Woman Down

Woman Down 

Woman Down is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. I’ve only read one other Colleen Hoover book prior to this, and decided to mix my reading up a little bit by giving it a try. 

I decided to listen to the audiobook version of Woman Down, and it worked perfectly for me. Sometimes I like audiobooks when I want to multitask and do other things. 

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At the time of publishing this review, Woman Down is available to borrow via Kindle Unlimited, with the audiobook version being included with it. This is an excellent way to utilize my subscription. I will be looking for more “read and listen for free” books in the future. 

Have you read Woman Down? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

About Woman Down 

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.

Her words used to set the page on fire. But a viral backlash over her latest film adaptation forced Petra Rose to take a hiatus, resulting in missed deadlines and an overdue mortgage. Branded a fraud and fame-hungry opportunist, she learned the hard way what happens when the internet turns on you. And she’s been uninspired to write ever since.

Now, with her next suspense novel outlined and savings nearly gone, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin, hoping to find inspiration. It’s Petra’s last-ditch attempt to save her career—and herself.

Then he shows up.

Detective Nathaniel Saint arrives with disturbing news, his presence igniting a creativity in her she thought long since burned out. Petra’s words return in a rush, and her fictional cop character begins to mirror the very real cop who’s becoming her muse.

Their “research” sessions blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Each glance, every touch pulls Petra deeper into a world she thought she’d never lose herself in again. She’s never felt more alive. But inspiration this powerful comes at a cost.

When Saint starts taking his role in her career a little too seriously, Petra’s forced to confront the chaos she created. But doing so could cost her more than the reputation she’s been trying to salvage. The reputation the world wrote for her—the reputation only she can reclaim. 

Author’s Note 

Dear readers, some of you might remember the short story “Saint” from the One More Step anthology years ago. For those who don’t, you’re about to meet it in a much bigger way. 

That anthology has since been unpublished, but some of you guys never stopped asking for more of the story. You have somehow managed to keep a little story alive in your hearts, even when it wasn’t officially available. There’s nothing more inspiring for me as a writer than when a reader tells me they want more from characters I created. 

I wanted to give these characters the space they deserved, and truly build out the world I’d only briefly touched upon when this short story was called “Saint.” 

I took the short story some of you read and poured my heart and soul into expanding it. It has taken me three years to release a book since It Starts with Us. Not because I’ve been rewriting “Saint” for those three years, but because I’ve been trying out new things outside writing. And frankly, I needed some space from a career I was beginning to find more stressful than normal. 

But that changed when I dove back into this story. Working on this book gave me back the same joy I felt while writing the original short story. I’ve changed the title and some character names and locations, added scenes, added and changed characters, and even written in new little twists here and there that had no room in the short version. 

I wanted those of you who have already read it to get what felt like an entirely new and different book with the same underlying story and tones as the short story. I genuinely enjoyed every single second of bringing it to life in this new, complete form. 

Just please keep in mind that while writers do take from their own lives, and some themes may mirror those of my own life in ways, this is in no way a replica of my journey or my morals, nor is it a reflection of how I feel about my peers or this industry. This is simply a fun journey the characters took me on and nothing more. 

Please, I beg of you, do not try to make ties between my personal life and this story, as there are none. I’m just a writer writing about a writer. I am in no way advocating for or defending the character’s behavior or thoughts. 

It was a joy to put a new spin on “Saint.” I hope you’re ready to get dizzy and enjoy this fun, sexy, sometimes creepy thrill of a ride! 

With so much love, 

Colleen Hoover 

Thoughts on Woman Down 

In Woman Down we meet Petra Rose, an author who is struggling after taking a break from writing and a huge backlash over a movie adaptation of her book. She goes on a retreat to start a new book, determined to get out of her own funk and her own way. 

The first half of this book was a bit tedious to get through. It was slow paced. But it picked up, and when it did, it really picked up. Then Petra meets Nathaniel Saint. 

Petra is annoying at times, but also relatable. She reads all the negative reviews of her novels, and takes them to heart, like they are the gospel truth. In my head I’m thinking, stop doing that. Not everyone will like your books. Ever. It’s art, and art is subjective. We all know this, it is common sense. But oftentimes that is far easier said than done, so I understood it. 

