For my next book, I chose another Colleen Hoover’s book called Too Late.
Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does so, every single day. Caught up with the alluring Asa Jackson, a notorious drug trafficker, Sloan has finally found a lifeline to cling to, even if it’s meant compromising her morals. She was in dire straits trying to pay for her brother’s care until she met Asa. But as Sloan became emotionally and economically reliant on him, he in turn developed a disturbing obsession with her—one that becomes increasingly dangerous every day.
When undercover DEA agent Carter enters the picture, Sloan’s surprised to feel an immediate attraction between them, despite knowing that if Asa finds out, he will kill him. And Asa has always been a step ahead of everyone in his life, including Sloan. No one has ever gotten in his way.
Well, Colleen did it again! I loved her book, Verity, and didn’t think anything could top that. But it did.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked. The chemistry between Sloan and Carter was instant, and I found myself rooting for them right away. Even though Carter was undercover and had a job to do, his desire to protect Sloan became impossible to ignore. Watching him struggle between completing his assignment and keeping Sloan safe added so much tension to the story. You could feel how much he cared about her, even when it put his career and mission at risk.
One of my favorite parts was how safe Sloan felt around Carter almost immediately. After spending so much time living under Asa’s control, it was refreshing to see her experience what genuine care and concern looked like. Even after discovering that Carter was really Luke and that Dalton was Ryan, that sense of trust never disappeared. Their connection felt real, and it gave me hope throughout some very dark moments in the story.
As the story unfolds and we get more of Sloan’s perspective, we slowly begin to see the truth behind what initially appears to be a nearly perfect relationship with Asa. Little by little, the layers are pulled back, revealing just how trapped Sloan has become. She sacrificed so much of herself to make sure her disabled brother received the care he needed, believing she had no other choice. Finding out that Asa had been lying to her all along made the situation even more heartbreaking and showed just how manipulative and controlling he truly was.
And then there’s Asa. Watching him unravel was both fascinating and terrifying. His obsession with Sloan grows stronger as he realizes he’s losing control, and that makes him incredibly dangerous. The deeper he spirals, the more unpredictable he becomes, and it kept me on edge the entire time.
But the part that touched me the most was the ending. Carter (Luke) didn’t need to know whether Sloan’s baby was biologically his or Asa’s. To him, it didn’t matter. He loved Sloan, and he was going to love and raise that child no matter what. That kind of unconditional love was the perfect ending to such an intense story, and honestly, it was my favorite part of the entire book.
This book was absolutely riveting. I could not put it down. Every chapter left me needing to know what happened next, and I found myself sneaking in pages whenever I could. It was emotional, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time. I’m so thankful Colleen Hoover gave these characters the happy ending they deserved.
If you enjoyed Verity, I highly recommend picking up Too Late. It was intense, addictive, and unforgettable. Definitely one of my favorite Colleen Hoover books so far.