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99 Days #2
9 Days and 9 Nights
The irresistible sequel to the bestselling 99 Days.
Molly Barlow isn’t that girl anymore. A business major at her college in Boston, she’s reinvented herself after everything that went down a year ago . . . after all the people she hurt and the family she tore apart.
Slowly, life is getting back to normal. Molly has just said “I love you” to her new boyfriend, Ian, and they are off on a romantic European vacation together, starting with scenic London. But there on a Tube platform, the past catches up to her in the form of Gabe, her ex, traveling on his own parallel vacation with new girlfriend Sadie.
After comparing itineraries, Ian ends up extending an invite for Gabe and Sadie to join them on the next leg of their trip, to Ireland. Sadie, who’s dying to go there, jumps at the prospect. And Molly and Gabe can’t bring themselves to tell the truth about who they once were to each other to their new significant others.
Now Molly has to spend nine days and nine nights with the boy she once loved, the boy whose heart she shredded, without Ian knowing. Will she make it through as new, improved Molly, or will everything that happened between her and Gabe come rushing back?
Molly Barlow isn’t that girl anymore. A business major at her college in Boston, she’s reinvented herself after everything that went down a year ago . . . after all the people she hurt and the family she tore apart.
Slowly, life is getting back to normal. Molly has just said “I love you” to her new boyfriend, Ian, and they are off on a romantic European vacation together, starting with scenic London. But there on a Tube platform, the past catches up to her in the form of Gabe, her ex, traveling on his own parallel vacation with new girlfriend Sadie.
After comparing itineraries, Ian ends up extending an invite for Gabe and Sadie to join them on the next leg of their trip, to Ireland. Sadie, who’s dying to go there, jumps at the prospect. And Molly and Gabe can’t bring themselves to tell the truth about who they once were to each other to their new significant others.
Now Molly has to spend nine days and nine nights with the boy she once loved, the boy whose heart she shredded, without Ian knowing. Will she make it through as new, improved Molly, or will everything that happened between her and Gabe come rushing back?
263 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
About the author
Katie Cotugno
17 books2,081 followersKatie Cotugno is the New York Times bestselling author of seven messy, complicated feminist YA love stories, as well as the adult novel Birds of California (Harper Perennial, 2022). She is also the co-author, with Candace Bushnell, of Rules for Being a Girl. Her books have been honored by the Junior Library Guild, the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, and the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, among others, and translated into more than fifteen languages. Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, The Mississippi Review, and Argestes, as well as many other literary magazines. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in Fiction at Lesley University. She lives in Boston with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 631 reviews
August 26, 2021
Not bad, but not great. 🤷🏼♀️ I was a tiny bit bored, but I’m attributing that to the fact that this is a sequel…. And…. I can’t seem to remember much about the first one. 😬 Take that for what it is… a generous three stars. 😉❤️📚
May 13, 2018
Oh man, I liked this one a WHOLE LOT. Will definitely be purchasing a physical copy because I adore this story and everything it stands for. I so did not expect this one to pack the punch that it did, and I’m living for it.
September 4, 2019
“When you meet someone who is good for you, they won’t fill you with insecurities by focusing on your flaws. They’ll fill you with inspiration, because they’ll focus on all the best parts of you.”
The characters were well explored and were given time to make their individual choices and reinvent themselves. I appreciate the prospect of Molly starting brand new, teaching her that there is really no such thing as a clean slate in life once you’ve already lived it. There is only learning and with learning, the ability to improve your ways, make better and wiser decisions and eventually find yourself back.
I’m also very pleased with the ending. In reality, it will probably not work but given the characters and how they have known and accepted each other despite their flaws, I think they have the best chance at making their relationship work. This is a much needed closure to the 99 Days.
The characters were well explored and were given time to make their individual choices and reinvent themselves. I appreciate the prospect of Molly starting brand new, teaching her that there is really no such thing as a clean slate in life once you’ve already lived it. There is only learning and with learning, the ability to improve your ways, make better and wiser decisions and eventually find yourself back.
I’m also very pleased with the ending. In reality, it will probably not work but given the characters and how they have known and accepted each other despite their flaws, I think they have the best chance at making their relationship work. This is a much needed closure to the 99 Days.
February 18, 2019
I should have known better, yet I did this to myself anyway.
