November 9- Colleen Hoover BOOK TALK

*****
This book made me feel all the freaking feels. Never has a book made me laugh, cry, laugh again and made me feel such gut-wrenching terror about what was going to happen next.
Colleen Hoover is such a popular author at the moment and I've finally read one of her books (now I know what the fuss is all about). November 9 has made me want to buy all of her books so that I can read them all in one sitting and torture my heart beyond compare just as this one has. Yay.
I would say that November 9 gave me Beautiful Disaster (Jamie McGuire) and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight (Jennifer E. Smith) vibes but was generally so much better than these books.

My favourite quote (not spoilery) because it's just too beautiful for words:

" She 'loved me' in quotations.

  She kissed me in bold.

  I TRIED TO KEEP HER all in caps.

  She left me with an ellipsis... "

 

GOODREADS

AMAZON

SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD- SPOILERS AHEAD
THIS WHOLE BOOK MADE ME GIDDY!!!
I'm going to go through this book Novemberly- which essentially means I'll talk chronologically about each November. I've included a lot of my favourite quotes from the book because the dialogue was so funny and the writing so compelling.

First November:
Their relationship was so sweet, even from the beginning. I loved it when Ben interrupted her dinner with her dad and defended her! Obviously, later we find out why he did that but I think it was sweet nonetheless.
I loved both of their humours. They were so deadpanned and witty- it had me laughing the entire time.
And of course I'd fall in love with a writer.  "I just sometimes find it difficult to control my indignation in the presence of absurdity." Isn't that the epitome of a smooth-talker?

When Ben talked about what he first thought when he saw her? I just about died right there. The whole panties ordeal was life. I loved how they joked about being boyfriend and girlfriend so casually- they were so blasé about the whole, bizarre situation.
Further proof of Ben being a smooth-talker:
" 'I feel stupid.'- Fallon
'I barely know you, so I'm not about to argue with you over your level of intelligence, because you could very well be as dumb as a rock. But at least you're pretty.- Ben'
I also loved how book-aware they were. It topped the whole book off for me.
"Ben: Insta-love?
Fallon: When two characters meet and supposedly have the great connection right off the bat.
Ben: Fallon, I think we might already be in trouble if that's one of your least favourite things."
And then we finish off this perfect November with the slow motion kiss. By then, I was totally swooning and giddy.

Second November:
I was so proud of how much Fallon grew and how she just defines confidence- it's amazing!
The idea of 'booksting' was hilarious!
"Fallon: Give me more, Ben. Did you read ebooks or... hardbacks?
Ben: Oh, they were hardbacks, all right. And I'm not sure if you're ready for this, but...I have my very own TBR pile. You should see it, Fallon. It's huge."
I can't even... I just can't. 
The whole tattoo ordeal was so cute- especially after you know what it meant by the end.

Third November:
I was so sad when I thought they wouldn't meet this November but Fallon was all ahead-of-the-game and went to visit him and comfort him while grieving- so adorable!!! And boy was this chapter hot!
The book totally felt like it could finish there and I'd be perfectly happy and contented. But I also heard that Colleen Hoover does like to put her reader's through hell first- her characters have to bloody work for a happy ending!

Fourth November:
This November is the shortest but the hardest. You learn everything that's happened in the year with the characters- along with Fallon- and it hit me right in the chest and before I knew it I was crying as hard as Fallon. I could not believe it. The thought of Ben being happy with Jordyn and being with her as a happy family reduced me to ugly tears and it was physically painful to read that chapter. The Jordyn situation knocked all the air out of my lungs and I reacted pretty much in the same way Fallon did. The words blurred in front of me as I read on and cried. My heart broke for Fallon.

Fifth November:
The whole situation with Theodore was hilarious. Ben could take ol' whale pants any day!
And the steamy cupboard scene! I love how comfortable Ben and Fallon are around each other.
Ben, you really have a way with words...
"Fallon: There's a fine line between confidence and cockiness.
Ben: Well then, I'm straddling that line like it's the thigh of a long-legged brunette.
I don't think enough people touch on Glenn and Ben's fleeting bromance!!!
"'Well, then. I guess if Glenn likes you, then that's that. I have to go home with you.' Ben doesn't even break eye contact with me when he holds out a stretched arm toward Glenn, his hand in a fist. Glenn bumps it and then they drop their arms, never saying a word"
That was just brilliant!
This is where it got scary for me. No book has ever made me feel such anticipation, terror or fear. Everyone was happy but there were 100 pages left!! I was getting nervous at this point.
I was so shocked about Ben! Even when I knew he had a secret kept from her, I couldn't even theorise what it could be.
"Why didn't you tell me that the foundation you taught me to stand on is made from quicksand." Fucking heart-breaking but beautiful line...

Sixth November:
I love reading Ben's manuscript- it gave us such a nice insight on his past and the reason's why he did certain things (the tattoo- so cute!!). It nicely book-ended the story as we finished at the point where he met her in the restaurant.
One random part that had me hysterically laughing: Unsend my text! Fuck you, Toni Braxton
The suicide note was heartbreaking- the fact that she had cancer! Everything she said about it is so painfully true- 'They call it the fight, as if the stronger ones win and the weaker ones lose, but that's not what cancer is at all. Cancer isn't one of the players in the game. Cancer is the game.'
"Ben: I'll just wait to cook you breakfast until the day after tomorrow. And every day after that, until next November 9th when I get down on one knee and give you the most book-worthy marriage proposal in history.
Fallon: That was a huge spoiler, Ben! Did you not learn about spoiler alerts during your reading binge?
Ben: Spoiler alert. They lived happily ever after."
This made my heart melt into a puddle of goo.


I love how long the book follows these characters for- we see these characters grow impeccably through only seeing them one day a year- it's astonishing!

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment your thoughts- what was your favourite quote?! Stay amazing!
Chloe