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Hello, Dove
There's no end to the age of innocence until the first rebellious step is taken.
Blindly following the road she was set upon, Genevieve Rowlen keeps her focus where she's told to--only on the light. But darkness exists on the other side of all she's known, and it's effectively luring Genevieve to all the discoveries it has waiting for her.
Before Genevieve can uncover her life's purpose, she must first find the nature of her own soul.
Blindly following the road she was set upon, Genevieve Rowlen keeps her focus where she's told to--only on the light. But darkness exists on the other side of all she's known, and it's effectively luring Genevieve to all the discoveries it has waiting for her.
Before Genevieve can uncover her life's purpose, she must first find the nature of her own soul.
- GenresDark RomanceDarkRomance
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2021
11 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Dowell
4 books84 followersJust a writer that reads, and a reader that writes. An author that's inspired by other incredible authors, and who hopes to inspire through her stories because it's other stories that have inspired her.
A wife, a mother, and an old-soul that feeds off fiction.
A wife, a mother, and an old-soul that feeds off fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 19, 2021
I think the best books are written in a flood of emotional catharsis, and that's the first thing I noticed about Hello, Dove. It feels like a purge from the author's heart, a story that fluttered within and demanded release. This novel tackles legitimate issues that arise from being raised in a rigid religious environment. People pleasing habits, forced expectations, and the burden of being locked into a life that was chosen for you….
Dowell expertly showcases Genevieve's doubts and insecurities, and we feel her quiet desperation. Enter Othello, and her entire universe changes. A violent and brutal man, but authentic to the core, unapologetic and intent on walking Genevieve down a more independent path. He teaches her viciousness, sensuality, and to embrace desire and depravity in equal measure.
For this reader, the central theme of the novel is liberation. The House of Sarris and those who dwell within represent a taste of freedom that Genevieve has never experienced before. She feels alive among them. Her soul is liberated.
The final act is about unearthing familial secrets, exposing hypocrisy, and the prose soars as Dowell navigates the unraveling of false perfection in favor of authenticity.
Genevieve lived her life in a cage. She was a dove with clipped wings forced to behave against her will for the benefit of others, not allowed to question the bars around her, imprisoned by family, church, and imposed beliefs. This is the story of that same dove learning to spread her blood-speckled white wings, shatter that cage door, and fly as far as her dreams take her. And it is a beautiful flight to witness …
Dowell expertly showcases Genevieve's doubts and insecurities, and we feel her quiet desperation. Enter Othello, and her entire universe changes. A violent and brutal man, but authentic to the core, unapologetic and intent on walking Genevieve down a more independent path. He teaches her viciousness, sensuality, and to embrace desire and depravity in equal measure.
For this reader, the central theme of the novel is liberation. The House of Sarris and those who dwell within represent a taste of freedom that Genevieve has never experienced before. She feels alive among them. Her soul is liberated.
The final act is about unearthing familial secrets, exposing hypocrisy, and the prose soars as Dowell navigates the unraveling of false perfection in favor of authenticity.
Genevieve lived her life in a cage. She was a dove with clipped wings forced to behave against her will for the benefit of others, not allowed to question the bars around her, imprisoned by family, church, and imposed beliefs. This is the story of that same dove learning to spread her blood-speckled white wings, shatter that cage door, and fly as far as her dreams take her. And it is a beautiful flight to witness …
April 12, 2022
"I questioned things more now than ever before. I was spiraling down this aware state of everything, blinding film slowly being removed from my eyes day by day".
Genevieve Rowlen has spent her 23 years living a sheltered life and doing what has always been expected of her. Confined to the barriers set by her family and religion, she can't help but have this feeling of emptiness. Something unidentified lacking in her life. When she returns home from college, she begins to fall back into routine. Then fate throws her a curveball when she is put in the presence of Othello Sarris. As their interactions become more frequent, Gene feels herself breaking free from the constraints set upon her. With newfound freedom and discoveries of her body and soul, she continues to be drawn to the house of Sarris and the people who occupy it. Her experiences ignite a fire in her that takes a life of it's own and Gene can finally see the world for all that it is and what it can offer.
"New things lead to further curiosity, don't they?"
I went into Hello Dove by word of mouth alone. I wholeheartedly understand why so many people fell in love with this book! I can easily say it is one of my favorite stories and is absolute perfection. So many lines hit me hard and it's full of memorable quotes that I can't stop sharing. There was a handful of characters I fell in love with and could rave about, including Nancy (We all need a Nancy in our lives), but Gene is someone I think we could all resonate with. Maybe not the same circumstances but most certainly the questions and feelings we have for ourselves. Her character arc was magnificent. The naive and innocent Gene you're introduced to vs. the Gene in the end left me with goosebumps and a tearful smile . The writing is not only descriptive, beautiful and passionate but the story itself gives me all the goodies I look for in a great read. Raw, grisly, and erotic with a touch of love, violence and mystery. I have been reflecting for days on this story and highly recommend. I am ready to dive into everything Gillian Dowell has to offer. Bravo!
Genevieve Rowlen has spent her 23 years living a sheltered life and doing what has always been expected of her. Confined to the barriers set by her family and religion, she can't help but have this feeling of emptiness. Something unidentified lacking in her life. When she returns home from college, she begins to fall back into routine. Then fate throws her a curveball when she is put in the presence of Othello Sarris. As their interactions become more frequent, Gene feels herself breaking free from the constraints set upon her. With newfound freedom and discoveries of her body and soul, she continues to be drawn to the house of Sarris and the people who occupy it. Her experiences ignite a fire in her that takes a life of it's own and Gene can finally see the world for all that it is and what it can offer.
"New things lead to further curiosity, don't they?"
I went into Hello Dove by word of mouth alone. I wholeheartedly understand why so many people fell in love with this book! I can easily say it is one of my favorite stories and is absolute perfection. So many lines hit me hard and it's full of memorable quotes that I can't stop sharing. There was a handful of characters I fell in love with and could rave about, including Nancy (We all need a Nancy in our lives), but Gene is someone I think we could all resonate with. Maybe not the same circumstances but most certainly the questions and feelings we have for ourselves. Her character arc was magnificent. The naive and innocent Gene you're introduced to vs. the Gene in the end left me with goosebumps and a tearful smile . The writing is not only descriptive, beautiful and passionate but the story itself gives me all the goodies I look for in a great read. Raw, grisly, and erotic with a touch of love, violence and mystery. I have been reflecting for days on this story and highly recommend. I am ready to dive into everything Gillian Dowell has to offer. Bravo!
dnf
March 30, 2023Dnf @ 56%
I’m ashamed to admit I got this far despite the heroine’s doormat behavior annoying TF out of me — and the fact that the author used the purplest of purple prose I’ve ever seen to describe EVERY. SINGLE. THING! — just because I wanted more Othello/Gene/Adam scenes. 🤦🏻♀️
But this is escalating, and I can’t take it anymore.
