perfect on the screen. Ahhh they did an amazing cast for this show. <3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHKB...
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GOODREADS Choice Awards 2015 - Winner of the Best Romance :)
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceaward...
SO PEOPLE PLS STOP WASTING TIME AND GO READ THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK! :)
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“He kisses me like he’s giving me every kiss he wishes he could have given me in the past, and every kiss he’ll wish he could give me in the future. All of them, all at once.”
Colleen Hoover. Thank you. Just thank you so much for this beautiful book…
You made me cry. Again. Damn. I'm so sad and also so happy right now. :-/
And Owen…
----------------------------
My favorite quotes from the book... :)
“No one deserves you like I do.” …
“No one sees you like I do.” …
“No one understand you the way I do.” …
“No one makes your heart beat like I do.” …
He presses his palm against my heart. “And no one else deserves to be inside you if they can’t get there here first.”
"I want you to remember how your heart reacts every time I kiss you.”
I want you to remember my hands, and how they can’t stop touching you.”
“And I need you to remember that anyone can make love. But I’m the only one who deserves to make love to you.”
“I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me. Because I know that if you walk out that door, then ten years from now . . . twenty years from now . . . we’ll wish we had listened to our hearts when we think back on tonight.”
“That’s what scares me. I’m afraid if I listen to my heart once, I’ll never figure out how to ignore it again.”
“He kisses me like he’s giving me every kiss he wishes he could have given me in the past, and every kiss he’ll wish he could give me in the future. All of them, all at once.”
“If I had known you would show up at my door one day, I'd have done everything differently. Everything.”
“I don’t feel lost in him at all, because it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like someone truly found me.”
“I think love is a hard word to define,” I say to her. “You can love a lot of things about a person but still not love the whole person.”
“I love you so much.” His voice is breathless and full of fear. “I’ll love you forever. Even when I can’t.” My tears fall harder at his words. “And I’ll love you forever. Even when I shouldn’t.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHKB...
---------------------
GOODREADS Choice Awards 2015 - Winner of the Best Romance :)
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceaward...
SO PEOPLE PLS STOP WASTING TIME AND GO READ THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK! :)
---------------------
“He kisses me like he’s giving me every kiss he wishes he could have given me in the past, and every kiss he’ll wish he could give me in the future. All of them, all at once.”
Colleen Hoover. Thank you. Just thank you so much for this beautiful book…
You made me cry. Again. Damn. I'm so sad and also so happy right now. :-/
And Owen…
----------------------------
My favorite quotes from the book... :)
“No one deserves you like I do.” …
“No one sees you like I do.” …
“No one understand you the way I do.” …
“No one makes your heart beat like I do.” …
He presses his palm against my heart. “And no one else deserves to be inside you if they can’t get there here first.”
"I want you to remember how your heart reacts every time I kiss you.”
I want you to remember my hands, and how they can’t stop touching you.”
“And I need you to remember that anyone can make love. But I’m the only one who deserves to make love to you.”
“I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me. Because I know that if you walk out that door, then ten years from now . . . twenty years from now . . . we’ll wish we had listened to our hearts when we think back on tonight.”
“That’s what scares me. I’m afraid if I listen to my heart once, I’ll never figure out how to ignore it again.”
“He kisses me like he’s giving me every kiss he wishes he could have given me in the past, and every kiss he’ll wish he could give me in the future. All of them, all at once.”
“If I had known you would show up at my door one day, I'd have done everything differently. Everything.”
“I don’t feel lost in him at all, because it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like someone truly found me.”
“I think love is a hard word to define,” I say to her. “You can love a lot of things about a person but still not love the whole person.”
“I love you so much.” His voice is breathless and full of fear. “I’ll love you forever. Even when I can’t.” My tears fall harder at his words. “And I’ll love you forever. Even when I shouldn’t.”
