I was very fortunate to receive the review copy of Without Merit for which I’m utterly grateful. This review is being written minutes after finishing the book and therefore it will be full of raw feelings, but I’ll do my best to avoid the spoilers like a plague!

Without Merit is a book that deals with teenage depression, insecurities (not just teenage ones), mistakes and flaws and misconception.

“Everyone’s lives would go on. With or without Merit."

It evolves around the Voss family that is made of absurd life twists and seemingly broke relationship. Father, his kids, his current wife and his ex-wife all living together in a former church. Yes, church.

Merit is the narrator and main character. We get to see the story play out from her perspective. And this is the first thing that got me gutted – exactly, it’s her perspective. Merit is just one of the characters in the book that doesn’t see and hear everything. Therefore, her point of view is just hers and does not mean it’s the right one, the correct one. That is how life goes I guess and Colleen hits the bull’s eyes with the point she presents in Without Merit.

Each of the character has its own story. That’s one of the things I love about Colleen’s writing – she doesn’t just use the supporting characters to hold the narrator’s hand and give them hug and crappy advice when they don’t even need it the most. Each of Colleen’s character is given a spotlight for a while to show their own story, to kind of prove themselves to the reader.

It was the same with this book of course. There are stable characters that will be with you throughout the whole story. Either a part of the family or friend. They each have a story that Merit, and consequently all of us readers, don’t really see. They are flawed, some might even say broken, but to me, they are perfect. Perfect as in real. (By this point I should apologize for not making sense bunch of times, but I really am speechless!)

The writing – what can I say about that? It’s Colleen and that itself speaks about the style and quality. If you are a long-time reader of hers you will see her usual word play again, how she uses metaphors to express the absurdity of certain situations. And trust me, there are a lot of crazy moments in Without Merit. For example, the fact that Merit collects trophies she didn’t win to kind of make shitty things that happened to her more memorable.

For hardcore CoHorts – you have a little nice surprise to look forward to. I’m sure you’ll recognize it straight away!

I hope so far, no spoilers! And now, I just want to share with you my favorite line:

“You shouldn’t feel so special, Merit. We are all a degree of fu**ed up.”

Without Merit taught me a lot of things in matter of hours it took me to read it. You live your lived from your own perspective and sometimes miss what others see because you are blinded by it. That’s also why you can’t compare your miserable sad broken stories with other – no one’s story is harder than ours and ours is not more difficult than someone else’s. Also, you don’t have to carry the secrets of those around you if all they do is pull you down, weight you down. They are not your burden to carry. And last, but not least:

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.”

I’m giving this book 5 stars, although it’s hard to just put a 5-star label on it when for me it’s value is much greater.

With Merit and love,

Rebecca A I All Books Obsessed

Title: Without Merit
Author: Colleen Hoover
Source: from publisher for review
Links: Indiebound |Goodreads
Rating: three-stars
Summary: This was fun, cute, and quirky and thought it didn’t feel particularly novel or substantial, I flew through it.

“The Voss family is anything but normal.The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit. Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. [When Merit falls in love with a boy who is unavailable, it’s one of the last straws]..Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.”

The Voss family situation borders on absurd, but the details of the characters’ lives, conversations, and emotions made it feel so real. The writing style reminded me of Maggie Stiefvater and a little of Jojo Moyes or Joshilyn Jackson, who also write great characters. It had the comforting, easy feel of good YA writing. I really liked the quirky characters.The romance starts in an insta-love kind of way, but Merit and her crush do grow closer as they get to know each other. I could also point to specific things they like about each other, which I appreciate.

There were a few things I thought could have been better. Although Merit and her family are dealing with some serious issues, the treatment these issues received felt light, surface level. A couple of times I almost cried while reading this, but it didn’t affect me quite enough. The romance also took away from the seriousness for me. Merit’s crush’s affection felt like a prize she had to earn by fixing her dysfunctional family relationships. The romance felt like the main point and was more central than I would have liked. I think the fact that this did just feel light and quirky and fun is probably part of why it also felt like a story I’d seen before. This didn’t strike me as particularly unique and I don’t think it will stick with me. Overall though, I had a lot of fun reading it in just two quick sittings.

Last night, after I finished reading, a friend asked me what I thought about Without Merit, and I wasn't quite sure if I could give her any straight kind of answer.