I’m ashamed to admit I got this far despite the heroine’s doormat behavior annoying TF out of me — and the fact that the author used the purplest of purple prose I’ve ever seen to describe EVERY. SINGLE. THING! — just because I wanted more Othello/Gene/Adam scenes. 🤦🏻♀️
But this is escalating, and I can’t take it anymore.
May 30, 2025
While I do not read romanceish novels I thoroughly enjoyed Hello, Dove. Hello, Dove is a hauntingly emotional exploration of identity, expectation, and rebellion. At its center is Genevieve, a woman shackled by societal norms and family obligations, who slowly begins to unravel the layers of who she is versus who she’s been told to be.
Through vivid prose and striking symbolism, Dowell crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Hello, Dove is not just a great story—it’s an awakening. Also, a fan of the cover art. For all you romance readers out there, go add this to your TBR and thank me later.
Through vivid prose and striking symbolism, Dowell crafts a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Hello, Dove is not just a great story—it’s an awakening. Also, a fan of the cover art. For all you romance readers out there, go add this to your TBR and thank me later.
May 19, 2022
Gillian Dowell’s HELLO, DOVE is quite possibly the best intersection of gothic story telling and contemporary literature.
Thematically, it’s timeless; duality, awakening, dark and foreboding tempests lurking beneath a fragile veneer, just as we’ve come to know and love from our classic literary forebearers like Wilde or The Brontës exist all throughout this book, but in a late 20th century setting. The subtlety of the sometimes anachronistic dialogue hones that gothic feel without it coming across as trite or too melodramatic.
Every symbolic detail you notice (or don’t notice) is deliberately placed and you can see the path to the end of the story if you know where—and how—to look. (Pay attention to the names of people in all of her books; actually, pay attention to every single detail you can).
Gillian is undoubtedly the best contemporary author today and you’re fucking up if you’re not buying and reading her books.
Thematically, it’s timeless; duality, awakening, dark and foreboding tempests lurking beneath a fragile veneer, just as we’ve come to know and love from our classic literary forebearers like Wilde or The Brontës exist all throughout this book, but in a late 20th century setting. The subtlety of the sometimes anachronistic dialogue hones that gothic feel without it coming across as trite or too melodramatic.
Every symbolic detail you notice (or don’t notice) is deliberately placed and you can see the path to the end of the story if you know where—and how—to look. (Pay attention to the names of people in all of her books; actually, pay attention to every single detail you can).
Gillian is undoubtedly the best contemporary author today and you’re fucking up if you’re not buying and reading her books.
August 20, 2021
If you follow my reviews you know horror and fantasy (and sci-fi to some degree) are my favourite genres.
That doesn’t mean I don’t venture outside of those two, just that when I do they normally don’t rise to the top of my favourite books.
Enter “Hello, Dove”.
“There had to be more to life. I had to know why I was feeling so empty when I knew all too well that I was full of questions.”
“Hello, Dove” is a romance, one with a really amazing love story. True, it’s a dark romance with a mystery hidden behind it, but a romance nonetheless.
And I loved it.
It tells the story of Genevieve, a young woman just returned home from college, who always lived a quiet and sheltered life, mostly because of the way her parents raised her and her younger brother. Not only were they protective of them, but as a Minister of the local church her father always demanded a certain posture and attitude.
Her only solace is her relationship with her brother, her support and her rock, and whom her parents see as the perfect son.
After leaving work one night, Genevieve enters a party looking for a friend, and she couldn’t possibly imagine how her life, both present and past, would change.
And the secrets that night would unveil.
“Sometimes you need to bare your teeth. And sometimes, that means you need to break some.”
Gillian Dowell's depiction of the struggles of a young woman caught between her religious upbringing and the rebellious ways of the 80s is superb and one of the things that made me really enjoy this novel. We are presented with a cast of characters that are not just real, but alive. You'll care for them as if they're your old friends, you’ll hurt when they hurt, and you'll suffer for their secrets as if you're the one they told them to.
Even the most secondary characters will evoke some feeling from you. And, even if it takes some time, things will be revealed and everything will be turned upside down.
I mentioned there's a mystery hidden in this love story.
You may see it coming earlier than expected or maybe you’ll just notice it when you're supposed to.
Either way, it will still find ways to catch you off guard, creep inside you, and break your heart.
“‘Everyone who does evil hates the light,” he recited passionately from the book of John, “and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.’”
As I said, I’m usually not one for this kind of book.
However, if this is any indication of what I’ve been missing, I guess I need to expand my horizons and look for more.
One thing is certain, I surely mean to pick Gillian Dowell’s other books.
And if you're waiting to get “Hello, Dove”, just do it.
Because every minute you wait is another minute without this amazing story in your life.
That doesn’t mean I don’t venture outside of those two, just that when I do they normally don’t rise to the top of my favourite books.
Enter “Hello, Dove”.
“There had to be more to life. I had to know why I was feeling so empty when I knew all too well that I was full of questions.”
“Hello, Dove” is a romance, one with a really amazing love story. True, it’s a dark romance with a mystery hidden behind it, but a romance nonetheless.
And I loved it.
It tells the story of Genevieve, a young woman just returned home from college, who always lived a quiet and sheltered life, mostly because of the way her parents raised her and her younger brother. Not only were they protective of them, but as a Minister of the local church her father always demanded a certain posture and attitude.
Her only solace is her relationship with her brother, her support and her rock, and whom her parents see as the perfect son.
After leaving work one night, Genevieve enters a party looking for a friend, and she couldn’t possibly imagine how her life, both present and past, would change.
And the secrets that night would unveil.
“Sometimes you need to bare your teeth. And sometimes, that means you need to break some.”
Gillian Dowell's depiction of the struggles of a young woman caught between her religious upbringing and the rebellious ways of the 80s is superb and one of the things that made me really enjoy this novel. We are presented with a cast of characters that are not just real, but alive. You'll care for them as if they're your old friends, you’ll hurt when they hurt, and you'll suffer for their secrets as if you're the one they told them to.
Even the most secondary characters will evoke some feeling from you. And, even if it takes some time, things will be revealed and everything will be turned upside down.