March 25, 2022
there was this weird time in my life when i read one colleen hoover book and liked it, so then i read all these other books by her and hated them, like could not think of even one nice thing to say, and i was like what is going on??? how did she write one good book?
and then i reread that book and hated it too.
and all was right with the world.
i've never even thought about reading a colleen hoover book again. do you know how much that means?
there are two things i love in this life: attention, and writing negative reviews.
but i love protecting my peace by avoiding this author even more.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
and then i reread that book and hated it too.
and all was right with the world.
i've never even thought about reading a colleen hoover book again. do you know how much that means?
there are two things i love in this life: attention, and writing negative reviews.
but i love protecting my peace by avoiding this author even more.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
May 4, 2022
3.75 ~ 4 OMG Stars
I love Colleen Hoover's books for so many reasons but especially for the fact that each story isn't similar to the last book she has gifted her readers. This book isn’t like anything we have read by her and the artwork/confession connection was completely BRILLANT!
The first half or more of this story is a total 5 PLUS Stars. The prologue was gripping while the way Owen and Auburn meet and his amazing art studio was perfection. The writing was just beautiful and similar to Maria from the Sound of Music spinning on the Alps I was in that much book happiness.
"If I had known you would show up at my door one day. I'd have done everything differently. Everything."
Sadly, somewhere amidst the crazy brother-in-law's antics, Auburn and Owen's lack of action in so many areas, and their fast fall into love (I thought we would have had more scenes of them actually together), the story went a bit downhill for me.
Fortunately in true Coho style, the ending connects all areas of the plot and gifts a good sweet story in its completion.
"That could be fate, you know."
I love Colleen Hoover's books for so many reasons but especially for the fact that each story isn't similar to the last book she has gifted her readers. This book isn’t like anything we have read by her and the artwork/confession connection was completely BRILLANT!
The first half or more of this story is a total 5 PLUS Stars. The prologue was gripping while the way Owen and Auburn meet and his amazing art studio was perfection. The writing was just beautiful and similar to Maria from the Sound of Music spinning on the Alps I was in that much book happiness.
"If I had known you would show up at my door one day. I'd have done everything differently. Everything."
Sadly, somewhere amidst the crazy brother-in-law's antics, Auburn and Owen's lack of action in so many areas, and their fast fall into love (I thought we would have had more scenes of them actually together), the story went a bit downhill for me.
Fortunately in true Coho style, the ending connects all areas of the plot and gifts a good sweet story in its completion.
"That could be fate, you know."
February 24, 2017
I would truly love a chance to propose an expirement to my past before-i-read-this-book self. I'd tell her to do as followed:
Read the prologue which was from Auburn's pov and the first 2 chapters then go straight to the very last chapter 'five years earlier' told by Owen.
BAM!
A guaranteed 3 stars.
The prologue wasn't particularly good but just to orient myself with what's going on. The first two chapters since I think you'd get the end more. Now the last chapter or the so-called 'twist' chapter, that was good. Or maybe because I'd suffered through the whole book so that stood out in comparison? Could be.
Because the things in between were either bland (the romance), really bland (the heroine) or rather frustrating (the evil mother-son duo coupled with our heroine's spinelessness).
My very first Colleen Hoover book, after hearing about her from just about everyone on GR, I was not impressed.
rating: ★½
[edit] i revised this, many thanks to Jokoloyo ❤
Read the prologue which was from Auburn's pov and the first 2 chapters then go straight to the very last chapter 'five years earlier' told by Owen.
BAM!
A guaranteed 3 stars.
The prologue wasn't particularly good but just to orient myself with what's going on. The first two chapters since I think you'd get the end more. Now the last chapter or the so-called 'twist' chapter, that was good. Or maybe because I'd suffered through the whole book so that stood out in comparison? Could be.
Because the things in between were either bland (the romance), really bland (the heroine) or rather frustrating (the evil mother-son duo coupled with our heroine's spinelessness).
My very first Colleen Hoover book, after hearing about her from just about everyone on GR, I was not impressed.
rating: ★½
[edit] i revised this, many thanks to Jokoloyo ❤
October 26, 2016
One thing this book has convinced me of is Colleen Hoover's relentless ability to make even the most unrealistic of scenarios seem reasonable with her sway of writing; an ability I find both admirable and annoying.
There's a part towards the end of the book when the main characters themselves speculate how many times they've actually met each other, which boils down to a grand total of seven. Seven occasions (albeit not particularly interesting occasions either aside from tiny splashes of cute moments) it takes for them to fall madly in love with each other, but not even one to want to jump the other. I mean come on, she may do a fantastic job of weaving her words in such a way that the relationship really does seem to build up naturally– it worked on me with Slammed, but I'm afraid this time round, she simply couldn't work her magic.
