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Woman Down
Petra Rose era la penna d'oro della narrativa contemporanea, ma dopo il disastro della trasposizione cinematografica del suo romanzo più famoso, è diventata il bersaglio perfetto dei social. Accusata di essere una venduta e una bugiarda, ha imparato a proprie spese cosa succede quando Internet ti volta le spalle. La sua carriera è crollata e le parole, un tempo la sua salvezza, sono svanite. Ora, con un manoscritto in stallo e il conto in banca in rosso, si rifugia in una baita isolata sul lago. È un ultimo tentativo di rimettere insieme i pezzi e scrivere il libro che potrebbe salvarla. Ma la quiete del bosco viene spezzata dall'arrivo dell'affascinante detective Nathaniel Saint, che porta con sé notizie inquietanti... e qualcosa di più. La sua presenza riaccende in Petra la creatività che pensava ormai esaurita da tempo. Così, il poliziotto che vive sulla carta comincia a somigliare sempre di più a quello in carne e ossa. Le loro «sessioni di ricerca» confondono i confini tra finzione e realtà, tra attrazione e dipendenza, e la donna si scopre più viva che mai. Ma un'ispirazione così potente ha sempre un prezzo. Quando Saint inizia a prendere un po' troppo sul serio il suo ruolo nella carriera della scrittrice, lei è costretta ad affrontare il caos che ha creato. Anche se farlo potrebbe costarle ben più della reputazione che sta cercando di ricostruire. Quella che il mondo ha riscritto per lei. Quella che solo lei può rivendicare.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2026
39851 people are currently reading
119279 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Hoover
98 books768k followersInternational and #1 New York Times bestselling author of romance, YA, thriller, women's fiction and paranormal romance.
I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.
My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com
Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.
I don't like to be confined to one genre. If you put me in a box, I'll claw my way out.
My social media username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com
Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com charity and Book Bonanza.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,862 reviews
January 27, 2026
I’m so sorry but I have nothing nice to say about this book
January 14, 2026
more like Woman, put the pen Down
Want to read
September 21, 2025CoHo is writing fanfic about herself now? Wild.
February 2, 2026
my first CoHo in a LONG time!! A really good bled between thriller and a little dark romance. Quick, the right kind of weird, and super twisty up until the end! This is a fast-paced read, and if you liked Verity, I think you’ll really like this one too!
January 22, 2026
DNF at 65%. This book gave me the ick.
January 23, 2026
“…the same people making a living off of saying certain books should never have been written. And then they go on to review in detail all the reasons why the book shouldn't have been written and why the author shouldn't be an author, but then their next post is a rant about the banning of books again. Make it make sense! Which is it? Ban the books or just beat the author down until they can't write anymore?”
This is an actual quote from this book.
This is an actual quote from this book.
January 14, 2026
I felt like the beginning of this story felt very similar to a certain real life situation involving a certain movie. I also felt like it was a plea to reviewers to not be so mean. Literally like the 1st quarter of the book was about that. It was ironic that it made me feel bad for writers, yet I still cannot lie & give this book a good rating. I have enjoyed a lot of her books, but this is probably one of her worst. So if she ever reads this review, I hope she doesn’t take it personally as I still have loved many of her other books.
Someone described this as fanfic about herself and I gotta say I agree with that definition, because that is exactly how the book felt. But not in a good way. To me, I found it very boring.
The ending could have been exciting, but then it all turned out to be boring too when we find out the motives. Trying not to give too much away so saying that in a very vague way.
Overall, this was not a winner for this author. But I will still read everything new she writes!
———
Pre-read: So many bad reviews already? Idc I will still be trying this one and hoping I enjoy!
Someone described this as fanfic about herself and I gotta say I agree with that definition, because that is exactly how the book felt. But not in a good way. To me, I found it very boring.
The ending could have been exciting, but then it all turned out to be boring too when we find out the motives. Trying not to give too much away so saying that in a very vague way.
Overall, this was not a winner for this author. But I will still read everything new she writes!
———
Pre-read: So many bad reviews already? Idc I will still be trying this one and hoping I enjoy!
