Thank you to Atria books for providing an ARC for review.

I feel completely conflicted and expect this will be one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written. I'm a huge Colleen Hoover fan and have read every one of her novels, I met her last year at The Bookworm Box, and consider her one of my favorite authors. I would even go so far as to say, this blog probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for Colleen Hoover. You wouldn't believe my excitement when I saw Sabrina and I were chosen to review Without Merit. Such is my luck that this would be the one CoHo book that didn't resonate with me.

Without Merit is an out-of-the-box novel, even for Colleen, and completely different than anything she has ever written. The characters all had their own quirks and oddities, almost to the point of being ridiculous. I found most of the characters challenging to like, and some downright repulsive. Obviously, Merit was the most likeable character within the 384 pages. She lives in a family of secret keepers, where no one is able to show love or tell the truth. Sick and tired of living with her family's burdens, Merit spontaneously decides she'll write a letter revealing her family's dirty secrets and take her own life. When her plan is foiled, she is stuck dealing with the consequences of airing the family's dirty laundry.

Colleen does a great job of making her readers feel connected to Merit through the first half of the story. It's obvious why she feels the things she feels, living in a family of crazies. Though I'm not advocating suicide, I was able to see why Merit, in a moment of weakness, considered this a viable option for her problems. However, I felt the story dragged in getting to this point that the blurb details as the main event of the novel. I was unsure of which direction things would go throughout the majority of the book, making me wonder what the point of the story was. Finally, around the halfway mark things started rolling in true Hoover style, allowing me to understand the build-up in the first half.

I will say, I found Without Merit to have an important message overall. I think this book can have a positive impact on people who may struggle with some of the things Merit thought to be challenging in life. I was able to appreciate getting into the character's heads to understand the causes for their actions. Unfortunately, it seemed as if Merit was left out to dry, for the most part, in the conclusion. At times, I even felt as if Merit was being manipulated by those around her to see situations the way they wanted her to. And though there were resolutions in the end, many of the characters did not learn the lessons I hoped they would. It seemed as if they were making excuses for their actions, rather than accepting responsibility. Though, one of the main points Colleen makes in this novel is this:

"Not every mistake deserves a consequence, some just deserve forgiveness."

I suppose because I like "karma" as some call it, that makes me less apt to understand the feeling of forgiving without consequences. I prefer to see justice for mistakes, because many times people don't properly feel remorse and learn otherwise. Nonetheless, Colleen gives readers things to think about, which leads to my conflicted feelings over the whole of this novel. There were parts I liked and beneficial topics discussed, but overall, I did not relate to the story which created a bit of a disconnect. Regardless of my feelings and difference of opinion on many topics discussed within the plot, I will continue to be a Colleen fan and will eagerly read anything she produces in the future. This highly anticipated novel is sure to resonate with many readers, so please take my adverse opinion with a grain of salt. It may be just what you need at this moment in your life and simply wasn't a favorite for me.

First of all let me tell you how much I love Colleen Hoover and her books. I’ve been a big fan ever since I read "Slammed" back in 2014. Her books are unique, they have heart, they are sometimes sad and they are thoughtful but also funny. Colleen Hoover is one of the very few authors that when she announces a new book, I will add it to my TBR, regardless of the cover or the blurb. Needless to say that "Without Merit" was one of those books. Although Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors, I want to be honest with you guys: this novel fell flat for me and was not was I expected at all. I really hate giving this book such a low rating but I would be lying if told you I loved it.

For the longest time I didn’t know what was happening. I asked myself questions like “What is going on?”; “Has the story even started yet?”, “What is Colleen’s intention with this book?” and “What is the purpose of it?”. I buddy read this ARC with my bestie and she can attest that I asked her those questions, too. I haven’t been this frustrated with a story and its characters for a long time but I just didn’t see any sense in this book – I still don’t.
I don’t want to get into too much detail here, but the storyline was too confusing. Maybe confusing is the wrong word but in my opinion the story deals with one too many issues, which is probably why I felt the story didn’t and still doesn’t make any sense. The issues Merit’s family deals with are not believable. Don’t get me wrong, I think every one of those issues are valid and to be taken seriously, but I don’t think that one single family deals with so many and such different issues at the same time. One serious issue for one family? Yes. So many different issues for one family? No. It was all over the place and too messed up.

I couldn’t relate to Merit at all. I actually couldn’t relate to any of the characters in this story. They were not very likeable and were hateful, shallow, and selfish. It was really frustrating to read about them.
Also, let’s take a minute to address the problem of character names. What is wrong with names like Chloe, Michael, Samantha, Josh, Sarah, Hunter, Riley, or Connor? I think those are beautiful names. So why is it that NA authors, which includes Colleen Hoover, give their characters the oddest names there are? Is it to show how unique the story is? Is it to show how unique that character is? Does it imply characters with normal names are boring? I don’t think that a unique name makes a character more special than the rest of the characters. And who is to say that a Connor or a Chloe won’t be unique? I think every person is unique and special in their own way; we don’t need to give them odd names to make them stand out. In general, I don’t care if an author gives one (!) of their characters an odd name, because we all know this certain someone with an odd name. But to give 90% of the characters odd names is plain stupid.