Because despite having at least some level of liking towards both Auburn and Owen, I didn't find myself falling much for their romance. It just- wasn't palpable enough, which for me, has to be the most important thing when reading a love story. And don't even get me started on the sheer number of times Owen said he deserved her. In fact, I'll even go as far as to say that Adam -bless his soul- was my favourite character of the book.
I know I've only read about four Colleen Hoover novels so far, but I feel like she has this general formula: take two love interests, be sure to throw in some quirky traits there, add a dash of witty dialogue, mixed in with a whooole lot of aggravating misunderstandings, complications and tragedy, stirred by an underlying secret of sorts (one that isn't revealed until the very end so you have no choice but to want to keep reading), all topped off with a unique twist that sets the novel apart.
Out of that, I have to say it's more or less the last ingredient that serves to keep me coming back for more– because like many of her other works, she is undeniably the undefeated queen of adding a special personal touch to every single book she writes. It is the reason Colleen Hoover is Colleen Hoover. The featured artwork alone (as well as the concept behind it, which btw, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY) makes Confess deserve an extra star. But take away that and all you're left with is yet another mundane contemporary romance, with mundane main characters and an even more mundane deus ex machina.
___________________
Book song: Flames by P A T H
___________________
“There are people you meet that you get to know, and then there are people you meet that you already know.”
There's a part towards the end of the book when the main characters themselves speculate how many times they've actually met each other, which boils down to a grand total of seven. Seven occasions (albeit not particularly interesting occasions either aside from tiny splashes of cute moments) it takes for them to fall madly in love with each other, but not even one to want to jump the other. I mean come on, she may do a fantastic job of weaving her words in such a way that the relationship really does seem to build up naturally– it worked on me with Slammed, but I'm afraid this time round, she simply couldn't work her magic.
Because despite having at least some level of liking towards both Auburn and Owen, I didn't find myself falling much for their romance. It just- wasn't palpable enough, which for me, has to be the most important thing when reading a love story. And don't even get me started on the sheer number of times Owen said he deserved her. In fact, I'll even go as far as to say that Adam -bless his soul- was my favourite character of the book.
I know I've only read about four Colleen Hoover novels so far, but I feel like she has this general formula: take two love interests, be sure to throw in some quirky traits there, add a dash of witty dialogue, mixed in with a whooole lot of aggravating misunderstandings, complications and tragedy, stirred by an underlying secret of sorts (one that isn't revealed until the very end so you have no choice but to want to keep reading), all topped off with a unique twist that sets the novel apart.
Out of that, I have to say it's more or less the last ingredient that serves to keep me coming back for more– because like many of her other works, she is undeniably the undefeated queen of adding a special personal touch to every single book she writes. It is the reason Colleen Hoover is Colleen Hoover. The featured artwork alone (as well as the concept behind it, which btw, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY) makes Confess deserve an extra star. But take away that and all you're left with is yet another mundane contemporary romance, with mundane main characters and an even more mundane deus ex machina.
___________________
Book song: Flames by P A T H
___________________
January 13, 2016
LIVE on AMAZON
LIVE on iTunes
Confess is like nothing I have ever read before, it cannot be summed up in a few words. I have read a lot of books, but very few books have affected me the way this one did. I started this story late at night and within the first few pages I was crying and I knew this book would shake me to my core.
Auburn Reed has had an average life and you can definitely say things haven’t went according to plan. However, Auburn is one of the most resilient characters I have ever read and she isn’t going down without a fight. She is walking home one night in desperate need of a job when she stumbles across Owen Gentry, an artist looking for an assistant for his show.
Owen like most artist is eccentric and all over the place, but when he sees Auburn his life comes into focus. This isn’t a case of insta-love, it more about things lining up. He can see the life he wants to have, the life he deserves to have. However, he is also keeping a secret and it could destroy any chances he could ever have with Auburn.
When I read this synopsis I immediately thought this would be your typical romance story. Coming from CoHo I knew it would be written well and engaging, but I cannot express how this story is so much more. I feel like Confess took writing to a whole other level. I know that is a big statement, but when I read this I was captivated on so many different levels.
