Ugly Love- Colleen Hoover | Summary, Characters, Themes & Synopsis

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About “Ugly Love” Book by Colleen Hoover

Book TitleUgly Love
AuthorColleen Hoover
GenreContemporary Romance, New Adult Fiction
Publication DateAugust 5, 2014
PublisherAtria Books
Pages336 pages
SettingThe story primarily takes place in San Francisco, California, with occasional flashbacks to different locations. The settings include the cityscape, Miles’ apartment, the hospital where Tate works, and various other locations that play a significant role in the characters’ lives.

Ugly Love Characters Analysis

  • Tate Collins – The protagonist, a young nurse who finds herself falling for Miles Archer.
  • Miles Archer – The male lead, haunted by his past and resistant to emotional attachments.
  • Cap – Tate’s protective older brother.
  • Ian – Tate’s friend and coworker at the hospital.
  • Rachel – Tate’s best friend and roommate.
  • Corbin – Miles’ friend and roommate.
  • Grandma – Miles’ loving and wise grandmother.

Ugly Love Themes

The major themes in the book “Ugly Love” are:

  • Forbidden Love
  • Emotional Baggage
  • Self-Discovery
  • Healing and Redemption
  • Sacrifice and Compromise
  • Communication and Miscommunication
  • Vulnerability and Trust
  • Unconventional Relationships
  • Self-Sacrifice and Self-Worth

Ugly Love Synopsis


In “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover, Tate Collins, a young nurse looking for a fresh start, finds herself irresistibly drawn to her attractive pilot neighbor, Miles Archer.

Miles makes it plain that all he wants is a relationship that is purely physical and without any emotional attachments, despite the fact that they clearly have chemistry.

Intrigued by the mysterious and guarded man, Tate agrees to his terms, hoping to uncover the reasons behind his unwillingness to love.

As their intense and passionate encounters continue, Tate begins to unravel the painful past that has left Miles emotionally scarred. She becomes determined to break down his walls and discover the truth behind his self-imposed emotional isolation.

Along the way, Tate must confront her own insecurities and fears, and decide if her love for Miles is worth fighting for.

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Ugly Love Summary

Elizabeth Tate Collins, 23, moves from San Diego to San Francisco to earn a master’s degree in nursing while working as a registered nurse in the emergency room. She intends to live in Corbin’s fancy flat with her elder brother. Corbin, an airline pilot, is gone at work when she arrives at the flat.

Tate meets Cap, a kind lift attendant who quickly becomes her greatest friend. On the lift, she also meets Dillon, a sleazy married guy who wants to sleep with her. When she believes she’s safe, she goes to Corbin’s flat, only to discover an inebriated guy blocking the door and screaming uncontrollably.

She dials Corbin’s number while attempting to enter his flat. Corbin summons Miles, a buddy who lives across the hall, to assist Tate, but Corbin soon realises that the inebriated guy in the hall is Miles.

Miles requests that Tate let him enter the flat. Tate realises Corbin must trust this man since he is normally overprotective of his sister. Tate assists Miles in entering the flat when he is drunkenly sobbing and uttering the name “Rachel.” She finally falls asleep.

Miles approaches Tate the next morning when she wakes up. He’s enraged and curious about what transpired between them. He’s worried they’ve “hooked up.”

When Corbin returns home, Tate convinces Miles that nothing occurred and that he should strive to be nicer to her. Corbin and Miles assist Tate in relocating her possessions to the flat. Miles re introduces himself to Tate so that they may begin again, but he doesn’t say anything to her while they’re transferring her belongings.

Miles visits Tate and Corbin at their family house for Thanksgiving & Miles cuts his hand on the ladder as Corbin is stringing lights. Miles kisses her while Tate sutures his hand.

He warns her right away not to let him do it again. Late at night, they both make their way to the kitchen and come to an arrangement to sort out their sexual tension.

They’ll sleep together, but Tate can’t hope to discover anything about Miles’ background or have a future with him. Tate wants to make her own rule, but she can’t think of one to challenge it. She agrees to his request.

During his final year of high school, Miles is assigned to assist a new student, Rachel from Phoenix, in finding Mr. Clayton’s English class. Miles notices Rachel because of her stunning hair and eyes. He immediately falls in love with her and informs Ian that she is expecting his children.

In a sad turn of events, Miles and Rachel learn that their parents are intending to marry. Miles believes his father was cheating on his dying mother with Lisa, Rachel’s mother, during business visits to Arizona.

Miles’ father eventually confesses that he and Miles’ mother had intended to separate long before Miles began dating Lisa. When Miles’ mother became ill, he longed to be at her side.

Rachel & Miles pursue an affair with strict boundaries in order to avoid being discovered by their parents. They also agree not to have sexual relations, but they do, and Rachel becomes pregnant.

Ugly Love age rating

Age Rating- 14+

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover contains mature themes, explicit content and emotional intensity not suitable for younger readers.

Ugly Love FAQ’s

What is the story Ugly Love about?

“Ugly Love” is a novel by Colleen Hoover about a complicated relationship between two people dealing with emotional baggage and secrets.

What is sad about Ugly Love?

The heartbreaking aspect of the book “Ugly Love” is the emotional journey of the characters and their painful pasts.

Does It Ends With Us have spicy scenes?

Yes, “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover contains explicit and mature content, including spicy scenes.

Is “Ugly Love” part of a series?

No, “Ugly Love” is a standalone book by Colleen Hoover.

Does “Ugly Love” have a happy ending?

Without revealing too much, “Ugly Love” is an emotionally intense story that encompasses both heartache and hope. Readers will have to experience the book to find out how the story concludes for Tate and Miles.

Are there any trigger warnings for “Ugly Love”?

Yes, “Ugly Love” tackles sensitive subjects such as loss, trauma and emotional distress. Additionally, it contains explicit sexual scenes and mature content. Readers who may be sensitive to these themes should take them into consideration before reading.

Is “Ugly Love” suitable for readers who don’t typically enjoy romance novels?

While “Ugly Love” is primarily categorized as a romance novel, it also explores deeper themes and emotions. Colleen Hoover’s writing style often engages readers who may not typically gravitate towards romance. However, it ultimately depends on personal preferences.

Can you recommend other books by Colleen Hoover for fans of “Ugly Love”?

You might also like Colleen Hoover’s other books such as “Slammed“, “Hopeles“, “Confess” and “It Ends with Us.” These novels share similar themes of love, self-discovery and emotional journeys.

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