As I mentioned in the beginning, Colleen Hoover’s books are unique, which is why they stand out of the masses and are adored by millions of people around the world, and I’m sure that Colleen knows it too. I also think that she tries too hard to keep her stories this way. It seems like Colleen Hoover’s books get crazier and crazier by the year only to stay unique.
Maybe it’s also the readers’ fault. I think our expectations for a Colleen Hoover book are way too high, because we expect her to write a unique novel, nothing easy and simple. Colleen loves her fans, and we love her and her books and in order to not disappoint us, she writes these unique stories. Whatever the reason is, I believe that even the simplest of storylines, can sometimes be the best. Not everything needs to be grand.

What I also didn't like was Merit's obsession with her virginity. She acted like being a virgin at seventeen was something bad only because her sister wasn't anymore. I think this attitude conveys the wrong image toward young girls.
Girls, if you read this: being a virgin is nothing bad and nothing to be ashamed of. Honestly, 'virgin' or 'virginity' are just words from the dictionary, nothing more. The problem is that we unknowingly associate it with something shameful and negative because our society started to use it as a word with a negative connotation. Now listen: Don't feel pressured! It doesn't matter if you're 16, 19, or 24, heck it doesn't even matter if you're 30 and have sex for the first time. No one but you should make it their business as to when it happens. Don't let your partner, your friends, people or the rest of our society tell you otherwise. Don't be ashamed of it, because there is nothing to be ashamed of!

Another scene or storyline I didn’t like was Colleen Hoover getting political. Politics are not only a difficult topic to understand, it is also a very sensitive topic to talk about. It’s not that I don’t agree with her political views, just the fact that she mentioned it at all is what bugs me. I’m not even sure why she chose to write about it in this book. Was it to school us, to make us see what’s going on in the world? Or to make us feel bad and make us feel guilty for not knowing what’s going on? I don’t know about the US media, but this certain topic has dominated the European and also the German media for the past few years which is why I don’t need another third party to a) tell me what’s going on and to b) make me feel guilty about my life. I know that she clarified the “making someone feel bad for something” with this certain character in the book, but the explanation was mentioned way too late in my opinion because it had me riled up by this point already.
I know that the world is a cruel place. So many terrible things happen every day, terrible things that we probably don’t even know about because the media won’t report it. One of the many reasons I read books is because I want to escape this cruel and terrible reality and bringing politics into a book doesn’t help me escape.

"Without Merit" is definitely not the book I was hoping for, unfortunately. Her next book can only get better from this point on, because even though this book fell flat for me, I still love her previous works and will recommend them to everyone who asks about a book recommendation.
Also, don't let this review put you off reading this book. We all experience a book in a different way, so maybe this novel is right up your alley.

Without Merit is a young adult standalone from the great Colleen Hoover. I have read a couple of Colleen’s previous books and I enjoyed them both, but I haven’t read all of her books. (though they are on my TBR) Without Merit felt like a very different kind of read to me. It felt unexpected. It features a family that felt realistic in some ways and so hauntingly broken in other ways. There really isn’t a great way to describe Merit’s family. It is dysfunctional and atypical, that’s for sure. Without Merit is the kind of book that you can’t stop reading, because you have to know what direction the story is going to veer off to next. For starters, merit’s family lives in a church. View Spoiler » But her family living in a church is only the tip of the iceberg with them. Honestly, I really enjoyed the zany ride that Without Merit took me on. I can honestly say, I have not read a single book like this one out there.

Without Merit is told entirely from Merit’s point of view, which I found to be the perfect narration method to tell this story. I really enjoyed getting to know Merit. Right from the moment she told her trophy stealing story. I thought it was hilarious. That is what I think I love most about Colleen Hoover’s stories….she does not shy away from talking about really difficult subject matter. And without Merit deals with a lot of tough themes, but there are always zany moments to balance out the difficult. Without Merit had so many funny characters and conversations and really interesting personalities that this story never felt overly dark or depressing to me. It felt like life. Life is sometimes tough, and sometimes dark but there are also moments of levity. Colleen Hoover is the queen of balancing tough subject matter with big personalities and moments of levity. It is why I have enjoyed all of the books I have read from her. And why I want to read more.

Without Merit is a story that should be read. I know it made me stop and think at multiple points while I was reading it. Yes, I enjoyed the romance and yes Merit is a completely unique and utterly fascinating character, but the book felt totally fresh to me, as a whole, which is what I loved most about it. If you are looking for a flat out great read, pick up Without Merit. I can’t wait to see what you think of the story.

3-3.5 STARS!
So I went into Without Merit with an open mind knowing it was different than other books CoHo has written and more YA not romance. That being said I appreciated getting something different from her as it showcases what a well rounded author she is and that she has the ability to give us different unique stories. In the book world with so much being the same, I enjoyed and craved this something new from her.

