‘November 9’ delivers a new take on modern romance

“November 9,” a new novel by Colleen Hoover, is a refreshing take on the traditional romance novel and is now one of my favorite books.

For fans of Hoover’s past stories such as “Slammed” and “Confess,” “November 9” is sure to be another slam-dunk for you. For those who haven’t read any of  Hoover’s books before, now is definitely the time to start.

On the anniversary of an unforgettable event, and the day before she is set to move cross-country, Fallon meets Ben for the first time. The attraction they feel for each other on this chance meeting leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in Los Angeles together. Before the day comes to an end they agree on one thing — they will meet again on the same day every year with no communication occurring in between. The goal? Meeting every year on November 9 gives Fallon something to look forward to instead of a dreadful anniversary and gives Ben, a writer, a plot to write his book on.

One of the most amazing things about “November 9” is that almost all of the book takes place on one day each year. The fact that Hoover was able to write 320 pages based on this day is amazing, and the mystery of what happens to the two protagonists between each meeting makes you never want to put the book down.

All throughout the book and the characters’ constant meet-ups, Ben continues to write his manuscript. Finally, towards the end of the novel, the reader even gets to read the first few chapters in Ben’s novel. For someone who loves books, being able to read a book within a book is like an unexpected bonus.

While the novel is a cute love story full of humor and fun, there are some unexpected twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think the story is about to end, Hoover throws in a curve ball which makes you reevaluate a lot of what you believe you know about the characters, including whether Ben’s feelings for Fallon are real, or if she’s just being used.

If you are looking for an escape from upcoming finals in the form of a sweet and fresh romance novel with some unexpected twists thrown in, I highly recommend picking up a copy of “November 9.”

If you’re anything like me, you won’t regret it.