May 18, 2018
Well, that was a very pleasant surprise
November 19, 2019
I completely forgot what happened in 99 days, so I had to go read some reviews to refresh my memory. I do remember enjoying it.
After refreshing my memory I remembered that I was satisfied with the ending of 99 days. Katie Cotugno's thing is to write almost incomplete/vague endings that leave the main characters on the edge of new beginnings. I really love that about her books.
And although I thought this book was a little unnecessary I still liked it. Okay, yes, I sometimes wanted to scream at Molly. But I think she's really grown as a character. And it was really interesting to see Gabe so completely different to how I remember him in 99 days.
My favourite character in the whole book was Ian. He was so amazing and I want an Ian so bad.
All in all, it was another great conclusion for Molly and Gabe.
After refreshing my memory I remembered that I was satisfied with the ending of 99 days. Katie Cotugno's thing is to write almost incomplete/vague endings that leave the main characters on the edge of new beginnings. I really love that about her books.
And although I thought this book was a little unnecessary I still liked it. Okay, yes, I sometimes wanted to scream at Molly. But I think she's really grown as a character. And it was really interesting to see Gabe so completely different to how I remember him in 99 days.
My favourite character in the whole book was Ian. He was so amazing and I want an Ian so bad.
All in all, it was another great conclusion for Molly and Gabe.
April 11, 2018
“It occurs to me that maybe this is what friendship is sometimes: saying your piece, then crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.”We are finally getting into contemporary season and I couldn’t be happier and what better way to kick it off than a fun summery “roadtrip romance” sequel to 99 Days with Katie Cotugno’s 9 Days and 9 Nights. We follow Molly as she and her new boyfriend are on vacation in Europe and they run into Gabe, who’s also traveling Europe with his new girlfriend. Gabe brings a lot of secrets and baggage that Molly would rather stay hidden as she’s trying to move on with her life and become a different person. But she starts to wonder if you can ever truly be yourself when you’re wearing a mask.
Thing I Liked
I actually really liked all the different relationships and romances we see in the story. Obviously Molly and Gabe have chemistry and a long history, but I thought that Molly and Ian, her new boyfriend, were super cute too. I was rooting for each couple at different times, and I liked the progression we saw. Honestly, to me it didn’t even feel love triangle-y, which was nice. And I loved seeing Imogen and Molly's friendship highlighted as such an important part of each woman's life.
I thought the pacing of the story was great. I loved that it was broken up into 9 days and we get to really see everything build and grow. I felt like I was a part of the journey and nothing felt too slow, or rushed.
Like with Katie Cotugno’s other books I found 9 Days and 9 Nights to just be real and honest with genuine human moments filled with flaws, mistakes, regrets, and all. I might not agree with every characters action, but I can clearly see why they are acting a certain way and how they got to that moment. It helps me stay invested even if I don’t necessarily connect with a character immediately.
Things I Didn’t Like
Similarly to Katie’s other books as well, this one definitely ventured into emotional cheating territory and I’m obviously not the biggest fan of that. It wasn’t as bad as I expected and I greatly appreciated the openness and honest of the different parties involved so that was nice too.
9 Days and 9 Nights was an incredibly quick read that begs to be read in Spring or Summer. It’s filled with personal growth, travel, and romance- and honestly, what more would you want for a Spring read?
I received a copy of the book from Balzer + Bray via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
June 20, 2018
I have been anticipating Katie Cotugno’s 9 Days and 9 Nights since I first heard the news of a 99 Days sequel. Molly and Gabe are back, but in an awkward situation, and the story is very realistic. I liked the book, but I did have a couple of issues with it, such as all the pointless drama. I didn’t love this one, but I do think that many will appreciate this sequel.
Full review on The Candid Cover
Full review on The Candid Cover
May 31, 2018
i think this will be my last book by this author. i like her ideas but the execution is so superficial??
also, both molly barlow and gabe donnelly are basically:-
also, both molly barlow and gabe donnelly are basically:-
May 17, 2018
As a 99 Days fan, I would like to thank Katie Cotugno for writing this book. This was the closure me, Molly, and Gabe needed, and the book exceed my expectations.
•Pro: Whoa, Molly! Once again, my heart was totally with this young woman. I thought she grew a lot over the course of 99 Days, but she wasn't done, and it was really something special to see how she evolved since then, and what new "fallout" she was dealing with.