I mentioned there's a mystery hidden in this love story.
You may see it coming earlier than expected or maybe you’ll just notice it when you're supposed to.
Either way, it will still find ways to catch you off guard, creep inside you, and break your heart.
“‘Everyone who does evil hates the light,” he recited passionately from the book of John, “and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.’”
As I said, I’m usually not one for this kind of book.
However, if this is any indication of what I’ve been missing, I guess I need to expand my horizons and look for more.
One thing is certain, I surely mean to pick Gillian Dowell’s other books.
And if you're waiting to get “Hello, Dove”, just do it.
Because every minute you wait is another minute without this amazing story in your life.
November 22, 2022
A thought-provoking tale that will leave an indelible mark on your heart.
There are only a handful of books out there that will leave you with that poignant feeling of longing once you’ve finished the last page—and Hello, Dove is one of them. It’s one of those clutch the kindle to your chest types of stories when all is said and done, and for that, it’s easily one of my top reads of 2021 (if not ever!).
Gillian Dowell has created a beautiful spider web of a story, with the main character Genevieve’s journey of self-discovery at the very heart of it all. Genevieve’s circumstances depict a woman that’s fenced in to a path that’s been laid out for her by everyone around her, but there’s just something about that violent turmoil beneath that quiet, placid exterior that just about every human on this earth can relate to. Her journey perfectly captures the age old question of exterior expectation versus interior sense of self—and witnessing Genevieve’s unfolding is like watching butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. (Or a dove emerging from a cage!)
Every character along her journey is driven by a powerful sense of purpose, and as a result they really do come to life and set up camp in your brain (where they will live rent-free, of course). The romance is breath-taking, the dialogue impossible to forget and the emotional tension off the charts.
With Hello, Dove, Dowell has tapped into the primal subconscious, wrangling the transformation from growing pains to liberation into novel form. Every aspect of the story explores that push and pull between dark and light, pleasure and pain, sin and morality—and for that, it resonates on a level that will have me thinking about this book whenever I have a spare moment.
In other words, Gillian Dowell has another life-time reader.
There are only a handful of books out there that will leave you with that poignant feeling of longing once you’ve finished the last page—and Hello, Dove is one of them. It’s one of those clutch the kindle to your chest types of stories when all is said and done, and for that, it’s easily one of my top reads of 2021 (if not ever!).
Gillian Dowell has created a beautiful spider web of a story, with the main character Genevieve’s journey of self-discovery at the very heart of it all. Genevieve’s circumstances depict a woman that’s fenced in to a path that’s been laid out for her by everyone around her, but there’s just something about that violent turmoil beneath that quiet, placid exterior that just about every human on this earth can relate to. Her journey perfectly captures the age old question of exterior expectation versus interior sense of self—and witnessing Genevieve’s unfolding is like watching butterfly emerge from a chrysalis. (Or a dove emerging from a cage!)
Every character along her journey is driven by a powerful sense of purpose, and as a result they really do come to life and set up camp in your brain (where they will live rent-free, of course). The romance is breath-taking, the dialogue impossible to forget and the emotional tension off the charts.
With Hello, Dove, Dowell has tapped into the primal subconscious, wrangling the transformation from growing pains to liberation into novel form. Every aspect of the story explores that push and pull between dark and light, pleasure and pain, sin and morality—and for that, it resonates on a level that will have me thinking about this book whenever I have a spare moment.
In other words, Gillian Dowell has another life-time reader.
January 8, 2022
I needed a day or so to think about this book after I finished it.
A raw piece of streaming of conscience, filled to the top with what it means to be true to oneself and how to break cicles of abuse and lies whilst allowing oneself to find love and safety, even in the most unfamilliar places.
Hello, Dove, is incredibly well written, with powerful phrases and an exciting plot, one that you cannot predict until you finish it. It was a great experience to read it and fall in love with the characters- the ones worthy of it. And as much as it is heartbreaking, it is also hopeful, to every single one of us searching for answers.
A raw piece of streaming of conscience, filled to the top with what it means to be true to oneself and how to break cicles of abuse and lies whilst allowing oneself to find love and safety, even in the most unfamilliar places.
Hello, Dove, is incredibly well written, with powerful phrases and an exciting plot, one that you cannot predict until you finish it. It was a great experience to read it and fall in love with the characters- the ones worthy of it. And as much as it is heartbreaking, it is also hopeful, to every single one of us searching for answers.
November 18, 2022
(Re-read November 2022)
Hello, Dove by Gillian Dowell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hello, favorite book of 2021 🤍🕊
“ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟꜱᴇ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ."
Firstly, Gillian has the most beautiful poetic flow and her words consumed me entirely... blew me away really. At first, I milked this story so that I could savor it for as long as possible, but hell! It was so very hard to do that...torture yet pure ecstasy.
It is pretty wild just how deeply connected I felt to this book without even ever experiencing a single thing the main character, Genevieve had gone through. We travel down a whirlwind path of self-acceptance and soul searching while entering a world of dark romance set in 1982. I have to say this was the most beautiful dark romance I've ever read. The way Gillian also wrote the men in this story, their strong-willed roles, their authority over the MC had the most angelic-like hold over me.
I adored Genevieve and her character development. 22, a preacher's daughter with such a lost and scarred soul that you couldn't help but feel and cheer for, and her time in and out of The House of Sarris leaves the reader to ponder on many life lessons that will stick with you.
When I finished I was left absolutely wrecked and gutted. This was my first book by Dowell and am 100% under her writing spell. I wholeheartedly loved every moment of Hello, Dove.
Hello, Dove by Gillian Dowell
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hello, favorite book of 2021 🤍🕊
“ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙʏ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟꜱᴇ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ."
Firstly, Gillian has the most beautiful poetic flow and her words consumed me entirely... blew me away really. At first, I milked this story so that I could savor it for as long as possible, but hell! It was so very hard to do that...torture yet pure ecstasy.
It is pretty wild just how deeply connected I felt to this book without even ever experiencing a single thing the main character, Genevieve had gone through. We travel down a whirlwind path of self-acceptance and soul searching while entering a world of dark romance set in 1982. I have to say this was the most beautiful dark romance I've ever read. The way Gillian also wrote the men in this story, their strong-willed roles, their authority over the MC had the most angelic-like hold over me.
I adored Genevieve and her character development. 22, a preacher's daughter with such a lost and scarred soul that you couldn't help but feel and cheer for, and her time in and out of The House of Sarris leaves the reader to ponder on many life lessons that will stick with you.
