When I saw statements from CoHo on Facebook about how different her new book “Without Merit” is from her previous releases, I honestly thought that I may have found the one book by this author I didn’t adore. But nope, she did it again. Made me fall in love with her beautiful words, with her sometimes slightly askew sight of the world and uncanny ability to create characters as deep as the ocean. To this day, I haven’t read “Slammed” of hers yet, simply because I’m not into this whole slamming business and normally don’t like YA books that much. But according to her own words, “Without Merit” more in the lines of her first book and at least the YA-part was definitely there.

“Without Merit” was definitely different from the last books I read and loved by Colleen. The romance wasn’t focus in this case, it was second or sometimes even only third row. And that was ok. Because there was so much else going on. For one, there was this whole family ‘thing’. CoHo painted a sometimes funny, sometimes highly emotional portrait of a very unconventional patchwork-family and their new “additions” to it. That part in itself was so multi-layered that it could have filled 3 more books. Then there was the whole aspect of mental illness. This hit home a little too close for me personally, seen as I struggle with depression and anxiety for a decade already. CoHo expertly described how complex and dangerous mental illness is. Most people can’t grasp the struggles those who have to deal with it have to go through and so they are dismissed easily with words like “Just get your act together” or “How bad can it be? Try to see the positive.” I myself can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard those words and how deep they sometimes cut me. Because they came from people I would have needed the most to support me and stand by my side. And “Without Merit” picks up on those struggles very well. It shows not only the side of those with depression though, but also the struggles of those who have to live with people who are sick with it. A highly realistic, sometimes painstakingly raw and tender insight into a topic that is unfortunately still deemed taboo by a lot of people. So, kudos to Colleen for being courageous enough to have been able to create a character like Merit. I think so many of us “real-life-Merits” can relate to so many parts of the story and sometimes, you have to let others speak for your fractured soul. Thank you, Colleen. For being brave and bold yet again.

The parts of the story that actually were romance have been sweet and tender. This story is clean, so no funny business going on. And I didn’t even miss it. My mind was occupied elsewhere at all times, there was simply so much else to take in. CoHo’s trademark sass and witty convos were present in “Without Merit” too, even though the vibe overall was a completely different one.

I can’t even start to explain how much this story touched my heart and made me cry, laugh, swoon and suffer with the characters. My rating is 4,5 stars. Simply because I still can’t wholly get the YA-teenage-angst thing right inside my head. But otherwise, this story is a huge homage to everyone struggling with mental illness, a good example of how complicated it can makes the lives of those who live with people suffering from it and for that alone, I can recommend this beautiful book to everyone.

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Review to be posted on the release day

Colleen Hoover writes angsty new adult characters better than any author I can think of off the top of my head. She writes characters that you may not like, but you can identify with them. You feel their emotions. You experience their story through their eyes. You can't help but dive head first into her stories and not coming up until the last page.

This is especially true in Without Merit.

Without Merit is the story of a messed up family with too many secrets to count living in a church their patriarch bought out of spite. It's a story about dishonesty and depression, but mostly it's about perspective. Seventeen year-old Merit thinks she knows everything there is to know about her family, but maybe she doesn't know anything at all.

Colleen Hoover is, without a doubt, my favorite author. I haven't read a book from her that I didn't love, that I didn't stay up until 1am so I could finish it, and Without Merit is no exception.
I read the whole book in one sitting and I couldn't put it down.

Like most of Colleen Hoover books, this book has definitely made it to my 'Top 10' List of favourites! Hoover truly has a talent with characters and themes and I absolutely liked how this book was so different from her previous novels. It actually reminded me a little of It Ends With Us (although the similarities just scratched the surface).

That said, Without Merit is about the Voss family who aren't really all that perfect as the family is actually pretty fractured in terms of communication and are emotionally dysfunctional despite the fact that they live together.

“Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.”
The story is about Merit who lives with a family of six people. They are vastly different from other regular families in the things they do and do not seem to really openly understand each other. Furthermore, Merit has this underlying sense of loneliness as her family don't seem to really care or try understand her. She goes through 'no-speaking' strikes to see how much they really saw her.

I liked how brutally honest this book was. It made me laugh, cry and want to jump into the pages of this story. The slow build up was absolutely worth it and the pages flew by. When I finished it, it was almost 2am in the morning and I have no regrets. The characters– like always, are well-rounded and each have their own stories and secrets. Sagan really surprised me as I did not expect him to have such an interesting backstory.

I am still teary-eyed and filled with so much emotion on how honest and raw this story was! You bury me.

Colleen Hoover has returned to her roots of YA in Without Merit. But in true Colleen way it's fresh and new and addictive.

Without Merit is the story of the Voss family. They are an interesting bunch, to say the least. There is Merit, her twin sister Honor, Barnaby (her father), her brother Utah, her mom Victoria, her step mom Victoria, Moby, Sagan and Luck.

