“If you don’t show up today, I’ll be there next year. And the next. Every November 9th I’ll wait for you, hoping one day you’ll be able to find enough forgiveness to love me again. But if that doesn’t happen and you never show, I’ll still be grateful to you until the day that I die. You saved me the day we met.”
November 9 – Colleen Hoover
My Rating
In Summary of November 9
“Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist. Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?” –Goodreads Synopsis
WARNING: death of a family member, toxic/manipulative relationship, house fire, drunk driving, narcissistic parent, PTSD
READ IF YOU LIKE: Young Adult contemporary romance, family dramas, duo point-of-view, emotional stories, characters that have been through trauma
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
| Romantic and emotional premise; follows through on this promise | The way that Ben speaks to Fallon is actually quite manipulative and forceful (cringe!) |
| Dual Point-of-View between Ben and Fallon provides full story | Too many plot twists in the second half of the book start to make the book unbelievable and overwhelming |
| Easy to read, heartfelt writing, and quotable lines | The “instant love” trope and type of romance is geared toward a strictly YA audience, yet promotes toxicity in its portrayal |
“You can’t leave yet. I’m not finished falling in love with you.”
The Review
I caved… Can you blame me for wanting to see what all the hype is about? Five years after publication, November 9 by Colleen Hoover is still getting ample attention from the world. So, I decided to give it mine.
It was not what I was expecting.
I was expecting a sweet love story filled with tenderness, a touching once-a-year meeting between the love birds, and an eventual happy ending after overcoming a plot twist complication.
What I got? Well, I got a toxic young adult relationship filled with turmoil and unlikely promises, lines that made me cringe (*cough* “panties” *cough), and some even cringier plot twists.
So, what do I do with myself now? I have not yet decided. Part of me enjoyed the book for what it is – fiction! – but the other part of me questions why I became engrossed in something I do not necessarily agree with. I suppose that’s the intrigue and addictive nature of a Colleen Hoover novel.
This leads me to a PSA: If you are a teenager or young adult reading this book, Ben manipulates Fallon into spending time with him and letting him get physical. No, your lust should not override your intuition; your intuition is there to keep you safe from doing things that you aren’t comfortable with or ready for. A smooth-talking, decent-looking young man does not take precedence over this part of you, ESPECIALLY when this young man thinks he’s being sexy when he keeps asking about your choice in “panties.”
Thank you for coming to my I’m-a-mom-to-my-teenage-students TED Talk.
Now back to normal programming: Please don’t think this book is bad by any means; it’s just not my favorite and there are red flags in its content. If you are able to suspend belief and take it for what it is at surface level, then you may very well enjoy it. If so, go you!
The premise is adorable, the inclusion of forgiveness and body-conscious issues important, and the writing is quotable and will tug at your heart strings. Just be careful to note what should and should not be a model representation of a relationship, and enjoy the book for what it is.
November 9 Book Information
- Published: 2015
- Publisher: Atria
- ISBN: 978-1501110344
- Format: Paperback
- Length: 320 pages
Archetypes & Anecdotes 
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