When I finished I was left absolutely wrecked and gutted. This was my first book by Dowell and am 100% under her writing spell. I wholeheartedly loved every moment of Hello, Dove.
July 19, 2021
“The line between reckless and brave was one that I couldn’t find.” This book was everything I’ve been searching for; memorable quotes, lovable characters, and shocking scenes. If you thought Gillian had reached her peak with Paracosm, think again. Hello, Dove takes all the elements we’ve come to love and ratchets up the tension and romance, leading me to believe that the sky’s the limit for this talented author. For those new to Gillian’s work, there’s a reason her last name is Dowell, because you’ll be hanging on to every word.
February 14, 2025
The first thing I have to say about this book is that I absolutely love the cover art. When I was looking at the author’s books attempting to decide which one I would try first it was the cover that had mesmerized me.
Not quite the book that I thought it was going to be. It’s a Dark Romance, erotic and porn like at times novel with some mystery thrown in, where I somehow misjudged and thought it was going to be more of a Dark Gothic Horror thing. Oh well, although not really my kind of book it was a pretty engaging story for a while. Possibly dragged out a bit too much because after I realized what I got myself into I was looking for it to all end soon. Seems like it’s worth 3.5 stars if that’s the type of thing you are into.
The ending chapters of the book leading up to the big reveal / conclusion seemed like a hot mess to me. Left me flat and kept my rating where it is, I Can’t say that I had much feeling for it.
Not quite the book that I thought it was going to be. It’s a Dark Romance, erotic and porn like at times novel with some mystery thrown in, where I somehow misjudged and thought it was going to be more of a Dark Gothic Horror thing. Oh well, although not really my kind of book it was a pretty engaging story for a while. Possibly dragged out a bit too much because after I realized what I got myself into I was looking for it to all end soon. Seems like it’s worth 3.5 stars if that’s the type of thing you are into.
The ending chapters of the book leading up to the big reveal / conclusion seemed like a hot mess to me. Left me flat and kept my rating where it is, I Can’t say that I had much feeling for it.
July 26, 2024
This book should come with a notice giving out a height requirement for the emotional rollercoaster that lies between its pages.
Hello, Dove, hit me in all the feels.
It stuck a knife into me and twisted with every little new detail and revelation that the main character uncovered about the world and herself.
This is a good character study in a caged bird being let free for the first time.
It was a lot of fun to read and if you want to embark on a journey of defiance and self-discovery, pick this up!
Hello, Dove, hit me in all the feels.
It stuck a knife into me and twisted with every little new detail and revelation that the main character uncovered about the world and herself.
This is a good character study in a caged bird being let free for the first time.
It was a lot of fun to read and if you want to embark on a journey of defiance and self-discovery, pick this up!
October 2, 2023
Brilliant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
These words are a masterpiece strung together in the most perfect way!
Read it. Share it. Rate it.
You won’t regret picking this as your next read.
These words are a masterpiece strung together in the most perfect way!
Read it. Share it. Rate it.
You won’t regret picking this as your next read.
March 13, 2023
HOLY FCKING SHIT.
Okay.
There is no way I could summarize this books because there is just SO MUCH to tell, and I fell like part of the reading experience with this particular one is going in with minimal information and not really knowing what you'll get - because in a way, that's also what happends to the MC.
The writing is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I have never highlighted so much in a book.
I was crying at so many passages.
That being said.
spoilers ISH below.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FFFFFF (in a POSITIVE WAY!!!)
This one hit my gut and soul and I think it will never leave.
This is for all the eldest daughters out there. I know Gen is in a religious family and there is this whole extra layer of religion and the expectations set in that environment. BUT. Hear me out.
Her inner dialogue and the way she erases herself to please her family and the expectations set around her 'role' in the family REALLY spoke to me as the oldest daughter.
Also, I think in general, as a young woman, this book is a MUST read.
Because even if you peel away the layer of religious discourse, the themes are universal for women in our day and age - and I feel like it's a liberating read, it's the kind of thing I wish I had read when I was 18 when I moved away from everything I had known up until that moment and felt guilty for YEARS about it.
In a way, my personal journey really matched 'Dove' - so I guess I felt particularly connected to her and the way she is constantly thinking and tearing herself apart.
ALSO, the PLOTWIST?
I will not say anything about it but BOYYY I was on the edge of my seat.
AND THOSE LAST FEW PAGES TORE MY HEART APART.
GOSH.
Sidenote, ADAM.
I know Othello is Dove's serpent... but ADAM.
When they were together, all 3, THE TENSION, the PASSION - even when what they were doing wasn't inherently sexual GOSH I was melting.
JUST GO READ THIS BOOK.
Okay.
There is no way I could summarize this books because there is just SO MUCH to tell, and I fell like part of the reading experience with this particular one is going in with minimal information and not really knowing what you'll get - because in a way, that's also what happends to the MC.
The writing is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I have never highlighted so much in a book.
I was crying at so many passages.
That being said.
spoilers ISH below.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FFFFFF (in a POSITIVE WAY!!!)
This one hit my gut and soul and I think it will never leave.
This is for all the eldest daughters out there. I know Gen is in a religious family and there is this whole extra layer of religion and the expectations set in that environment. BUT. Hear me out.
Her inner dialogue and the way she erases herself to please her family and the expectations set around her 'role' in the family REALLY spoke to me as the oldest daughter.
Also, I think in general, as a young woman, this book is a MUST read.
Because even if you peel away the layer of religious discourse, the themes are universal for women in our day and age - and I feel like it's a liberating read, it's the kind of thing I wish I had read when I was 18 when I moved away from everything I had known up until that moment and felt guilty for YEARS about it.
In a way, my personal journey really matched 'Dove' - so I guess I felt particularly connected to her and the way she is constantly thinking and tearing herself apart.
ALSO, the PLOTWIST?
I will not say anything about it but BOYYY I was on the edge of my seat.
AND THOSE LAST FEW PAGES TORE MY HEART APART.
GOSH.
Sidenote, ADAM.
I know Othello is Dove's serpent... but ADAM.
When they were together, all 3, THE TENSION, the PASSION - even when what they were doing wasn't inherently sexual GOSH I was melting.
JUST GO READ THIS BOOK.
