Group Read: Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover

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Losing Hope
(Hopeless #2)
By:  Colleen Hoover
Published:  July 8, 2013
Atria Books
Source:  Publisher
Mature Content:  18+


GR's Summary:

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.

First Book in the Hopeless Series:

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***To Read Our Group Review on Hopeless, Click HERE***

Lindy's Thoughts:

Hopeless, by Colleen Hoover, is one of my favorite books!  I had been anticipating, Losing Hope, since it was announced that there would be a sequel told in Dean Holder's point of view.  I was curious to see if this sequel would meet my expectations, and what method of execution would be utilized in this retelling.  I both requested the book on NetGalley, and pre-ordered a finished copy.  Losing Hope exceeded my expectations!  It was completely enthralling, and way more that a retelling of Hopeless!  This sequel helps give us a clearer picture, as it complete's the puzzle, and gives us answers to the unanswered questions in Hopeless.

Saving Hope is told exclusively through Dean Holder's point of view.  He tells us his story and thoughts by reflecting on past memories, the present, and by writing letters in a notebook to his deceased twin sister Les.  I didn't expect for the story to begin on such an emotional note.  Right when you dive in to the first chapter, you will be riveted, as you learn a little bit about Les, and her ex-boyfriend Grayson.  You will feel anger towards Grayson, and shock, sadness, and heartbreak for Holder concerning Les.  Even though I already knew what was going to happen, because I read Hopeless, I still was not emotionally prepared for reading what happened.  Ms. Hoover's writing is so descriptive, and spot on in it's realistic approach, that I felt like an emotional mess.  We get more insight in to Les and Holder's close bond, and learn more about their past, and family in Holder's version of the story.  I didn't know that it was possible, but I fell even more in love with Holder in Losing Hope.  He is such a selfless character, and it was revealing, and difficult being inside of his head.  He took on everyone's burdens.  Guilt, and responsibility for everyone's happiness and well-being were constantly at the forefront of his mind.  Even though he saved Sky/Hope, she saved him also.  She relieved his guilt, provided a safe place for him to mourn, and escape, and healed him through her unconditional love.  They saved each other.  

Colleen Hoover makes you feel.  You're not an outsider looking in.  You become the character, experiencing their life, feeling their emotions, feeling the tears roll down your face, as you mourn a horrible loss.  Her writing is magical.  It touches lives, makes us think, and experience a myriad of emotions.  Intense feeling, angst, romance, and love never felt so good.  

My Rating:

I give Losing Hope, by Colleen Hoover, 5 Angst Filled, Emotionally-Intense, Passionate, Loving, Healing, and Transformative Stars!  This was a perfect complimentary sequel to Hopeless!  I loved being inside of Holder's head as I heard his version of the story.  At times it was difficult, and heartbreaking to read everything that he was thinking, and feeling.  All of you Colleen Hoover Fans out there will be pleased with this sequel.  Make sure to sandwich this read in between two lighter stories, as it is an angst-filled, and  emotionally draining story, that will be very difficult to read at times.  For an excellent, and intense read, that encompasses a variety of themes and emotions, I highly recommend this series!  Losing Hope is an unforgettable read that will stay with you, and this series is one of my all time favorites!

My Favorite Quotes:

"You would think a person could only die once.  You would think you would only find your sister's lifeless body once.  You would think you would only have to watch your mother's reaction once after finding out her only daughter is dead.  Once is so far from accurate.  It happens repeatedly."  (Nook, pg. 11)

~Holder

"I wonder if it's possible for people to fall in love with a person one characteristic at a time, or if you fall for the entire person at once.  Because I think I just fell in love with her wit.  And her bluntness.  And maybe even her mouth, but I won't allow myself to stare at it long enough to confirm.  (Nook, pg. 109)

~Holder

"I can't even explain to you how perfect this girl is.  And when I say perfect, I mean imperfect, because there's just so much wrong with her.  But everything wrong with her is everything that draws me in and makes her perfect."  (Nook, pg. 112)

~Holder

"I know I told her that she's never really been kissed before, but until this moment I had no idea that I had never really been kissed before.  Not like this.  Every kiss, every movement, every moan, every touch of her hand against my skin.  She's my saving grace.  My Hope.  And I'm never walking away from her again."  (Nook, pg. 185)

~Holder

"I place my palm over her heart, then pull her hand to my heart.  I lower my eyes to her level, making sure she's completely in this moment with me.  F**k all the firsts, Sky.  The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers."  (Nook, pg. 233)

~Holder

The way Ria See's It

How does Ms. Hoover do it? 

Wow, she’s a genius...

Yep, that has to be it. 

She’s a genius. 

Losing Hope is Hopeless in Holder’s POV, so I was expecting the same story...Boy was I wrong. Somehow Ms. Hoover manages to find another story lined within Holder's thoughts. This may go with out saying, but I’m going to say it... UN-PUT-A-DOWN-ABLE!! Seriously, from the moment I picked up this book, I HAD to keep going until I turned the last page. You will be riveted to your seat.

L-ife and Death... Holder is faced with the most difficult event he has ever had to endure. Losing his sister feels like he has just lost the last beautiful thing in his life.