At the beginning you read that all the confessions shared in the story are real anonymous confessions shared by readers. So while I read this story my heart broke for these anonymous people who shared a piece of themselves. Anonymous or not it is such a brave act to give a piece of yourself away, but more importantly to admit your feelings.
Someone recently asked me what Confess was about and I was at a loss, because this story isn’t about one thing to me. This story encompasses so many different things: love, loss, moving on, growing up, acceptance, forgiveness.
When I finished Confess I had no one to share it with, so I had my husband read the prologue. I wanted, no needed him to see why this book completely owned my thoughts. Today, weeks later it still owns my thoughts. I think about these characters as if they are real. I think about Auburn’s strength and determination. I think about Owen’s compassion and unconditional love. I think about the people who wrote confessions and are struggling with their own issues, and I am reminded we all have something.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It has so much heart and soul, and the story is beautifully delivered.
As a reader you know we get asked all the time: What’s your favorite book of all time? I have had the same favorite book of all time for years, until now, Confess is now my favorite book of all time. I sincerely hope everyone who reads this enjoys it even a little as much as I did.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
LIVE on iTunes
Confess is like nothing I have ever read before, it cannot be summed up in a few words. I have read a lot of books, but very few books have affected me the way this one did. I started this story late at night and within the first few pages I was crying and I knew this book would shake me to my core.
Auburn Reed has had an average life and you can definitely say things haven’t went according to plan. However, Auburn is one of the most resilient characters I have ever read and she isn’t going down without a fight. She is walking home one night in desperate need of a job when she stumbles across Owen Gentry, an artist looking for an assistant for his show.
"I’m pretty sure you just made determination my favorite quality in a person.”
Owen like most artist is eccentric and all over the place, but when he sees Auburn his life comes into focus. This isn’t a case of insta-love, it more about things lining up. He can see the life he wants to have, the life he deserves to have. However, he is also keeping a secret and it could destroy any chances he could ever have with Auburn.
When I read this synopsis I immediately thought this would be your typical romance story. Coming from CoHo I knew it would be written well and engaging, but I cannot express how this story is so much more. I feel like Confess took writing to a whole other level. I know that is a big statement, but when I read this I was captivated on so many different levels.
At the beginning you read that all the confessions shared in the story are real anonymous confessions shared by readers. So while I read this story my heart broke for these anonymous people who shared a piece of themselves. Anonymous or not it is such a brave act to give a piece of yourself away, but more importantly to admit your feelings.
Someone recently asked me what Confess was about and I was at a loss, because this story isn’t about one thing to me. This story encompasses so many different things: love, loss, moving on, growing up, acceptance, forgiveness.
When I finished Confess I had no one to share it with, so I had my husband read the prologue. I wanted, no needed him to see why this book completely owned my thoughts. Today, weeks later it still owns my thoughts. I think about these characters as if they are real. I think about Auburn’s strength and determination. I think about Owen’s compassion and unconditional love. I think about the people who wrote confessions and are struggling with their own issues, and I am reminded we all have something.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It has so much heart and soul, and the story is beautifully delivered.
As a reader you know we get asked all the time: What’s your favorite book of all time? I have had the same favorite book of all time for years, until now, Confess is now my favorite book of all time. I sincerely hope everyone who reads this enjoys it even a little as much as I did.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2015
A new release from CoHo always attracts a HUGE amount of interest and deservedly so. She’s a quality author with a large following, she’s very adept at social media (possibly the best), she’s funny and engaging and as such garners many auto 5 star reviews especially from the pre-release reviewers with ARCs which gush like crazy and extoll the book’s virtues and, having noticed this before, I raised a cynical eyebrow and vowed to read Confess with a highly critical eye and truly assess it on its merits before reviewing. In truth, I’m looking for fault. So, as soon as the book downloaded to my Kindle I decided to adopt a total immersion technique, avoiding Goodreads and those stellar reviews like the plague, and plunged in head first without even reading the blurb to form my own opinions.