June 6, 2022
I came into this story blind (as the synopsis doesn't give much away); let's just say I might have found a new favorite indie book to add to my growing collection. Dowell weaves an incredible tale of a girl who is trying to find herself and discovers there is more to her life than what she could ever thought was possible. Seeing Genevieve transform into a sheltered, scared young woman into something resembling independent and strong was inspiring. All of the characters were well written (my personal favorites being Genevieve, Othello & Adam); definitely loved some and hated others to your core. I really enjoyed the twist that came about halfway through and its thrilling conclusion was made even more...wow. Dowell is an extremely talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her works in the future.
March 5, 2023
absolutely fell in love with this book from the moment "hello, Dove" graced the page. An emotional tale about a girl who follows the line of her dictated life. Breadcrumbs bring her to an unlikely reflection of her father's castle into the arms of freedom and truth. Beautifully written and characters that could be felt even after I put the book down. Dark and full of twists and turns, it bit my heart. A book I won't soon forget.
January 28, 2024
I cannot deal with my emotions right now. This was wonderful! As soon as I thought I figured one thing out, I was wrong 😆 and was met with yet another twist. My heart. Mannnn. It’s rare I’m left speechless, but admittedly I have little words for the many emotions fervently coursing through me. So here are five emojis instead: 😲😈😱😭🥰. Read this. It’s one you don’t know you need until you do. 🖤
September 27, 2024
I’m not sure I’ve recovered. I’m not sure I ever will. “Hello, Dove” by Gillian Dowell is one of the most evocative, staggering, emotional, taut, and moving fucking books I’ve read in a long time. I found myself reading and rereading sentences and phrases and bits of dialogue to really burn them into my memory. And after the first few pages I knew I wanted this book to stay there permanently.
The plot is straightforward. Gene is a preacher’s daughter stuck in a stifling home with nothing on the horizon. She finds herself inexorably attracted to the mysterious House of Sarris and the brutality and awakening she finds there. Gene’s life expands and contracts in this elegantly painful way as the story moves forward. I didn’t want to finish the book, but I felt forced to by all the ways Dowell crafts her tale. I was as unlikely to walk away from the story as Gene was to drive past the House of Sarris and keep going.
Dowell’s storytelling is tense and relentless, and left me in a full chokehold until it was over. The book is intimate and violent. It snatches your breath and never gives it back. It’s odd and brutal and lurid and graceful. Fraught with meaning, sacrifice, suffering, violence, risk, danger, emotion. I’m not normally an emotional reader, but when the story reaches its apex it is so haunting and heartbreaking I was absolutely demolished when it was over. I will say without hesitation that her greatest strength as a writer is patience, one of the most patient storytellers I’ve read. The pacing wasn’t slow, but every piece comes together in its own time, with no hurried laziness or casual misplaced word. I’m still trying to figure out how she did it, and what magic stilled her hand when it was needed and pushed it ahead when the story asked for it.
I do want to say: this book is dark, really dark, if blades and blood aren’t your thing. For those with the stomach for it, there is light and salvation on the other side of the torment.
The plot is straightforward. Gene is a preacher’s daughter stuck in a stifling home with nothing on the horizon. She finds herself inexorably attracted to the mysterious House of Sarris and the brutality and awakening she finds there. Gene’s life expands and contracts in this elegantly painful way as the story moves forward. I didn’t want to finish the book, but I felt forced to by all the ways Dowell crafts her tale. I was as unlikely to walk away from the story as Gene was to drive past the House of Sarris and keep going.
Dowell’s storytelling is tense and relentless, and left me in a full chokehold until it was over. The book is intimate and violent. It snatches your breath and never gives it back. It’s odd and brutal and lurid and graceful. Fraught with meaning, sacrifice, suffering, violence, risk, danger, emotion. I’m not normally an emotional reader, but when the story reaches its apex it is so haunting and heartbreaking I was absolutely demolished when it was over. I will say without hesitation that her greatest strength as a writer is patience, one of the most patient storytellers I’ve read. The pacing wasn’t slow, but every piece comes together in its own time, with no hurried laziness or casual misplaced word. I’m still trying to figure out how she did it, and what magic stilled her hand when it was needed and pushed it ahead when the story asked for it.
I do want to say: this book is dark, really dark, if blades and blood aren’t your thing. For those with the stomach for it, there is light and salvation on the other side of the torment.
January 16, 2022
I can count on a single hand the amount of books that I’ve read that feature erotica, and of those titles I’ve finished one of them. Needless to say, the erotica genre just didn’t stand out to me for a long time. But, when I saw the amount of 5 star reviews coming out about this one - I had to give it a shot.
“Hello, Dove” had my heart within the first two chapters. It shared the narrative of a 23 year old woman, back from college, clueless about “what was next” as well as many other things. She belongs to a rigidly religious family whose standards were tightly bound. Upon coming home from college and going from one governing institution to another, Genevieve Rowlen spirals trying to make sense of duty, purpose, and her place in life.
Then she saw him.
She makes a promise to keep a secret,
and everything changes.
Othello Sarris is one of my favorite characters that I’ve read about in a very very long time. Learning more about him was like watching a line art charcoal sketch come to life: certain, distinct strokes that may not make sense at the time, but they serve a purpose once the picture starts to come together.
The twist at the end was absolutely delicious and I loved the creativity of where Gillian placed the Easter Eggs.
Lastly, and most importantly, the tone of the book shifting over the course of the story along the growth of the main character is INSANE. The stylized choices in the beginning made the prose feel extremely delicate, brittle even, like rose petals you could blow away off the page. But the wording at the end of the story? Entirely different. Think the feeling of a hug from a very large, muscle-y man.
This is -not- just a smut book. It’s a coming of age book. It’s a recovery book. It’s perfection.
November 28, 2021
"Just because they weren't answers that you liked, it doesn't mean that they weren't the answers that you asked for." -Othello, from Hello, Dove by Gillian Dowell
I first fell in love with Dowell's writing when I read Paracosm. A wonderfully, complex and dark romance that introduced a different perspective on death. So, when I picked up Hello, Dove, I went in knowing that my heart would be lost between the pages and that the lines would slice at the very core of me. To say, 'I love this book', would be an understatement of mammoth proportion. This book not only sucked me into another beautiful dark romance. It also highlighted a very real journey. The journey of self discovery and the shedding of past narratives that fight to contain us, by disqualifying our own strength and chastising us for our fundamental desires.
The MC, Genevieve, represents the metamorphosis of caged to liberated. I would go as far as to say that there is a thematic similarity with the myth of Persephone. From the end of innocence to the birth of one's own power and truth. I loved the strong characterisations demonstrated throughout this story as well as an intriguing plot. Dowell peeled back the layers of Genevieve while also keeping me, the reader, aware of the peripheral. I wanted to know what was going on in the background. And when it all came to a head, Dowell delivered a very satisfying conclusion.
