Without Merit by Colleen Hoover - Restarting August 17th 2022

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. 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. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

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.

[Vivi]

Will be reading this one :)

[Shae]

Awesome :)

[Jenn]

Starting this one now :)

[Jenn]

Chapters 1-3: (view spoiler)[So Merit ends up kissing her twin sisters boyfriend and he didn't even know his girlfriend had a twin. The family dynamics in this book are very interesting. I am liking it so far but I feel bad for Merit. She's very alone in this huge family. But I can't tell if it's by choice or self-inflicted. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 4-6: (view spoiler)[ So now Luck has showed up and is throwing this family even more into chaos. But I think that his appearance will be good for Merit. Also why is Sagan with Honor? Esp when Honor said he wasn't her boyfriend. This whole family is messed up lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 7-10: (view spoiler)[ I'm so confused. If Sagan and Honor aren't dating, then why did Sagan kiss Merit when he thought she was Honor at the beginning of the book?? Also, her dad is kind of a horrible person. Well, I guess both her parents are. Sleeping with each other while the stepmother sleeps upstairs. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 10-12: (view spoiler)[ I think Sagan is right. Merit needs to sort out who she is and her issues before losing herself in someone else. Also wonder how everything with Utah is going to be settled. (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapters 13-15: (view spoiler)[ well shit that was a lot of truths dropped there. I love that the dad got arrested for trying to bury the dog. But didn't expect that about their mother. This poor family (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Finished: (view spoiler)[ I actually liked how this one came together. The fact that the dad is putting them all in therapy and not just Merit seems like a good call. Also Ioved that Moby named his puppy Dick because he wanted it to be his brother. (hide spoiler)]

[Mona]

Starting this today. Can I join you reading this?

[Shae]

Yes :) I haven’t started and there’s a few of us who were keen who I know haven’t started but will be

[Mona]

I'm up to chapter 4 and I'm not surprised that I liked the book from the beginning. It is always like this with CoHo books.
Anyway (view spoiler)[ Merit's family is so weird even Merit. I think that she got the story of the new boyfriend wrong. Maybe he is a guest of the family or related to the stepmother. Let's just see what will happen next. This story is so weird but in an interesting way I'm enjoying this so far.
(hide spoiler)]

[Danna]

On Chapter 3... is Sagan dying??!??!?

[Mona]

Danna wrote: "On Chapter 3... is Sagan dying??!??!?"

(view spoiler)[ no I don't think so. He tried to till Merit that he is not her sister boyfriend but she didn't listen. She seems stupid to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Mona]

Up to chapter 7
(view spoiler)[ I'm enjoying the family Drama way too much and now with Luck joining the family it gets better and better. Even though I can't decide if he is a good person or not. I think I don't like Merit she is so stupid and ignorant. How she couldn't discover that Sagan is living with them. (hide spoiler)]

[Mona]

Up to chapter 10
(view spoiler)[ Merit she is really pathetic I just can't understand what she did pretending to be Honor so sick. She think that her family are bad people but she is the bad one.
There is a huge family secret and that scares me so much. It always like this in CoHo books. The plot twist is always something so disastrous
(hide spoiler)]

[Mona]

up to chapter 13
(view spoiler)[
chapter 10 & 11 were too intense. I can't believe she just did that. Ok I understand that she is only 17 but that isn't an excuse for her to till other people secrets. what happens between her mother and father isn't her business even though it is wrong. I just hate her. this family wasn't doing good before but she made it worse now. (hide spoiler)]

[Mona]

Finished
What an amazing story I loved it so much and the end was so good I just hoped that by the end (view spoiler)[ Sagan would find his family or he will know any news about them. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapters 1-4: (view spoiler)[Okay, so this book is kind of starting off weird. I don't really understand how after she ends up sharing a kiss with her twins boyfriend do we know that she has a twin. That her twin has a boyfriend. And that the boyfriend had no fucking clue that his girlfriend had a twin. But is he really her sisters boyfriend? Or just a friend sort of thing? I'm so confused.

Also the whole trophy collecting is weird. I love it but it's really weird.

Aside from all of that I kind of feel really bad for Merit because her family kind of acts like she isn't there or important at all. No one should be that alone in the world. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapters 5-8: (view spoiler)[I really like Luck. Although when he showed up he definitely messed up the family's dynamics. As to why I have no idea. I don't like her step-mother she seems to be super dramatic about everything. I don't really like her sister either, or her brother, because they seem to make Merit feel bad for every decision she makes. It's her decision and she has to deal with the consequences of making them on her own. They shouldn't care about them that much. It's not hurting her or them as of right now so meh move on.

