‘Hopeless’ by Colleen Hoover: Beyond the Surface
Yes, we’re back with yet another Colleen Hoover novel. You might say we’re a bit… hopeless… (see what we did there? No? Okay, we’ll let ourselves out now).
After exploring the captivating narratives of Confess, Regretting You, and Heart Bones, we’re jumping right into another emotionally charged CoHo masterpiece - Hopeless, by Colleen Hoover. You might be thinking, “When are they going to move on from Hoover?” Well, to be honest, Stani got a Kindle voucher for her birthday, and she’s abused it ever since by getting all of Hoover’s works.
So yeah, we’ve been on a “Hopeless” high recently, so buckle up while we explore one of the author’s most intense and stirring works, which delivers a powerful blend of passion, with a healthy serving of profound revelations on top.
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover: Book Review
If you’re a CoHo fan, or if you’ve already browsed through some of other reviews of her works, such as Confess and Heart Bones, you’ll know that Hoover has made a career out of vividly exploring some of the darker shades of human experience and what it takes to come back from them.
Hopeless, by Colleen Hoover, is no different in that regard. It’s a profound expedition into the darkest recesses of a young adult’s psyche, which captivates with its intense narrative, while challenging readers to confront their own shadows.
So let’s explore Sky’s heart-wrenching journey, filled with love, secrets, and - as always with Hoover - self-discovery.
Plot Overview
At the start of Hopeless Colleen Hoover introduces us to Sky, a teenager with a rather unusual upbringing, whose adoptive mother’s strictness has isolated her from the typical high school experiences. I’m not going to lie - I love a good Cinderella story, so this already had me invested. But this is just the start of Sky’s journey.
As her senior year begins, Sky experiences a significant change to her daily life when she’s enrolled to a public school. There, she meets Dean Holder, a young, mysterious man, with a troubled past almost as messed up as Sky’s (if not more so).
Dean quickly becomes infatuated with her, setting off a chain of events that eventually forces Sky to confront childhood memories she had repressed long since. And for good reasons, as some of the truths she’s about to face are ones she might not be prepared for.
As their relationships blossoms into more than mere friendship. it becomes clear that their connection far exceeds a typical romance: it’s a shared link through a past that Sky can’t remember. And Holder cannot forget.
I’m a massive fan of dual timelines (when done right), and by all means Hoover has outdone herself with Hopeless, by skilfully interspersing moments from the past and present, to peel back the layers of the mystery that surrounds Sky’s forgotten childhood and Dean’s connection as to why it’s forgotten.
Character Deep Dive
There are two things that I thoroughly enjoy in Colleen Hoover’s writing - she is not afraid to explore themes that society tip-toes around. And she knows how to create characters, whose flawed nature and complexity bring an extra sense of authenticity to the story. Sky’s struggles with facing repressed traumas are depicted with a raw honesty that makes readers instantly think about their own repressed pasts.
But for me, at least, Dean Holder is the one that steals the spotlight, when it comes to character complexity. While he may start as a mere romantic interest to move the plot forward, it quickly becomes apparent that there’s more to him that meets the eye, and that he has an integral role to play in the unfolding of the plot. His character is wonderfully flawed and intensely emotional, with an almost desperate need for redemption and closure barely contained beneath the surface.
The dynamics between Sky and Holder are the centerpiece of the novel, providing not only the romantic thrust but also the emotional backbone of the story. Their relationship is intense and fraught with challenges, making their moments of tenderness and mutual understanding all the more powerful.
Hoover has done a fantastic job in crafting dialogues and scenes that are charged with emotion, effectively capturing the volatility and depth of teenage love and angst.
Exploring the Themes of “Trauma” and “Healing”
Those familiar with Colleen Hoover’s other works know that “trauma” and “healing” are two themes that make the cornerstone of her writing. Her “hero’s journey” is fraught with topics such as sexual abuse and mental health struggles, and the way she presents and handles them throughout her stories is both thoughtful and impactful, making her a true advocate of those who usually suffer in silence.
In Hopeless Colleen Hoover explores the various mechanisms of coping with intense personal trauma, not shying away from the difficulties of facing painful truths and one’s own past, present, and future. Yet, despite the darker undertones, the book is ultimately imbued with a sense of hope, which promises a path towards healing and acceptance.
While trauma and healing and the main themes of Hopeless, there is a particular sub-theme that strongly resonated with me, which was tackling the impact of the secrets kept by those closest to us. Hoover unapologetically examines how such secrets can shape, and sometimes even distort, our perceptions of ourselves, as well as our own histories. The book is a challenge to the readers, asking us to really think about the nature of truth and whether facing our own past is truly possible. Or if it’s… Hopeless.
Should I Read Anything Else Before Reading Hopeless by Colleen Hoover?
While “Hopeless” by Colleen Hoover can certainly be read as a stand alone book, it’s important to mention that it is indeed part of a series. In fact, it’s the first book in the series, followed by “Losing Hope”, which is written from Dean Holder’s perspective, providing much needed additional background and adding an extra layer of depth to the story.
In addition, there’s also a companion novella, titled “Finding Cinderella”, which features several secondary characters from the series, further expanding the fictional world Hoover has created.
It’s not necessary to read any other of Hoover’s books before diving into “Hopeless”, yet if you wish to get a better sense of her writing by checking out a book that’s not part of a series, I strongly recommend “Regretting You” and “Heart Bones”.
Books Similar to Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
If "Hopeless" captured your heart and left you craving more stories with deep emotional impact and complex characters, consider these similar reads:
"All the Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven - Explores young love, mental health, and the transformative power of understanding.
"Pushing the Limits" by Katie McGarry - A tale of two troubled teens finding solace and strength in each other.
"Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell - A story about two misfits falling in love and facing the world together.
"It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover - Another Hoover novel that tackles difficult emotional truths and personal growth.
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Bonus: Colleen Hoover on Hopeless
Colleen Hoover has shared that "Hopeless" was one of her most challenging and rewarding books for her to write.
She explains, "Writing 'Hopeless' was an emotional rollercoaster. These characters hold a special place in my heart because they've touched so many of my readers deeply. It's a story of facing the darkest truths and finding the light of love and redemption."
This intimate connection to her writing shines through in the powerful narrative and complex character development that fans and new readers alike find so compelling.