•Pro: My emotions, my emotions! Cotugno brought me through so many different emotional states via Molly. My heart broke and ached and there were tears and everything! Molly's pain and suffering probably affected me the most. Cotugno did such an incredible job getting us into her head.
•Pro: I always had a soft spot for Gabe, and I will not lie, my heart did a little leap when he made his first appearance.
•Pro: The auxiliary characters, Sadie (Gabe's girlfriend) and Ian (Molly's boyfriend) were both really great, and it was a thrill to be with Imogene. She was such a high quality friend. She knew when to push and when to let up, but most of all, she genuinely loved and cared for Molly.
•Pro: You know I love a romance, but that's not what this story was. This was Molly coming to terms with her past, and making peace with it. In trying to erase what happened, she buried parts of herself. This was her journey to finding out who she really was, and who she wanted to be.
•Pro: It was great to see the progress Molly and her mom made with their relationship, and the growth made there only helped support what progress Molly had made in general.
•Pro: This ending gets a round of applause. I am always wanting answers, and I got lots of closure from this one.
•Pro: I legit have no cons!
Overall: I loved being back in Molly's messy life. Things were sometimes awkward, unpleasant, and uncomfortable, but they were always real. If Cotugno has it in her, I would be up for another Molly book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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•Pro: Whoa, Molly! Once again, my heart was totally with this young woman. I thought she grew a lot over the course of 99 Days, but she wasn't done, and it was really something special to see how she evolved since then, and what new "fallout" she was dealing with.
•Pro: My emotions, my emotions! Cotugno brought me through so many different emotional states via Molly. My heart broke and ached and there were tears and everything! Molly's pain and suffering probably affected me the most. Cotugno did such an incredible job getting us into her head.
•Pro: I always had a soft spot for Gabe, and I will not lie, my heart did a little leap when he made his first appearance.
•Pro: The auxiliary characters, Sadie (Gabe's girlfriend) and Ian (Molly's boyfriend) were both really great, and it was a thrill to be with Imogene. She was such a high quality friend. She knew when to push and when to let up, but most of all, she genuinely loved and cared for Molly.
•Pro: You know I love a romance, but that's not what this story was. This was Molly coming to terms with her past, and making peace with it. In trying to erase what happened, she buried parts of herself. This was her journey to finding out who she really was, and who she wanted to be.
•Pro: It was great to see the progress Molly and her mom made with their relationship, and the growth made there only helped support what progress Molly had made in general.
•Pro: This ending gets a round of applause. I am always wanting answers, and I got lots of closure from this one.
•Pro: I legit have no cons!
Overall: I loved being back in Molly's messy life. Things were sometimes awkward, unpleasant, and uncomfortable, but they were always real. If Cotugno has it in her, I would be up for another Molly book.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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April 10, 2018
I loved revisiting the characters from 99 Days in this new story! I liked the European travel aspect of it (especially since I read it on my flight home from a little trip to Europe), I enjoyed seeing how the characters had changed since the last time I'd encountered them and I liked how it ended too ;)
January 2, 2018
Starting 2018 with a Katie Cotugno novel was the best decision. Her storytelling never fails to impress me, and inspire me.
It’s been a few years since I read 99 Days, the companion novel to this one, so I needed a refresher on just how that story ended. Katie did a really good job of catching the reader up to speed & filling in the details, at just the right moments. I never once felt lacking, or pulled from the story, trying to remember what happened before.
This story is a branch, all on its own, carefully rooted from a much bigger picture, yet still finely crafted in its own beautiful glory. I loved the strong feministic tone throughout the novel & how it flowed so effortlessly & not like it was being thrown down your throat. Life is messy & it’s always challenging us to do better, to be better. But sometimes, when we think we’re doing it right, a curve ball gets thrown at us, and we have to forge a new plan.
There’s something spectacular about Katie’s writing that seeps into my bones as I read her gorgeous words. Her storytelling is so easy to fall in love with & reminds me why I love books so much. This was a gift & such a beautiful way to begin a fresh year of new reads.
It’s been a few years since I read 99 Days, the companion novel to this one, so I needed a refresher on just how that story ended. Katie did a really good job of catching the reader up to speed & filling in the details, at just the right moments. I never once felt lacking, or pulled from the story, trying to remember what happened before.
