Book Review: Confess by Colleen Hoover

“There are people you meet that you get to know, and then there are people you meet that you already know.”

Published in 2015, Confess by Colleen Hoover follows Auburn Reed who is determined to rebuild her shattered life and has no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to become deeply attracted to the studio’s enigmatic artist, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a chance and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is hiding a huge secret. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything Auburn loves most, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it—but can she do it?

Rating:

After recently reading and being disappointed by Colleen Hoover’s thrillers Verity and Layla, I couldn’t wait to get back to her romance. And with a powerfully emotional beginning, I was yet again immediately taken in by the beautiful writing and compelling characters.

There are so many quotes that stood out for me in this one, as Hoover deals with many difficult topics brilliantly while keeping the story fresh, engaging, heart-wrenching, and unforgettably moving.

However, Confess didn’t quite have the same grip on me that most of Hoover’s other books have had so far, which I think is mainly due to not completely warming to Owen. I was apprehensive about him for too long and worried that the loose ends would be left undone, but it eventually comes together better than I could have ever imagined.

Mostly, I loved how Hoover incorporated the art into her story. The drawings were absolutely stunning, and the concept of the confessions added so much more depth to the story, making this feel like a whole experience.