Confess

Title: Confess

Author: Colleen Hoover

Number of Pages: 306

Publisher: Atria Paperback

Date Read: 6.14.15

Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

“There are people you meet that you get to know, and then there are people you meet that you already know.” – Owen

Auburn Reed has lost everything important to her. In her fight to rebuild her shattered life, she has her goals in sight and there is no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

       For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping a major secret from coming out. 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.

       To save their relationship, all Owen needs to do is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin.

       In her magnificent and exceptional style, Colleen Hoover delivers once again a deeply moving story about how true love and family are ties that can never be broken.

“I’ll love you forever. Even when I can’t.” – Adam

       I bought and read this book not even 24 hours after finishing Ugly Love. I just fell instantly in love with Hoover’s writing. She kept it simple, but she made you feel everything all at once. No mercy; no holding back. Not to mention, look at that beautiful cover; it’s so colorful!

“It’s impossible to defend against inexperience and age.”  

– Auburn

I couldn’t even register all the emotions I had roiling through me when I finished this book. It had everything from sadness to delight and teenage giggles to devastation and utter loathing.

       Speaking of loathing… OMG (and I don’t mean to be punny; you’ll know when you read the book), I couldn’t BELIEVE Trey. From page 194 to 197, I wanted to claw him into tiny little pieces. What a f***! I couldn’t wrap my brain around it and he got progressively worse as the book continued. Like, you could tell from the beginning he was a shady prick, but that was WHOA. I think what really bothered me was that he was a cop and apparently a pretty petty f***ing cop. As you can see, I’m still not entirely over how I feel about him. Also, because of him, I actually threw my book across the room - first time in the history of ever. But then, he got his. Karma/Auburn got him hard.

       I have mixed feelings about Auburn. I like how determined she was to spend more time with her son. I’m not ok with how she settles for a relationship that was toxic/abusive. I get that Trey was her “best” way to get closer to AJ; I just didn’t like that she would risk that, because eventually he’d turn on both of them and not just her.

       Owen, sweet, dumb Owen; he should have just told the truth from the start. It would have saved a whole hell of a lot of grief, but then I guess the story would have been shorter and less edge-of-your-seat frustrated. Because let’s be honest, half the reason we read books is to be frustrated with the characters because we know better. (I imagine that’s what parents feel like when their kids are being, well, kids.)

I really liked how Ms. Hoover used real confessions in her novel and didn’t make them up herself. I also liked the artwork she found and shared with us. It really made it all feel more real. Not to mention, it reminded me of when I was in high school and read the Post Secret books; it made me want to go to the bookstore and see if they still have those.

“I’ll love you forever. Even when I shouldn’t.” – Auburn