January 15, 2026
The author’s note saying that this book is not about her life actually annoyed me a lot. Not gonna lie. It felt like she was underestimating our intelligence. An author dealing with a scandal after a book to movie adaption??? This book is clearly ABOUT HER!! We all watched happening, Colleen. There is no way of denying this.
However, my 1 star review isn’t even about that but the fact that this book had never grabbed me. Nothing really happens for 30% of the book other than the main character (or maybe Colleen herself!) venting about her life after the scandal. I felt like the author wrote this book trying to redeem herself in the public eye, but this isn’t the place for it. DNF.
However, my 1 star review isn’t even about that but the fact that this book had never grabbed me. Nothing really happens for 30% of the book other than the main character (or maybe Colleen herself!) venting about her life after the scandal. I felt like the author wrote this book trying to redeem herself in the public eye, but this isn’t the place for it. DNF.
Want to read
January 23, 2026yeah idc ill be reading this
update: unfortunately i will actually not be reading this
update: unfortunately i will actually not be reading this
January 23, 2026
I do not even know where to start except with this: Raya, honey, you need therapy. Not a little self care and journaling. I mean professional help. Because the decision making in this book is so wild that I started questioning my own reality. You meet a man, he shows up at your cabin, scares you on purpose because he thinks that is what you want, literally attacks you, leaves marks on your body, and you are hiding in the bathroom like a frightened raccoon. And then two minutes later you are like, okay yes, let’s hook up. Ma’am. That is not tension. That is a case study.
Then the book finally drops the one piece of drama that had me sitting up. Surprise. This girl is married with kids. And I was like okay, now we have mess. I am invested. The problem is it takes half the book to get there, and once it gets there, the story still manages to get even weirder in the most pointless way. Because now the married man is acting like she is ruining his life, like he is not the one who asked for the affair. The hypocrisy was screaming. He is all “do not question me,” and I am all “run, woman, run,” because nothing about this is normal.
And just when you think it cannot get more unhinged, he shows up at the cabin again while her husband and kids are there, just to intimidate them. And then somehow it gets worse, because she is with her husband like married couples are, and this man is outside the window staring at her, and she is into it. Into it. Not afraid. Not alarmed. Just fully accepting that a stranger she met two days ago is outside her window during marital activities. That is not romantic. That is a true crime documentary.
Now let me tell you why I am mad. This book is advertised as a thriller. There is no thrill. There is confusion, there is secondhand embarrassment, there is a deep desire for the plot to become something. But thriller? No. Because the big reveal is that this man was basically hired to stalk her as “inspiration” to write a new book. That is it. He is not a detective. No one in town knows who he is. He is just a paid weirdo who pushed it too far because apparently the assignment was “be creepy,” and he said, “Say less.”
And the ending is… nothing. They confront each other. She writes the book. The end. He does not even tell the husband. And the whole “married with kids” storyline was basically smoke and mirrors. The book finishes and you are left sitting there like, what was the point of any of this? Answer: there was not one.
Also, there was a whole accident set up early on that could have been an actual twist. We never found out what happened, it just got waved away as fake. Excuse me. That could have been the plot. He could have been a murderer. It could have been accidental. It could have made her morally conflicted. It still might have been ridiculous, but at least it would have been a thriller. Instead, we got nothing. Zero. I wasted time and I cannot get it back, but I can get a video review out of it, so at least my suffering had content.
Last note. I am seeing people online calling this great and I am genuinely concerned. What crack are we smoking, and how do I get paid to join that train? Because if influencers are getting checks to lie, I would like to submit my application. This book was worse than Reminders of Him, and I said what I said.
And honestly, the real villain here is that Colleen clearly does not have friends. Because a real friend would have stopped this at chapter three. A real friend would have said, “Baby, put the laptop down. Step away from the cabin. This is not it.” A real friend would have told her, “You are too talented for this. We need to either rewrite the entire plot or we need to kill someone. Preferably someone who deserves it.”
