Confess: A Novel

THE STORY: Becca: I actually went into Confess completely blind, having read the synopsis quite some time ago I decided to avoid reading anything else so that I could go in with an open mind and no premonition of what was to come. Besides knowing that it would have something do with Art I was clueless. That is my favorite way to go into a book (movies too!) This approach really worked with how Colleen Hoover built this story. Bits and pieces about both main characters lives are introduced throughout the story until at the end we have a complete picture of not only their past, present and future, but also a clear picture of who both Owen and Auburn are. I really cannot reveal too much about the story without spoiling it, but I will see that as things were revealed Lisa and I were texting back and forth “OMG!” and then “OMG AGAIN!!” (and by the way for those who have read this.. pun intended on the OMG!) Oh and by the way… that prologue?! It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read, it sets the tone for the entire story and once I read that I was completely hooked! I was so enraptured by Confess that I did not want to put it down! Once again Colleen Hoover has worked her epic, magic, writing genius and my love her has grown grown even more! “I love you so much.” His voice is breathless and full of fear. “I’ll love you forever. Even when I can’t.” My tears fall harder at his words. “And I’ll love you forever. Even when I shouldn’t.” Lisa: CoHo, you can do no wrong in my eyes. You continue to blow me away with your creative writing style, insanely gorgeous words, and knack for pulling your readers in instantly and never letting go. Becca’s definitely right about that prologue. It was so, so beautiful. Sweet, and sad, and definitely set the stage for story. Like Becca, I went into this story with no idea whatsoever about what I was going to encounter. I rarely read descriptions, so this is the norm for me. I just love going into a story with a blank slate. And with Colleen especially, this always pays off. The way she tells a story with so many questions, then revealing bits and pieces throughout, is one of my very favorite things about her. It definitely encourages the “I cannot stop reading!!!” behaviors we all struggle with from time to time. ;) She’s like a light, unwittingly brightening up the darkest corners of a man’s soul. THE CHARACTERS: Lisa: This beautiful story is told through the alternating points of view of both Auburn and Owen. (Oh, how I love me some dual narration!!) Auburn has relocated recently, living with a girl she just met in a small apartment near the salon where she works. She has her entire life planned out for her… minus the part where she needs more money. And fast. She stumbles upon an art studio looking for an assistant where she can make some major money, so she immediately agrees to the job. This is where she meets Owen, the studio’s owner. Owen was a bit of an enigma at first. Even though we have the pleasure of his voice for a lot of the book, at the beginning I wasn’t quite sure on how I felt about him. He had a few secrets, and I unsure of whether I would want to smack him or hug him as the story progressed. This is one of the things I love most about Colleen Hoover and her ninja writing skills… so many secrets that really keep you guessing until they are finally revealed… and then… SO MANY FEELS! Good feels, bad feels, ugly feels… she brings them all out of me! Oh, Colleen… how you torture me so! Owen smiles, and I suddenly wish we were in the cleaning aisle, because someone is going to have to mop me up off this floor. Becca: So many feels is right and this book had them all! I would go from grinning, to crying and then to irrationally angry as I read! But these were all good things because each emotion was an integral part of the story! I liked Auburn a lot, she was so strong and her perseverance was one of the things I loved the most about her! As I learned more about her, my heart went out to her. She worked so hard for everything and never gave up on what she wanted, no matter how hard it was. Lisa is right about Owen, I wasn’t too sure about him either. My head couldn’t decided if it should trust him, but my heart was screaming at me to do so! His creative mind was absolutely beautiful! The way that he thought and spoke was as if his words were painted with colors and it was magical. The art work/paintings are such a major part of this book. Because we had an E-ARC we did not get to see the paintings and it made me so sad :( Luckily, I received my pre-order in the mail shortly after finishing and I immediately searched through to re-read the passages and look at te art work… OMG the paintings are AMAZING!!!!! I seriously just stared at them and petted them while my brain soaked them in! By the way, the Artist’s name (not it’s not Owen LOL) is Danny O’Connor :D I tilt my face toward her neck and inhale the scent of her. If her smell had a color, it would be pink. Sweet and innocent with a touch of roses. OVERALL: Becca: Once again, Colleen Hoover has amazed me! She is so talented and her writing speaks to my soul. I will continue to devour any and everything that she writes because her ability to incorporate real characters and beautiful stories packed with so many feels keeps me coming back for more! I had a serious book hangover after reading Confess, I was still so in love with Auburn and Owen and the amazing art that I had to give my brain and heart time to recuperate! If you have not read this yet, DO IT! Trust me, I don’t think that you will be disappointed! Lisa: As I’ve said before and will continue to say, I always rate books based on how they make me feel, and not necessarily on any technical aspects. Because of this, I have zero hesitation about rating this book a full 5 stars. I loved it. From page one I connected with this book, and it never faltered. I’m continually blown away by Colleen Hoover’s talent in writing such realistic and shockingly-defined stories. Her mind is a powerful tool, and I feel lucky to have the chance to experience it when reading her books. Once again, Colleen has made me feel things. ALL the things. And I couldn’t be happier. If you enjoy Colleen’s books (Are there really people out there that DON’T enjoy her books?!) this is one you will not want to miss!