So, having decided to look for fault, I have to confess (get it????) that I actually found very little. Possibly the story dragged a little at around the 60% mark and maybe the H and h didn’t get quite enough page time together as I would have liked but that was pretty much it and I think the conclusion to my experiment would be that she really does deserve all those rave reviews. She’s right at the top of the new adult contemporary romance category, the undefeated champion of the genre and, even though there are plenty of pretenders for her crown, she ain’t going nowhere!
And so I began. By 3% I was bawling my eyes out (rather like watching Pixar’s Up), by 15% I had the warm and fuzzies and was grinning like a loon into my Kindle, by 55% I was in the depths of despair and at 100% I sighed contentedly. Job well done, CoHo. I bought this on release day and had finished it by the evening – it completely held my attention as I pretty much lost a whole day to this story.
In a Colleen Hoover novel there’s always a ‘thing’. In Confess the 'thing' is art and our hero is Owen Mason Gentry (OMG) and he’s an artist whose work is inspired by confessions that are posted through his studio door.
Every day I’m grateful that my husband and his brother look exactly alike. It means there’s less of a chance that my husband will find out that our son isn’t his.
The confessions were brilliant – sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometime shocking but it’s a truly original idea for a novel.
I haven’t spoken to my children in four months. They’ll call on holidays and my birthday, but never in between. I don’t blame them. I was a horrible father.
Auburn replies to his ‘Help Wanted’ sign on the door and this is how they meet although it’s obvious to us and Owen that he knows who she is but Auburn is oblivious to this. I found myself instantly intrigued and dying to know what had happened in those intervening years between the prologue and now to bring us to the mysterious yet completely random meeting. By this point in the story, I was completely on board, totally hooked. As the story continues, there’s such a stark contrast between the innocence of the young love of the prologue and the desperate situations both Auburn and Owen find themselves in, all due to the actions of others. These two find themselves falling desperately in love and also realise that their being together would be the best yet worst thing that could happen to them. They REALLY can’t be together – I am aware that that’s a highly common dilemma in new adult romance but the author works her magic here and puts a truly original spin on this and it’s completely believable and engrossing.
There’s a lot of secrets here, possibly truths as yet untold, and plenty of confessions will be required to get us towards the end of the story. There appeared to be one glaring omission, one little fact not yet explained as we near the end of the book and I fretted, just a little, but I needn’t have worried – you can have faith in CoHo because she really does bring you full circle and everything is explained by the end of the book. Hence the aforementioned contented sigh!
The pace of the story is gentle rather than slow which gives lots of time for the expansion of the growing affection of the two central characters and for us to become fully involved in this story which appears to hurtle from one disaster to the next although Colleen keeps everything grounded with strong character development and profound emotional depth. I felt every emotion with the characters, experiencing every high and low with them and was completely engrossed. It’s a story that captured my interest from the very first page, kept me involved the whole way through and I found myself 100% emotionally invested. The book had an almost magnetic pull on it - whenever I put it down, I soon found myself back, dying to continue. Absolutely gripping stuff!
Reading a Colleen Hoover novel, to me, is rather like sinking into your favourite arm-chair after a hellish day at the office, kicking off those heels that have pinched all day and indulging in a glass of very expensive wine. It’s exquisitely comforting and it feels like coming home. I know I’m going to get a hero I will adore and a heroine I can identify with and that’s exactly what we found here. Heartbreakingly beautiful and achingly real, Confess is a wholly engrossing tale of two young people with many hurdles to overcome finding a love that is truly worth fighting for.
4.5 OMG stars
Owen’s paintings is based on a real artist – check out his beautiful work here
September 25, 2021
Colleen hoover escribe y te toca el alma. Con las ruedas de un camión te toca el alma y te pasa por encima. No le importa que seas una vieja jubilada, un nene o jesús.
April 5, 2015
I really liked this book! I only took one star from it because Owen had some weird issues with the word "deserve". I didn't dig the whole: You deserve me. I deserve you. It made me cringe. BUT everything else was perfect! The last chapter (the one that was 5 years ago) almost made me cry, I think I shed a little tear or two, it was beautiful. Also! Auburn was a great female protagonist, I didn't really like Colleen's protagonist in her last two books (Tate in Ugly Love and Sydney in Maybe Someday, ugh, I want to punch them both), but Auburn I like, she's brave and funny and loving.