Their relationships to each other are different and strained and sometimes hard to understand. But they are unique and while reading you just thrive for more and more insight to this family.

The word that comes to mind often while reading this book was quirky. Merit is quirky, her family dynamic is quirky - like most families are, their relationships are quirky, their house is quirky, their lifestyle is quirky <--- I think you get my point!

What made this book for me was the interactions between each character and Merit. Always so complicated yet always a theme of assumption and self deprecation from Merit.

"...I wish you could like yourself as much as I like you."

Colleen does offer some comic relief through out the book, from the Cheesus Christ in their living room to Sagan and Merit's visit to a book store in a small Texas town that only carries signed books that sells the books for charity and has a quirky curly blonde haired salesperson who loves to talk, all the way to Colleen's acknowelgement, she will make you giggle.

As in all of Colleen Hoover books, there is a life lesson or two to be learned. Colleen will get you thinking, introspectively, while reading. Another reason that reading a Colleen Hoover book is a must. It's not just a book but an experience, a learning opportunity.

"You need to fall in love with yourself first."

"We are all a degree of fucked up."

Simple statements like those that need to be said and are often forgotten as our everyday stresses and lives take over.

It's a book that shows us the insides of a family that might be like yours and mine that may need some healing. Colleen has once again given us an insightful, fun and unique book

Without Merit is a story of family, secrets, truths not told and it's emotional impact. While the story's main focus in centered on the main character Merit, what I found intriguing was that every sub-character was given a complete storyline of their own. Writing the book is this style really was a great idea. Not only did it add to the character's emotional content, it really did bring the story full circle.

Each character is interesting, well described both physically and emotionally and their own personal story enhanced the story of Merit.

The unique setting of Merit's family home. That one quirky detail of each of the characters. The highs and lows of the emotions. The surprises and truths that are revealed all make Without Merit and interesting story.

“Out of all the places we could be, we’re right here. At the same time.”

One would think after reading the above sentence that we are setting up for an in-the-stars romance, love at first sight; but… this is Colleen Hoover we’re talking about. When has she ever written a
straight-out romance without a little quirk thrown in? The random place of togetherness where we first meet Sagon and Merit is a thrift shop where she is buying trophies to replace her feelings of inadequacy.

Merit comes from a family of misfits. Everybody seems to have their own little way of coping to get through life whether it be living in the basement and not coming out for 2 years, only dating the dying, having an affair while your wife is dying…it’s all here…plus another secret that keeps us guessing what could possibly be the source of animosity between a couple family members.

“Utah and I have nothing in common, other than being the only two people in the Voss family to know its deepest, darkest secret. But since it’s something we’ve never once discussed since the day it happened, it’s barely a common thread between us now.”

This family has more skeletons in its closet than you would find in the rows of Wal-Mart at Halloween! And Merit knows them all. The weight of all these secrets is bringing her down. Merit can barely function.

I have Utah’s secret.
I have my father’s secret.
My mother’s secret.
Honor’s secret.
Luck’s secret.
I don’t wany any of them anymore!

Merit starts to unfold all secrets in a letter…and Merit hadn’t planned to be around for the revelation aftermath. Merit now finds herself a precarious situation; a situation where people actually CARE about her and what she’s thinking and feeling. Is Merit willing to talk about these secrets that haunt her face to face or will she go on playing indifferent? Will their family be with or without Merit?

I found this book to grab me in from the peculiar setting of a thrift shop, and it continued to keep my interest, but I found the ending to be lacking. I felt it ended suddenly – I could say it ended without closure. Aside from that, the writing is your typical Colleen Hoover – engaging and fun without a lot of lengthy sentence structure. Her short sentences grab the reader and entices them into the next sentence all while keeping the reader’s perpetual interest in motion.

WOW! Coho has left me speechless. Let me start with how much I like this cover. It fits this story perfectly!

Without Merit is in the same vein as It Ends With Us, as heavy topic brought to us in a heartwarmingly unique and quirky way full of characters that you won’t forget anytime soon. This book was hard to put down. I was engrossed and invested in these characters from the first page.

The Voss’s are a unique family. They are led by Barnaby, his ex-wife Victoria and his current wife Victoria. Amongst the three of them there are four children, Utah, Honor, Merit and Moby. Yes, he was named after Moby Dick! Did I mention that they all live in the same house?!? That is where this crazy story begins. There are others that show up and join this crazy family along the way, Sagan and Luck.

Colleen did a fantastic job with this book. The way she approached the subject of depression, an illness that is often ignored. She addresses this in a unique way of perspective vs perception. How that can affect one’s life. While I read this book, I couldn't help but see glimpses of my friends or myself inside these characters. Ones who struggle with liking themselves, struggle with asking for help or even accepting the help that is offered and lastly the ones that struggle with forgiveness