ALSO, his journal of sex-capades is weird as shit. Guys. Are. Weird.

I don't understand why Sagan is always there... is he related to them? Dating Honor even though he said he wasn't earlier? I'm so confused. Oh, and why is he living there?!?! How long has he been living there? And how the fuck did no one notice that?!?! I'm looking at you Merit. Again, I'm so confused. REALLY CONFUSED PEOPLE.

Also what is with all of their weird names: Honor, Utah, Merit, Moby?!?! But back to hating on them. Honor is a snob and I don't understand why she is "dating" Sagan but acts like that aren't. I also don't like how when Merit is sort of invited to go swimming with them..but she wasn't really invited, and she says no Honor and Utah look relieved because they don't want to hang out with her. Like why? I don't really hang out with my older brother but I do hang out with my older sister a lot. Not when we were in school though but that's because she's four years older than me. Kind of hard to do when we were never in the same school at the same time. But outside of school we still did.

I don't know how I feel about this book because this family really bugs me. I love family drama but this drama just seems really weird and makes me cringe. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapters 9-12: (view spoiler)[Wow okay. So everyone's secret is out now. Utah was kicked out of the house. Honor just calls Merit a liar and wont believe anything that she typed out.

Merit tries to kill herself by drinking a bunch of alcohol and take a shit ton of pills. I'm happy that she realized that taking 28 pills is complete terrible but I'm sad because her family had to save her from her own stupidity. She also found out her moms pills, which are the ones she stole, were placebo pills.

I'm glad that her and sagan are still sort of friends after everything that has happened but I hate how he said that he was attracted to her but that he can't be with her. I get that she really needs to figure out how to love herself and she needs to stop trying to be someone else. But still, that's like stabbing her heart unnecessarily. No one should tell someone that they were attracted to them but oh yeah they can't actually be with them... (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapters 13-16: (view spoiler)[Okay the book has improved drastically. I feel like I enjoy this family now. Yes, they are all crazy and messed up but they are highly likable and extremely enjoyable to read about.

I really like the friendships between them now especially since all of their dirty secrets are out in the open. It definitely brought everyone closer together. And of course throwing in a mention or two about puppies definitely makes me happy. I love puppies!!

The part where her dad and sagan getting arrested made me laugh so hard. All because they wanted to bury the dog next to the priest!! Seems appropriate since its known that her dad is a proud atheist.

The whole her mom didn't have cancer but made her family think she had cancer was 100% cruel. Their mom is sick and I hope she gets the help she really needs.

I also approve of the siblings spending time together and building stronger relationships with each other. 10/10 would agree. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Chapter 17-18, aka...
Finished: (view spoiler)[So sagan is kicked out of the house but lives on the property still, I think? Oh and him and Merit are now a couple, I think? Well I sure hope so with that ending.

I'm also happy that everyone in the family is doing better. I'm happy that they are all talking and working things out. Everything seems to be running smoothly.

Overall a good book, a bit slow, weird, confusing, and cringe-worthy creepy in the beginning and at least throughout half of the book. But I love Collen Hoover's books so I'm not at all disappointed with reading this. (hide spoiler)]

[Vivi]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[

This family is all kinds of crazy/weird... they're all so different, but are all kind of damaged, they all got issues...

I think the father is selfish... buying a church and moving all his family around just because of a dog?!

And the mother living in the basement... that's just crazy!

Merit is just lonely and invisible on her out-of-the-normal, disfunctional, large family. She just wants someone to notice her! Not going to school, not speaking... these are all cries for attention, but it's all going into deaf ears...

The only one that seems to really SEE Merit is ‘Honor's boyfriend‘... who actually kissed her without knowing it was her! ...

I think he's going to start liking her... we'll see... (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Alriiiight I'll be finishing this tomorrow.

[Monika]

Starting tonight or tomorrow morning :)

[Maddie]

Alright time to read more of this :D Can't wait!

[Maddie]

18% (view spoiler)[I love how Sagan noticed she didn't speak. That is such a weird drawing though! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

24% (view spoiler)[Oh wow Luck is Victoria's brother!? How weird! Why do I get the feeling now that the romance will be between Merit and Luck? Really hope there isn't a love triangle. That's one thing I love about Hoover. Really hope this book doesn't ruin that. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

80% (view spoiler)[I actually feel like not much has happened in this book. Yes, lots has been revealed, but where's the heart-stopping clenching moments, the happy grin moments, the vulnerable cry moments? And everything that has happened in terms of events has happened in the past, and it just gets revealed. Probably my least favourite book of hers. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I just knew that tattoo would be of some significance to him <3 I love all of the tattoos the guys in her books receive, as they are extremely sentimental towards the girls. Kind of wished he had written With Merit on his own body though, rather than hers. If I was Merit, no way would I be able to hold off until the Saturday to see the tattoo!

