After reading IT ENDS and IT STARTS with Us, I was interested in reading more by Colleen Hoover. My search ended with UGLY LOVE. Every voracious reader digs for a synopsis when buying a new book; however, when reading a concise description, I cannot say that it did not catch my attention.
"Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly."
With its release in 2014, the story revolves around Tate Collins, who moves to San Francisco to live temporarily with her brother Corbin Collins, a pilot. She moves into his apartment to focus on her studies while working toward a master’s degree in nursing, and Miles Archer, a pilot and Corbin’s close friend lives in the apartment next door. Tate and Miles are entirely different from each other personally; she is full of life while he is secretive and suffering, but the only similarity between them is a mutual physical attraction that cannot be hidden. He is used to loneliness; she has no time for love. But the two come together just for intimacy and can stay together as long as Tate does not break the rules Miles made: The Past should never be asked about, and the future should not be expected.
Collen takes readers back and forth between the Past and the Present. At Present, Miles meets Tate, but his troublesome Past is Rachel. Until you reach the end, you let your horses run and think either Miles or Rachel cheats, but nothing like this happens and helps you complete the story to know what happened on Earth.
Regarding Tate, after meeting Miles, her entire life revolves around him. It is difficult for her to adhere to Miles’s rules; she wants more, but it is painful each time she breaks them. She is aware that she has lost her ground around Miles, and she does whatever and whenever he wishes; as a reader, you may find this thing triggering, but you grapple with it because you chose UGLY LOVE.
My Review
I will not lie; the flashback chapters are cringe-worthy since Miles describes his Past in a poetic style, which seems unreal. Sometimes, you need clarification about whether it is about Miles and Rachel or Miles and Tate. Seeing Tate, one of the most unrealistic characters I have ever encountered, makes you question your rationality. Colleen is one of those writers who always keeps you amused with her humourous writing. Tate’s personality cannot be explained by even her humour. However, it is essential to note that Hoover cannot be blamed entirely since you chose to get involved.
Hoover’s book has many chunky pieces stretched for many pages at a time. For this reason, I feel a lusty vibe from Tate and Miles’ relationship rather than a romantic one.
When you reach the end, you have a strange sense of taking a break from Hoover’s, but there is one thing that stands out very clearly: she justifies the title of UGLY LOVE very successfully.
