{"id":334,"date":"2025-09-30T14:23:51","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T12:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lilacly.co.za\/?p=334"},"modified":"2025-09-30T14:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T12:23:53","slug":"thanks-colleen-for-introducing-me-to-ben-kessler-book-review-november-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lilacly.co.za\/index.php\/2025\/09\/30\/thanks-colleen-for-introducing-me-to-ben-kessler-book-review-november-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanks Colleen, for Introducing Me to Ben Kessler – Book Review: November 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sigh<\/em>\u2026but the swept-off-my-feet kind. I know I said I\u2019m not a fan of romance novels, but this one – oh my god – this was the one. I\u2019ve never fallen in love with a fictional character before, but Ben Kessler completely changed that. And best of all, there\u2019s no heartbreaking plot twist that ruins him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story follows Fallon and Ben, who meet on November 9 and agree to see each other on the same date every year for five years. While living separate lives, the idea is to watch each other grow, and eventually decide if they\u2019re mature enough to pursue a relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fallon is headstrong, even though she struggles with insecurity after being permanently scarred in a fire. Meeting Ben sparks her confidence, and together they set out to chase their goals while keeping their yearly promise. It\u2019s an incredibly sweet love story – surprisingly free of the overdone \u201clet\u2019s get freaky\u201d style that often fills Colleen Hoover\u2019s books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part? Even though there is a plot twist, it doesn\u2019t make Ben a bad guy. You can never make me hate Ben Kessler. He had me laughing out loud, smiling at pages like a fool, and crumbling under his flow of sweet words. He\u2019s hands down the best fictional character I\u2019ve ever come across – funny, kind, sweet, and above all, honest<\/strong>. I adored Atlas from It Ends With Us, but Ben is simply more my type of character.
Fallon was also a great lead – understandably insecure, but witty, strong, and determined. My only frustration was that she pushed Ben away the first time. If she hadn\u2019t, things could\u2019ve unfolded so differently, sparing both of them so much hurt and devastation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ugh. I love this book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love Ben.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing about novels is the imagination they allow. And the best thing about free will is choosing to believe that characters aren\u2019t just written for each other\u2014they\u2019re written for us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sigh\u2026but the swept-off-my-feet kind. 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