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** spoiler alert ** This is not what I expected. If you want to read this review then be warned, there might be spoilers.

Lily. Lily Blossom Bloom, the florist. She is incredible. She is strong, kind, smart and human. That's her best trait. That she's human. She makes it so much easier to get a glimpse into this life. I went with her on this journey. I cried with her. I looked down on her mother. I was confused when she was confused. I thought I couldn't possibly feel this much while reading a book. I thought Ugly Love was my uncontested favorite. But now, I'm not sure. And that's such a trivial decision compared to the ones that Lily had to make.

My heart hurts for Ryle. Gosh I wanted them to fix things. I wanted him to stop hurting her. I wanted them to be perfect because they are. He could be so good to her. I knew they were going to wind up together.

Atlas. Ugh what a prick. Why can't he shove off and not interfere in this perfect love story? It's like that moment at weddings when they say "does anyone think this union should not happen?" And then some lousy dweeb puts his hand up. Atlas is the dweeb. And more than anything I wish he was at Lily and Ryle's wedding so he could have put his hand up.

Atlas, I'm sorry. I judged you too fast. Ryle, I'm sorry. I changed my mind about you too late.

Throughout reading this book I took pictures of my favorite quotes. Some way through, I kind of forgot to take pictures. And after a point, everything became a quote I loved. Words that had weight. So I just stopped taking pictures and read.

If Colleen Hoover could write books like this for all the things in life that I've judged too soon, that would be great. This woman is incredible. She is undeniably a wonderful writer, but to write something like this...makes me think - and hope - that's she's a wonderful human too. I could be wrong. For all I know she could hate Game of Thrones and then it would all be lost. (Jk)

I want to be open-minded. I want to not be so shallow. I want to understand other people's side of the story. And since I can't really wait around for Colleen to explain things to me, maybe I'll just have to try something else. Like ask the person what they feel. Or not stick to my first opinion of them. Try form opposite opinions from the ones I formed in the two seconds it took for me to judge.

I understand the sentiment that nobody can truly understand what you're going through unless they've gone through it themselves. I've been through that. And before anyone panics it's not some huge problem, it's just about my academics. I don't know why I'm choosing to write this review like a journal entry but maybe it has something to do with it being Christmas and 01:07AM. Or maybe I'm feeling things that don't need to be excused or justified. Whichever it is, my point through all this jibber jabber...this is a beautifully written book and I loved it. Read it and judge everyone by their cover. Because you'll be wrong.

And more than anything. Lily (and all the Lily's in this world) I'm sorry I was so insensitive. You are all strong people. You deserve to be loved with no compromise. I don't know if that's the word I want to use but it's all I've got.

Thank you, Colleen Hoover. You may not have changed my life, but you've changed the way I look at it.

(And thank you, Santa. I get the feeling you had something to do with this)