The Voss family is plain weird. Every possible secret you can imagine they are hiding, they are. I struggled with this a bit seeing what the author wanted to show…the different issues people go through. I just wasn’t sure that it was realistic for every single person in that one family to suffer something. It almost didn’t seem too believable. Also when we get to the end, I felt that there were still some things left open-ended that I would have liked more story about… maybe an epilogue or something would have helped with this.

What I did enjoy was the personal growth within all of the characters and most especially for Merit to know and understand how much she is loved while also learning to love herself. I laughed and I teared watching these characters go through their lives. I love that Hoover is still capable of bringing out the readers emotions with each book she writes. I also want to say that Sagan was TO DIE FOR *le sigh*

Was this my favorite Hoover book? Definitely no. But was it a well-written page turner that I devoured and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because it was unputdownable… DEFINITELY YES!

I would have liked to see more of the romance aspect but knowing that this is YA I liked what potential for the future it eluded to.

Without Merit is a 3-3.5 STAR book for me… I love Colleen Hoover as an author and will read anything and everything she writes <3

Colleen Hoover is one of those guilty pleasure authors that I pick up whenever I just need to be completely lost in a story and am not looking for anything too heavy or anything too complex. Pure entertainment value is what I am looking for and, Without Merit, the newest novel by Colleen Hoover certainly delivers.

The novel opens and we meet the Voss family, who is anything but normal. We meet twin sisters, Honor (who is obsessed with dating boys with terminal illnesses) and Merit (who collects trophies anytime anything bad happens to her). They live with their father (Barnaby), their father’s mistress turned baby mama, turned wife (Victoria). Their mother, who is agoraphobic and never leaves the basement. Their brother, Utah, who is hiding several secrets, Honor’s newest boyfriend, Sagan and Victoria’s brother, Luck, who turns up to add another layer to the plot.

It is hard to even pinpoint what this novel is actually about. In typical CoHo style, there is a bit of contemporary romance, some messages about family, suicide, loss, and grief. Many hats are worn during the reading of this novel. Personally, I felt like it read a little bit more like a YA novel then I would have liked. I prefer something a little bit more mature, but regardless of my feelings about that, I cannot deny the completely addicting nature of this book.

I picked it up to read and consumed it in a matter of hours. I couldn’t put it down.

If you are a fan of Colleen Hoover, then this one is a no-brainer. If you are a fan of books that read like YA, then I think you will enjoy this one too!

Another brilliant CoHo story!

A beautifully written story of a family who has lived with buried secrets that are weighing them down. Simply put this family is dysfunctional. Every family has their own dysfunction but the Voss family seems to have taken that as a challenge and upped the ante.

”Little do they know, there’s no such thing as a perfect family, no matter how white the picket fence is.”

Merit Voss is a 17-year-old senior who finds herself trying to make sense of her surroundings. The young adult years can be a confusing time when everything in life seems to bring you down. ”So many secrets in this house. And yet, the one secret I should have told years ago is the one I’ve kept the quietest.” Merit has internalized all of her family’s baggage. The ignoring of past transgressions is the family's way of sweeping the ugly things under the rug.

Now that you know a little about Merit, our narrator, you’re probably wondering if this story is a romance. It definitely has elements of romance in it but on the forefront, this is a story about family. But don’t get me wrong there is a love story mixed in - it just doesn’t overpower the overall arc of the story. It’s woven in like a subtle ray of optimism.

The story is a good combination of having a deeper meaning to it and in the same breath having the humor to keep things balanced. At times when the story would become heavy, there’d be a moment that’d have the reader giggling. As with all of CoHo’s books, there is some form of art in the story. In WITHOUT MERIT there is one drawing in particular that caught me by surprise and had me doubling over with laughter. I even had to show my husband when he gave me a strange look for my outburst.

The healing elements of this story warm the heart and give hope for all families out there. No matter what secrets a family may have there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow.

Without Merit is a standalone set in Texas. A poignant story of the family life of Merit Voss.

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
RELEASE DATE: October 3, 2017
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/2rPmE4r

STANDALONE

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

❝Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.❞

This is going to be one of those reviews where I won't discuss details of the plot (sorry!). But there is too much that happens to discuss without giving too much away.

Right from the start, this story will cause your jaw to drop. Colleen just drops bomb after bomb and doesn't let up until the end. My eyes were glued to the pages and I didn’t want to put this down until I was able to finish it.

There's a reason this woman hits best seller lists every time she releases a book. None of her books are like the last. They are always totally unique and refreshing, and Without Merit is no different. And while this may not be for everyone (especially those who like books that focus heavily on the romance), I can't say enough how much I appreciate when authors write books outside of the norm for them.

This was a gripping and at times surprisingly humorous story about mental health, a dysfunctional family, perspective, compassion, and love that's so well written you'll have a hard time putting it down until you're done.