I'm really pleased with the way that all turned out :) All of the family stuff being better, and the lectures that Sagan gave her were so true. And I love Luck for giving her that form :) (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Review: I have to say, this book was a let-down for me. I actually feel like not much has happened in this book. Yes, lots has been revealed, but where's the heart-stopping clenching moments, the happy grin moments, the vulnerable cry moments? And everything that has happened in terms of events has happened in the past, and it just gets revealed. Probably my least favourite book of hers so far, which I'm disappointed with :( Been looking forward to this one.
In terms of characters, I actually really like Merit. She's relatable and realistic, getting stuck in her own world, thinking about herself and her own problems. And I really love the way she (view spoiler)[wrote that letter and ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH WITH SHOWING IT TO EVERYONE! That gave me a lot of respect for her! And the way she took the pills, is it weird that I also respected that? Means she'd have to in the end open up and tell someone what she was feeling. Did she ever tell Sagan thank you for saving her though? Hmmmm. (hide spoiler)] I cannot believe that their mother (view spoiler)[actually believed that she had cancer, and she had placebo pills to keep her alive when she wasn't even sick in the first place. All because she's too stubborn and scared and pathetic to leave the house and go to a proper doctor. Jeez. Thank gosh for those puppies! (hide spoiler)] My favourite scene in the book has to be when Moby (view spoiler)[and Merit are playing with the puppies in the backyard, and they named them Dick and Tuck :p Made me laugh. I just adore that Sagan gave yet another sentimental name to a puppy, one that isn't too obvious, but that is glaringly obvious to Merit and Sagan. Amazing. (hide spoiler)] So yes, this book definitely had its' moments, but just wasn't the one that stood out to me the most. I'm definitely still a CoHort though.

[Vivi]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[

So Luck showing up just made this family seem messier and crazier!

He is super weird (I think He may have some kind of mental issue?!), but I really like him.

I don't know what to think about Sagan... He clearly notices Merit and seems way more interessed in her then Honor, though He is with Honor.... but He said He wasn't Honor's boyfriend?!

So, what is Sagan to Honor? Why is He staying with the Voss family?!

This book is so weird!!! (Even Sagan's drawings are weird!) ... this just kinda of makes no sense!

It's bount to exist some secrets to be revelled here, so I'll keep reading and I'll try to make some sense out of all this weird craziness. (hide spoiler)]

[Vivi]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[

And the secrets are out! ... And I'm shocked!

I never expected Utah's secret - not the incestous kiss or the being gay thing....

Also, Merit's father is despicable... he's sleeping around with both Victorias - the current and the ex one... and that is just messed up!

And The mother, is she sick for real?! I mean she's taking placebos! Why?! Shouldn't she be having some form of teraphy?!

Also Honor... she clearly needs some theraphy too .... looking for relationships with only terminally ill guys is not normal!

About Luck ... He is messed up. He sleeps around with everyone like it's nothing! ... is He gay?! Bissexual?! ... I'd say he is gay. Maybe that's why sleeping around with all those girls never meant anything to him...

This is all really messed up... this family has a lot to deal with... they have a lot to apologize for and have to work on rebulding their relationships in a more honest and healthy way.

I still don't really get why Sagan kissed Merit in the beggining though?! ... since He isn't dating Honor, why would He kiss Merit thinking she was Honor?! It doesnt make sense! ... I guess we still have to find out Sagan's own story and secrets. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

All the spoilers XD

[Monika]

28% Done
(view spoiler)[ Let me start with the overall experience so far ... What a weird story to start with *EYE ROLLING*
1) Total Weird that Merit goes ahead and kisses back the guy she does not even know. REALLY???
2) Even more weird … sister’s boyfriend does not know his girlfriend has a twin sister. REALLY???
3) Weirdness continues … Why dropping school coz u kissed your sister’s boyfriend by obvious mistake. And you feel head over heels for that guy??? Bloody hell … Are you nuts???
4) Such a distorted family.
5) Too bad of Merit to tell Moby that he is almost Bastard. Really you say that to a kid of 4??? I hate Merit for that.
6) Mother stays in the basement … WHYYYYYY????
Here comes a new character Luck … seems addition to the crazy zoo … Let’s see what is wrong with him n his sister and how it goes further since he had already pictured Merit naked ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

46% Done (view spoiler)[ Why is everything confusing here? I am not really liking this family drama ... too much of actually. I really doubt that actually Sagan is dating Honor or not. Merit is so ameture. She wants to have sex just coz of Luck's statement n her father n mothers doing. Total Crazy. I just can't hold everything together here. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

65% Done (view spoiler)[ Why the hell Merit wants to look like Honor. Even better she is caught up with Sagan and he thinks that she is Honor and not Merit. And she lets him keep his wrong assumption.