Because I am sorry, but this book reads like everyone around you said “Yes queen” instead of “No ma’am.” And that is why Colleen, we need to connect. I will not lie to you, honey. I will not gas you up and call it a thriller when nothing thrilling happens. I will not let you send a stalker to a cabin and call it romance. I will tell you the truth, gently if possible, loudly if necessary. Verity proved you can deliver. This one proved you need an honest friend in the group chat.
Then the book finally drops the one piece of drama that had me sitting up. Surprise. This girl is married with kids. And I was like okay, now we have mess. I am invested. The problem is it takes half the book to get there, and once it gets there, the story still manages to get even weirder in the most pointless way. Because now the married man is acting like she is ruining his life, like he is not the one who asked for the affair. The hypocrisy was screaming. He is all “do not question me,” and I am all “run, woman, run,” because nothing about this is normal.
And just when you think it cannot get more unhinged, he shows up at the cabin again while her husband and kids are there, just to intimidate them. And then somehow it gets worse, because she is with her husband like married couples are, and this man is outside the window staring at her, and she is into it. Into it. Not afraid. Not alarmed. Just fully accepting that a stranger she met two days ago is outside her window during marital activities. That is not romantic. That is a true crime documentary.
Now let me tell you why I am mad. This book is advertised as a thriller. There is no thrill. There is confusion, there is secondhand embarrassment, there is a deep desire for the plot to become something. But thriller? No. Because the big reveal is that this man was basically hired to stalk her as “inspiration” to write a new book. That is it. He is not a detective. No one in town knows who he is. He is just a paid weirdo who pushed it too far because apparently the assignment was “be creepy,” and he said, “Say less.”
And the ending is… nothing. They confront each other. She writes the book. The end. He does not even tell the husband. And the whole “married with kids” storyline was basically smoke and mirrors. The book finishes and you are left sitting there like, what was the point of any of this? Answer: there was not one.
Also, there was a whole accident set up early on that could have been an actual twist. We never found out what happened, it just got waved away as fake. Excuse me. That could have been the plot. He could have been a murderer. It could have been accidental. It could have made her morally conflicted. It still might have been ridiculous, but at least it would have been a thriller. Instead, we got nothing. Zero. I wasted time and I cannot get it back, but I can get a video review out of it, so at least my suffering had content.
Last note. I am seeing people online calling this great and I am genuinely concerned. What crack are we smoking, and how do I get paid to join that train? Because if influencers are getting checks to lie, I would like to submit my application. This book was worse than Reminders of Him, and I said what I said.
And honestly, the real villain here is that Colleen clearly does not have friends. Because a real friend would have stopped this at chapter three. A real friend would have said, “Baby, put the laptop down. Step away from the cabin. This is not it.” A real friend would have told her, “You are too talented for this. We need to either rewrite the entire plot or we need to kill someone. Preferably someone who deserves it.”
Because I am sorry, but this book reads like everyone around you said “Yes queen” instead of “No ma’am.” And that is why Colleen, we need to connect. I will not lie to you, honey. I will not gas you up and call it a thriller when nothing thrilling happens. I will not let you send a stalker to a cabin and call it romance. I will tell you the truth, gently if possible, loudly if necessary. Verity proved you can deliver. This one proved you need an honest friend in the group chat.
January 22, 2026
What in the Coldplay concert was this
January 15, 2026
I’ve read better fanfics by a 13 year old
January 5, 2026
need to put my full thoughts together but this is a 3 star for me. didn’t dislike it but is not my fave of hers—hard to beat her impressive catalog!
pro tip: go in expecting a romantic suspense. this is NOT a thriller!!
what i liked: in true CoHo fashion it was a quick binge, addictive and easy to follow, had some good twists about 2/3 in and had a fun ending.
what i didn’t like: it was a bit darker/vulgar (the middle of the night and window scenes😳) than i was expecting and had a trope/plot that’s one of my least faves to read (trying to avoid spoilers). hard to get past that, but might not be an issue for others as its based on my personal reading taste
i’m really eager to see how people react to this one when it comes out 👀👀👀 Colleen starts the book off with a very clear statement, saying this is nothing about her personal life and to please do not draw any conclusions from it… but with the main character being a writer trying to work through a loooong writers block after a dramatic book adaptation it’s going to be inevitable that readers make comments about it. keep that in mind going in!! ❤️
thanks to Amazon for the gifted early copy. this is out mid Jan and is a fun quick binge!