This was one of those books I struggled with because it left me hanging in the in between. For as many things as I liked about it there were that many I didn't like. There were parts I loved. Parts that made me bawl my eyes out. And then there were the parts that made me cringe. A balance of positive and negative.

I loved the concept of Without Merit. I even liked Merit, most times. I loved Sagan. I loved that the focus wasn't on the romance aspect or sex. Thank god there was no sex. I think that would have just made the madness a hundred times worse. I loved that this was a different kind of writing for Hoover. I loved the myriad of roller coaster emotion it pulled from me. I loved that it made me think.

What I didn't love was the cray cray. This family wasn't playing with a full deck of cards. Oh no, they road the train straight to crazy town and beyond. Usually this adds spice and intrigue to a story. Not this time around. This time around the crazy was a bit over done.

I get where Hoover was trying to go with this book but she slammed in one to many controversial themes; mental illnesses, sexuality, sexual relations, family dynamics, cheating, Syrian refugees, and a few others. Due to this, none of them felt fleshed out. It felt more like she was trying to see how many she could conquer in one sitting than actually educating the public about some serious issues.

And with all of this going on, no one was held accountable in the aftermath. It was all wrapped up and moved on with no real consequences. No growth. No development. Unfortunately, that's not how life goes, especially in these types of situations.

Then came the preachy feeling. I suffer from Mental Illness and I am always grateful for those who try and help others understand that mental is just as much a sickness as physical ailments are. But this did not feel like that. It felt like the author was shoving it down the throats of her readers. I felt as though I was watching one of those commercials for depression/anxiety meds. Maybe it's the way the rest of the narrative was handled. Maybe it was the characters who were betraying these diseases. Maybe it was the overwhelming drama. Maybe it was the many, many topics being covered. I can't pinpoint what it was but so much feel flat in the educating department.

Any how, I'm glad I finally sat down and gave Merit time. I don't regret the read, as I said earlier, there was just as much I loved as I didn't.

And here I am, sitting down again to write ANOTHER 5-star review for a Colleen Hoover book. I know... shocking! There's a reason why I absolutely adore this incredibly talented human being. Her words affect me like few others' can. Her stories, especially this one, are so authentic, unique, and inspiring. Let's take a little looksie into this new CoHo masterpiece, shall we? :)

Without Merit is completely different from Colleen's other books for several reasons. First off, it's a mature YA novel. Her first YA. Merit, our MC, is 17 and living with the most dysfunctional family I've ever read about it. (Yes, just from this part alone I knew I would love this book. Colleen writes dysfunction like no other.) This story is also quite different for the fact that it doesn't use romance as the main focus. Sure, there is a romance brewing (and it's super adorable, if I may say so myself.) but it's not the core focus of this incredible story. Hard to believe, right? It was for me too. But boy, it really worked! Lastly, though I wouldn't categorize this book as "dark" per say, it did address several very important and sensitive issues. Trigger warning: (view spoiler)

"I'm not even sure home is a word that can be used to describe where I live. It's just a house filled with people who are counting down the days until they don't have to live with each other anymore."


This was definitely the most unique, quirky bunch of characters I've ever come across. I'm continuously astounded by the level of creativity Colleen Hoover has when developing these masterful characters. I'm super curious to know what you guys think, after reading this story, about Merit and the other characters as well. Who's your favorite? Who do you think was the most interesting?

Colleen Hoover's characters, in my opinion, are usually quite relateable and easily likable. Merit is so different. She's spontaneous, quite a bit selfish, and doesn't take any responsibility for her poor choices. She's, quite honestly, a bit of a mess. But I loved her. So, so much.

Without Merit is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. I didn't expect to be quite this taken by this story. It's one of those stories that I wish I could read again for the first time. It was unique, entertaining, quirky, silly, inspirational and even hopeful. I'm so impressed with how much of a punch was packed into such a cute little package.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.”


Whether you're a die-hard CoHo fan (like I am!) or you've never read a single one of her books, I would definitely urge you to read this story. No need to read the synopsis, just go in blind and take it all in. Then stop back over here and let me know what you think. :) I have a feeling you just may love it as much as I did.

Read my 4-star review of Without Merit by Colleen Hoover

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2060366189

You bury me."