Highly recommend this book.
Hello, Dove
I first fell in love with Dowell's writing when I read Paracosm. A wonderfully, complex and dark romance that introduced a different perspective on death. So, when I picked up Hello, Dove, I went in knowing that my heart would be lost between the pages and that the lines would slice at the very core of me. To say, 'I love this book', would be an understatement of mammoth proportion. This book not only sucked me into another beautiful dark romance. It also highlighted a very real journey. The journey of self discovery and the shedding of past narratives that fight to contain us, by disqualifying our own strength and chastising us for our fundamental desires.
The MC, Genevieve, represents the metamorphosis of caged to liberated. I would go as far as to say that there is a thematic similarity with the myth of Persephone. From the end of innocence to the birth of one's own power and truth. I loved the strong characterisations demonstrated throughout this story as well as an intriguing plot. Dowell peeled back the layers of Genevieve while also keeping me, the reader, aware of the peripheral. I wanted to know what was going on in the background. And when it all came to a head, Dowell delivered a very satisfying conclusion.
Highly recommend this book.
Hello, Dove
November 17, 2022
3.5 stars.
This book started out very strong, the writing is brilliant and lush and really makes you feel everything Genevieve is feeling. Even though I don’t suffer from religious guilt and an overly sheltered life, she still felt relatable. Crucify by Tori Amos was playing in my head throughout the whole book, it would the perfect theme song for Genevieve.
I liked the relationships with the characters, though I found the romance kinda strange. The messages in it were good, but with it being so poetic it comes off as unrealistic to me. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.
The plot twist threw me off in a not good way. It was introduced abruptly and felt out of place with the rest of the story. Also the initial (this being the keyword) info was dealt with rather melodramatically. Genevieve is a “fragile” person, but it was like what’s the fuss over.
I did not see the story heading towards its final direction, but in saying that once it was, I figured out everything fairly quickly. For a character who thinks a lot she was too oblivious, which made the twist feel dragged out.
Overall enjoyed this book and the messages behind it. Will be checking out more books by this author!
This book started out very strong, the writing is brilliant and lush and really makes you feel everything Genevieve is feeling. Even though I don’t suffer from religious guilt and an overly sheltered life, she still felt relatable. Crucify by Tori Amos was playing in my head throughout the whole book, it would the perfect theme song for Genevieve.
I liked the relationships with the characters, though I found the romance kinda strange. The messages in it were good, but with it being so poetic it comes off as unrealistic to me. Just not my cup of tea I suppose.
The plot twist threw me off in a not good way. It was introduced abruptly and felt out of place with the rest of the story. Also the initial (this being the keyword) info was dealt with rather melodramatically. Genevieve is a “fragile” person, but it was like what’s the fuss over.
I did not see the story heading towards its final direction, but in saying that once it was, I figured out everything fairly quickly. For a character who thinks a lot she was too oblivious, which made the twist feel dragged out.
Overall enjoyed this book and the messages behind it. Will be checking out more books by this author!
October 17, 2023
This is quite possibly (absolutely) my favorite read of the year… most definitely in my top five of all time.
The prose was so stunning I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. The main character Genevieve, who went by several nicknames (Dove is my favorite) was one of the most relatable leads I’ve ever met. Some of her thoughts chilled me to the bone because they could have come straight from my head. I’m no stranger to the inner turmoil she experienced as she opened her eyes to a previously unknown world.
The spicy scenes lent to the story rather than served as the driving force. I enjoyed the balance throughout. The pristine world I myself was no stranger to offered an equally unnerving balance to the violently bold darkness outside the bubble so carefully crafted around Dove and her family.
What happens to a young woman when said bubble bursts? I know the answers, not only from this brilliant story, but from my own mind-blowing journey.
If one could claim a story as their soulmate, this would be mine. Absolute perfection.
The prose was so stunning I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. The main character Genevieve, who went by several nicknames (Dove is my favorite) was one of the most relatable leads I’ve ever met. Some of her thoughts chilled me to the bone because they could have come straight from my head. I’m no stranger to the inner turmoil she experienced as she opened her eyes to a previously unknown world.
The spicy scenes lent to the story rather than served as the driving force. I enjoyed the balance throughout. The pristine world I myself was no stranger to offered an equally unnerving balance to the violently bold darkness outside the bubble so carefully crafted around Dove and her family.
What happens to a young woman when said bubble bursts? I know the answers, not only from this brilliant story, but from my own mind-blowing journey.
If one could claim a story as their soulmate, this would be mine. Absolute perfection.
November 20, 2022
"I would forever love what darkness had given me."
Gillian Dowell has ripped my soul to pieces, only to put it back together again. This time different.. this time better. She is a wonderfully talented author and I wish I had the right words to give her the praise she whole heartedly deserves. Hello, Dove is and will forever be my favorite! Give this beautiful woman (inside and out) some love and support. Read this book, please! ❤️🕊️🐍
Gillian Dowell has ripped my soul to pieces, only to put it back together again. This time different.. this time better. She is a wonderfully talented author and I wish I had the right words to give her the praise she whole heartedly deserves. Hello, Dove is and will forever be my favorite! Give this beautiful woman (inside and out) some love and support. Read this book, please! ❤️🕊️🐍
September 28, 2023
Zade Meadows gave her the hand, but Othello gave her the man's teeth that disrespected her.
In Gillian Dowell's "Hello, Dove," we embark on an emotional journey into the heart and soul of Genevieve Rowlen, a character whose experiences I think would resonate deeply with readers, particularly those who have grappled with religious trauma. At its core, "Hello, Dove" explores the often-unseen scars of religious upbringing and the quest for self-discovery.
I resonated with this character so much and felt this book on such a personal level. Genevive's character growth is one of the most well-developed I have ever read in a book. While reading, I found myself comparing her character to the character Baby, from the movie Dirty Dancing. Both women's innocence and curiosity clashing with the rigid boundaries set by society and upbringing.
Genevieve, like Baby, starts her journey with wide-eyed naivety. She follows the path laid out before her, clinging to the light she's been taught to embrace. Yet, as she begins to question, to doubt, and to explore the world beyond her sheltered existence, we witness the gradual unraveling of her innocence. It's a journey fraught with pain and confusion, as she confronts the darkness and questions the beliefs that have defined her life.
Insert a dark sexy morally grey man that calls her Dove, a tease at her purity, and sets out to teach her and guide her into womanhood In the most primal and raw way. This is a book I consider Dark Romance but on such a deeper level. I've never experienced a book like this.