“Some secrets should never turn into confessions. I know that better than anyone.” I have a confession...the ending of this book made me cry, and very few books have that ability. Colleen Hoover has yet again crafted a heart-wrenching, gripping novel that makes you feel every conceivable emotion and leave you begging for more. This novel caught my attention for many reasons (besides the fact that it was written by Colleen Hoover), but the main reason was because of the intriguing premise. The entire novel is very unique and interesting that you are compelled to read more and more. The incorporation of the artwork truly pushes this novel to the next level, and will make even those that aren't really into art, love art. The artwork featured in this novel (and this is why I highly recommend you get the paperback so that you can see these pieces in color) elevates the novel and adds so much to the story. It is as if you can feel the emotions behind the paintings coming off the page. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows. Something I can keep for myself.” This novel has it all: laugh out loud moments (Auburn drunk is one of the most hilarious things I have ever read), heart-wrenching scenes, and danger to the max. The story follows Auburn and Owen, and is told in alternating POVs, which just added to this book even more. You know all along that both Auburn and Owen are keeping secrets, but you find out those secrets only when the other finds out. The reader is kept in the dark, and it makes for some surprising reveals. Confess is like no other book in the way that you never knew what was going to happen when you turned the page. You think you have things figured out, and then next thing you know everything and everyone is changed. To truly understand what I mean by this though, you'll have to read the book. Just believe me when I say, this book takes you on an amazing journey from start to finish, and it is one you will never want to stop. “Every day of my life it feels as if I'm fighting my way up an escalator that only goes down. And no matter how fast or how hard I run to try to reach the top, I stay in the same place, sprinting, getting nowhere.” Auburn was a fantastic lead. She was forced to grow up very quickly (for many reasons), and I loved her as a character. She was extremely relatable and Owen brought out a light in her that she hasn't had for a very long time. Owen was truly wonderful, and I adored his character. He too had to grow up very quickly, and I think this is why he and Auburn complement each other so well. They understand and support each other. They realize that not everyone is perfect. In fact, they are perfectly imperfect together. While there romance is sexy, it's not as steamy as previous Colleen Hoover books. However, it was beautiful. Despite the fact that the scenes weren't extremely steamy, this is still a very mature book. There is such a rawness and intensity in the scenes that very few authors manage to capture. And this is where the book shines. Overall, this story was beautifully written, and will have you tearing up throughout the story. Everything is revealed by the end, and all questions are answered. And the ending is literally one of the most heart-touching, heart-warming endings I have ever read. You will find yourself wanting to go back and read the story all over again as soon as you're finished, and that is something only few authors can do. This was a very unique story, and I highly recommend checking this out. You won't be disappointed! “I love you so much.” His voice is breathless and full of fear. “I’ll love you forever. Even when I can’t.” My tears fall harder at his words. “And I’ll love you forever. Even when I shouldn’t.” Happy reading :)

وصل الكتاب بحاله ممتازه. كنت متردده اشتريه بسبب انه الغلاف مو ذوقي لكن دائماً اثق بروايات كولين انها بتكون رائعه و بصراحه الغلاف عالحقيقه احلى! حبيت انه الخلفيه مطفيه و العنوان مكتوب بلمعة و صراحه النبذة مره جذبتني ، متحمسه اقرأه🩷

気に入ってるようです!