Colleen Hoover. I remember the first time I ever picked up a CoHo novel. Way back when in 2012 when I just happened to stumble upon it on Goodreads. I decided to read a few pages of that book and then ended up finishing it in one sitting. That's when I met Will and was forever changed. Does that make me sound overdramatic?

Point of Retreat came out and I devoured the absolute shit out of it. Then the next time I would pick up another book by Colleen would be when Hopeless came out. I almost couldn't read it because I was so scared that it wouldn't live up to the writing in the Slammed series. I shouldn't have worried...

Every single one of Colleen's books somehow get better and better with each new release. How in the hell does she do that?

If you're sitting there wondering how in the hell the next story of hers will top the last book she wrote (which made me cry for a week straight, no joke!), then you have nothing to worry about. Without Merit may be different than any other book she's ever written, but it was both unique and beautiful. Something I know to be signature Colleen Hoover.

That being said, I think Without Merit is enchanting and comes at a close second to my favorite CoHo book. Many of Colleen's fans like to go into reading the book without knowing anything about it. I know what it means for me; it means I don't read the blurb or reviews. So if you haven't yet read the story, have no fear, I won't give away anything.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.”

The message in the end was beautifully put. And that's all I'm gonna say on that front because I feel like I'd be giving away a major plot device if I elaborate. The story is full on family drama. It's not the cheesy drama that makes you roll your eyes, either. It's the kind that so damn realistic that you have to just sit back and take a deep breath. Secrets. There are SO MANY!! Some that made my jaw drop and others that made me so incredibly sad. Did I cry? I shed some tears but it wasn't anything like that damn book It Ends With Us. (<= I'm still not over it btw)

The best thing about the story was the underlining ray of hope. Hope for a broken family who I didn't much care for in the beginning. But one I grew to love and care for. The character growth was something else. Every single character endeared themselves to me in one way or another. Every last one of them. The family is definitely quirky, but that's what makes them so damn lovable.

Colleen, if you're reading this, you totally did it again. I should probably stop doubting you every release haha. For those wanting to know if there is any romance, all I'm gonna say is read the book and find out for yourself! Overall, even though I'm satisfied with Merit and gang. I wouldn't mind if there were other novels featuring a different character's personal story. Until then, I'll just use my imagination.

"Sincerely, Without Merit"


*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another hit by Ms. Hoover. She is a master storyteller and without question is the best writer in this genre. She boldly tackles intense and powerful topics and beautifully and honestly does them justice. She lends her fresh voice and brilliant writing and builds characters that real and ones we can relate to. I will be thinking about this book for days, months and years to follow. It is one of my favorites of hers for sure. I highly recommend this book and want to talk about it to everyone...a must read for all. I promise you that this book will break you apart and put you back together again.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.”

Merit seems like your typical teenager but she is slowly losing interests in things and one night tries to end it all but things don’t go according to plan. Like the old saying goes “everything happens for a reason” and this was actually a good thing. Lots of things get revealed that had me shocked but more importantly relationships are rebuilt along with forgiveness and understanding.

“It annoys me when people try to convince other people that their anger or stress isn’t warranted if someone else in the world is worse off than them. Your emotions and reactions are valid. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. You’re the only one who feels them.”

This was such a thought provoking story and I devoured it in one sitting. This book put a lot of things in perspective in this thing called life. This book also teaches us about being judgmental over situations just because we don’t understand why a person is doing what they are doing. Maybe if we took a step back and stopped judging and listened relationships between people could be better. This book was different than I expected from Colleen Hoover but it didn’t disappoint me because I was able to do some of my own reflection while reading. I loved how Hoover chose to right a book that deals with mental health illness. Everyone wants to be normal but what is normal? This book lets you know it’s okay to not be okay.

5 STARS

Colleen Hoover has stole my heart with this book.

This is only my second book by the amazing Colleen Hoover and I'm wondering why I've not read more by her. I'll have to get on that because her stories move me to tears.

Without Merit revolves around Merit Voss. She's a seventeen year old girl who seems to know the secrets of all her family members—and not because she wants to know them. What she wants more then anything is to be 'normal' and really for her entire family to be the same. She lives in a small Texas town and her father bought the church—which considering he's an atheist—went over well in town. You'd think living in a former church would be enough to send any teenager into hiding but it doesn't end there for Merit. Her Dad divorced her Mom for the nurse that was taking care of her and her Mom still lives with them! Plus there's a ton more strange things that are going on in her house.