No why is she so so desperate that she lunges onto Sagan to kiss him. Total crap. Are teenagers really like that ... Commo i dont think so. I have been there too.

Now talk about Sagan ... He gets to know that she is Merit n not Honor and gets all over her making out and all. And then says "You are an Asswhole" .... Really Sagan????

THE Typical Merit does not stop here, coz she has seen her father coming out of her mother's room ... she gets drunk coz she has had too much for 2 days in total and takes all the stupid pills of her mother and the drama after is a history ... Wow!!!

Explaining the storekeeper about the whole scene at her home was totally absurd (hide spoiler)]

[Vivi]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[

So, Merit tried to kill herself... she acts as if it was just a impulsive, stupid act, BUT it really could have ended her life! And that is serious! ... I wonder if she really is suffering from Depression...

Her mother, on the other hand, it seems she just believes she has social phobia or agoraphobia, since she is taking placebos, not real medication... I guess she isn't really sick?!

About Utah... I'm glad He got to tell and explain his side of what happend... I did think it happend because He didn't what to accept his sexuality... being gay.

It seems Luck is more of a pansexual than a bisexual ... I think it's great that we have this diversity in the book.

And, we Finally know Sagan's past... it's devastading and heartbreaking... I definitely wasn't expecting an refugees story here... Sagan hasn't heard from his family in Syria for 7 years! ... I guess they were imprisioned, or got killed (I hope not) ... I hope at least one of his family members is still alive and will contact him soon.

Right now, I want to know what really is going on with Merit's mother... (hide spoiler)]

[Vivi]

Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[

Okay, I'm shocked to find out Merit's mother never had cancer at all! It's all in her head... she definitely needs some help... teraphy maybe?! ... but it really is a very dificult situation...

It has been hard for Merit's father too... I'm glad this family is Finally talking about their problems, though... (hide spoiler)]

[Vivi]

Finished.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Monika]

73% Done (view spoiler)[ Now what looks like is Merit is getting close to Sagan which is the only Normal thing I have seen so far in this family. But I know he is holding back as he wants Merit to work on herself. He wants her to work on her DEPRESSION which she is not ready to accept that she is facing.

Now that Luck has given her this checklist to check if she has depression ... her mind is finally spinning about the idea.

And I guess that is pretty normal to have depression given the dis-functional family she belongs to and lives with. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

91% Done (view spoiler)[ Finally Utah took the right decision and confessed and apologized in front of the whole family to Merit.

I am so surprised to see all the secrets revealing one after the other. Why their father was holding back n keeping the whole situation about their mother hidden. Keeping quiet did not do much good to him neither to his kids. But M glad now his kids love him n respect him the way it should be.

I appreciate Merit for taking initiative and trying to patch up with Honor. No doubt she did her part as well by saying an old favorite funny swear word. I enjoyed their prank to test Sagan :)

The cute puppies part is so so nice ... I have a hope that their mother might get motivated to come out of her phobia to get close to puppies for that matter.

Wow ... Now this family feels like a family somewhat. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

Finished!!! My Review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Danna]

Which book are we reading this month?

[Monika]

Danna wrote: "Which book are we reading this month?"

I was planning for but I got quiet busy with my vacation n stuff so i did not ask for the thread. Would you like to read on anything?

[Abi]

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Reading from the 12th of January 2018

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[Vendea]

It's already over midnight here so here we go!

Chapter 1-3:
(view spoiler)[I didn't want to start this at first sine I was quite disappointed with CoHo's latest books but I decided to join a BR and give it a chance. Main character is high schooler. We learn about her "interesting" family, her obsession with trophies and misunderstanding when she kissed her twin sister's boyfriend.
Oh well... It's an easy read so far but I am not quite happy about family... it just seems like CoHo tried to create this unique family just like John Green does in his books... and I am not a fan of that.

But I am not gonna give up on Merit. She might surprise me. (hide spoiler)]

[Vendea]

Chapter 4-6:
(view spoiler)[Ugh, I really hope this gets better. I really like the way it's written, CoHo is master of that. But can we get even more surreal family and plot? I mean... come on! This one scream drama to me.
The guy Merit likes now lives with them, just as her step uncle she just met randomly in a shop and took him home. I already hate Luck.
Just as Honor - I am surprised nobody except Merit finds it weird she only goes after the guys who are almost dead... (hide spoiler)]