pro tip: go in expecting a romantic suspense. this is NOT a thriller!!
what i liked: in true CoHo fashion it was a quick binge, addictive and easy to follow, had some good twists about 2/3 in and had a fun ending.
what i didn’t like: it was a bit darker/vulgar (the middle of the night and window scenes😳) than i was expecting and had a trope/plot that’s one of my least faves to read (trying to avoid spoilers). hard to get past that, but might not be an issue for others as its based on my personal reading taste
i’m really eager to see how people react to this one when it comes out 👀👀👀 Colleen starts the book off with a very clear statement, saying this is nothing about her personal life and to please do not draw any conclusions from it… but with the main character being a writer trying to work through a loooong writers block after a dramatic book adaptation it’s going to be inevitable that readers make comments about it. keep that in mind going in!! ❤️
thanks to Amazon for the gifted early copy. this is out mid Jan and is a fun quick binge!
January 14, 2026
this is NOT a thriller colleen
November 4, 2025
If Verity or Too Late are your favorite CoHo reads, this one will be your next fave! An expanded story from her novella Saint (published in 2020 in the one more step anthology) longtime fans will see familiar themes from that novella and be SO HAPPY with all of the new details.
In true Colleen fashion, each chapter is quite a time. Typically you expect the twists to hit you at the end, but Colleen sprinkles little reveals at crucial points of the book that just keep you insanely hooked. I read this book in one sitting as soon as I got it in the mail. Completely unputdownable!!!
So happy to have Colleen publishing her stories again, and I look forward to the next.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
In true Colleen fashion, each chapter is quite a time. Typically you expect the twists to hit you at the end, but Colleen sprinkles little reveals at crucial points of the book that just keep you insanely hooked. I read this book in one sitting as soon as I got it in the mail. Completely unputdownable!!!
So happy to have Colleen publishing her stories again, and I look forward to the next.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
January 15, 2026
I think this is potentially the worst Colleen Hoover book I’ve read…
She spent pages complaining about movie adaptations of books, and it was blatantly clear she was talking about it ends with us. She went into detail about how hard it is to be scrutinized as an author, again for pages and pages.
The story was bad. It felt like an excuse for her to complain about her career, and everything that happened with it ends with us. And the plot was an after thought.
I have never met a dumber fmc…
Don’t waste your time
She spent pages complaining about movie adaptations of books, and it was blatantly clear she was talking about it ends with us. She went into detail about how hard it is to be scrutinized as an author, again for pages and pages.
The story was bad. It felt like an excuse for her to complain about her career, and everything that happened with it ends with us. And the plot was an after thought.
I have never met a dumber fmc…
Don’t waste your time
January 15, 2026
Well romantic and suspense is what you'll get with this one. I thought it was pretty good. Not one dull moment and it kept flowing. Nice twist, not super jaw dropping but still tense enough to pull it through.
January 8, 2026
It’s a DNF for me. I blame myself, I went in expecting Verity, but this is more romantic suspense and I honestly rolled my eyes too much to take the MC seriously. Give this a try if you like romantic suspense, don’t if you are wanting a thriller. Also, the beginning authors note saying don’t compare this to my life, and then proceeding to write about an author dealing with a scandal after a book to movie adaption kind of annoyed me. But all this is just me! Give it a try if you like romantic suspense.
January 31, 2026
Girl, what the hell?
January 31, 2026
I only have myself to blame
Want to read
January 19, 2026The blurb is giving Verity’s unhinged older sister meta vibes ☠️
December 14, 2025
Colleen Hoover is back, baby; and she came to slay.
WOMAN DOWN is quite possibly her darkest book yet. If you thought Verity pushed the boundaries, buckle up babes because Detective Nathaniel Saint is about to ruinnnn you in entirely new ways like you’ve never expected.
