BOOK Review: Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover (@colleenhoover)

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
Series: Hopeless #2
Published by Atria Books on July 8th, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Drama, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
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In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover' s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder' s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder' s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

I went into this book thinking it was going to be the same story as Sky’s but from a different POV.  IT’S NOT.  It’s much more than that. It was almost like reading a new book, only not. Because we do get some rehashing of scenes that we experienced in Hopeless, but with Holder’s inner dialogue it made it a new experience.
This book invoked so many emotions I would probably forget a few trying to list them off. It was one of the most intense emotional roller coasters I’ve been on.

Holder’s story starts a year before Hope aka Sky comes back into his life.  Right before the turning point that made Holder question his ability to protect the ones he loves. We get to experience the loss of Les, Holder’s sister, and everything that happens afterwards.  When preparing for Les’s funeral, Holder comes across a blank leather-bound journal in her closet. Thus begins the Letters to Les.

Les,

You left your jeans in the middle of your bedroom floor. It looks like you just stepped out of them. It’s weird. Why would you leave your jeans on the floor if you knew what you were about to do?

 

Through Holder’s letters to his sister, we discover that Holder is angry at his sister, because he doesn’t understand why she would kill herself and he feels that he failed as a brother. He also tells his sister about things that are going on with his life, now that she isn’t there to be apart of it.

Les,

Well, congratulations. you’re pretty popular. Not only did you fill the parking lot of the funeral home with cars, but you also filled the lot next door and both churches down the street. That’s a lot of cars.

 

Les,

Happy two-week deathiversary. Harsh? Maybe so, but I’m not apologizing.

I absolutely loved the letters that Holder wrote to his sister. It was an interesting way for Holder to deal with  his grief as well as talk to his sister still. Those letters also came in handy when Sky came into his life and he didn’t know what to do with the discovery of her not being who she thought she was and being everything he’s always been looking for.

As most of you guys know, Hopeless has ONE OF THE BEST (not really a) first kiss scenes ever. Rereading that scene through Holder’s eyes made it even BETTER.

 

Reading the scene when Sky discovers that she’s Hope and the events that happen afterwards are just as heartbreaking as the first time I read them. But Sky and Holder were there for each other when facing her father and discovering things that Holder didn’t expect  and that Sky had blocked from her subconscious.

 

The supporting characters in this book were amazing. We have Holder’s best friend, Daniel, who I don’t think we met in Hopeless. Then of course there is Breckin, Sky’s most awesome Mormon best friend ever!

Between Holder and Sky’s best friends, we got a little bit of humor and it was a nice thing to have in such an intense story.

We got to see Breckin stand up to Holder after the bracelet scene and tell it like it is. Being a Mormon and all, he wasn’t afraid to stand up to someone who, according to rumor, beat up another Mormon the year before.

 

This book was amazing and like I said before like reading a whole new book, not just another point of view.  Because in the end we have a better understanding of everything that happened. At the end of it all, Holder is able to forgive himself and realize he is not the one responsible for Hope disappearing and for Les’s death.

 

If you haven’t read Hopeless yet,  no worries, this book could be read as a standalone or even before Hopeless.  Although I do suggest you read Hopeless because it’s just as amazing as Losing Hope.

Public Service Announcement

PSA for those of us who have previously read Hopeless and know what happens.
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Hopeless and Losing Hope may be works of fiction, but sexual abuse is a real thing and it happens every day. To help victims of Sexual Abuse/Incest, please check out the RAINN foundation.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
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