Book Review: November 9 by Colleen Hoover
Benton James Kessler and Fallon O’Niel meet at a restaurant when they are 18 years old. Though there is an attraction between the two, Fallon is moving to New York City. They decide to meet every year on November 9th, with no communication in between. Until they meet again, Ben is to work on his book while Fallon pursues her acting. Little does Fallon know Ben is keeping a major secret which makes their love story kind of twisted.
Thoughts while reading
All the days I read before 14 September 2023
I’m not sure I like Benton Kessler’s crude joking. The whole wondering what color her panties are, is tasteless. But he is 18 so there you have it.
When is the drama going to happennnnnn… they’ve had too many perfect November 9 meetings 😂
Oooo why did Kyle punch Ben in the face? (wowza, we find out in the plot twist where my eyes popped out of my head 👀)
What?! How could he date Jordyn? I mean, isn’t that so weird??
14 September 2023
HOLY MOLY PLOT TWIST. I was going to go to bed but then THIS happened and now I must finish the book. (I stayed up way too late but so worth reading through to the ending)
The guy “from Nantucket” made me laugh! I’ve met someone just like this guy!
Quotes
“You’ll never be able to find yourself if you’re lost in someone else.” pg. 38
“I laugh, relieved that she’s… that she simply exists. And that we were lucky enough to exist in the same lifetime, in the same area of the world, in the same state.” pg. 218
“It took four years for me to fall in love with him. It only took four pages to stop.”
Review
I never once thought this story was highly unlikely considering they'd only known each other for less than 48 hours within a span of five years… until I read other people’s reviews 🙄. I thought it was such a magical way to fall in love with someone because there is something to be said about love at first sight. There are tons of people who know right away that that is their person. There are people who date for only a few weeks, get married, and have remained married ever since. What almost killed me was the plot twist which I never saw coming in a million years. Colleen Hoover might be queen of the plot twists. Everything with Benton’s mother, to the fire, to Fallon’s dad… I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I have a love hate relationship with Benton’s character. I didn’t care for him as a guy but I thought he was sweet as a guy falling in love. He made Fallon feel seen and he really devoted himself to her when he was with her. You could tell that he was head over heels for her and devastated when she wasn’t willing to forego their plan.
Fallon was okay. She was really insecure about the way she looked because of the fire and what it did to her body—which is totally understandable. She starts to gain confidence and acceptance of herself as the book goes on. You really begin to root for Fallon to be able to see herself the way Ben does.
I wasn’t sure Fallon was ever going to forgive Ben. You can understand why she doesn’t but the book can’t end with them going their separate ways! Can it?! Hindsight is always 20/20. And after Fallon reads Ben’s script, she has a clearer picture of what happened. It takes a mature person to self-reflect like that. Go Fallon! And the ending is so perfect I almost cried.
Were you shocked by the plot twist as well!? Let me know in the comment section.
xo L.