This story is a branch, all on its own, carefully rooted from a much bigger picture, yet still finely crafted in its own beautiful glory. I loved the strong feministic tone throughout the novel & how it flowed so effortlessly & not like it was being thrown down your throat. Life is messy & it’s always challenging us to do better, to be better. But sometimes, when we think we’re doing it right, a curve ball gets thrown at us, and we have to forge a new plan.
There’s something spectacular about Katie’s writing that seeps into my bones as I read her gorgeous words. Her storytelling is so easy to fall in love with & reminds me why I love books so much. This was a gift & such a beautiful way to begin a fresh year of new reads.
July 7, 2018
4.25 stars
I really loved this. Such a great follow up to 99 days and i honestly want more!! I’m a big fan of Katie cotugno now and can’t wait to read the rest of her books. She just has this way of writing like real flawed people that I just really enjoy.
I really loved this. Such a great follow up to 99 days and i honestly want more!! I’m a big fan of Katie cotugno now and can’t wait to read the rest of her books. She just has this way of writing like real flawed people that I just really enjoy.
April 22, 2018
I adore Katie Cotugno’s writing. Her stories always delve into challenging themes that will make you really think about how you feel about so many things!
9 Days and 9 Nights is a companion to the amazing 99 Days. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but Cotugno reminded me wonderfully in the first few chapters! That said, I’m looking forward to reading these two back to back in the near future.
Molly is now living in Boston where she’s majoring in Business and she’s not the same girl she was when we first met her. She’s reinvented herself and she’s got a serious boyfriend and a plan… her life is back on track and getting back to normal. A European trip with her boyfriend Ian is the perfect next step.
While in London, she runs into the guy who derailed her life the last time and Ian unwittingly invites Gabe and his girlfriend to join them on the next leg of their trip to Ireland, and Molly can’t share why it’s so awkward without sharing the past she’s managed to hide from the people in her new life.
You guys… the set up for this story is so cringey in an awkward and OMG thank the lord this hasn’t ever happened to me kind of way. I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT… even the painful, hurt your heart situations that arise. There’s no denying that this story is messy, but life is messy and complicated and hard and Cotugno doesn’t sugar coat it.
This is a smart, complicated and riveting story and it reminded me again why I love Katie’s writing so much. Her amazing voice and writing style definitely make her a favorite author, but her realistic, stories are what keep me coming back again and again. She’s definitely an all-time favorite in the YA Contemporary genre and I look forward to whatever she shares with us readers next!
9 Days and 9 Nights is a companion to the amazing 99 Days. It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but Cotugno reminded me wonderfully in the first few chapters! That said, I’m looking forward to reading these two back to back in the near future.
Molly is now living in Boston where she’s majoring in Business and she’s not the same girl she was when we first met her. She’s reinvented herself and she’s got a serious boyfriend and a plan… her life is back on track and getting back to normal. A European trip with her boyfriend Ian is the perfect next step.
While in London, she runs into the guy who derailed her life the last time and Ian unwittingly invites Gabe and his girlfriend to join them on the next leg of their trip to Ireland, and Molly can’t share why it’s so awkward without sharing the past she’s managed to hide from the people in her new life.
You guys… the set up for this story is so cringey in an awkward and OMG thank the lord this hasn’t ever happened to me kind of way. I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT… even the painful, hurt your heart situations that arise. There’s no denying that this story is messy, but life is messy and complicated and hard and Cotugno doesn’t sugar coat it.
This is a smart, complicated and riveting story and it reminded me again why I love Katie’s writing so much. Her amazing voice and writing style definitely make her a favorite author, but her realistic, stories are what keep me coming back again and again. She’s definitely an all-time favorite in the YA Contemporary genre and I look forward to whatever she shares with us readers next!
May 5, 2019
I feel so let down and disappointed by this sequel. 99 days is one of my favorite books of all time. I love the writing, story, characters, and book despite its flaws. I felt like it ended on a pretty promising note and didn't need a sequel. However, I was overjoyed when I saw I'd get to read more Molly and Gabe.
The book is filled with pointless bickering and angst. I didn't connect with any of the characters.
The book is filled with pointless bickering and angst. I didn't connect with any of the characters.