Avete presente le camere insonorizzate? Me ne servirebbe una proprio adesso, perchè ho voglia di urlare. Ho voglia di urlare perchè la vita è una m**da, ma Colleen riesce sempre a fartela vedere a colori. Quando pensi che abbia toccato l'apice del successo, ecco che lei tira fuori dal cilindro qualcosa come questo . Io ogni volta sono in seria difficoltà, perchè riesce sempre a toccarmi il cuore. La trama non è mai scontata o banale. Inoltre ci mette dentro sempre qualcosa in più che ci fa avvicinare alla storia quatti quatti. Per Maybe Someday c'erano le canzoni. Qui ci sono quadri . Bellissimi e intensissimi quadri . PS: Nella versione in cartaceo del libro in inglese sono a colori *_* fantastici! Io sono completamente persa per questa scrittrice, è inutile. Auburn Mason Reed e Owen Mason Gentry . Due persone. Lo stesso secondo nome. La stessa età. Una corsia 13 del supermercato. Una tela. Dei colori. "Una solitaria, una pensatrice, un'artista della sua vita." -Owen Non volendo, Owen ha descritto anche se stesso in queste 9 parole. Perchè lui è una persona forte, piena di talento, dolce, altruista oltre ogni immaginazione, generoso, amorevole, fedele. E il destino ha messo Auburn sulla sua strada non perchè lei lo salvasse , ma perchè si potessero salvare . "Ho paura che non proverò niente di simile con nessun altro" -Auburn "Io ho paura che tu lo faccia "-Owen Io penso che questo sia il primo caso in cui non mi sono innamorata follemente del personaggio maschile di turno, ma io mi sia innamorata dell'intera trama e di tutti -o quasi- i personaggi. Mi spiego meglio: Owen poteva essere messo solo in questo libro, solo con una protagonista femminile di questo calibro e solo con una storia di contorno del genere. Questi due ragazzi sono sbocciati nelle avversità come nessun altro ha mai fatto prima di loro. Owen, come le sue tele, sembra essere stato disegnato sui pensieri della Hoover, che ha plasmato un nuovo maschietto capace di metterci KO al primo round. Auburn è stata messa sulla sua strada per un obbiettivo ben preciso. Trovare la felicità e portarla nella vita di Mason Gentry. "Mi preme la mano sul cuore "Nessuno merita di entrarti dentro senza prima riuscire ad entrare qui"". -Owen Questo è il.. dunque vediamo.. quinto?! Si, il quinto romanzo della Hoover che leggo e posso senza dubbio dire che è la storia più incasinata e più difficile che io abbia mai letto. Ho sofferto dal prologo fino alla fine. È stato come se migliaia e migliaia di coltelli venissero messi piano piano nel mio cuore, martoriandolo e facendomi perdere sangue e lacrime. Per quale motivo questo libro mi ha colpito così tanto? Perchè non c'è scelta: è la vita che sceglie per te. E in alcune situazioni, come questa, come mille altre, si può solo essere spettatori. Perchè Colleen Hoover si andrà ad infilare sempre nelle situazioni più di m**da che la vostra mente possa concepire, e riuscirà SEMPRE a uscirne profumata e fresca come un fiore di campo. "Lascio ricadere la testa, chiudo gli occhi e sento il cuore cadere nel palmo delle mani" -Auburn Ho sofferto per Adam, ho sofferto per Owen, ho sofferto per suo padre, ho sofferto per Auburn, ho sofferto perchè la vita gli ha dato una mano di merda, ho sofferto per Gatto-Owen, ho sofferto per le confessioni, ho pianto per quella stramaledettissima lettera. "Quanti giorni abbiamo passato insieme?" -Owen "Sette" - Auburn "E allora com'è possibile che io mi stia già innamorando di te?" -Owen Io ogni volta che devo recensire qualche suo libro sono sempre in seria difficoltà, perchè le sensazioni che mi trasmettono sono così intense e uniche che non riesco mai a condividerle del tutto. Ma forse questo succede perchè alcune emozioni non vanno condivise. Vanno tenute dentro di se e vanno elaborate, assimilate. Devono essere vissute in prima persona per poter capire davvero quello che ci stiamo perdendo di questo libro. Poche parole scritte non possono assolutamente rendere giustizia a questo romanzo, che è decisamente uno dei più belli che io abbia mai letto quest'anno o in qualsiasi anno che ho trascorso. Il confronto con gli altri romanzi di questa scrittrice è sempre molto duro, perchè ognuno è speciale a modo suo. Certo è che Colleen non smette mai di stupirci, e io spero che non lo faccia mai. "Mia madre dice che ci sono delle persone che incontri e impari a conoscere, e poi ce ne sono altre che incontri e conosci già" -Auburn

