The contemporary romance of “November 9” was a solid 5/5 rating for me. I’ve read more than a handful of CoHo books and I’m finally starting to understand the rage. Her characters are so crystal clear and layered from the very first chapter.
It reminded me of “One Day” by David Nicholls and “This Time Next Year” by Sophie Cousens, one of which the author actually referenced in the book. (Sidenote- The sections are split into each November 9th for consecutive sessions.)
In only a few pages we learned that eighteen year old Fallon hates her father, but wishes he would believe in her acting career and choice to move from LA to NYC. Her arrogant father doesn’t think she can make it in the industry anymore after her scars from a house fire two years ago. At this point I was super excited to learn more about Ben, the stranger who stood up for her.
Chapter two showed us we’d have two points of view, alternating between Fallon and Ben (in first person past tense.) Fallon is an honest to the bones student in a creative writing class hoping to become a novelist someday. His outlook on life and Fallon was immediately refreshing.
“You’ll never be able to find yourself if you’re lost in someone else.”
At the halfway mark, my heart was splitting for the situation Ben & his family were in. So sad. I barely put this book down to make notes.
At the end of the third November 9th I was so mad!!!! But also crushed!!! Aaah!!! This was written really well.
Yikes. The fourth November gutted me. I needed to take a break to jump out of the book and shake it off.
“It took four years for me to fall in love with him. It only took four pages to stop.”
At page 232 I was significantly tired of her running. This is the third time Fallon had fled her problem.
“Just because he chose not to show you his scars doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
I thoroughly enjoyed the ability to read part of Ben’s manuscript.
Page 307 at the end- ugh! I completely adored this book and basically everything about it. It finished the way I wanted and gave me lots of feels.
Cassie Swindon 