This review was done with Amy from thebookhookup.com and our good friend Sim! 
 We are so excited to have our dear friend, Sim in with us on our review of Hopeless and we unanimously give this awesome book a top shelf rating! 
 "I want you to keep them open.. because I need you to watch me give you the very last piece of my heart." 
 There was so much amazingness in this book... but if you had to single out one moment or one aspect of the story that captured you entirely, what was it and why? 
 Amy: There were honestly lots of moments in this book but the one that stands out the most is the first interaction between Sky and Holder in the grocery store.. "But that look. There was something so disturbing about the way he looked at me. It was uncomfortable, embarrassing, and somehow flattering all at once. I'm not used to having these sorts of reactions at all, much less more than one at a time.."You could feel the intensity between the two. Right from that moment. I wasn't sure what in the world was behind that stare, but whatever it ended up being, I KNEW it was going to be epic. And it certainly was just that. 
 Ana: It was this...."Sky, I'm not kissing you tonight but believe me when I tell you, I've never wanted to kiss a girl more. So stop thinking I'm not attracted to you because you have no idea just how much I am. You can hold my hand, you can run your fingers through my hair, you can straddle me while I feed you spaghetti, but you are not getting kissed tonight. And probably not tomorrow either. I need this. I need you to know for sure that you're feeling every single thing that I'm feeling the moment my lips touch yours. Because I want your first kiss to be the best first kiss in the history of first kisses." sigh.... 
 Sim: There are so many! It's too hard to choose... I've been highlighting loads of quotes from this book, but what captured me the most? That Sky could break down and Holder would be there for her. No matter what.... 
 Let's talk about the characters.. what you thought and how you felt about them. 
 SKY 
 Amy: Sky was fantastic. Her character was so well developed and pivotal to this story. She was smart and intelligent and flawed. Life dealt her a bucket of unfair misfortunes and she fought through them the best that she could, showing us all her strength and courage. 
 Ana: This was a book filled with great characters. They weren't perfect and some weren't even likeable but they all had a depth to them that made me feel like I knew them well. Sky was a great heroine for this book. She wasn't whiny or wishy-washy like so many girls in books can be. She faces difficult situations and unthinkable problems and still faces them with class and strength. 
 Sim: Amazing, complex, and heartbreaking. She feels on so many levels so much. It goes to your soul. 
 HOLDER 
 Amy: God I hope there are actually men in this world similar to Dean Holder. I really REALLY do. Yes, I wanted to shake him, question him, slap him and hug him (all at the same time) in the beginning because I didn't quite understand his logic.. But as the story unfolded, Holder's true character as well as his secrets and pain were laid out at our feet and I couldn't help but fall in love with him. He did some things he wasn't proud of in the past and he carries the pain of his experiences on his shoulders but I dare you not to swoon hardcore and maybe even be a little envious at all beautiful and complicated ways he loves Sky.. 
 Ana: Dean Holder is one of those characters who surprise you more and more as each page is turned. He's troubled, confusing and mysterious at first. A guy with a secret and an unpredictable personality that I wasn't sure what to make of. But then he begins to show his true self and his swoonworthiness knows not bounds. Go ahead, re-read my quote above...ya....like that! The care with which he treats Sky left me filled with tingly feelings. 
 Sim: OH MY! This guy. The sentences out of his mouth make me want to hold him and never let go. His heart has to be so beautiful for every word he says. So many awesome quotes.... (You don't deserve words Sky. You deserve actions. or 'Fuck all the firsts Sky. The only thing that matters to me with you are the forevers.' 
 BRECKIN, SIX and KAREN 
 Amy: I knew something was up with Karen almost from the start with all her sheltering and weird rules but after all was said and done, I couldn't help but admire both her "weird" ways and what she ultimately did for Sky to give her a better life.. Breckin was awesome. Perfect compliment friend wise to Sky. Funny and real. Six was pretty cool too. 
 Ana: I loved Breckin and Six. Both were fun and funny and I wish we'd seen more of them. I honestly thought that Karen was a strange parent at the beginning but after hearing her story, I was in awe of her strength and love for Sky. 
 Sim: Breckin: Best best friend ever! Six: Complex but essential to Sky's story.. And Karen: Mixed feelings... After all that happened, I can understand why she did what she did.. 
 This book wasn't always pretty. There were difficult parts to this story where emotions were high. But there was also happiness and romance. What will you remember most about this book? 
 Amy: Hopeless captured my heart. It wasn't just the beautifully damaged characters or the realistic situations.. It was the way the story was told. The words, the feelings, the descriptions.. the authors courage to deviate outside the norm and take that risk to tell a story full of anguish and heartbreak and darkness and turn it into a gorgeous work of art. Yes, sometimes it's hard to read words that describe horrible experiences and yes, sometimes it makes us uncomfortable, but when it's done tastefully and with reason, you end up with an amazing story that pushes you to try and better understand the things that make us and break us and bring us together.. And that's exactly why I adored this book. 
 Ana: What an emotional roller coaster. A hard story to read. A beautiful story to follow. My heart hurt, yet swelled with love for these characters. My eyes filled with tears but I smiled too. I'll remember that I read this book with my heart much more than with my eyes. I'll remember that any girl lucky enough to have a Dean Holder in her life should hold him tight! And I'll remember that no matter the difficulties in life, friendship and love can make all the difference. 
 Sim: That no matter what, You deserve love. And there is always someone who loves you. And that everything you feel is okay. 
 Would you recommend this book? 
 Amy: I already have! Many times! After finishing Hopeless, I ran and ordered all of Colleen's books (If you haven't read her Slammed series.. OMG! RUUUUUUUN! Seriously!) and stayed up super late for like a week finishing them. I'm a Colleen Hoover fan for life. Her writing is truly amazing and memorable. 
 Ana: Without a doubt. Sometimes when I tell friends that I just read a book that broke my heart and made me cry, they can't understand why I follow it up with a strong recommendation for them to read it. But, trust me, this book is worth the heart palpitations, the tears and the stress because it's real and it's beautiful. 
 Sim: ABSOLUTELY!!! It's amazing! The characters have so much depth and feel so real: they're not perfect (even though Holder says all the perfect things) but there's a reality to it. A deep and profound feeling of being okay as you are, stayed with me.