Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Slammed

(Slammed # 1)

By: Colleen Hoover

Pub. Date: September 18, 2012

Publisher: Atria

Pages: 314

Source: Netgalley 

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. 

I started seeing Slammed around in the blogosphere and I was instantly interested in it. I requested it on netgalley and within 24 hours I finished one of the best books I read this year! There isn't enough words to describe how amazing Slammed truly is. The writing is perfect, the story is wonderful, and the characters will pull on your heart and make you scream for more. Within five chapters, I knew I was going to love this book, and I requested the second book, Point of Retreat, which I will be starting soon.

Layken just moved from Texas to Michigan with her little brother, Kel and their mom, six months after her father died suddenly. Lake doesn't want to be there. She misses her friends, she misses her dad, she misses home. As soon as they get to their new house, Kel meets Caulder, and Caulder's older brother Will. Lake starts to think that maybe Michigan won't be so bad after all.

I loved Lake. She is easily one of my favorite YA ladies. Some of the things that came out of her mouth were hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud like a fool many times. Then there is the swoon-worthy Will. After his parents died two years ago, he left college, and his football scholarship to become Caulder's legal guardian. He is about as selfless as they come. He is just an overall good person, and anyone would be lucky to have him in their lives. Both of these characters were so broken, but they helped each other in ways that no one else could. When things get even worse for Lake, it's Will that stood by her, no matter what that would cost him.

The secondary characters were some of the best I have ever read! The younger brothers, Caulder and Kel stole the show! They were so much fun and I loved their friendship. You can tell that even though they are only 9, they are going to be each other's best mans at their weddings. Lake's best friend, Eddie, who she meets on the first day of school, was hands down, my favorite character. Eddie has been through so much, yet she has a love for life and adventure. I was bawling like a baby on Eddie's 18th birthday! And honestly, if you didn't have tears in your eyes at that part, then you have no soul! Lake's mom was the kind of mom that everyone wishes they had. She is supportive, but not on top of Lake. She gives Lake the freedom she needs. She was just a wonderful mom.

I honestly could not have asked for anything better. Slammed is the perfect book to read on a rainy day. I can't wait to own a physical copy for my book shelf so I can see this pretty all the time! Slammed will make you laugh, cry, and swoon. It is an easy ready, and even though it deals with some heavy situations, it is still a book about family, love, trust and fun! I highly recommend it!

Point of Retreat is the next chapter in Lake and Will's story and is told in Will's perspective! I.Can't.Wait!!