We meet Petra Rose, a bestselling author grappling with intense writer’s block after a series of career controversies. Desperate for inspiration, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin to finally knock out her next novel; one centered around a dangerously attractive cop. And then, at 5 a.m., life imitates art when a very real super hot detective knocks on her door to investigate an accident in the neighborhood.
From that moment on, Woman Down doesn’t let go. It moves at a breakneck speed.
The book is packed with Colleen Hoover’s signature emotional trauma, gut wrenching heartache, and deeply layered characters whose flaws and secrets will leave you gasping as you turn the pages. This may be her first published novel in three years, but it’s crystal clear the queen has not abandoned her throne.
She absolutely wrecked me; delivering twist after twist I never saw coming, all building toward a jaw-dropping, doozy of an ending that still has me reeling. I literally just finished this book, and all I want to do is go back and read it again. That’s how fun… and traumatic, it is.
WOMAN DOWN is quite possibly her darkest book yet. If you thought Verity pushed the boundaries, buckle up babes because Detective Nathaniel Saint is about to ruinnnn you in entirely new ways like you’ve never expected.
We meet Petra Rose, a bestselling author grappling with intense writer’s block after a series of career controversies. Desperate for inspiration, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin to finally knock out her next novel; one centered around a dangerously attractive cop. And then, at 5 a.m., life imitates art when a very real super hot detective knocks on her door to investigate an accident in the neighborhood.
From that moment on, Woman Down doesn’t let go. It moves at a breakneck speed.
The book is packed with Colleen Hoover’s signature emotional trauma, gut wrenching heartache, and deeply layered characters whose flaws and secrets will leave you gasping as you turn the pages. This may be her first published novel in three years, but it’s crystal clear the queen has not abandoned her throne.
She absolutely wrecked me; delivering twist after twist I never saw coming, all building toward a jaw-dropping, doozy of an ending that still has me reeling. I literally just finished this book, and all I want to do is go back and read it again. That’s how fun… and traumatic, it is.
January 29, 2026
2 ⭐️ [i wish there were a way to unsee every single word of this nonsense!!! forget every book or character i ever called stupid...The reward for absolute ridiculousness goes to this one]
ALEXANDRA NAMED IT THE WORST COMEBACK IN AUTHOR HISTORY ‐ 😭😭😭😭😭 AND I’M STANDING RIGHT THERE WITH HER,GIRL I’M PUTTING MY SOUL BEHIND THAT STATEMENT🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏💀💀💀😓😓😓
ALEXANDRA NAMED IT THE WORST COMEBACK IN AUTHOR HISTORY ‐ 😭😭😭😭😭 AND I’M STANDING RIGHT THERE WITH HER,GIRL I’M PUTTING MY SOUL BEHIND THAT STATEMENT🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏🤏💀💀💀😓😓😓
Want to read
September 12, 2025the first para sounds a LOT like her life with the it ends with us backlash...ahhh never thought I'll be excited for a colleen hoover book but here I am
January 19, 2026
Thanks for the gifted book. Okay this is 101% romance .. I was expecting some thrills. Nope. It was torture and I’m not sure how I got 100 pages in 🫣. Also the note saying this is not about her life and to not draw those conclusions is just batshit crazy, because most of it is from her life. We all watched it happen ??? Whaaat? I was all invested in the first few chapters but then douchebag Detective dude showed up and ruined the whole book. Then I accidentally read a 1 star review which told me what the end was (Could have guessed that tho.) So DNF for me. Loved Verity and Too Late but this book is not those.
Oh I forgot but I LOVED them neighbor people - the owners of the rental 😂😂😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Oh I forgot but I LOVED them neighbor people - the owners of the rental 😂😂😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
February 15, 2026
1.5 ⭐️
“We’re up, we’re down, we’re back up, we’re down again. And sometimes, the same people who say books shouldn’t be banned are the same people making a living off of saying certain books should never have been written. And then they go on to review in detail all the reasons why the book shouldn’t have been written and why the author shouldn’t be an author, but then their next post is a rant about the banning of books again. Make it make sense! Which is it? Ban the books or just beat the author down until they can’t write anymore?”