I'm still waiting for Colleen to write a book that outstands her first books. Slammed and Hopeless are her best works.
I'm still waiting for Colleen to write a book that outstands her first books. Slammed and Hopeless are her best works.
March 12, 2015
2.5 STARS ★★☆
GAH. It absolutely pains me to once again give a CoHo book such a low rating :( Before anyone comes with a pitchfork at me, I just wanted to put it out there that I won't deny that CoHo writes beautifully and she's just one of those authors that I can expect to put out something different and unique with each read. This is no exception with Confess as I found the concept to be very moving, for being able to read about actual confessions that had my heart squeezing and lastly to have it portrayed so vividly through real-life art was absolutely beautiful.
Sadly that was just the extent of how much I enjoyed the book because for the entire portion of the read, my emotions ranged from being baffled by these characters and mostly a whole lot of annoyance and frustration.
I'll start with the characters because to me, they came off completely two-dimensional. I struggled mostly trying to connect with them or at least understand the connection they're sharing. I felt that the entire read was a whole lot of "telling" but not enough "showing" to the extent that I failed to develop a sympathy for these characters for what they've been through. I wanted to feel for them by myself but instead I felt like I was being told how I should actually feel by their constant inner monologues. That really left me feeling very nonchalant during the entire read and it makes me sad that it didn't bring out the emotional depth I was looking for.
And there's Auburn who I really wanted to like and trust me, I've tried to let her grow on me but she just ended up coming off all wishy-washy. I'm not trying to come off insensitive given what she's been through and having never been in her shoes, naturally I found myself wanting to be more forgiving of her. But good lawd, I just got so frustrated by her lack of action to stand up for herself from time after time and right up to the point , that's when I nearly lost my shit with this read. I went from baffled to almost appalled by the lack of backbone of this heroine and it really left a sour taste in my mouth as I read on :(
Another thing which left me really annoyed was also Trey's existence in the book that felt completely unnecessary and served purely as a plot device for the drama. Don't get me wrong, I'm an angst whore and I'm all in for jealousy play but Trey's involvement in this just came off as contrived drama and quite frankly, did not value to this read at all but instead it just made me want to skimmed through it.
The instalove portion of this book didn't peeved me as much but again, I was just left baffled by how quickly their relationship or feelings intensified after merely meeting each other for 24 hours. It was just all too rushed and Owen's strong inclination towards Auburn creeped me out a lot in the beginning. One thing I've always loved about CoHo's book are her boys that makes my heart pitter-patter and go all swoony over them but with Owen, there was a certain aloofness to him that never allowed me to warm up to his character.
As a huge fan of CoHo, I'm starting to feel really bummed that her current works have not been leaving me as much of an emotional impact like her previous. Perhaps it's just me or my expectations and I understand that it isn't fair for me to compare each of her work as they're always so different from the last and with her, there is no formulaic approach when it comes to her reads.
While I liked this one better than Ugly Love, it pains me to say that this one still turned out to be a lackluster for me :( As much as I still love her writing, I'm struggling to fall in love with her main characters anymore and the plot somehow seems to fade out as it progresses.
With all that being said, I'm still very much looking forward to her next book because there's something about CoHo's writing that keeps me coming back for more. It's gripping and she constantly comes up with ideas that surprises her readers but sadly this one just wasn't for me again.
Confess is a standalone NA contemporary romance novel.
GAH. It absolutely pains me to once again give a CoHo book such a low rating :( Before anyone comes with a pitchfork at me, I just wanted to put it out there that I won't deny that CoHo writes beautifully and she's just one of those authors that I can expect to put out something different and unique with each read. This is no exception with Confess as I found the concept to be very moving, for being able to read about actual confessions that had my heart squeezing and lastly to have it portrayed so vividly through real-life art was absolutely beautiful.
Sadly that was just the extent of how much I enjoyed the book because for the entire portion of the read, my emotions ranged from being baffled by these characters and mostly a whole lot of annoyance and frustration.
