
Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.įed 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. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her-until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.” “Not every mistake deserves a consequence. The story takes you right into the dark, but also brings you back and leaves you smiling. It’s a book I’d want to give to every teen, but at the same time I believe everyone would enjoy it. It conveys a powerful message that tackles tough subjects with grace. And yet also deeply heart-warming and healing. The most important thing to keep in mind when reading this book is that perspective changes everything. It’s a slow building, slow burning story that eventually takes you completely by surprise.

She returned to her YA roots with this one - more in the vein of Slammed and Hopeless - and yet this story is still very different even than those.


Without Merit is unlike anything she’s written before. She has a very distinctive writing style that I absolutely love, I also respect and admire her as a person - the charity she has started is incredible, and each time she announces a new book, I count down the days until I’m able to read it. And yet, the one secret I should have told years ago is the one I’ve kept the quietest.Ĭolleen Hoover is one of best authors I’ve ever read and her books are always sitting at the top of my recommendations lists for every kind of reader! Her books are absorbing, her characters are endearing, and each new story she writes is unique, relatable, and thought provoking.