This is in no way saying that other dark romance books are on a superficial level, I just can't stress enough how deep, and emotional this particular one is. While Dowell delivers the spicy scenes we all love, she also delivers a literary masterpiece that has you highlighting every other page.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something that will bring you through every emotion and leave you clenching your heart to ease the beautiful pain this book delivers.
In Gillian Dowell's "Hello, Dove," we embark on an emotional journey into the heart and soul of Genevieve Rowlen, a character whose experiences I think would resonate deeply with readers, particularly those who have grappled with religious trauma. At its core, "Hello, Dove" explores the often-unseen scars of religious upbringing and the quest for self-discovery.
I resonated with this character so much and felt this book on such a personal level. Genevive's character growth is one of the most well-developed I have ever read in a book. While reading, I found myself comparing her character to the character Baby, from the movie Dirty Dancing. Both women's innocence and curiosity clashing with the rigid boundaries set by society and upbringing.
Genevieve, like Baby, starts her journey with wide-eyed naivety. She follows the path laid out before her, clinging to the light she's been taught to embrace. Yet, as she begins to question, to doubt, and to explore the world beyond her sheltered existence, we witness the gradual unraveling of her innocence. It's a journey fraught with pain and confusion, as she confronts the darkness and questions the beliefs that have defined her life.
Insert a dark sexy morally grey man that calls her Dove, a tease at her purity, and sets out to teach her and guide her into womanhood In the most primal and raw way. This is a book I consider Dark Romance but on such a deeper level. I've never experienced a book like this.
This is in no way saying that other dark romance books are on a superficial level, I just can't stress enough how deep, and emotional this particular one is. While Dowell delivers the spicy scenes we all love, she also delivers a literary masterpiece that has you highlighting every other page.
I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something that will bring you through every emotion and leave you clenching your heart to ease the beautiful pain this book delivers.
August 8, 2025
This is a difficult review to write. I went into this book completely blind. I knew nothing but was interested by the cover art.
-
The book is well written and reals you in, I was intrigued and enjoyed the character development and the plot, but it gives a very bad light to Christianity and living morally. The book makes out that being raised morally is wrong and that we should defy it all and give in to our desires. As a woman who’s lived her life in this way and then was given new life by Christ, this isn’t a book I’ll recommend. I won’t give out spoilers in this review for those who are reading it, but for fellow believers who see this review you’re more than welcome to personally message me and I’ll tell you the ending.
Genevieve (gene), is raised as a pastor’s daughter and to know what’s right and wrong. She’s been questioning her simple and secluded life for awhile and isn’t interested in marrying the man her parents have chosen for her. Her intended, Luke, asks her to lie for him. He’s gay and wants to outwardly lie to the world by being in a fake relationship with Gene. She agrees. She follows him to an abandoned church where shes met with violence for the first time. She’s also met the man who will make her question everything and forget all her morals, Othello. Othello is the snake and she is the Dove. Her sheltered life and mind are shattered and she changes as she experiences life with gang members. Othello helps open her mind to question what she’s been wanted to question for awhile. She discovers secrets that rip her world apart.
-
Do I believe in an overly sheltered life? No.
Do I believe in setting up your kids to marry people of your choosing? No.
Do I believe in asking questions and receiving honest answers? Always.
Again, this book was difficult to rate and even more difficult to review.
Content warning:
Sexual scenes
Swearing
-
The book is well written and reals you in, I was intrigued and enjoyed the character development and the plot, but it gives a very bad light to Christianity and living morally. The book makes out that being raised morally is wrong and that we should defy it all and give in to our desires. As a woman who’s lived her life in this way and then was given new life by Christ, this isn’t a book I’ll recommend. I won’t give out spoilers in this review for those who are reading it, but for fellow believers who see this review you’re more than welcome to personally message me and I’ll tell you the ending.
Genevieve (gene), is raised as a pastor’s daughter and to know what’s right and wrong. She’s been questioning her simple and secluded life for awhile and isn’t interested in marrying the man her parents have chosen for her. Her intended, Luke, asks her to lie for him. He’s gay and wants to outwardly lie to the world by being in a fake relationship with Gene. She agrees. She follows him to an abandoned church where shes met with violence for the first time. She’s also met the man who will make her question everything and forget all her morals, Othello. Othello is the snake and she is the Dove. Her sheltered life and mind are shattered and she changes as she experiences life with gang members. Othello helps open her mind to question what she’s been wanted to question for awhile. She discovers secrets that rip her world apart.
-
Do I believe in an overly sheltered life? No.
Do I believe in setting up your kids to marry people of your choosing? No.
Do I believe in asking questions and receiving honest answers? Always.
Again, this book was difficult to rate and even more difficult to review.
Content warning:
Sexual scenes
Swearing
November 14, 2021
Hello, Dove wrecked me in the best possible way. Gorgeous, sweeping, and somehow both dark and light. A heavy hitter that stays with you long after the final page. Gillian Dowell is officially added to my instant purchase author list. I stayed up way too late finishing this book because I couldn't put it down. And even now, I can't stop thinking about it.
December 9, 2024
•Good Girl/ Bad Boy
•Religious Trauma
•Virgin FMC
•No traditional HEA
•Sharing scene
•Set in the 80’s
Genevieve just finished college and is back home with her parents and brother trying to figure out where she should go next. Her parents strong arm her into taking a job a family friend offers her where she’s to watch over this older woman. As she walking back to her car one night after work she sees Luke, a family friend’s son, enter a building that was blasting music. She follows him inside and sees more than she ever bargained for. The man she met leaves a lasting impression and she can’t stop thinking about him and the house as she starts fake dating Luke. She finds herself learning new things at an accelerated rate and in the process life changing secrets are revealed that she can never un-hear.
This book… I’m kind of lost for words because I wasn’t aware this didn’t have a traditional HEA so I’m heartbroken with the way it ended 😭 there is technically an HEA just not the one you expect.
I enjoyed the writing, it was well done although sometimes the characters dialogue didn’t sound like the way anyone would talk (even in the 80’s when this was set). The mmc also talked in riddles a lot which really pissed me off and didn’t make sense half the time 😂 I usually don’t like books with religion in them because they give me the ick (religion in general gives me the ick) but I enjoyed the way this one was written. I also really enjoyed the 80’s setting, it was like a breath of fresh air honestly.
The rest of this review will have spoilers DO NOT read them if you want to read this book it will ruin the plot for you and you most likely won’t enjoy the book as much.
