Ugly Love Review

Ugly Love by Book Reviews, CoHo, Colleen Hoover, Miles and Tate, Ugly love
Narrator: Deacon Lee, Grace Grant
Published by Simon and Schuster on 2014-08-05
Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Pages: 336
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads

#1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with a new heart-wrenching love story.

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn't think it's love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.Never ask about the past. Don’t expect a future.They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.Hearts get infiltrated. Promises get broken. Rules get shattered.Love gets ugly.

 Julie’s Review:  

 

So I really hate that I’m even writing this review because of how much I love this author and her previous works. I’ve just about loved all her books I’ve read in the past so I’m quite sad that this one didn’t do it for me. But, I think it is just too different from her norm, and it didn’t work for me. I think I’m extra upset about this since I was hoping the amazing CoHo would help get me out of this reading slump I’ve been in. But no such luck.

I found Ugly Love a bit boring, actually. I didn’t think Miles was any kind of swoon worthy amazing book boyfriend AT ALL and I thought Tate was an idiot for even allowing herself to be in this situation. Their relationship wasn’t suspenseful or exciting, but it was just a back and forth we’re screwing, now we’re not talking, now we’re screwing again and pretending we don’t have feelings, now we’re mad at each other again, and it was just UGH. I am so not into that kind of stuff. I don’t read a lot of contemporary romance because I find I roll my eyes just way too much but this one was the worst for me in a while. I didn’t respect Tate or fall for Miles, and if that doesn’t happen, then the book fails, right?

I realize that the ending, when we finally learn what stick is up Miles’s…. ok so I’m being insensitive here. His trauma is immensely painful. I definitely understand how much that would affect someone and I’m certainly in a point in my life where I get that better than I would have before. But… it was a tragedy, sure, but it was out of his control. For him to continue blaming himself and punishing himself for SIX YEARS is insanity. See a freaking therapist!

But the ending was quite nice, while a bit cheesy, at least it finally gave everyone the contemporary romance ending they were all expecting. I’m probably the minority in not loving this book based on the other reviews I’ve been seeing.

Now don’t get me completely wrong, there are still aspects in this book that show CoHo’s awesome funny writing style. Here’s an example:

“When life gives you lemons, make sure you know whose eyes you need to squeeze them in.”

“Some people they grow wiser as they grow older. Unfortunately, most people just grow older.”

I do have to add that the narrator who did Miles’s voice was creepy sounding. Especially all the sections in the book when Miles was (in his mind) talking to Rachel and seeming a bit stalkerish.. the voice made him sound even more deranged. I did like the narrator for Tate’s voice though.

 

 

 Rose’s Review:   

I liked this book. I rated it 4 stars. I’m thinking that as a stand-on-its-own merit, it is 3.5 stars. I like the style for the most part, so I rounded up. If I compare this book to other books by CoHo, then it is probably a 2.5 star or perhaps even a solid 3 star book. It isn’t that the book isn’t any good. It is just that I never felt compelled to read it or even once I started reading, I never felt that compulsive, insatiable need to keep reading. I could put this book down. And did. Several times.

This book is written for an older audience than Hoover’s previous works, that’s for sure. I would be no means consider this book to be YA. The characters are older for one thing and the subject matter is more mature than her first books.

I suppose my main issue is, I struggled connecting to the main female lead. Tate reminded me a lot of Syndey from Hoover’s previous book, Maybe Someday. In fact, I cannot tell you a thing about either one of them and I read both books this year! (not really all that long ago.) I had other issues with Tate.  I felt like she entered into this “situation” with Miles with ulterior motives and it was those motives that hurt her, not so much Miles. I liked Miles, but he read like a teen-aged boy trying to play dress up in his daddy’s pilot’s uniform. His whole role as a pilot just came off as unbelievable.

Overall, my take on Ugly Love was that it was an enjoyable, but rather forgettable, read. Will I keep reading CoHo books? YES! She is a talented writer and I have yet to hate a book she was written. However, I do hope she can slow down her writing and perhaps take the time necessary to make her next novel as amazing as I know only she can make it! 

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