Basically they are the gossip of the town and it all just gets to be too much for Merit and so one day she skips school. That's where things really change for her. She meets Sagen and although I'd not categorize him as weird he has a story and in somehow mingles with Merit.

I was engrossed in this story and spent most of last night and this morning finishing it. Colleen Hoover wrote a story that touches on so many issues that teens this day and age deal with all the time. I love the overall message in the story. It's one every older teen should read. I'd probably categories this book as mature young adult because of the topics covered.

No surprise here that I highly recommend this book.

ARC received for honest review.

'Without Merit' is a heartfelt and incredibly realistic contemporary novel that readers are definitely going to want to pick up. I don't normally read this genre, but I've reading some of the author's previous works and like her writing, so I thought I'd give this one a shot. It wasn't at all what I was expecting - even after reading the description. This is so much more than a romance - it's a character study that closely examines and dissects family structures in today's society. The novel talks about a lot of heavy topics - family dysfunction, secrets, mistakes, mental illness, sexuality, love, and forgiveness (just to name a few). The mental illness aspect was mixed in well with the rest of the story, but it was done in a fantastic way. I like the way the author approaches the subject - seriously and without stigma. I found that to be an important part of the book for me personally.

I really liked most of the aspects of the book: the plot, the characters, the relationships, and the romance (of course). Each character in the book had flaws and they weren't hidden from the reader. It made each of them unique and very realistic. I had no problem connecting and empathizing with each of them right away. I enjoyed learning everything about the characters, especially about Merit - the main character. The author wrote the story in the first person point of view, from Merit's perspective. This is my favorite writing style and I love that the book was done this way. We get to really know Merit on a personal level - her every thought, hopes, fears, emotions, dreams, memories - they were all open to us. Seeing everything happen from Merit's perspective made the story all the more real and palpable. I easily fell into Merit's life and could believe that everything happening was real. My heart broke when all of the secrets and truths finally came to light - from all of the characters. It made me think about how we all judge people without really knowing or understanding them or the situations. This book speaks of family, love, forgiveness and so many other universal themes that it can appeal to any reader, not just fans of romance. Definitely recommended for fans of the author and those who like contemporary fiction and romance.

Once again Colleen takes you on such a ride. At first, I honestly didn't know what to think... The Voss family is a bit unconventional. By the end, I was loving it hard. I think everyone can relate, we all have crazy families and want to know how we really fit in sometimes, even with those who should love you unconditionally.

This novel is different than most CoHo reads, as its really not a love story. It's more of an awkward coming of age story, with this strange boy who makes our heroine. think in a different way. I think we all can relate to one or more points in this storyline and for that reason alone, I think it makes it a very relevant story. But I know a lot of people are going to read this and think... what the hell am I reading? And that's ok. Love and the way we live is different from person to person. I found it so interesting talking to others who had read the book and they all had different things to say. Not a one of my friends saw the book in the same light. That in itself makes this an amazing book. How many authors can take a story and twist it into so many different trains of thought for each and every reader.

All I have to say is go into this book, expecting the unexpected. As long as you keep an open mind and an open heart, you'll find many treasures in Without Merit.

It has been a while since I read my last CoHo novel. In part it’s due to fact I adored it so much I was afraid what would follow would taint that experience for me. I couldn’t however pass up the opportunity once I’d read the blurb to Without Merit. I was instantly struck by how familiar her writing is and captured by the intrigue that makes reading her novels so pleasurable.

Like most we all on occasion secretly wonder if there is a family stranger than our own. But when it comes to Merit Voss and her family, they take the biscuit and the gravy. At first introductions the relationships and dynamic are puzzling at best, and as we the reader experience life through the eyes of Merit, we are confronted with a host of revelations and secrets.

Merit is an extremely interesting character. There’s a charm to brashness, even if it does serve to mask her inherent loneliness. Her closest relationships are the ones which are most strained, and she lacks the direction and connection she resentfully craves.

Although told through Merit’s voice, there are many things afoot in this novel. It’s difficult to say much without ruining the experience but I can say it’s engaging and entertaining, as well as being emotionally poignant. I consider myself an avid romance reader and was glad for the additional element to the story.

