Without Merit: A Novel

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Merit Voss comes from a very interesting and dysfunctional family (which I think most of us do have some dysfunctionality in our families whether you choose to admit it or not). I hope that Merit and her family can share their experiences and allow some healing to come into their home. I can only imagine it will with the hopeful ending Coho leaves us with. Como este es un libro del género YA por supuesto que Merit Voss tiene diecisiete años (es tan dificil innovar y cambiar aunque sea esto?). Tiene una hermana gemela idéntica y tiene dos hermanos, uno mayor que ella y otro pequeño del nuevo matrimonio de su padre. Se tratan temas de infidelidad, enfermedades psiquiátricas y psicosomáticas, necrofilia (no tan literal), depresión, suicidio, sexualidad, obsesiones maniaco-compulsiva, romance, interacción familiar y hasta de los refugiados sirios. Un sancocho con demasiados ingredientes. Al menos para mí.

I take in what he just said and the fact that he said those words to me right before he kissed me that day. I love that he said that, but hate that he didn't know he was saying it to me. At the time, he thought he was saying those words to Honor. And even though he admits he was attracted to her that day because it was actually, it doesn't explain why he didn't just explain it to me right after it happened.” His thumb brushes my cheek, then his satisfied grin falls into a pointed stare. “That’s exactly why I won’t do it again, Merit. You need to fall in love with yourself first.” This seems like a big, depressing pity party and I apologize for that. I wish more than anyone that I didn't feel this way about this book but alas, here we are, and I felt the need to get this off my chest.

Publication Order of It Ends With Us Books

Without Merit is nothing like her previous books that I have read. I would not classify this book as a romance at all (I mean maybe a little here and there). This to me would be a story about self discovery and finding your place in the world. This story is real, raw, beautiful, and painful at times. Hoover will steal your heart with this one. Merit feels isolated from the rest of her family. Victoria was her mother’s former nurse and both Merit and her siblings never liked her. Merit and Honor have also drifted apart, and Utah keeps to the same routine every day of his life, which includes changing the old church marquee with inspirational messages each morning. Likewise, Merit’s father is busy with his wife and their four-year-old son, Moby, and Merit’s mother does not come up from the basement. Overall, she lives in a converted church filled with quite a dysfunctional family.

Merit finally admitted to both herself and her family that she may be depressed. Barnaby announces that the whole family will be going to therapy to work through their variety of issues, as they all move forward on better terms I like that there was a specific focus on family and mental health rather than just sex and boy-drama. It made for a nice change. Hannah’s new novel is an homage to the extraordinary courage and endurance of Frenchwomen during World War II. I’m still rounding up 2.5 stars to 3 because I’m not powerful enough to give any Colho books less than three stars and the opening of the story was still promising! You know, sometimes while reading I keep thinking "Hey, I could totally write a story like that!" Provided that I could write. lol

Publication Order of Maybe Books

Basically, don't let anyone make you feel like your pain is less than theirs simply because theirs sounds heavier, harder, and More. They aren't experiencing what you are. You're the main character of your own story and everything you think and feel is valid. And important. And real. Any comparison of feelings is never valid because we all experience things so differently. That's why talking it out with someone who experienced something similar can be so helpful. Your emotions and reactions are valid, Merit. Don’t let anyone tell you any different. You’re the only one who feels them.”