Bravo to Colleen for going completely out of the box with this one. The characters were so unique, so quirky, so DIFFERENT, but their personalities or actions never once felt forced or disingenuous. I honestly felt like I was given an inside look into a real family and their issues while reading this. The characters felt that real. And THAT takes some talent.

"So many people dream of living in a house with a white picket fence.   Little do they know, there’s no such thing as a perfect family, no matter how white the picket fence is.”

The house of Voss may have had a white picket fence, but inside you certainly aren’t going to find a perfect family.  In fact you are going to find the complete opposite.  You will find a house full of secrets harbored by one of the most diverse and unique families I’ve read about in a long time.  Merit is the main character here and is a girl who feels like she is holding everyone’s secrets.  Even the secret holder herself (as she feels) has a secret’s of her own, some she is very well aware of and some she isn’t.  She may be the main character here but all the others play just as big of a part in this story and my, what a story it is.  Merit, Honor, Utah, Sagan, Luck, Barnaby, both Victoria’s and even little Moby are about to take you on a journey and when it all unfolds you realize nothing is what you perceive it to be.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence.  Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness”   A lesson the entire Voss family will come to realize is the most important lesson of all.

This book was a true Colleen Hoover masterpiece.  She has proven again and again that she can write from one end of the spectrum to the other and kill it.   I went into Without Merit blind and this book was nothing like I was expecting, which was perfection from my past experiences…It was much more, SO much more!

Colleen Hoover delivers a story unlike any she’s written before with her intriguing new novel, Without Merit. As expected, I was captivated from the very first page, however, what followed can only be described as entirely unexpected. Colleen Hoover blindsided me with this completely surprising storyline and I quickly found myself caught up in Merit’s totally twisted family dynamic. Without Merit isn’t steamy nor is it really even a romance. This book lacked the heart-wrenching angst and ugly cry inducing emotions I generally attribute to a Colleen Hoover novel. Instead, Without Merit is something new, raw, and strangely satisfying. Fans of this author will be shocked for sure, but if you dive into this story with an open mind you won’t be disappointed.

Merit’s voice was quirky, unsure and totally different from any of Colleen’s previous heroines. She was strange and emotionally removed, spurring a need to get to know her that pushed me to keep reading. I desperately wanted to understand Merit and unravel her secrets. Over the course of the story, Colleen Hoover cultivated the character in a way that allowed the reader to excuse Merit’s somewhat disconcerting attitude and gave her the chance to tell her story on her own terms. Personally, I felt a little too much distance between the heroine and myself for the majority of the book. I prefer to connect to characters much more quickly in order to really appreciate the emotional aspect of their journey. It took a little too long for me to achieve that with Merit and this distance ultimately kept me from losing myself completely in this novel.

As always with a Colleen Hoover novel, Without Merit touches upon some seriously tough subjects. The author isn’t afraid to dissect the traditional family, poke and prod at society’s ailments, and challenge what we know about love. The heady lessons to be learned throughout the pages of this book snuck up on me under the guise of Merit and Sagan’s developing relationship. I adored the subtle chemistry between the two characters and found hope in the strength they drew from one another. This duo kept me on my toes with their unusual connection, while the secondary characters helped contribute to my overall state of confusion and intrigue. Colleen Hoover’s unpredictable storyline ensured that I sat up and paid attention to everything this book had to say.

While the plot, pacing, and voice may have been totally out of character for Colleen Hoover, the writing was certainly on point. Carefully constructed and decidedly imaginative, Without Merit captured Colleen Hoover’s mature and confident writing style. There was much to be explored beneath the surface of each sentence and I absolutely enjoyed the overall reading experience. Ripe with Colleen Hoover’s signature symbolism and poignant prose, Without Merit is therapeutic in an unexpected way. Through Merit’s eyes, the reader is able to identify their own emotional baggage, finding acceptance and an understated sort of healing in Merit’s unconventional personal journey.

4 stars!

Right off the bat I just want to say, there’s not much I can tell you about the plot of this book. I really want to, but it’s all just one giant spoiler, and I don’t want to be that person so please don’t put that on me. What I can say, is that from the very beginning of this book Colleen Hoover keeps you on your toes and you have no idea where she will go next with this story.

I also want to make one thing clear, this book is unlike anything else Hoover has written. She’s said so herself, but I think it merited reminding < ---- see what I did there? And I love that about Hoover. She never delivers the same thing twice, she continues to evolve and grow as a writer. As a reader, I really appreciate this, because it means I never know what to expect. And in a way, when she brings us something new it’s her way of respecting the reader, knowing that we will grow with her.

Without Merit revolves around the life of a high school senior, and while this does deal with young adult characters, this book read more like an adult contemporary fiction novel. Not that anything was super graphic or inappropriate, but it’s all in the writing style. Honestly, I think if Oprah read this book she would put it in her book club. I really mean that. I think this book is an amazing conversation piece, bringing up and addressing family issues (and more but that’s spoilery) and a great book for book clubs. When this book releases, I foresee A LOT of discussion surrounding it.