Colleen Hoover ne déçoit jamais! Ce livre est magnifique, beau et profond! On s'attache aux personnages à une vitesse folle et on ne peut pas le poser. C'est ce genre d'histoire qui nous prend et nous fait ressentir tellement de choses qu'on ne s'en remet pas tout de suite !

I guess I should start this post by stating that I am indeed a fan of Colleen Hoover (I particular love Ugly Love and Maybe Someday) so it wasn't any great surprise to me that on reading Confess I loved this also. . . However, I did not account for how much I would fall in love with this story! I don't want to spoil the ending for you all - but just wowzers!! OMG the ending is one of the most breathtakingly bittersweet and beautiful things I have ever come across! Ever! Seriously people it is that amazing. If you don't normally read Colleen's work (firstly, why?! are you insane? Go read Confess and Ugly Love NOW!) read this book just for the experience of an absolutely perfectly plotted ending that is beautifully written. I think the thing that I adored about the ending the most was that I genuinely had no idea of the connection right up until it was revealed - which is a rarity. Although, again this really shouldn't have surprised me as this is one of the reasons that I like Colleen's writing, she doesn't write straightforward romance stories, there is always a quirk or a twist. Now, I have read some people's reviews of Confess that feel that the book gets kind of lost in the middle and although I can see why they would feel this way - I absolutely do not. I love the fact that the story doesn't feel rushed - and that isn't to say that it drags in any way or form! I appreciate that by giving Auburn and Owen time to develop as a couple, and it wouldn't have made sense to have some of the later events happen (especially because at this point the reader doesn't know the full connection to the past these two share) if they didn't have the chance to grow together. Also, a lot happens in this book, I personally don't really know what more people could want to happen - but then that's just me! Owen's character is definitely swoon worthy and I really enjoyed him as the main love interest. He certainly proves himself and his love of Auburn at several points in the book - which is really good to see (sometimes when I'm reading a romance novel I literally sit there and say "why him?" because there is nothing I hate more than a love interest who doesn't deserve the reader's, let alone the character's, time of day!). Owen's character is really what I would call a 'stand-up-guy', and I appreciate this, he acts out of love and loyalty in regards to his father and Auburn. My only criticism of him is that because we don't know the connection between him and Auburn, occasionally, he comes off sounding a little creepy or OTT. But hey-ho I'll take this small character flaw because it is actually redeemed in the last chapter of the book, so I'm not complaining that much! I re-read Confess after starting this review to refresh my memory and the end still made me tear up - the story is truly beautiful in its wholeness. Honestly, there are parts of this book that I don't particularly like, or don't connect to, but the ending, or rather the connection between Owen and Auburn, for me absolutely (110%) negates all of those small things. I think the link between the two and the ending chapters are a tribute to Colleen's ability to craft a, near, perfect love story that extends beyond the physical and even emotional and reaches instead into the soul.