Story Summary
Ugly Love is a deeply emotional, slow-burn romance that explores love, loss, and the pain of second chances. It follows Tate Collins, a nursing student, and Miles Archer, a brooding airline pilot with a traumatic past. When Tate moves into her brother's San Francisco apartment, she meets Miles — his quiet, mysterious friend who lives across the hall.
The chemistry between them is instant, but Miles refuses to let it become more than physical. "Don't ask about my past," he warns. "Don't expect a future." What begins as an arrangement of lust soon spirals into heartbreak, as Tate falls for a man too broken to love her back — until his buried past resurfaces and forces them both to face the meaning of forgiveness.
Told in dual timelines — Tate's present and Miles's haunting past — Ugly Love is a raw portrayal of how devastating and healing love can be.
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Main Characters
Miles Archer
- • Age: 24
- • Ethnicity: Caucasian-American
- • Hair Color: Brown
- • Eye Color: Blue-gray
- • Identity: Commercial airline pilot
A quiet, emotionally shattered man haunted by a tragic past. Miles buries his grief behind control and silence until Tate challenges him to feel again — even when love seems impossible.
Tate Collins
- • Age: 23
- • Ethnicity: African-American (canonically ambiguous; described with brown skin and curly hair)
- • Hair Color: Dark brown
- • Eye Color: Brown
- • Identity: Nursing student / neighbor / sister of Corbin Collins
Smart, caring, and grounded, Tate is determined not to fall for Miles — but her compassion and persistence make her his only chance at redemption.
Every Spicy Chapter – Breakdown & Highlights
Chapter 8 – The First Kiss
This is the scene that kicks everything off. Tate and Miles have been dancing around each other for days — all tension, stolen looks, and quiet moments in the hallway. Then one night, everything explodes. He kisses her like he's been holding his breath for years, and she realizes just how deep this thing runs.
"He kisses me like he's drowning and I'm the only air left in the room."
Chapter 12 – Their First Time
So much for those "no strings" rules. Miles tells Tate not to fall for him, not to ask about his past — but their first night together says otherwise. It's slow, emotional, and ridiculously intense. You can feel the way they're both trying to pretend this is just physical, even though it's already so much more.
"He moves inside me like he's searching for something he lost years ago — and maybe, so am I."
Chapter 18 – The Kitchen Counter Scene
Okay, this one's straight-up hot. Miles can't stay away, and when he finds Tate in the kitchen, things get messy fast. It's spontaneous, rough, and full of tension — like every touch is another thing they're trying not to say. You know it's not healthy, but it's addicting to read.
"It's not just his hands that own me — it's every unspoken word he refuses to say."
Chapter 21 – The Elevator
The sexual tension? Out of control. They're stuck in an elevator together and finally snap. It's quick, breathless, and absolutely dripping with emotion. Miles is all fire and frustration, and Tate lets him take control — even though she knows it's going to hurt later.
"He kisses me like he's mad at the world, and I let him, because it's the only way he knows how to feel."
Chapter 26 – The Breaking Point
This one hurts. Miles is falling apart after confronting the trauma he's buried for years, and he shows up at Tate's door completely broken. What happens next is intense — not just physically, but emotionally. It's grief, guilt, and love all tangled together. It's the moment where "ugly" love finally makes sense.
"He touches me like I'm both the cause of his pain and the only thing that can make it stop."
Chapter 35 – The Reunion
The final spicy scene is all about healing. Miles has faced his past, and when he comes back to Tate, he's finally ready to give her everything. There's no guilt, no running away — just softness, love, and relief. It's slow, tender, and exactly the ending their story needed.
"This time, he doesn't kiss to forget. He kisses to remember."
Goodreads Reader Reactions
Ugly Love divided readers — as most of Colleen Hoover's books do. Some call it her most heartbreaking work, while others find it too painful to reread.
Positive Reactions:
Fans adore its emotional power and how it portrays grief and healing through passion. Many readers cried their way through the second half, praising Miles's redemption arc and Tate's patience.
"This book shattered me and then put me back together."
"Miles Archer is proof that sometimes love isn't beautiful — it's messy, and that's okay."
Critical Reactions:
Some readers disliked the imbalance between romance and trauma, finding Miles's behavior too cold or cruel. Others called it emotionally exhausting.
"I wanted to love it, but it hurt too much."
"Beautifully written but devastating — don't go in expecting a light romance."
Where to Buy or Read Ugly Love
You can find Ugly Love in all major formats:
- Amazon: Paperback, Kindle, and Audible audiobook (narrated by Grace Grant & Deacon Lee).
- Barnes & Noble: Paperback and Nook eBook editions.
- Apple Books & Kobo: Digital versions available worldwide.
- Libraries: Popular on Libby and OverDrive due to Colleen Hoover's massive fanbase.
Related Books: For Fans of Ugly Love
If you loved the heartbreak and emotional depth of Ugly Love, try:
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Another tragic yet redemptive romance.
Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
About forgiveness and second chances.
All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Focused on love, infertility, and endurance.
Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan
A quieter, healing love story about trauma and connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
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