Everyone at some point has thought their family was fucked up, believe me as an adult that has become abundantly more clear to me. But what if your family really was fucked up in some way? If I were to compare this novel to anything, it would be the movie August Osage County. By that I don’t mean every little single thing that happens, but more conceptually. I also compared November 9 and the old movie Same Time, Next Year, the concept is similar but the execution is different.

It also at times felt like I was reading a play in terms of how the scenes and dialogue were delivered between the characters. And we are the audience watching this play unfold. This book at its heart is a family trying to work out its issues, and come out the other side hopefully in a good way.

I devoured this book the second I got (giant shout out to Atria for giving me my first ever Colleen Hoover arc, that rocked my world). I stayed up until 3 am reading this baby, and it took me a long time to process my feelings on it. I think there’s going to be a lot of differing opinions on this book. I think the majority of Hoover’s fans will love this book, despite maybe not expecting what it’s about. But what I think is even better is that this specific novel will open up a new reader base to her work and hopefully we will gain a lot of Cohorts with it.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

5 ‘you bury me’ stars

‘He takes a step closer to me and it suddenly feels like I’ve swallowed his heart because I have all these extra beats in my chest.’

Colleen Hoover is an author who beats to her own drum. An author who writes from the heart, never relying on trends or shying away from tackling the difficult and heavy subjects. In fact this is an area where Colleen Hoover shines. Her innate ability to deal with weighty issues in a fictional setting is always delivered with an abundance of heart, sensitivity, sincerity and honesty. Yet, she always manages to guard our hearts somewhat with her natural warmth, sense of humour and truly beautiful characters. It’s a heady mix we can’t help but devour.

“We’re just two different people in two different sets of experiences.”

A Colleen Hoover book is like Christmas. They only come once a year which makes a Colleen Hoover release so special. It’s like CoHoMas! The wait, the wonderment, and the tease – it all adds to that excited expectation that boils over the moment her next release lands on our Kindles.

We loved seeing this author return to her YA roots in Without Merit as she so perfectly captures the teenage indecisions, emotions and angst we all remember so vividly. Colleen Hoover has once again delivered a powerful and thought provoking story which tackles a prevalent, tough and crippling subject matter. Not only that, this novel also touches on current issues that pose food for thought.

Some readers pick up a book to escape, some to find an awakening. In Without Merit, we get to experience both through genuine loveable characters who each appear to have flaws, yet when we scratch beneath the surface we find these characters are perfectly relateable; they could be us, a friend, a relative. We care for them and can’t stop thinking about them.

‘I once read a quote that that said, “Don’t make your presence known. Make your absence felt.”
No one in this family notices my presence or my absence.’

The test of a good story is how you feel when you close the book. Was it a story you could easily move on from, or was it a story that consumed your thoughts, scarred your heart, left you worrying and wondering about the characters long after closing the last page? There is no doubt Without Merit affected us in all manners mentioned, as we discovered something of ourselves reflected throughout this story.

“I’ve met a lot of people in my life, Merit. But you might be the strangest of them all.”

Without Merit is told through the voice of 17 year old high school student Merit, and what a beautiful narrator she is. You can’t help but feel for this young girl who thinks she’s an outcast in her small town and within her dysfunctional family. Merit is weighed down by family secrets, and can only take so much. After reaching her breaking point, Merit decides to free herself by relaying the family secrets and shattering her family and herself in the process. What transpires is thought provoking and heartfelt. The feelings so genuine we felt every emotion.

“Why can’t we be a normal family?”
“I don’t think such a thing exists, Merit.”

To divulge more of this story could potentially interfere with your reading experience, so we’ll leave the storytelling to the expert. Suffice to say Without Merit carried all the trademarks we adore about this author, again reminding us why we come back time and time again to experience her incredibly potent, intoxicating and unforgettable stories. They say you can’t really understand someone until you walk in their shoes and that couldn’t be more true than the characters in Without Merit.

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

A touching, honest and incredibly heartfelt story. Each character will touch your soul. Each of their stories will leave an indelible mark on your heart. Oh and …prepare for Sagan and Merit to completely steal your romantic hearts. Sigh……..Sagan….a hero in every sense of the word!

Note:
Graphics are removed from this review
Colleen Hoover has been a favorite of mine since she released Slammed. She was one of the reasons I started my blog, to share books like hers. In fact, she came to the very first Wicked Book Weekend back in the beginning of 2013! Every single book of hers has been amazing. She never follows the trends and always brings us a unique, emotional story. Without Merit is no exception. This young adult novel isn’t an epic romance like we are used to from Colleen, though there is a budding romance, it more of a journey of one of the quirkiest families I have ever read about. Without Merit is weird. It’s odd. It’s idiosyncratic, and it totally brought me out of the funk I was having from too many similar books.

"It’s like we don’t even have parents. We have a mother living in our basement and a father living in his own world. No one has a clue what’s going on with anyone around here."

