Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover
Publication: July 8, 2013
By: Atria Books
Genre: YA (Mature)
3 Stars


In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for this eARC. 

This was a tough review for me to write because I have such conflicting feelings about this book. I hope anyone who takes the time to read this review will keep in mind that I am not being negative, just honest.

What I Liked: This is a well-crafted, well-written story with complex characters that deals with heartbreaking issues like sexual abuse and suicide. Holder and Skye are both mature, enjoyable characters, so much so, I forgot at times that they're still in High School. I think the overall message is one of healing and moving forward which is always a plus.

What Left Me Wanting More: Holder is eighteen but he sounds more like a seasoned therapist when he talks to Skye about what she's been through and how she's handling it. This bothered me because while I don't doubt that there are boys his age who are incredibly mature, I think they are few and far between. I know Holder's intentions are to help Skye heal, but a real-life girl in her situation would benefit from professional counseling. I also worry that girls who have experienced what Skye has may expect the Holder in her real life to respond in kind which would be unfair to both parties. And the fact that there were no consequences for what happened at her father's house was completely unrealistic.  

Final Verdict: This is HOPELESS all over again, just from Holder's POV with a few other scenes added in, which means fans of HOPELESS and Dean Holder will enjoy it.

Review also posted at YABC.