Pero Merit estaba metida tanto en su mente, pensando todo a su manera de una forma tan distorsionada, que me hacía sentir que ella misma se ponía el pie, era obvio que Sage tenía sentimientos por ella, era obvio que la enfermedad de su madre era más grave de lo que Merit pensaba, pero ella vivía con la venda en los ojos a causa de su depresión que todo lo veía sombrío y desolador. Que siempre pensaba lo peor de todos, especialmente de sí misma. < Poignant and powerful, Without Merit explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love and truth. Sagan explains that he and Honor are just friends, as well as mutual friends of the boy Honor is dating, Colby. He questions Merit’s intentions in pretending to be Honor and kissing him, andMerit tries to explain that she simply wanted to feel what life would be like in Honor’s shoes. Sagan angrily storms out on Merit. Perhaps you can try and excuse some of Merit's actions as being part of her depression (though as someone who has dealt with depression most of my life, I personally disagree that it excuses you for being a judgmental asshole) but that doesn't excuse the whole obsession with her virginity and her disdain for other sexually active women. This happens a lot in Coho's books. Sexuality is bad, and the heroine is considered more virtuous for having held onto her virginity like it's a prize to be won.

The first chapter really sets the tone for the whole book. You're introduced to Merit's character -- her hopes and frustrations, and then there's this one moment where you suddenly realize that nothing is as it seems.Other than the blurb, I don't really want to post too much about what the story is about. Colleen Hoover is one of the authors who has fully gained my trust over the years and for me just knowing that she wrote the book is enough to make me feel confident diving into the story blind. I would strongly encourage you to do the same. I think, because of where I am in my life right now, this book felt like one big book of validation and comfort. It felt like that hug that Merit needed from her dad. And I loved it.

So what can I tell you about this CoHo novel? Again, it was totally unexpected. I have been kind of going in blind as of late with almost every book I read, that way all books are surprises. So yes, CoHo kind of has a style, but she also kind of doesn’t. None of her books are all that alike. Yes, some have romance in them, but lots aren’t entirely about that. Such is the case with “Without Merit”. 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 Voss comes from an interesting family. The Voss family is full of dysfunctional characters, and Merit is just as dysfunctional as the rest in a lot of ways. Merit is also the keeper of secrets in her family. It's just a house filled with people who are counting down the days until they don't have to live with each other anymore."

This story has many layers to it and they build. Like I said, it's the butterfly effect many times over. The writing is brilliant. And it builds so quietly that you don't even notice that a storm is brewing until the moment where everything just explodes. Implodes. Everything is turned on its end and as the reader you're RIGHT THERE with it. Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.