Merit’s family lives in a converted church in a small town in Texas. They are an odd bunch, Merit is a high school senior and has a twin sister, Honor, and an older brother who changes the church marquis daily to another quirky fact. Their mom lives in the basement and doesn’t come out. Their stepmom has the same name as the mom, and really only tries to mother Merit’s little half-brother.

"No one in this family notices my presence or my absence. They would all notice Honor’s. But I was born second, which just makes me a faded copy of the original."

Merit’s quirky obsession is to collect other people’s trophies, especially on bad days; the weirder the trophy, the better. While cutting school and pursuing the local antiques store for a trophy, she runs into Sagan. And that encounter changes her. Especially when she realizes that the guy she thought she shared something special with had the situation wrong.

“You bury me.”

This summer, I visited Sulphur Springs, TX., to go to the BookWorm Box (Colleen’s charity bookstore), and we went to lunch in another corner of town, so we got to see a bit of the town, and I’m so glad we did! I wish I read the book before, and I would have looked closer at the places represented in the book, but here are a couple of photos I took. I’m so glad I was able to picture the real town in my head, and I must say, I loved the surprise cameo!

There is a very strong underlying message in Without Merit. And that is that perspective can change everything. There are so many secrets in the Voss family that they all keep from each other. They draw conclusions without opening their eyes to all the facts.

"So many secrets in this house. And yet, the one secret I should have told years ago is the one I’ve kept the quietest."

There was such a slow build in this story, with layers and layers of secrets and lies, and everyone looking at these with different eyes and different interpretations of the truth. But there are only so many secrets a young girl can keep.

Two new houseguests opened their eyes and changed their perspective on everything.

"I used to feel like I was on top of the world. Then one day, I noticed that it felt like I was no longer on top of the world. I was just floating around inside of it. And then eventually, it felt like the world was on top of me."

There was something so ingenious and cunning about the way Colleen manipulated you into seeing things one way until you realize that’s not the way it is at all. It was so easy to judge without all the facts. It was a strong message delivered in a very subtle and very quirky way.

"For so long I’ve been resenting my family for not hugging me when maybe they’ve been resenting me for the same thing."

Without Merit is a very relevant book for teens and adults alike, but I think teens may really see themselves in Merit. While there is a romance that runs through the book, I am not sure that I would call this a romance novel, because Merit needed to love herself before she could love someone else.

Likes:
•Completely odd and quirky.
•Made you look at things differently.
•Very relevant, especially for teens, but adults will love it too.
•A slow build.
•The cameo appearance.
•Cleverly filled with secrets and easter eggs. You really need to pay attention to not miss some subtle details.
•Very rich in detail, I was able to picture every scene perfectly.
•Funny, sad, strange, frightening at times and hopeful.

Dislikes:
•I would have liked the ending extended a bit, I just felt like it needed a little more of a glimpse into the future.
•While I liked Merit, I never 100% fell in love with her, and I’m not sure I was supposed to.

The Down & Dirty:
Without Merit was one of the quirkiest books I ever read. This YA novel was completely unique and a bit odd, but it forces you to look at things from different perspectives. I gobbled this book down over two days and was completely engrossed in the story that was anything but predictable. It’s not quite a romance, but it is so different that I don’t think I could classify it in any genre, but I guess it’s all in how YOU look at it. I loved all the fun and quirky oddities, I loved the way it made me think, I love that I have been to the town, and I love that it was so different it zapped me out of my funk. Without Merit may be different, but it’s another winner from the genius known as CoHo.

Rating: 4.5-5 stars No heat.

I honestly never have any idea where to start when it comes to reviewing a new Colleen Hoover book. When I heard that her newest release was going back to her YA roots, I was skeptical. I have really outgrown YA and wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. All I can say is shame on me for ever doubting Colleen Hoover.

Whenever I go into a new CoHo book, I love going in blind, so I'm not going to tell you a whole lot about the synopsis. All I can say it's about a girl and her family. Really, that's all you need to know to truly appreciate this book. Once again, Colleen has delivered a book that has really made me take a hard look at life and how I view the world. Just as like with It Ends With Us, I left this book with a whole new point of view on people and what others go through that I may not understand. This book deals with some pretty serious topics, but in the endearing and quirky CoHo way.

I've got to say, when I started this book and first met our main character, I was not feeling the story. But, when I got more into the story and got to learn more about the main character, who she was, and who her family was, I fell head over heels for this book. The beginning made so much more sense and the family dynamics in this book were interesting to say the least. While there was a romance, it was not the center of the story, which I actually appreciated. There was so much more going on in Merit's life that the romance was only just a part of it.

Without Merit is one of the most unique, endearing books I have ever read. I have never encountered a character like Merit or a family like hers in a book and I don't think I ever will again. While Colleen addresses some serious topics in her books, she does it in away that is so spot-on and aware that it will change how you view the world. Even if you're not a YA reader, this is so much more than just a book about a teenager and EVERYONE has to pick it up.

I read Without Merit a few months ago. It took me quite some time to digest all of the complex emotions I felt after reading this book. I have two children (teenager and pre-teen), and this book made me think about my own family dynamics.