Without Merit is not your typical Colleen Hoover book. Colleen went back to her beginning roots as an author and dipped her toe into YA again.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I have to be honest, the feelings that it caused were NOT expected. Colleen had talked about how she needed something light after finishing It Ends With Us. Don't let that fool you. Colleen ALWAYS writes about subjects that her readers can relate to. Situations that some may have experienced.

Without Merit is a story about a teenage girl named Merit and her dysfunctional family. At least Merit thinks they are. Merit is tired of keeping the secrets of her family. She is fed up lying to cover for their discretions.

Merit meets a guy named Sagan, who she instantly feels connected to. Funny thing is, he feels it too, but for totally different reasons. Merit feels like an outsider in the Voss Family. Sagan seems to be the one person that understands her.

One night changes everything in the Voss household. Secrets are revealed, people are forced to take responsibility for their actions. When Merit discloses all of the family's secret, she is forced to deal with the consequences of HER actions. We are always taught that every action has a consequence. But is that true? Rather than a consequence, couldn't we just offer a second chance. One bad judgment, doesn't make a person bad.

This book delivers all sorts of emotions. To see this girl struggle with who she is, where she fits in, what her role in all of this is. My heart broke for her. I wanted to pull Merit into my arms and just hug her.

If you are looking for a great YA read, with all the feels, then WITHOUT MERIT is definitely a book you want to pick up.

I was really worried about picking up Without Merit because I hated the last book I read by Colleen Hoover. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved to like Without Merit as much as I did. It made me feel a whole range of emotions, and I read the story in one afternoon, unable to put it down.

The romance isn’t angsty or the main focus really, but it was the sweetest part to me. As the story starts you’re just kind of thrown into the middle of Merit’s world, but in a pretty fantastic moment. That moment is sort of shattered, but no worries, all sorts itself out.

Merit’s family life is far from happy. Her father divorced her mother and married his mistress when mistress was pregnant with his child, yet everyone, including Merit’s mother continue to live in the same house!! I was not happy with Merit’s father, and even with all the explanations at the end, I still wasn’t thrilled with the man, but no one is perfect and he did seem to be trying the best he could with the screwed-up situation. Still, all kinds of f*cked up IMO. I’d say the circumstances were way out there in terms of real life, but unfortunately, I’ve had to deal with a somewhat similar situation in my own life, so I could totally relate to Merit’s feelings and reactions.

Merit bounces back and forth between being a fun, quirky character to someone with a lot of anger. As the story progresses it becomes apparent she’s depressed. I think the feelings of depression and reactions felt very real to life. Those feelings can just sort of creep into your life and take over without even realizing it. It’s a dangerous thing, but I’m happy that Merit, had people there for her, which included her screwed up family.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

My thoughts: I am still relatively new to Colleen Hoover's books - this is only the second book of hers I've read, It Ends With Us being the other one. From what I understand, she has taken a slightly different direction with these two from her previous books - they are more serious in nature and less reliant on the romance angle. Either way - I thoroughly enjoyed both, this latest one really taking me by surprise!

I think what really stands out about this book is that it's unlike anything I've read before. It's both painful and raw and yet also redeeming and hopeful. It tackles some really tough, uncomfortable topics - mental health, depression and suicide - as well as dysfunctional families and secrets. But as much as it deals with all this heavy stuff, it's equally balanced with lighthearted humor and just a little hint of romance.

The cast of characters that make up this story are all flawed and most of them are what I would call quirky. They all have some pretty deep and complex issues, most of which they refuse to acknowledge. And, for the kicker - they have pretty much stopped communicating with each other, other than for basic necessity.

What I found pretty interesting is that this story isn't about one big event, but rather it's all these little events that slowly build up...almost like the butterfly effect. As all these little events are building up, layer upon layer, one on top of the other, it's as if a storm is brewing and then BAM! Eventually is has to no where to go but to explode - and then watch out! But what's truly amazing is that the end result of this outburst is not what you expect - it's all about perspective. Because sometimes the secrets we are holding aren't what they seem.

This novel will have you thinking and coming back to perspective time and time again. As I said before, it's a painful, honest read, but also a very powerful read. It's heartfelt and heartwarming and one that you will be thinking about long after you finish the last page.

Without Merit is unlike any other CoHo book I’ve experienced thus far. The gravity of the subject matter is felt from the very first page. I don’t want to say that Hoover’s past books are hearts, flowers, and fluffiness because they’re not, but Without Merit tackles a very real problem that is stigmatized more often than not and how differently people manage it. The book carries a sense of sadness throughout, yet hints at a cathartic ending.

