Ugly Love By Colleen Hoover: A Review
Overall rating: 4
Writing style: 4.9/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult fiction
Plot: 3/5
Narration: 4.9/5
Characters: Miles: The Hero, Tate: The heroine, Corbin Collins: Miles’ friend, Rachel: Miles’s first love
Brief Overview:
Simply, Ugly Love, written by Colleen Hoover, is a love story encompassing strong narration, engaging twists and turns, and compelling romance. The story advances smoothly despite shifting narratives and time. Suffice it to say that it is a romantic roller coaster full of emotions. Moreover, the end is painted in colors of hope and optimism and is inspired by reality checks.
After reading It Ends with Us, I decided to go ahead and read other writings of Colleen Hoover. So, I grabbed my next book, Ugly Love. When I had the book in my hand, I was sure it would be a masterpiece. And it was, to some extent, for sure.
What’s the story, Ugly Love?
The story is filled with romance, heartbreak, and intricate feelings of heart vs. brain.
Tate Collins, a nurse ready to make a mark in her field, collides with her brother’s best friend, Miles Archer. Miles is handsome, intelligent, and an air pilot. He has a strict “no relationship” policy. But destiny has something else planned for him. Drawn by the thread of attraction, they cannot stay away from each other. So, they indulge themselves in a casual sex-relationship set by two rules by Miles. Tate can neither ask about his past nor see a future with him.
However, their physical encounters prove more than infatuation. So now a decision has to be made. Will Miles leave his no-serious relationship policy behind to live life with Tate or will he prefer to rust in his past? The past is swamped with ugly love!
Book Review:
Suitable only for potential audiences, Ugly Love brings another love story to the shelf. The novel is a hit and has a huge fan base. And I believe that its victory does not owe much to the story because the story is quite ordinary, yet has been structured very uniquely. This unique aspect has to be the reason for sure.
Shifting narratives, simultaneous flashbacks running with the present scenarios, and steamy romance are nail-biters in the novel. Hoover has also done an amazing job of maintaining a balance between all of them.
Shifting perspectives of Tate and Miles warm up the heart. And while I was reading the novel, I was wondering about their purpose. Are they used for decorative purposes or do they have any deeper motive? And the answer is yes, the shifting narration enhances plot development. Moreover, the narratives bring clarity and honesty to the story.
Although the story is not grand, it is compelling and engaging. And, yes, the story is pregnant with a package of strong sentiments and emotions. So, you are not going to get bored or less interested.
The one thing that I found missing in Ugly Love was the character development. Be it Tate’s or Miles’s, both characters act to enhance the plot. They do not go through major character changes. Therefore, the novel is basically plot-driven, and characters add little to the story.
Also, the story becomes predictable at many points. Yet it never turns boring. Kudos to the author for that!
The writing style is going to leave you awestruck. While reading Ugly Love, you will not help but praise the writer.
Writing style:
To me, Ugly Love stands out due to its writing style and narration. The writing style of Hoover is, undeniably, parallel to the plot, i.e., romantic.
The writing style is simple, plain, creative, and romantic. The author has made it engaging and enjoyable at the same time. These attributes will scream out so loud that you might want to finish it in one sitting.
Comparison between It Ends With Us and Ugly Love:
Where It Ends With Us offers strong subject and major character development, while Ugly Love structures a solid plot but with little character development. In addition to being the talk of the town, the former gets celebrated due to its social message. On the other hand, the latter achieves appreciation due to its interesting writing style and steamy love story. Undoubtedly, both of them are engaging and a treat for the readers.
Recommendation:
Yes, it is worth your time. As the book contains highly sensual scenes, some readers might not like it. Hakuna Matata! You can skip those pages, and you will not miss an iota of the main storyline.
Do give it a read if you are into love stories!
