November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Rating: ★★✰✰✰

Dates Read: 5/11/23 - 5/11/23

    Fallon and Ben's paths cross the day before she's set to leave Los Angeles. Their unexpected connection leads them to spend Fallon's final day in the city together, becoming the muse for Ben's writing. They agree to meet on the same date each year, even as their lives take different turns and they navigate various relationships and challenges. However, as time goes on, Fallon starts to question whether Ben's narrative is genuine or merely a well-crafted plot twist for his novel. Can their relationship, and the story it inspired, be classified as a love story even if it ends in heartbreak?

    I didn't like this. The story at the beginning is good enough that I needed to know how it ends, and because I had an idea of the plot twist, I needed to know if I was right. I was. I absolutely hated this by the end of it.

    Spoilers below this point because I can't say why I hated this without spoiling it.

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    I understand he was grieving, and heartbroken, and I can forgive the action to that extent. But why, just why, are you going to forgive and go live happily ever after with someone who set a house on fire with you in it? Yes, he didn't know she was there. Yes, he was grieving. I understand that. What I can't get behind is the fact that he knew who she was in the restaurant, and he knew he was responsible for her accident the whole time he was belittling her for being insecure about the burn scars HE caused? She HAS to go to NYC and pursue her dreams because she should be grateful she didn't die? YOU should be grateful you didn't KILL HER. 

    Not only that, but you go so many years and never broach this topic with her for a BOOK? Then her mom tells her to hear him out? My mother would disown me if I even thought about considering to hear him out. You sleep with her, you make her fall in love with you, and not once did you consider not being an asshole? Ben's only concern is himself and his book, end of discussion.

    It also infuriates me that the first time they sleep together and he admits he loves her, he waits a few months to crawl into bed with his DEAD BROTHER'S WIFE. Not only that, he has the audacity to be MAD that she's not jumping for joy about it? Gtfo. 

    I either love or hate a CoHo book, and I hated this one.