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A review by lovelymisanthrope
Slammed by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I have been slowly making my way through Colleen Hoover's backlist, and I was very excited to pick up "Slammed" on my journey.
This story follows Layken, a newly 18-year-old who just moved to a new city with her mom and little brother following the unexpected death of her father. She is devastated to complete her senior year of high school across the country from her friends, but she quickly discovers that this new town might not entirely suck. Will lives across the street from Layken with his little brother and Layken and Will strike up a romance like they have never experienced before. Everything seems to be going perfectly, until they discover that Will is a teacher and Layken is his student. Will they be able to be together, or are they destined to be driven apart?
I can definitely tell this book is one of Colleen Hoover's earlier works. It is very fun to be able to look back and see how far she has come with her writing style and character development. Overall, I did enjoy this story, and I was rooting for Layken and Will, but I found Layken's character to be too erratic to enjoy. Although I do think teenage girls can be a little erratic with their emotions, Layken comes across as entirely immature and self-absorbed at times, but these were not reactions I felt were her true self. She does not seem to grasp how much Will's career could be ruined before it even begins if they pursue a relationship, nor does she empathize with how much it is killing him to have to walk away.
In true Colleen Hoover fashion, there is a devastating plot twist that breaks your heart (hasn't Layken been through enough?). I was left very satisfied, and I kind of do not want to pick up the sequel because I do not want to see what happens with Layken and Will, but I probably will someday!
This story follows Layken, a newly 18-year-old who just moved to a new city with her mom and little brother following the unexpected death of her father. She is devastated to complete her senior year of high school across the country from her friends, but she quickly discovers that this new town might not entirely suck. Will lives across the street from Layken with his little brother and Layken and Will strike up a romance like they have never experienced before. Everything seems to be going perfectly, until they discover that Will is a teacher and Layken is his student. Will they be able to be together, or are they destined to be driven apart?
I can definitely tell this book is one of Colleen Hoover's earlier works. It is very fun to be able to look back and see how far she has come with her writing style and character development. Overall, I did enjoy this story, and I was rooting for Layken and Will, but I found Layken's character to be too erratic to enjoy. Although I do think teenage girls can be a little erratic with their emotions, Layken comes across as entirely immature and self-absorbed at times, but these were not reactions I felt were her true self. She does not seem to grasp how much Will's career could be ruined before it even begins if they pursue a relationship, nor does she empathize with how much it is killing him to have to walk away.
In true Colleen Hoover fashion, there is a devastating plot twist that breaks your heart (hasn't Layken been through enough?). I was left very satisfied, and I kind of do not want to pick up the sequel because I do not want to see what happens with Layken and Will, but I probably will someday!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Car accident, Cancer, and Sexual content