May 8, 2018
9 Days and 9 Nights is the sequel to 99 days. It is a YA contemporary romance however the main characters are all in college. The narrator is once again Molly.
Do you need to read 99 Days before reading this book? IMO the answer is yes. You really need to have read the first book before reading this one to fully understand Molly. Yes, technically you could follow this book if you read it as a standalone. But I think that you would miss out on so much. You would not understand what happened to Molly in her home town. You would not understand what happened between her and the Donnelly brothers. And I don't think this book could possibly have the same impact on people unfamiliar with these characters.
At the end of the first book Molly was going to college in Boston. Truthfully I was expecting this book to be about her year at college. Although I guess with a title like 9 Days and 9 Nights that would have been impossible.
Instead we find out that a year has passed and Molly is travelling. She has changed a lot. The author goes back and tells us a bit of what happened to Molly during the year. I really liked getting this glimpse of her at college. And I quickly grew to like the story that the author decided to tell.
I enjoyed the travel aspect of this book. Molly is in Europe. And I loved reading about her European vacation. I also really enjoyed the characters from the first book that made appearances in this book. I was a bit unhappy when the book begins and she is travelling with someone new. But luckily for me things turned around a lot by 8%. Someone from the first book makes a surprise appearance. And for me the book picked up a lot from that point on.
The Molly in 9 Days and 9 Nights is very different from the Molly in the first book. She has tried to reinvent herself to the people in her new life in Boston. It was definitely interesting to see this new Molly. Was she maturing or was she pretending to be somebody she was not?
I enjoyed this book. I'm not sure if I was completely satisfied with the ending. I think that I would have liked more. But it was a good sequel.
Thanks to edelweiss and Balzer + Bray for allowing me to read this book.
Do you need to read 99 Days before reading this book? IMO the answer is yes. You really need to have read the first book before reading this one to fully understand Molly. Yes, technically you could follow this book if you read it as a standalone. But I think that you would miss out on so much. You would not understand what happened to Molly in her home town. You would not understand what happened between her and the Donnelly brothers. And I don't think this book could possibly have the same impact on people unfamiliar with these characters.
At the end of the first book Molly was going to college in Boston. Truthfully I was expecting this book to be about her year at college. Although I guess with a title like 9 Days and 9 Nights that would have been impossible.
Instead we find out that a year has passed and Molly is travelling. She has changed a lot. The author goes back and tells us a bit of what happened to Molly during the year. I really liked getting this glimpse of her at college. And I quickly grew to like the story that the author decided to tell.
I enjoyed the travel aspect of this book. Molly is in Europe. And I loved reading about her European vacation. I also really enjoyed the characters from the first book that made appearances in this book. I was a bit unhappy when the book begins and she is travelling with someone new. But luckily for me things turned around a lot by 8%. Someone from the first book makes a surprise appearance. And for me the book picked up a lot from that point on.
The Molly in 9 Days and 9 Nights is very different from the Molly in the first book. She has tried to reinvent herself to the people in her new life in Boston. It was definitely interesting to see this new Molly. Was she maturing or was she pretending to be somebody she was not?
I enjoyed this book. I'm not sure if I was completely satisfied with the ending. I think that I would have liked more. But it was a good sequel.
Thanks to edelweiss and Balzer + Bray for allowing me to read this book.
April 10, 2018
I was a huge fan of 99 Days, despite it featuring a love triangle between a girl and two brothers, normally I stay away from these sorts of books, but Cotugno ended up making this book work for me. So when I heard that there would be a follow up book in 9 Days and 9 Nights I couldn't wait. The only thing was that I didn't end up loving this book as much as I'd hoped. I liked the person that Molly had grown up and become, she had come a long way from her time in Star Lake with the Donnelly brothers and she really was trying to be a better person. I liked the fact that she was travelling with her boyfriend Ian, and that she was moving from city to city, this was something that I enjoyed reading about. The only thing that I didn't like was when she ended up bumping into her ex Gabe and his girlfriend Sadie, what are the chances that she and Gabe end up being in the same place so far away from home? I could easily tell that things were still awkward between her and Gabe, so I couldn't understand why she would let Ian let invite Gabe and Sadie along to their trip to Ireland and stay with them whilst they were there. She was meant to be moving on with Ian, so wouldn't it best to be upfront and honest with him? I found the entire trip slightly strange, I know there were still some unresolved issues between Gabe and Molly and things she needed to tell him, but did she really want to go down that path with him once more? To be honest even though I knew the way things were going to end up, I wasn't really a fan of it. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't end up liking this book more, seeing how much of a fan I was of the characters in the last book, but I still be eagerly awaiting Cotugno's upcoming books and hoping there will something that I end up loving once more.