Without spoilers, Merit is a high school senior simply drifting through life. As she admits at one point, her family comes with baggage. One day while ditching school, she meets Sagan, a stranger who also is drifting. Fueled by apathy (yes, I think that is the best way to explain it), the two strike up a friendship/romance. Merit’s family is…unique. Her parents are quirky but absent and she and her siblings pretty much fend for themselves, while holding secrets from each other that can rip the family apart. Sagan helps Merit find her footing, not only with her place in her family, but her place in life in general.

I enjoyed the book not just because I’m a fan of Hoover’s but because of the subject matter itself. Mental health is a hot button issue right now, however it is rare that we really talk about it at the teen level. Hoover helps the reader understand why that is important as Merit works through her personal relationships. I’d say the book is pretty solidly YA, which I’m not normally a fan of, but I did like this book a lot and would definitely let my teen daughter pick it up.

Definitely not CH's best. I love how I can fall into her books and get lost for hours, but this one took literally weeks for me to get through. Tough material and not a lot of sympathy for the characters. I won't give up but this is not one I can recommend.

Colleen Hoover transforms herself and her writing with each book she publishes. Just because you've read one of her previous titles, it doesn't give you any indication of what you're going to get with her current release.

Without Merit is the story of a teenager who is convinced her family is crazy… and when you learn their dynamic, you might think so too. Hoover gives us an eclectic group of secondary characters that you equal parts admonish and cheer for.

Anything I tell you about this book ruins it for you. Merit’s story is one you need to watch unfold. Take the ride with her. This book is well-written and captivating. I was invested in the lives of the Voss family from the very first word. While this book might not evoke the emotions of a story like It Ends with Us, it is just as thought provoking. Go into this story with an open mind and an open heart and you will be rewarded.

From the minute I opened this book I was captivated by Merit Voss and her quirky family. Merit likes to deal with life's unfortunate events by collecting trophies she didn't win. In addition to trophies, Merit has found herself a collector and keeper of family secrets. Eventually unable to carry the burden she makes a spontaneous decision to leave her family behind for good. But not before confessing each of their lies. When things don't go as planned, she's left to deal with the consequence of her actions and to repair the relationships that were damaged.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.”

This book is a departure from Colleen's new adult romances. However, it still contains her familiar snark, wit and voice. While there's a hint of romance, the focus is primarily on the dynamic between Merit and her family. Despite it's laugh out loud moments, Without Merit explores serious themes like mental health and depression.

The story is told in first person from the main character's point of view. Merit experiences a wide range of emotions which is part of the reason some readers have labeled her unlikable. Personally, I found it easy to meet Merit where she was. I allowed her perception to become my own, without judgement.

The characters are interesting but flawed. I empathized with each one of them despite their mistakes and poor decisions. Without Merit makes an impact while making sure the Voss family (Wolfgang too!) stays with you long after you're done.

If I could convince my teenager to read books this one would be high on my list.

Without Merit features a strikingly unconventional family dynamic that'll make your head spin. I mean a family that lives in a rehabed church? Peculiar? Yes. Entertaining, too. Everything takes place from Merit's viewpoint - her strained relationship with her twin sister, her distancing from her parents and brother, the animosity directed at her stepmother, and then the new guy she wants. She tends toward a cynical outlook with extra bitterness on the side for good measure. All the while she's withdrawing from her surroundings, allowing her feelings to overwhelm her and close in on her. The only emotional tether keeping her connected is Sagan, the mysterious boy who's with her sister.

The beauty of Without Merit is how it starts off with Merit's version of her immediate world and gradually moves beyond that to where she receives a shocking awakening, realizing that she isn't as insightful as she thought she was. Every character has a vital role to play and they become a mirror for Merit to see herself. It's how Hoover gives each one of them their truth that's the stunner and by the end, Merit has no other option than to face hers.

I don't typically slam books shut in excitement when I'm done with them, and I especially won't do anything to hurt my beloved Kindle, but oh my gosh, THIS book!! I thought I knew Colleen Hoover because I've read quite a few of her novels but it wasn't until after this that it occurred to me how she approaches each new book so differently. I've become a firm believer that she'll always surprise me, make me think and most importantly make me feel something so deeply with every new story she shares with us.

~ Bel