I stayed up way too late finishing Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover, and I need to talk about it with someone. This book absolutely wrecked me, but in that weird way where you’re like, “Thank you for breaking my heart”. You know what I mean?
And the book cover, like all of Colleen’s books, is perfection. (You’ll see why after you read the book.)
Ugly Love Summary
So I grabbed this book because I haven’t read a Collen Hoover novel I didn’t like. I was expecting your typical romance novel with the usual will-they-won’t-they drama. Um, nope!
This story centers around Tate Collins, who’s juggling life as a registered nurse while pursuing her master’s degree, and Miles Archer, an airline pilot who happens to be her brother’s friend.
Their first meeting? A total disaster.
Miles is drunk outside Tate’s brother Corbin’s apartment, where she’s moving in temporarily. Not exactly love at first sight. But there’s this crazy chemistry between them that’s impossible to ignore.
Here’s the kicker, though. Miles lays down these rules right off the bat:
- Don’t ask about his past (red flag, anyone?)
- Don’t expect a future (another red flag!)
Tate’s like, “Sure, whatever, I’m busy with school anyway.” She thinks this is the perfect setup for her hectic life. A physical relationship with a hot pilot and no messy feelings? Sign her up!
(Spoiler alert: Feelings ALWAYS get messy… and there are always feelings.)
Tate and Miles in Ugly Love
I love Colleen Hoover’s writing because it’s brilliant.
We get Tate’s perspective in the present day – straightforward, relatable, sometimes frustrating (girl, what are you doing?!).
But then we get Miles’ perspective through these flashback chapters that slowly reveal his dark past, and they’re written in this almost poetic style that hits you right in the feels.
The Miles chapters honestly took me a while to get used to. They’re from a different perspective and written in this unique style that’s like… stream of consciousness meets poetry? But once I got into the rhythm, I was obsessed.
I found myself rushing through Tate’s chapters (which I still loved) just to get to the next Miles chapter to piece together what happened to this poor guy.
Can we just appreciate how perfect the title Ugly Love is? Because love isn’t always pretty, right? Sometimes, it’s downright messy and painful and ugly.
But even in all that ugliness, there are these beautiful moments that make you think, “Okay, maybe this is worth it.”
Watching Tate fall for Miles despite promising herself she wouldn’t was like watching a car crash in slow motion. I kept yelling at her, “Girl, protect your heart!” But then Miles would do something sweet or vulnerable, and I’d be like, “Okay, maybe he deserves a chance…”
The stormy blue of his eyes got me too, not gonna lie.
Miles’ character development deserves its own standing ovation. At first, I wanted to shake him for his emotional walls. But as we get these small glimpses into his past, everything starts making sense.
Without spoiling too much (because the mystery is half the fun), Miles’ first love and what happened afterward explains everything about why he is the way he is in the present day.
The car accident that’s hinted at throughout the book broke my heart when it was finally revealed.
The way Colleen connects Miles’s past with his present self is chef’s kiss. You can see how his experiences shaped him, and it makes his journey toward healing that much more powerful.
While I was obsessed with the main characters, can we give some love to the supporting cast?
Tate’s brother Corbin is that perfect mix of annoying-but-lovable big brother energy. And the fact that Miles is her brother’s best friend adds this whole other layer of complication that I’m a sucker for.
Ugly Love Book Review
If you haven’t dipped your toes into the adult romance genre yet, Ugly Love is the perfect gateway drug. It’s more mature than young adult fiction but still focuses on those messy formative years when you’re figuring life out.
For those who haven’t read any of Colleen Hoover’s books yet (where have you been?!), this is a great first book to try. It’s the third book I’ve read by her, and it was another win for me. Her writing style just keeps getting better and always has me staying up late, turning all the pages.
By the end of the novel, I was emotionally spent. The whole time I was reading, I kept wondering if Miles would ever let someone in again, if he’d ever work through his past trauma.
And let me tell you, the journey to get there was worth every page.
Should you read Ugly Love? Is water wet? Of course you should read it. If you’re a romance fan with a little bit of masochism in your heart (because this book will hurt you), add Ugly Love to your TBR list on Goodreads.
It’s earned a spot among my favorite books, and Miles might be my favorite character despite (or because of) his well-worn armor and emotional issues.
Let’s Talk About Colleen Hoover
If you’re not familiar with the CoHo phenomenon that’s been absolutely dominating social media, let me fill you in.
This woman knows how to write books that wreck you, and somehow, we all keep coming back for more. The way Colleen builds characters makes you feel like you know them personally, which is why it hurts so much when she puts them through emotional hell (and she always does).
What’s amazing about Colleen Hoover’s books is how different they all are while still having that signature emotional punch. Some of her novels lean more into suspense, others are straight-up romance, but they all have that “just one more chapter” quality that keeps you up until 3 AM on a work night (ask me how I know).
If you’re new to Colleen Hoover’s novels, here’s my unsolicited advice: start with either this one or It Ends With Us (but have tissues ready for that one, seriously). And… try to ignore all that Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively drama while you enjoy the book, okay?
What makes Colleen’s books so special compared to other romance novels is how she tackles tough subjects with such sensitivity. She doesn’t shy away from showing the ugly sides of relationships alongside the beautiful moments. Her characters feel like real people making real (sometimes frustrating) decisions.
I’ve been a Colleen Hoover fan since I listened to It Ends With Us, and I’ve been steadily working my way through her entire catalog since. Each one hits different, but they all leave that emotional hangover that makes it hard to start a new book right away.
So if you’re looking for your next read that’ll make you feel all the feelings, joining the ranks of Colleen Hoover fans is a good idea. Just don’t blame me when you’re texting your friends at midnight saying, “OMG. This book is destroying me.” That’s just part of the CoHo experience.
Have you read any other Colleen Hoover books? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I’m thinking of making my way through all of Colleen Hoover’s novels this year.