March 30, 2018
I just can’t get behind a second book where the two characters you are supposed to root for are sort of scuzzy people. I didn’t get the warm fuzzies reading this. I felt uncomfortable the whole book.
November 13, 2019
My main issue with this book was not that I disliked the protagonist. In fact, if you know me at all, you know I have quite the affinity for characters who you really have to sit with in order to appreciate...the more flawed and complex, the better. So yes, although most of the time, Molly annoyed me to my core, that's not the reason I gave 9 Days and 9 Nights 2 stars.
My main issue with this book was the fact that I did not, on any level whatsoever, feel like I understood the protagonist--her actions, her feelings, her relationships, etc.
I felt that not only Molly, but every single character was underdeveloped, which is especially disappointing, because I DO think Katie Cotugno is capable of writing good characters. In Fireworks, her third novel, I thought she did a great job at portraying flawed, complicated, realistic people--characters I found myself empathizing with, not because I agreed with all their choices, but because I understood what led them there. I was hoping this book would be similar in that aspect, but I was even more perplexed by Molly Barlow than my first go around with her.
One of the main themes in this book was Molly's supposed self-discovery, but just like in 99 Days, I didn't feel like there was even one point in which she was truly honest and upfront with herself. She seemed to be constantly switching back and forth between feelings of overwhelming guilt and borderline spite, which could've been an interesting balancing act to read about, if only she had any ounce of self-awareness, or even just one moment of clarity. Instead, she was emphatically wishy-washy.
I found the romance to be extremely underwhelming and unnecessary. It seemed as if Molly and Gabe's only point of connection was the history they shared, and I never found myself rooting for him or Ian, or really, anybody, because I felt like an outsider who didn't have enough information to feel either which way--or care, for that matter.
I was hoping 9 Days and 9 Nights would at least finish what 99 Days halfheartedly started, and delve further into the theme of double-standards, but instead, it just seemed to follow the exact same formula as it's predecessor, with the addition of sprinkled in terms like "mainsplain", and passing comments about feminism, but never any real exploration into any of these topics, or exploration into much of anything at all for long enough to make you feel something other than pure bafflement. This book has left me positively baffled.
I don't really know how to end this review, so I'm just going to pull a Molly and run away from this madness.
My main issue with this book was the fact that I did not, on any level whatsoever, feel like I understood the protagonist--her actions, her feelings, her relationships, etc.
I felt that not only Molly, but every single character was underdeveloped, which is especially disappointing, because I DO think Katie Cotugno is capable of writing good characters. In Fireworks, her third novel, I thought she did a great job at portraying flawed, complicated, realistic people--characters I found myself empathizing with, not because I agreed with all their choices, but because I understood what led them there. I was hoping this book would be similar in that aspect, but I was even more perplexed by Molly Barlow than my first go around with her.
One of the main themes in this book was Molly's supposed self-discovery, but just like in 99 Days, I didn't feel like there was even one point in which she was truly honest and upfront with herself. She seemed to be constantly switching back and forth between feelings of overwhelming guilt and borderline spite, which could've been an interesting balancing act to read about, if only she had any ounce of self-awareness, or even just one moment of clarity. Instead, she was emphatically wishy-washy.
I found the romance to be extremely underwhelming and unnecessary. It seemed as if Molly and Gabe's only point of connection was the history they shared, and I never found myself rooting for him or Ian, or really, anybody, because I felt like an outsider who didn't have enough information to feel either which way--or care, for that matter.
I was hoping 9 Days and 9 Nights would at least finish what 99 Days halfheartedly started, and delve further into the theme of double-standards, but instead, it just seemed to follow the exact same formula as it's predecessor, with the addition of sprinkled in terms like "mainsplain", and passing comments about feminism, but never any real exploration into any of these topics, or exploration into much of anything at all for long enough to make you feel something other than pure bafflement. This book has left me positively baffled.
