Warnings for “Without Merit”: Violent language, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual references/actions, suicidal actions

“Without Merit” by Colleen Hoover started as a book I was very reluctant to read, even just for enjoyment, but it soon became one of the most thrilling, emotional stories I’ve ever read. I had heard so many things about Hoover’s writing and was eager to see what the big deal was; I now understand it all.

The book focuses on a seventeen-year-old girl named Merit Voss who lives a strange life in an abandoned church with her dysfunctional and extremely secretive family. Right upon the beginning of the story, a love interest is introduced to Merit in an unexpected way that will keep readers curious to know more. Merit also has an identical twin sister named Honor which complicates many parts of the plot and makes it more exciting. 

Merit makes it clear to readers that she feels she doesn’t belong in her family and that no one seems to care for her— not even her unhinged mother who lives alone in their basement. As the readers, we find that Merit is the holder of her family’s darkest secrets, which increasingly builds tension and pressure for her to deal with. This feeling of not belonging grows inside of her until she must do something to manage it. 

Let’s not forget the romantic aspect of the book! Merit struggles with her feelings for a boy named Sagan who she sees as forbidden to her by her sister Honor; not to mention, Sagan is the one person she is incidentally forced to spend the most time with. As their relationship grows and the sparks escalate, Merit and Sagan must confront each other about their feelings and decide on how to resolve the unspoken questions that hover between them.

All in all, I hold no regret in taking a chance on this book, especially since it ended up being a favorite of mine. Part of me wishes that Hoover would release a continuation of Merit’s story, and the other part feels that the way it ended left just enough satisfaction for the reader. The plot was cut off at the perfect place where all of the characters were happy, everything seemed resolved, and the reader is left only to wonder how things will continue. Among newly introduced characters, family complications, and Merit denying her love for the one boy she convinces herself she can’t have, countless questions arise within the reader’s mind that slowly start to unfold as the plot progresses. The most important question, however, is what Merit will do with her family’s secrets and how she will resolve the troubles that keep her from living a better life. There’s only one way to find out!