I'll start with the characters because to me, they came off completely two-dimensional. I struggled mostly trying to connect with them or at least understand the connection they're sharing. I felt that the entire read was a whole lot of "telling" but not enough "showing" to the extent that I failed to develop a sympathy for these characters for what they've been through. I wanted to feel for them by myself but instead I felt like I was being told how I should actually feel by their constant inner monologues. That really left me feeling very nonchalant during the entire read and it makes me sad that it didn't bring out the emotional depth I was looking for.
And there's Auburn who I really wanted to like and trust me, I've tried to let her grow on me but she just ended up coming off all wishy-washy. I'm not trying to come off insensitive given what she's been through and having never been in her shoes, naturally I found myself wanting to be more forgiving of her. But good lawd, I just got so frustrated by her lack of action to stand up for herself from time after time and right up to the point , that's when I nearly lost my shit with this read. I went from baffled to almost appalled by the lack of backbone of this heroine and it really left a sour taste in my mouth as I read on :(
Another thing which left me really annoyed was also Trey's existence in the book that felt completely unnecessary and served purely as a plot device for the drama. Don't get me wrong, I'm an angst whore and I'm all in for jealousy play but Trey's involvement in this just came off as contrived drama and quite frankly, did not value to this read at all but instead it just made me want to skimmed through it.
The instalove portion of this book didn't peeved me as much but again, I was just left baffled by how quickly their relationship or feelings intensified after merely meeting each other for 24 hours. It was just all too rushed and Owen's strong inclination towards Auburn creeped me out a lot in the beginning. One thing I've always loved about CoHo's book are her boys that makes my heart pitter-patter and go all swoony over them but with Owen, there was a certain aloofness to him that never allowed me to warm up to his character.
As a huge fan of CoHo, I'm starting to feel really bummed that her current works have not been leaving me as much of an emotional impact like her previous. Perhaps it's just me or my expectations and I understand that it isn't fair for me to compare each of her work as they're always so different from the last and with her, there is no formulaic approach when it comes to her reads.
While I liked this one better than Ugly Love, it pains me to say that this one still turned out to be a lackluster for me :( As much as I still love her writing, I'm struggling to fall in love with her main characters anymore and the plot somehow seems to fade out as it progresses.
With all that being said, I'm still very much looking forward to her next book because there's something about CoHo's writing that keeps me coming back for more. It's gripping and she constantly comes up with ideas that surprises her readers but sadly this one just wasn't for me again.
Confess is a standalone NA contemporary romance novel.
April 15, 2022
I know i say this every time... but Colleen has truly outdone herself here.
March 15, 2015
4 Secretive Stars.
Auburn and Owen met when she saw a “Help Wanted” sign a decided to work for apply. Owen is an artist who paints pictures based on anonymous confessions, he had a bad past and he has a secret.
Auburn also had a bad past and every day she sacrifices herself to be close with the only good part that’s left of her past.
First let me tell you that the idea of introducing the paintings in the middle of the book was freaking brilliant!! Not only it helped understand Owen better, they were gorgeous.
This was a really sweet ‘kind of NA’ book. It had that whimsical element Colleen always put in her books. As ever, a engaging, brilliant written book that you definitely should give a try.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters Development: I really like both characters. They both had bad pasts but neither of them let those past define them. Both of them were strong, and sweet and I loved them together. Trey was a seriously son of a b*tch! Emory was freaking awesome. There was some decisions between the MC’s that I REALLY didn’t like, but they were understandable, so I moved on.
Steam: Meh.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Auburn and Owen met when she saw a “Help Wanted” sign a decided to work for apply. Owen is an artist who paints pictures based on anonymous confessions, he had a bad past and he has a secret.
Auburn also had a bad past and every day she sacrifices herself to be close with the only good part that’s left of her past.
First let me tell you that the idea of introducing the paintings in the middle of the book was freaking brilliant!! Not only it helped understand Owen better, they were gorgeous.
This was a really sweet ‘kind of NA’ book. It had that whimsical element Colleen always put in her books. As ever, a engaging, brilliant written book that you definitely should give a try.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters Development: I really like both characters. They both had bad pasts but neither of them let those past define them. Both of them were strong, and sweet and I loved them together. Trey was a seriously son of a b*tch! Emory was freaking awesome. There was some decisions between the MC’s that I REALLY didn’t like, but they were understandable, so I moved on.
Steam: Meh.
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
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