I don't really know how to end this review, so I'm just going to pull a Molly and run away from this madness.
April 26, 2018
You know those books you finish and you wish you could have a sequel, but you also really don’t want one because you feel like it’ll get ruined? Well when that sequel ends up happening and the original story DOESN’T get ruined, it’s one of the best feelings as a reader. I’m here to confirm that totally happened for me with 9 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS. Katie Cotugno writes the messiest characters and situations that have me on the edge of my seat, anxious the whole time, and completely enthralled too. I read 99 DAYS in one sitting, way past my bedtime, and I did the same thing here (luckily a little earlier in the night though). Preamble aside... that was so fucking good. I loved it. Almost maybe more than the first one, or at least very close? Everything in Molly’s head felt so real, as it did before, and I loved every conversation that happened. It was just so authentic. I loved the ending so much too. Katie Cotugno is unbelievable.
August 22, 2018
I didn’t think this sequel was necessary. For a book that was only 260 pages it seemed to take me forever to read and made me dislike Molly a great deal. I was expecting a Europe vacation and all I go were unnecessary arguments and angst.
May 11, 2018
This book was wonderful! Such a great continuation and such a great read! I loved having Molly and Gabe back in my life!! I want more! Though I don’t think we will be getting more. Yet again, Cotugno blows me away!
Longer review coming soon!
Longer review coming soon!
June 1, 2018
*4.25
I enjoyed this book even more than 99 day though not to say that the beginning was kinda slow not going to lie. Hoping there’s another book coming out 🤞🤞
I enjoyed this book even more than 99 day though not to say that the beginning was kinda slow not going to lie. Hoping there’s another book coming out 🤞🤞
August 18, 2018
This was everything I've come to expect from a Katie Cotugno book: gritty, genuine, and full of awful truths. The situations are awkward and uncomfortable but they make you think and consider how you'd react. The characters are real and the story is honest, and even when it's depressing, it's still oddly hopeful.
April 20, 2018
MY RATING: 4.5/5 STARS
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It's been a hot minute since I read 99 days. I think it may have been released 2 years ago and if someone could fact check that for me, that would be perfect. To be honest, I don't remember what happened in 99 Days. The facts are these. I knew I enjoyed it. I knew a bunch of readers got tired of Katie's tales because it always seemed to involve a love triangle which can be boring at times. And I knew there was a lot of slut shaming involved. There were also a lot of angst, fluffy bits, and basically me appreciating the book for what it was.
So when someone tells me that 9 Days and 9 Nights is a tale about Gabe and Molly finally having a second chance, I'm like wait. What? They didn't get together in the end? Well, readers. I guess not. I guess my memory is just a tad bad. Okay. A lot. But while I was totally confused about this point, 9 Days and 9 Nights captivated me.
Captivated. Me.
Katie has this gift of writing because her writing is so realistic and addicting. I am gripped from the first page all the way to the last. Her intense dialogue sounds like things I would say when I'm angry or her character actions seem like what I would do if I were put in the same situation.
Moving along from me fangirling over Katie's talent, Molly Barlow is in a relationship. Yup. And it's not with Gabe but with a tall lanky bookish boy named Ian whom she met in her University library. Molly has completely changed herself. She follows strict planning routines and takes calculated risks because she believes chaos occurs when her spontaneous nature comes out. She's paranoid because she believes drama always follow her wherever she goes and she no longer wants any part of it. Ian sees only this side of her because Molly and Ian both have secrets and a part of their lives they don't want to share with each other.
Now, I'm not a relationship expert but this is a big no no. We kind of already know that they don't have the idealistic picture perfect healthy relationship. However, Ian is caring, considerate, and adorable. I fell in love with bookish and worldly Ian and I'm sure a bunch of readers will too. Katie writes really good love triangles after all.
What Molly doesn't expect is spotting the love of her life across the train station in a country across the world. They lock eyes. They believe it's a dream. And they don't bump into each other until later during their individual adventures in Europe. Gabe has a girlfriend as well and now they're a group of four. It can't get any more awkward.
Along their journey to self-discovery and love, Molly holds a secret really close to her heart. It killed me that she had to face everything alone and it made me furious that Gabe could be so cruel. However, it's not fair for me to point fingers. Gabe has every right to be angry and heartbroken. I'm sure if he knew, he would have called back. Heck, he would have flown to Boston to see Molly, heartbreak or no heartbreak.