O-thers, judgement and accusations come to a head. Holder makes difficult decisions and his anger consumes him.

S-acrifice, moving away in the hopes that he will find himself again, Holder moves in with his father to run from the pain that seems to have become his life.

I-ndecision, to follow a girl who touches his soul after seeing her. Can she be the same person who he has been looking for? One thing is for certain. He won’t walk away again.

N-ightly visits with Sky, pull Holder deeper into what quickly feels like love to him and he doesn’t want to let go.

G-rowing, knowing what he wants and knowing that Sky wants the same thing. These events pull these two together.

H-older, for so long all he has wanted was to find Hope. Both the girl whom he lost, and the feeling that tomorrow will come. Finding these things will fill him with joy.

O-pen, to love and to feel, Sky begins to let her walls down so she may finally begin to give pieces of her heart to Holder. 

P-eace, after so much pain, and so much loss, Holder will never walk away from Sky/ Hope ever again. Together they will find their happiness. 

E-nding, life has just begun for these two, and though we come to an end of this book, we know their lives together have just begun!

ARGGHHH!  So amazingly beautiful and broken. I fell more in love with Holder, even more than I did in the first book. Every second you spend with this book, you will NOT regret it. This book does deal with a horrific and painful event, so I recommend it for 17+ but it's definitely a MUST READ!!

My Rating

5.0 

Notebook, Haunting Eyes, Stepped out of Jeans, Pretty Dress, Mormons vs A$$hole$, Forgiveness, Peace, Pinky Holding, and Forevers-Filled STARS!!!  BAHHHHHH!!!! I LOVED this BOOK!! 

You.

Will.

Too.

Butterflyingly AMAZING!

Ro's Take on this Journey:

Losing Hope was a re-enactment of Hopeless, by Colleen Hoover.  Though I was very skeptical of re-reading the same book again, knowing all the twists and turns, and knowing the climax, I decided to read this novel, anyway.  I was not as disappointed as I thought I would be, although I am not a reader that likes to read the end of a book first.  

This novel was done in the point of view of Holder.  The reader was able to see into Holder's intense thoughts in Hopeless, realize the depth of the man, and how he carried the burdens of the world on his shoulders. In this installment of the sequel, the reader is able to see through to the heart and soul of the man who is suffocating in his own anguish and guilt for all the things he's done, and not done throughout his life.  

I wish that Ms. Hoover would have written in dual perspective in the first segment, Hopeless.  I felt it would have been more effective, and more insightful for the reader.   For me, the newness, angst, anticipation, and secrets were all taken from me by reading Hopeless first.  Having said that, I felt an abundance of emotions while reading Holder's point of view.  I am a huge Holder fan, and already thought that I could reach in and feel the heartache and turmoil that was him.  After reading Losing Hope, I was able to realize all the elements that were left unsaid, combined with the elements in Hopeless.

Losing Hope is the same novel as Hopeless, though, this time around you find out all about the final straw that broke the camels back with his sister Les.  Les was a very complicated character filled with so much angst, self-loathing, humiliation, turmoil, sadness, and grief.  She lost her friend and her innocence at a very young age, which went unnoticed.  As Holder reflects back in this segment, he realizes that all the signs were there, and he missed every single one of them.  The revelations that come to light will throw the reader for a loop!  

Yes, there is still so much we did not discover about Holder in Hopeless, though we thought we knew it all.  Holder lives a painful existence, until he meets up with Sky, (Hope).  When he realizes it is her, Holder still goes through an array of emotions, and questions himself over and over again.  Losing hope gives the reader insight into the daily repetition of reliving Holder's mistakes, (as he views them) and the endless letters that he writes to Les, letters that she will never see or read herself.  It is gut-wrenching, as he walks through life an empty man.  Sky gives him the unconditional love that gives him hope to start again, to feel again, to live again.  

Ms. Hoover waves her magic wand, and her storytelling will pierce your heart with wonderful, concise prose,  devastatingly haunting descriptions, and sadness that will engulf your soul to the core.  The reader will sob their heart out for what could have been, should have been, and for what is.  Ms. Hoover reaches in and steals a piece of the readers heart.  She knows how to make each and every word count, and knows how to make her readers live through her characters in each and every last moment.  I was bottomed out by the end of this very traumatic, enthralling, novel.   

I give Losing Hope, by Colleen Hoover, 5 Regretful, Guilt-Filled, Endlessly Sad, Lost, and Found Stars!!!   

Purchase At:

Amazon | Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About the Author:

I love music. LOVE music. Namely The Avett Brothers, Lumineers, Pink, Eminem. I have eclectic taste? If you have any recommendations, send them my way!

I'm addicted to diet pepsi and could tell you in a taste-test which restaurant it came from. It's a serious addiction, I tell you. 

I get stoked whenever I get a message from goodreads saying I have a new friend request...so request me, dangit! 

If you want to know when I have new books out or just want to be inundated by random, pointless blog posts, follow me at www.colleenhoover.com 

Avoid my Twitter at all cost. It's propaganda. 

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