Banning books and readers sharing honest reviews about a book couldn’t be any more different. Comparing the two is gross. This book really felt like a revenge/hate book to book reviewers/readers. I really didn’t like that tone/vibe. The plot itself was also lacking. Not a fan.
Also, the corgi hate??? Why?
“We’re up, we’re down, we’re back up, we’re down again. And sometimes, the same people who say books shouldn’t be banned are the same people making a living off of saying certain books should never have been written. And then they go on to review in detail all the reasons why the book shouldn’t have been written and why the author shouldn’t be an author, but then their next post is a rant about the banning of books again. Make it make sense! Which is it? Ban the books or just beat the author down until they can’t write anymore?”
Banning books and readers sharing honest reviews about a book couldn’t be any more different. Comparing the two is gross. This book really felt like a revenge/hate book to book reviewers/readers. I really didn’t like that tone/vibe. The plot itself was also lacking. Not a fan.
Also, the corgi hate??? Why?
February 9, 2026
I was SO excited when I learned about this release - primarily because it's been a long time since CoHo has put out a new book. However, having seen very mixed reviews I kept my expectations low and went into this blind. All I knew was that this was is a psychological thriller/romantic suspense; a genre I love!
Firstly, I would like to say I am NOT getting into any of her controversies or real-life parallels that people have pointed out. This review is solely biased upon on this book alone.
Woman Down was an addictive, twisty ‘thriller’. There was a strong sense of tension throughout the book which made me very on edge but also completely hooked. It felt like I was in a whirlwind, never sure what way was up 🌪️ I still haven’t made up my mind whether I enjoyed it or not but it was extremely compelling 👀
"But no one can truly have it all without eventually losing it all." 😈
Petra Rose, a frustrated author, packs her bags and heads for a remote hideaway to find her muse. However, what she finds will defy all expectations…and reality. In her search for inspiration, she comes across Detective Nathaniel Saint who ‘helps’ her to reignite her creativity. Her words return in an all-encompassing wave, as the very real cop begins to mirror her fictional cop character. The lines between ’research’ and reality blur pulling Petra into an intimate, powerful, and obsessive tangle. But this type of inspiration comes at a cost. Chaos comes a little too close to home. Will she salvage her reputation by standing to lose it all? 👀
"I don’t just create the character; I become her. It’s like I’m living in two worlds at once—one where I’m Petra, the struggling yet outwardly faithful wife and mother, and another where I’m whichever character I’m writing at the moment, someone who exists only on the pages of my book, unburdened by consequence." 🫣
This book was fast-paced and highly addictive! The second half was extremely bingeable, with shocking twists and turns around every corner. My heart was racing and I didn’t know what to expect next…
As for the characters. Our FMC, Petra, and MMC, Saint, were both extremely well developed and complex. They were depicted so vividly, I felt like I was watching a movie! There were also a number of great side characters. Mari was a particularly interesting, and highly irritating, character 🤨 But, Nora stole the show for me; she was probably the most sane character in the book and I really liked her role at the beginning of the book. The characters were a rollercoaster in themselves 😮💨
Aside from the thrills, my favourite thing about this book was how, as an author, Petra reflected on the writing process and the inner life of an author. As a reader, I find these types of insight fascinating and it added another level to the storyline.
"Realism is overrated. Sometimes people just want to escape into something that feels impossible, like it could never happen in real life. That’s the beauty of fiction."
Overall, this was a wild ride 🤪 It was a little insane but also extremely compelling; particularly towards the end. The last 20% really won me over! I was totally shocked and could feel HER adrenaline pumping through MY veins 😳😰🫣 With that being said, I am glad I took another chance on CoHo’s writing 👏🏽
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Firstly, I would like to say I am NOT getting into any of her controversies or real-life parallels that people have pointed out. This review is solely biased upon on this book alone.
