In this twisty thriller from New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a frustrated author looks for her muse in a remote hideaway, but what she finds defies all expectations...and reality.
Woman Down is narrated by Petra Rose, a writer of romantic suspense who 'used to churn out two books a year with effortless grace,' posting live videos to connect with what was once a smaller, cozier, 'much more positive' fan base. But following the backlash over a movie based on her book, she gets ruinous writer’s block. Presumably the parallels to real life end there, as Petra retreats to a lakeside cabin, determined to finish her manuscript about a woman involved with a married cop. Late one night, a detective who calls himself Saint knocks on her door while investigating an accident down the road. Their flirtatious meetups in the name of book research become more torrid ... This all sounds like classic Hoover ... But reading this novel feels like walking through a house that got a quick flip before hitting the market ... Hoover’s style could be most neutrally described as 'unadorned' ... Woman Down dials her efficiency to an almost avant-garde extreme ... The erotic scenes are more choreographed than described; emotions tend to be telegraphed, not evoked ... This is writing as pure plot delivery ... Yet Woman Down could also be read as Hoover’s most personal work to date ... It’s hard not to notice that Hoover waxes most lyrical when her characters reflect on literary life. The monologues grow longer. The scenes are more richly grained.
A gripping romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages long into the night, or… morning. I’ve read Hoover’s work before, but the true genius of this novel is the artfully placed plot twists that propel you forward, right over the edge ... And it’s definitely the kind of rollercoaster thrill ride that results in an adrenaline rush and a wildly beating heart. I have this relationship with many of Hoover’s books. I’m thinking, is this a good idea? until I’m strapped into my seat and, by the time I get to the peak, I wouldn’t get off, even if I wanted to.
Petra Rose used to pump out a bestselling book every six months, but then the adaptation happened—that is, the disastrous film adaptation of her most famous book ... The novel serves as a meta commentary on the dark romance genre ... A dark and twisty look at just how far one woman is willing to go to find inspiration.