Everyone has felt like Merit at some point in their lives, alone but not lonely. I also believe everyone has some dysfunctional element to their family dynamics. Or maybe it’s just me?

Without Merit is unlike anything Colleen Hoover has written. This is not a classic romance novel with your latest and greatest book boyfriend. This is the story of Merit, a seventeen-year-old girl who is battling her own personal demons within the walls of a repurposed church, turned family home. Merit is drowning in her own depression, which stems from issues with her own self-worth and her dysfunctional family relationships. Merit wonders if her family would even notice if she was gone.

"I didn’t matter, but I don’t. I hate it here, too. I don’t matter here, either. If I dropped out of life, just like I dropped out of school, everyone’s lives would go on. With or without Merit.”

Merit is tired of being the crypt keeper of lies and secrets. Years of compressing and compartmentalizing it all has taken its toll on her emotional well-being.

“Maybe if I let all the secrets out, they wouldn’t make me feel like drowning anymore. Yes. Maybe that would help. Maybe getting it all out will help me feel like I’m not about to implode.”

Without Merit is infused with Colleen’s signature wit and addictive writing style. She pulled on all of my emotions. This book was heartbreaking, humorous at times, raw and complex. While the topics were serious, as a reader I didn’t find this book either dark or depressing. It made me think and feel along with the narrator. Colleen tackled some complicated topics with grace in this all-consuming, coming of age, soon to be YA/NA classic. She weaved an intricate web of emotions while unmasking the ugly reality of teenage depression. This story is thought-provoking and simply must be read. Not because it's a CoHo book, but because it's important. This book will touch everyone's heart and soul in that special way that Colleen does, time and time again.

Without Merit hooked me from chapter one. Merit was original, and her story was intense and addictive. Like with every other CoHo book, I told myself just a few chapters before bed…and then I stayed up until 2 a.m. on a work night to devour it in one sitting. I’m no quitter at 65%! Plus, I needed answers. I had my assumptions about the plot twists, but you know what they say about assuming. I see you CoHo proving my theories wrong. *side eyes Colleen* I loved the unusual Voss family dynamic and each member’s individual quirks. I understood them by the end of the book and realized their oddities is what made them endearing. Without Merit is light on the romance, but I really loved Merit’s love interest, Sagan. His backstory pulled at my heart so much! If you’re in the mood to cry, laugh, and catch a case of the feels, or just need snapping out of your book funk, (it snapped my funk. I haven’t been able to read a full-length book since June) Without Merit will NOT disappoint!

When I start a Colleen Hoover book I’m usually filled with a bit of hesitation. It hasn’t always been this way. Her earlier releases I’ve loved, as Maybe Someday leads the pack while others have left me feeling underwhelmed. I’m not sure whether it’s the way she’s grown as a writer, or the development of my reading pallet, but my enjoyment of her novels has lessened which each successive release. They’re never written poorly, but maybe I’m just not her audience? I am always willing to give her books a chance though because she is a skilled writer and a pretty decent human. I’m happy to say that Without Merit was surprisingly weighty and rather enjoyable.

This cast of characters is one I think readers of any age or reading tastes would appreciate, maybe even find relatable, like I did. I’m at that weird age where I can appreciate and remember many of the feelings and situations Merit experienced and also understood some of the parenting issues her father had to manage. And while the mismatched quilt of personalities comes together in this story to deliver a message about forgiveness and perspective and heavier topics such as depression and suicide, I was left feeling really fulfilled despite the oddness of them all. It never felt superficial or overly manufactured. They felt like real people involved in real situations. I liked that.

I would encourage young readers to pick this one up. I felt that it had great representation of teen and familial issues. However if a romance reader is looking for a sweet YA love story, be warned that the focus on the romance is definitely secondary.

Merit Voss is a 17 yr. old senior in high school. She lives in a small town in Texas, in the middle of nowhere. She lives with her large unconventional, dysfunctional, unusual family, & often feels insignificant in her household, and almost invisible. She’s grown apart from her siblings, & lives in a home of secrets & lies. With so many strained relationships, she doesn’t feel like she belongs, or fits in anywhere. She thinks everyone hates her, & constantly feels like her family is falling apart. Their screwed up & all have issues.

Merit’s family has a bad reputation in town, but she prides herself on being spontaneous, & doesn’t often think of consequences. She has a strange habit of collecting random trophies, & while out one day locks eyes with a random guy. Something about the way he looks at her makes her feel things she’s never felt before. There’s this electric connection between them, & she’s intrigued by him. His intensity catches her off guard & excites her. They share a kiss that completely rocks her world, & she can’t stop thinking about him, & wondering if he’s meant for her. When he unexpectedly pops back up in her life things get complicated as her two worlds collide.

This was a thought provoking book that has romance, but is mainly about the life & family dynamic of Merit. It deals with love, forgiveness & some serious subject matter. It is a reminder that we live in a society where our peers put pressure on us, but often nobody judges us as harshly as we do ourselves. Nobody is perfect, & everyone has their own problems. This book really makes you think about what’s right & wrong, and not judging others since you haven’t walked in their shoes. It also reminds us how important communication is with the ones we love.