Woman Down was an addictive, twisty ‘thriller’. There was a strong sense of tension throughout the book which made me very on edge but also completely hooked. It felt like I was in a whirlwind, never sure what way was up 🌪️ I still haven’t made up my mind whether I enjoyed it or not but it was extremely compelling 👀
"But no one can truly have it all without eventually losing it all." 😈
Petra Rose, a frustrated author, packs her bags and heads for a remote hideaway to find her muse. However, what she finds will defy all expectations…and reality. In her search for inspiration, she comes across Detective Nathaniel Saint who ‘helps’ her to reignite her creativity. Her words return in an all-encompassing wave, as the very real cop begins to mirror her fictional cop character. The lines between ’research’ and reality blur pulling Petra into an intimate, powerful, and obsessive tangle. But this type of inspiration comes at a cost. Chaos comes a little too close to home. Will she salvage her reputation by standing to lose it all? 👀
"I don’t just create the character; I become her. It’s like I’m living in two worlds at once—one where I’m Petra, the struggling yet outwardly faithful wife and mother, and another where I’m whichever character I’m writing at the moment, someone who exists only on the pages of my book, unburdened by consequence." 🫣
This book was fast-paced and highly addictive! The second half was extremely bingeable, with shocking twists and turns around every corner. My heart was racing and I didn’t know what to expect next…
As for the characters. Our FMC, Petra, and MMC, Saint, were both extremely well developed and complex. They were depicted so vividly, I felt like I was watching a movie! There were also a number of great side characters. Mari was a particularly interesting, and highly irritating, character 🤨 But, Nora stole the show for me; she was probably the most sane character in the book and I really liked her role at the beginning of the book. The characters were a rollercoaster in themselves 😮💨
Aside from the thrills, my favourite thing about this book was how, as an author, Petra reflected on the writing process and the inner life of an author. As a reader, I find these types of insight fascinating and it added another level to the storyline.
"Realism is overrated. Sometimes people just want to escape into something that feels impossible, like it could never happen in real life. That’s the beauty of fiction."
Overall, this was a wild ride 🤪 It was a little insane but also extremely compelling; particularly towards the end. The last 20% really won me over! I was totally shocked and could feel HER adrenaline pumping through MY veins 😳😰🫣 With that being said, I am glad I took another chance on CoHo’s writing 👏🏽
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟
did-not-finish
January 24, 2026DNF @ 66%
Wattpad girlies, we are so back!!!
Read this if you love:
👮🏻♂️ cop love interests
💋 cheating
👯♀️ besties who lie to each other
💻 trashy authors writing about fictional trashy authors
👶🏻 immature 30 something FMCs who read like they're 10-15 years younger
High key this reads like something that belongs on Wattpad and shouldn't have been traditionally published. But then again, you don't get in the way of a literary genius like CoHo.
Idk how I even made it this far tbh. This was fucking stupid. I thought that this was going to be amusing in a trashy kind of way, but it just ended up being stupid trashy. I skimmed through the last few chapters, and it was even trashier than I could imagine. The plot twist sucked. My god.
Also, why did I give Verity 5 stars? Wtf was wrong with me in 2021? Motherfucking COVID got to my brain istg
Wattpad girlies, we are so back!!!
Read this if you love:
👮🏻♂️ cop love interests
💋 cheating
👯♀️ besties who lie to each other
💻 trashy authors writing about fictional trashy authors
👶🏻 immature 30 something FMCs who read like they're 10-15 years younger
High key this reads like something that belongs on Wattpad and shouldn't have been traditionally published. But then again, you don't get in the way of a literary genius like CoHo.
Idk how I even made it this far tbh. This was fucking stupid. I thought that this was going to be amusing in a trashy kind of way, but it just ended up being stupid trashy. I skimmed through the last few chapters, and it was even trashier than I could imagine. The plot twist sucked. My god.
Also, why did I give Verity 5 stars? Wtf was wrong with me in 2021? Motherfucking COVID got to my brain istg
February 13, 2026
I hated the book while reading it. I basically hated the main FMC and almost every character in the book. However, the thrill is there and the ending did something better for the story.
The husband didn’t seem real. I feel bad.
The husband didn’t seem real. I feel bad.
January 13, 2026
I hate this book.
