6 stars 
 Ugly Love is beautiful. Or not. But man. After yet another book I've read and loved, I'm beginning to think Colleen Hoover could write a grocery list and I'd be moved by it. She is hands down one of my favorite authors. 
 I thought I wasn't as emotionally connected to this story, because I hadn't shed any tears (which for me, is big -- I'm a very emotional reader) but this one snuck up on me. It was reading like any other story about a couple who decide to enter a physical relationship without strings or emotions. But then out of no where (ok, not nowhere...there were definite hints it was coming) it became clear just how invested I was in Miles and Tate. 
 Tate was the kind of leading lady who settled herself into thinking she can have and do it all. A full time student, part time nurse, and living with her brother seemed like all she could handle. 
 Miles is so emotionally closed off that he had me in knots early on. He wasn't angry or hostile, but it was clear that he was blocking something huge from his past. As bits of his past come to light through flashback chapters, the enormity of what he is avoiding becomes clear. 
 When Tate and Miles begin sleeping together, Miles sets two rules for their relationship. No talk of the past, and no talk of a future. He is not able to give Tate either, and doesn't want to even discuss the possibility. 
 As the story unfolded, I was so torn. Either I stopped reading for the night, or I kept going and wouldn't be able to put it down. I also figured at some point Colleen would have me in tears and it would be a late, late night. I ended up not putting the book down when it would have been prudent and reading until late into the night. But man, was it ever worth it. I reached a point about three quarters of the way through where I was afraid to keep reading because the writing was on the wall. 
 And reaching that emotional wall was absolutely worth it. Both for me as a reader, and Miles as a character. Who knew he had so much to deal with? 
 Once again, Colleen Hoover has put out a book that has real characters, high intensity emotion, and natural development. As I began to predict exactly what had ruined Miles's happiness (and I was close, but not exactly right) it became clear that of the characters she has written, Miles and Tate had perhaps the biggest obstacles to overcome to find their beautiful moments. And that's saying a lot when you consider the characters she's written. 
 It's all worth it. It's the beautiful moments like these that make up for the ugly love. 
 Thank you, Atria Books/Simon & Schuster for a complimentary copy of Ugly Love. This review is also posted at Reviews by Tammy and Kim.