I started reading WITHOUT MERIT right when I was supposed to be unpacking after moving once again! Needless to say, my husband was constantly yelling at me to stop reading! Obviously he has never read a Colleen Hoover novel because everyone knows once you start there is no way to stop. I devour her stories and everyone of them has crushed my heart and left me crying. WITHOUT MERIT does not disappoint. Colleen Hoover, you owe me a box of tissues! There isn’t a single thing about this book that I didn’t love. It was wonderful, mesmerizing, hypnotizing, heartbreaking and breathtaking.

This is going to be a shorter review because my honest opinion is that it’s best to go into WITHOUT MERIT knowing as little as possible about the actual story so I won’t tell you anything that’ll ruin the experience here. But I can say that I was hooked from the very first page and completely drawn into these characters’ lives. I loved that the story was serious but little parts made me laugh out loud which broke up the more emotionally charged scenes. I swooned, proclaimed my undying love for WITHOUT MERIT, and had to take many breaks to wipe the tears that were flowing freely down my face more than once.

Once I started reading WITHOUT MERIT I discovered that there’s even more to this story than meets the eye. There’s an added layer to it that I absolutely loved but that I won’t mention because discovering it as you read is honestly the best. One of the things I love most about Colleen Hoover’s writing is how deeply she makes me care for her characters and how strongly she makes me feel for them. Deception and pain, love and loss, secrets and truths, hope and redemption—they all twist and tangle together creating another unforgettable novel from one of the freshest and most trusted voices in romance.

Finally, you need to read this one. It will surprise, shock, impress, grip and absorb you into its story. And those wonderful characters, how happy I am for having ‘met’ them! They will stick with me for a very long time. I just know the same thing will happen for you…

4.5 Stars
I don’t even know where to begin. I absolutely loved this book and Colleen’s writing style. She has a way with telling a story about touchy subjects and keeping you invested in the characters. I am a huge fan of hers and always look forward to her next book.


I have to say I have never met a family like the Voss family. They are definitely unique. You will know exactly what I mean when you read the book. It’s crazy to live with not only your new step mom but for your mother to live there as well. That’s just crazy to me, but some how they manage to make it work.

You will fall in love with these characters and this story. I don’t want to give much away because it will take away from the experience of this story. Colleen did an amazing job in how she touched on the subject of depression. This is one book you don’t want to miss. Must Read

Here’s the thing about Colleen Hoover’s books. They are addictive. There’s no denying the way she has a way with words that just draws you into the world she’s created and makes you feel. WITHOUT MERIT, while maybe not my absolute favorite by her, is a gripping story about a girl and a family that need to heal. Mistakes made in innocence or ignorance have had a snowball effect and the repercussions are at an all time high.

I don’t want to tell you much about what happens in the book because, honestly, what’s the point? I’ll tell you how it made me feel. Just like with her last book, this was a thought-provoking read. Amongst the mess our characters find themselves in, it makes you question your decisions in their circumstances, your assumptions based on the evidence the characters see, and makes you understand the value of perspective. Because it’s so easy to brush that aside as something we all know we need to have but so few of us use it. We always jump to the most convenient assumption about everything and that may be the reason we end up hurt.

This book tackles the difficult subject of mental health, and in many ways is not just about one character but a family as a whole. There are so many little details about all these peoples’ lives that need to be healed. At one point I started to wonder how much more one family or person could take because the surprises just kept on coming. But back to the subject of the book. I think Ms. Hoover managed to handle the portrayal of mental health in a way that is easy for people to open their minds to. It’s not done in a heavy way in my opinion, although there are some heavy moments in the book. I think the tone that’s used serves the narrative of this book very well and I think makes this book a great read for both young and adult readers alike.

I admit, though, that some of the stuff towards the end (especially when it comes to the romantic interest) felt like it was just piling on too much. I almost didn’t think that extra “hot button” topic was necessary for me. And if I’m being honest, I never fell in love with Sagan as a character and love interest. I actually liked that the message really focused on being strong for one self and not dependent on a love relationship but I wish his character would’ve pulled me in more.

I loved the way Ms. Hoover made you feel Merit’s despair… it was palpable because it was so real to her and I wanted nothing more than to give her a hug. And after that, quite frankly, send her and everyone to much needed therapy. But also we got to see Merit’s character in all her imperfections. Yes, there’s a lot going on externally that needs to be fixed, a lot of secrets and lies, but she also has a lot of things she needs to work on about herself to be better. To herself and to others.

I highly encourage you to take a look at this book, even if you’re not normally a YA reader. I’m certainly not a usual YA contemporary reader but I think that Ms. Hoover managed to transcend that genre and just delivered a poignant story with a great message that hopefully will touch your heart as well. I hope you let Ms. Hoover’s words take you on this unputdownable journey.