I have read ALL of colleen's books and can say I am a fan enough. I was excited for a release since her hiatus but this is worst one she has written. Thriller is not her thing. I noticed a trajectory-hoover hit a peak at it ends with us and dropped so far down hill with her recents like heart bones, reminders of him, and now...this. I genuinely am baffled she thought to publish this- it's giving money grab. The common issue is that her latest releases lack depth her earlier releases have.
The premise for "woman down" is just...bad. I dont know if she's trying to relate to the century intentionally but her age is showing and it's giving a millennial (or boomer in this case) trying to relate to gen Z. it blurs the lines too much between (colleen's) real life and fiction.
It's a freaking self insert! girl be so for real: "this isn't about me, the character is so different from me" the projection is showing. not writing a book for 2 years since the cancellation of the adaptation blah blah literally having the same title of what's supposed to be a FICTIONAL book. [colleen speaking through] Petra says, "this book is personal. I feel the need to read every review about it because so much of it was drawn from my own experience" HONEY WAIT TIL YOU READ MINE!
I'm so irked by the lust im not even gonna call it a romance. what do you mean a cop is showing up to her house 1) after hours 2) out of uniform and just kissing her after this being the second time talking to her. both weirdos. there was also nothing "sexy" about her being brutalized in the middle of the night. the only thing I can still say is colleen is still good at plot twists (Shepard) but I did already predict the connection to Nora. I think there's also a plot hole because didn't Nora know Petra was kissing/hooking up with a cop and she knew that cop was Saint???
Colleen is also trying this new narrative thing where she starts a chapter with the end of the last chapter. I enjoyed it the first time when it contradicted each other: "it was dark" to "it was light" but she kept doing it and was repeating what she said instead of adding something new. over it.
And to top it all off, the ending was terrible.
I have not given a book a genuine one star in a long time (minus haley Pham) but this deserves it. Will I still be getting a copy for my shelf? yes. Will I still be reading every book by hoover? yes, 13 year old me has committed.
edit: I really dont want to put this on my damn shelf
I have read ALL of colleen's books and can say I am a fan enough. I was excited for a release since her hiatus but this is worst one she has written. Thriller is not her thing. I noticed a trajectory-hoover hit a peak at it ends with us and dropped so far down hill with her recents like heart bones, reminders of him, and now...this. I genuinely am baffled she thought to publish this- it's giving money grab. The common issue is that her latest releases lack depth her earlier releases have.
The premise for "woman down" is just...bad. I dont know if she's trying to relate to the century intentionally but her age is showing and it's giving a millennial (or boomer in this case) trying to relate to gen Z. it blurs the lines too much between (colleen's) real life and fiction.
It's a freaking self insert! girl be so for real: "this isn't about me, the character is so different from me" the projection is showing. not writing a book for 2 years since the cancellation of the adaptation blah blah literally having the same title of what's supposed to be a FICTIONAL book. [colleen speaking through] Petra says, "this book is personal. I feel the need to read every review about it because so much of it was drawn from my own experience" HONEY WAIT TIL YOU READ MINE!
I'm so irked by the lust im not even gonna call it a romance. what do you mean a cop is showing up to her house 1) after hours 2) out of uniform and just kissing her after this being the second time talking to her. both weirdos. there was also nothing "sexy" about her being brutalized in the middle of the night. the only thing I can still say is colleen is still good at plot twists (Shepard) but I did already predict the connection to Nora. I think there's also a plot hole because didn't Nora know Petra was kissing/hooking up with a cop and she knew that cop was Saint???
Colleen is also trying this new narrative thing where she starts a chapter with the end of the last chapter. I enjoyed it the first time when it contradicted each other: "it was dark" to "it was light" but she kept doing it and was repeating what she said instead of adding something new. over it.
And to top it all off, the ending was terrible.
I have not given a book a genuine one star in a long time (minus haley Pham) but this deserves it. Will I still be getting a copy for my shelf? yes. Will I still be reading every book by hoover? yes, 13 year old me has committed.
edit: I really dont want to put this on my damn shelf
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