Losing Hope – Colleen Hoover (2013)

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover, published in 2013, is the companion novel to Hopeless and part of the Hopeless Series. This young adult romance is told from the perspective of Dean Holder, delving into his emotional struggles, family tragedies, and love story with Sky, as he grapples with grief, guilt, and redemption. It expands upon Hopeless, giving readers deeper insight into Holder’s inner turmoil and his path to healing.

Plot Summary

Dean Holder’s heart carried scars that no one could see, but they ran deeper than he could comprehend. Haunted by his twin sister Les’s tragic suicide and the mysterious disappearance of his childhood friend Hope, Holder teetered on the edge of despair, consumed by guilt and anger. He believed himself a failure, unworthy of redemption. Yet, beneath the weight of his grief, there lingered a faint glimmer of something he didn’t yet understand—a flicker of hope that refused to extinguish.

The morning after Les’s death was a haze of anguish for Holder, an endless loop of memories and self-recrimination. He replayed the final moments before he discovered her lifeless body on her bed, her eyes devoid of their usual light. Les had always been his anchor, the one person who understood him completely. Now, she was gone, leaving only cryptic letters and a hollow ache in her wake. Holder couldn’t stop asking himself what he’d missed. What warning signs had he failed to see?

Among Les’s belongings, Holder found a leather-bound journal—a gift she’d never used. Desperate for connection, he began writing her letters, pouring his anguish and frustration onto the pages. Each letter became a conversation with the sister he had lost, a way to process the storm within him. But writing could only carry him so far.

Holder’s memories of Hope, the bright-eyed girl who had vanished from his life so many years ago, were never far from his mind. She had been taken from their neighborhood when they were children, a tragedy that shattered Holder’s perception of safety. Her loss, compounded by Les’s death, left Holder grappling with a painful sense of failure. In his heart, he blamed himself for not protecting either of them, the weight of his perceived shortcomings pressing him further into despair.

The suffocating grief prompted his mother to send him to his father’s house in their old neighborhood. Though Holder resented the separation from his mother, he knew she was struggling too. His return to the streets where he and Les had grown up was both a comfort and a torment. Every corner, every shadow held echoes of his past, memories of laughter and secrets shared. The house where Hope had lived loomed in his thoughts, an ever-present reminder of his inadequacies.

One day, Holder’s world shifted when he encountered Sky Davis. Something about her was strikingly familiar, yet wholly unexpected. Her strength and sarcasm intrigued him, but it was the haunted look in her eyes that drew him in. He couldn’t ignore the feeling that he had met her before, though she insisted they hadn’t. As their paths crossed more frequently, Holder’s fascination with Sky deepened. Against his better judgment, he allowed himself to care for her.

Sky, too, was carrying her own heavy burdens, though she masked them with an air of defiance. Her home-schooled upbringing and strict, technology-free lifestyle set her apart from other teens, making her an enigma to those who tried to know her. Yet, Holder saw through her barriers, sensing a kindred spirit in her. Their tentative connection blossomed into an intense bond that neither could fully explain.

As Holder spent more time with Sky, his memories of Hope began to crystallize. The similarities between the two were uncanny, stirring questions he was afraid to voice. Slowly, the truth began to surface—Sky was Hope, the girl who had been taken all those years ago. Her abduction, her new identity, and the secrets she had buried to survive unraveled before Holder like a cruel puzzle. The revelation was as liberating as it was devastating, dredging up pain they had both buried deep.

Sky’s memories of her abduction and the abuse she endured at the hands of her captor collided with Holder’s guilt. She had built walls around herself to survive, and Holder, with his own broken pieces, became the one to help her dismantle them. Together, they faced the horrors of her past and the traumas that had shaped them both. The weight of their shared history brought clarity to Holder’s torment, his guilt morphing into a fierce determination to protect Sky and help her reclaim her life.

Through their journey, Holder discovered the true nature of Les’s despair. Her letters revealed the burdens she had carried alone—secrets too dark for her to share with anyone, even Holder. Her suicide wasn’t just an act of giving up but a consequence of years of unresolved pain. Les’s struggles mirrored those of Hope, now Sky, creating a cruel symmetry that Holder couldn’t ignore. In understanding Les, he found a way to forgive himself, though the pain of her loss never fully subsided.

Sky’s resilience became a beacon for Holder, showing him that healing was possible, even in the face of unimaginable pain. Their love, raw and imperfect, became a sanctuary where both could confront their darkest memories. Holder learned to let go of the blame he had shouldered for years, realizing that some tragedies were beyond his control. Instead of being consumed by his past, he found a way to honor it, using his experiences to fuel his resolve to support Sky.

In the end, Holder and Sky forged a new path together, built on understanding, acceptance, and hope. Their journey wasn’t about erasing the pain of the past but learning to carry it with grace. Holder finally allowed himself to believe in the possibility of happiness—not as a destination but as a series of moments worth cherishing.

Through the love they found in each other and the truths they unearthed, Holder and Sky proved that even the most fractured souls could mend, and even in the shadow of loss, hope could thrive.

Main Characters

• Dean Holder: The protagonist, haunted by his twin sister Lesslie’s suicide and his childhood friend Hope’s disappearance. Holder’s journey is one of self-discovery and coping with guilt, anger, and loss, all while finding solace and love with Sky.

• Sky Davis: A girl with a troubled past who ultimately becomes Holder’s love interest. Her presence helps Holder confront his grief and seek redemption. Sky’s own traumatic experiences mirror and complement Holder’s, making their relationship a source of healing.

• Lesslie Holder (Les): Holder’s twin sister whose suicide leaves a profound impact on him. Her struggles, revealed through letters and memories, shape Holder’s understanding of loss and familial bonds.

• Hope: A childhood friend who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The revelations surrounding Hope’s fate are pivotal to Holder’s personal growth and his bond with Sky.

Theme

• Grief and Loss: The book explores the devastating effects of losing loved ones, as seen in Holder’s struggle with Les’s suicide and Hope’s disappearance. It portrays the complexities of mourning and the path to acceptance.

• Guilt and Redemption: Holder is burdened by feelings of guilt, believing he failed to protect the people he loves. His journey revolves around seeking forgiveness, both from himself and others.

• Love as Healing: The relationship between Holder and Sky demonstrates how love can be a powerful force for healing. Their bond helps both characters confront their pasts and envision a brighter future.

• Family and Sibling Bonds: The strong, protective relationship between Holder and Les, despite its imperfections, highlights themes of familial love and the impact of sibling dynamics.

• Memory and Truth: The narrative addresses how memories shape identity and the importance of uncovering painful truths to move forward.

Writing Style and Tone

Colleen Hoover employs a deeply emotional and introspective narrative style in Losing Hope. The story is told through Holder’s perspective, which is rich in raw, unfiltered emotions. Hoover’s use of first-person narration immerses readers in Holder’s psyche, capturing his grief, anger, and eventual hope with poignant detail.

Her writing is characterized by a balance between poetic reflections and conversational dialogue, making the story accessible yet profoundly moving. Hoover skillfully weaves past and present timelines, creating a layered narrative that unravels Holder’s emotional journey. The tone is melancholic but infused with moments of hope and resilience, ensuring a compelling and cathartic reading experience.