She makes some really questionable choices along the way. But if she didn’t, there wouldn’t be much of a story here. 

The suspense building in this novel was really good. It became a binge-read in the second half. I listened to this book as I was just coming out of a nasty cold. Being sick sucks, and about all I could do was play video games for a few days. I needed something fairly simple to read and listen to during this time. 

My favorite part was the “book about a book” trope because of the reflections on writing, creativity, and inner life of an author. It added another layer of depth to the story, and connection, making it more interesting. 

This book kept me entertained, but it didn’t require a lot of thought as I was reading it. Sometimes that is exactly what we all need. I appreciate the fact it was exactly what I needed to read at that time. 

Final Thoughts on Woman Down 

I’m calling Woman Down a four star read. It was something that kept me entertained and still technically reading when I was sick, and it was memorable. It didn’t knock my socks off and I wouldn’t read it again, which is why I’m not calling it a five star read. But it was memorable enough to surpass the three star rating from me. 

My husband listened to part of this with me, and noticed that the narrator did an excellent job of reading. He mentioned the tone of the dialog, and how easy it was to feel the suspense built based on how it was read. Which I agree with, and I was surprised he had noticed it. He normally doesn’t pay much attention to the books I listen to. But this caught his attention, and I can’t ignore that fact.

I’m not sure if I had simply read this book via Kindle Unlimited that I would have enjoyed it as much as I did listening to the audiobook version. Narrators can make or break a book, and I think this one really made the book even better. 

Reading reviews after I finished the book, there were some pretty hardcore opinions on both ends of the spectrum. Readers either loved or hated it. Many have read everything Colleen Hoover has written, and are something of an expert on it. I’m not that. This is only my second Colleen Hoover book, so I am judging it just based on what I read, and not her overall style or writing comparisons. 

It is interesting how divided the opinions of her writing are. So many either love or hate her, with no real in-between. I may be the odd duck in that I am in the middle.

Although I do understand comparing this novel with others. I have noticed I do it with other authors that I’ve read more of. It is honestly hard not to compare them. I always encourage you to read books and form your own opinions on it. 

I love the fact that the audiobook version of the book is free in addition to the Kindle version through Kindle Unlimited. If you are a fan of audiobooks but looking for those that are free to listen to, this is a great one. I will be looking for more books via Kindle Unlimited that have the audiobook version included in the future. 

Discussion 

Have you read Woman Down or any other writing from bestselling author Colleen Hoover? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Discussion Questions

• The book talks a lot about the pressures authors face. Do you agree with any of Petra’s complaints about book reviews and the expectations readers put on authors? 
• What did you think of Petra as a character? Did you empathize with her feelings and decisions, or did they frustrate you? 
• Who was your favorite side character?
• What did you think of the pacing of the novel? 
• There are a few twists and reveals throughout this novel. Which surprised you the most? 
• Let’s talk about the ending. Had you predicted it? 
• Would you characterize this book as a thriller? Why or why not? 
• The author’s note states that the novel is not based on her own life, but many readers have pointed out similarities to the controversy around Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends with Us” and the movie adaptation. Do you think it inspired Woman Down? Does it matter? 
• Have you read other books by Colleen Hoover? If so, how did Woman Down compare? 

About the Author 

Colleen Hoover is the number one New York Times and International bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas. 

Purchasing Woman Down 

• If you are interested in buying the paperback version of Woman Down, click here.
• For the hardcover version, click here. 
• Click here for the Kindle version.
• Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

More from Colleen Hoover

Did you enjoy my review of Woman Down? Need another great Colleen Hoover book to read? Here are my favorites!

Slammed Series

• Slammed
• Point of Retreat
• This Girl

Hopeless Series

• Hopeless
• Losing Hope
• Finding Cinderella
• Finding Perfect

It Ends With Us Series

• It Ends with Us
• It Starts with Us

Maybe Series

• Maybe Someday
• Maybe Not
• Maybe Now

Standalone Novels

• Ugly Love
• Confess
• November 9
• Too Late
• Never Never
• Without Merit
• All Your Perfects
• Verity
• Regretting You
• Heart Bones
• Layla
• Reminders of Him
• Woman Down

Amazon Notice 

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