Spoilers below.
•
I liked the dynamic Genevieve had with Adam and Othello. I didn’t expect Othello to die though. wtf 😭 that made me sad. I was hoping they’d have a poly relationship or something. But I’m glad she was pregnant so she has that piece of him and Adam gets to help raise him. I really loved that Othello got a dove tattooed on him since that’s what he called her. The adding of the blood was weird though lol like is that actually possible?
So I suspected her dad was the one that took the missing kids and that she and gray were those kids but the part about the mom and dad being brother and sister sent me into orbit 😂 I did not see that coming
I thought it was cute Gray and Amelia ended up together.
•Religious Trauma
•Virgin FMC
•No traditional HEA
•Sharing scene
•Set in the 80’s
Genevieve just finished college and is back home with her parents and brother trying to figure out where she should go next. Her parents strong arm her into taking a job a family friend offers her where she’s to watch over this older woman. As she walking back to her car one night after work she sees Luke, a family friend’s son, enter a building that was blasting music. She follows him inside and sees more than she ever bargained for. The man she met leaves a lasting impression and she can’t stop thinking about him and the house as she starts fake dating Luke. She finds herself learning new things at an accelerated rate and in the process life changing secrets are revealed that she can never un-hear.
This book… I’m kind of lost for words because I wasn’t aware this didn’t have a traditional HEA so I’m heartbroken with the way it ended 😭 there is technically an HEA just not the one you expect.
I enjoyed the writing, it was well done although sometimes the characters dialogue didn’t sound like the way anyone would talk (even in the 80’s when this was set). The mmc also talked in riddles a lot which really pissed me off and didn’t make sense half the time 😂 I usually don’t like books with religion in them because they give me the ick (religion in general gives me the ick) but I enjoyed the way this one was written. I also really enjoyed the 80’s setting, it was like a breath of fresh air honestly.
The rest of this review will have spoilers DO NOT read them if you want to read this book it will ruin the plot for you and you most likely won’t enjoy the book as much.
Spoilers below.
•
I liked the dynamic Genevieve had with Adam and Othello. I didn’t expect Othello to die though. wtf 😭 that made me sad. I was hoping they’d have a poly relationship or something. But I’m glad she was pregnant so she has that piece of him and Adam gets to help raise him. I really loved that Othello got a dove tattooed on him since that’s what he called her. The adding of the blood was weird though lol like is that actually possible?
So I suspected her dad was the one that took the missing kids and that she and gray were those kids but the part about the mom and dad being brother and sister sent me into orbit 😂 I did not see that coming
I thought it was cute Gray and Amelia ended up together.
January 10, 2025
As someone who grew up attending catholic schools. I found myself identifying with Genevieve's sense of feeling trapped and controlled. Her extreme need to express herself and need to grow beyond her cloistered upbringing. The hypocrisy of the religious institutions and the desire to unmask them for what they really are, pathetic and corrupt. I also know that many of the religious gals were notorious for being the most wild of all. When they got the itch to rebel they did it with full force. They devoured the forbidden apple whole.
Throughout the novel you can see Miss Dowell's extremely careful and methodical handling of Genevieve's mental states. Her every thought and emotion. All her desires and hesitations. Her metamorphosis is on full display and you as the reader feel everything along with Genevieve.
There were times I felt like I wanted more details or depth out of the House of Sarris and what exactly went on there. It sometimes left me wanting to understand the motives of this rag-tag bunch of outsiders. The house felt a bit contradictory in that it was part low life party house, but also some kind of highly capable underground vigilantly ring. Maybe that's just part of the mystery and Othello's dark power.
Overall "Hello, Dove" has miraculously managed to coax me into a genera I may have otherwise have never played in. Now that the cut has been made, I don't mind the blood.
Excerpts:
"Life is harsh either way. You either hate the years you're given, or you love them and they leave you"
"You tell me I can ask you questions, but you only answer the ones that ruin me"
P.S. If you're curious, attending catholic school has made me into a highly educated and defiant Atheist. Money well spent?
Throughout the novel you can see Miss Dowell's extremely careful and methodical handling of Genevieve's mental states. Her every thought and emotion. All her desires and hesitations. Her metamorphosis is on full display and you as the reader feel everything along with Genevieve.
There were times I felt like I wanted more details or depth out of the House of Sarris and what exactly went on there. It sometimes left me wanting to understand the motives of this rag-tag bunch of outsiders. The house felt a bit contradictory in that it was part low life party house, but also some kind of highly capable underground vigilantly ring. Maybe that's just part of the mystery and Othello's dark power.
Overall "Hello, Dove" has miraculously managed to coax me into a genera I may have otherwise have never played in. Now that the cut has been made, I don't mind the blood.
Excerpts:
"Life is harsh either way. You either hate the years you're given, or you love them and they leave you"
"You tell me I can ask you questions, but you only answer the ones that ruin me"
P.S. If you're curious, attending catholic school has made me into a highly educated and defiant Atheist. Money well spent?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2024
Dark world with dark secrets
What happens when a young adult, who has been raised in a strict and uber-religious family, is awakened to realities she’s never experienced? Violence, intimacy, death, and dark secrets are only a few of the lessons Genevieve learns, and author Gillian Dowell does an incredible job of telling the story through her main characters inexperienced eyes. This book has drama, action, and shocking twists you won’t expect. If there was one thing I wasn’t thrilled with it was the length of some of the chapters. (Genevieve does a lot of thinking and overthinking.) Those could have been either edited down or possibly made into separate chapters. But overall, Hello Dove is a compelling story with a conclusion you won’t forget.
What happens when a young adult, who has been raised in a strict and uber-religious family, is awakened to realities she’s never experienced? Violence, intimacy, death, and dark secrets are only a few of the lessons Genevieve learns, and author Gillian Dowell does an incredible job of telling the story through her main characters inexperienced eyes. This book has drama, action, and shocking twists you won’t expect. If there was one thing I wasn’t thrilled with it was the length of some of the chapters. (Genevieve does a lot of thinking and overthinking.) Those could have been either edited down or possibly made into separate chapters. But overall, Hello Dove is a compelling story with a conclusion you won’t forget.
January 17, 2022
This dark and daring romance left me illuminated. Dowell's storytelling is straightforward. Her messages are multilayered and her characters are completely compelling. Each chapter approaches an understanding of something deeper: a revelation about religious hypocrisy, the loss of Genevieve's innocence, and her overall take on love. It was a stirring read, from start to finish.
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