Also, I just want to point out the dedication in this novel. It's about Katie's mom teaching her to be a feminist and I was like that's pretty rad but what does that have to do with anything? IT HAS TO DO WITH EVERYTHING. Molly's best friend Imogen is feminist goals and I'll leave it at that.
MY RECOMMENDATION
This book was thin but it was a good story. It made my heart flutter and I was near tears during a lot of scenes. I also really enjoyed the scenes described in the book. It felt like I was there in Europe with them. However, I wish the pacing towards the last chapter slowed down a bit. I wanted Molly to have more time to really stew in her emotions and feelings. And I wanted Gabe to do the same as well.
READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVED 99 DAYS.
December 5, 2018
Oh, how I needed this. It felt entirely different than 99 Days, though. You could definitely read this one on its own and still get the gist of the unfolded drama that took place previously.
I was taken aback initially by how different the vibe was. I mean, for starters, Molly was an entirely different Molly, more calculated and now with Ian, her boyfriend from Boston. Their planned trip to Ireland to visit Imogen is completely overturned when Gabe and his new girlfriend, Sadie, awkwardly join them.
As if there wasn’t enough drama that finished in 99 Days, the time between that and 9 Days and 9 Nights houses a whole new secret. I missed headstrong Molly, but I really ached for her and her attempt to reinvent herself. I love the realistic mess that is her life.
It was so ridiculously satisfying to get a conclusion for Molly and Gabe.
I was taken aback initially by how different the vibe was. I mean, for starters, Molly was an entirely different Molly, more calculated and now with Ian, her boyfriend from Boston. Their planned trip to Ireland to visit Imogen is completely overturned when Gabe and his new girlfriend, Sadie, awkwardly join them.
As if there wasn’t enough drama that finished in 99 Days, the time between that and 9 Days and 9 Nights houses a whole new secret. I missed headstrong Molly, but I really ached for her and her attempt to reinvent herself. I love the realistic mess that is her life.
It was so ridiculously satisfying to get a conclusion for Molly and Gabe.
August 25, 2018
I’m gonna start this with I loved this book so much! I was so scared because of how much I love these characters that I might hate this second book, but I wasn’t disappointed at all! Molly is still the most amazing character in a book ever! She reminds me of me and I can see where she is coming from with all of her actions. Everyone should read these two books and understand how amazingly strong Molly is.
Longer review to come soon!
Longer review to come soon!
April 28, 2018
We don’t deserve this book but I’m so glad we have it.
August 30, 2018
I know that 99 Days was a book that divided people mainly because of the whole love triangle and brother thing. I get it but I saw past that to a really good story. So when I found out we were getting more of Molly's story I was excited.
While on a trip to Europe with her new boyfriend, Ian, Molly runs into Gabe and his new girlfriend. Somehow they all end up going to Ireland together which was totally awkward. There was so much unresolved between Molly and Gabe, so much of it messy. And on top of that Ian and Gabe's new girlfriend were totally unaware of their history and such. Like 99 Days this wasn't always an easy read with things it hits on but that is why I liked it. I was overall happy to get closure at the end of the story for Molly.
This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
While on a trip to Europe with her new boyfriend, Ian, Molly runs into Gabe and his new girlfriend. Somehow they all end up going to Ireland together which was totally awkward. There was so much unresolved between Molly and Gabe, so much of it messy. And on top of that Ian and Gabe's new girlfriend were totally unaware of their history and such. Like 99 Days this wasn't always an easy read with things it hits on but that is why I liked it. I was overall happy to get closure at the end of the story for Molly.
This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog
May 8, 2018
I mainly picked this up because 2014 Brittany said she would read the sequel in this series. I should not have listened to her. You have to completely suspend disbelief in order to get through this completely unrealistic head-banging-inducing book. I'm usually willing to forgive that to an extent, but the main character in this book was the absolute worst. She was a total jerk to most everyone around her and faced little to no repercussions for her jerk-like ways. The ending made me want to punch things because it was so outrageous and Molly didn't deserve that tidy happily-ever-after. Thankfully, the cast of secondary characters was solid and the saving grace of this book. Go read anything by Morgan Matson or Sarah Dessen instead of this if you're wanting a realistic romance.
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