Slammed by Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #1
Published by Atria Books
Publish Date: August 10, 2012
(first published January 5, 2012)
206 Pages
Source: NetGalley
New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover writes a romantic debut novel about a family shattered by a sudden death that leads to two unlikely lovers forming an intricate bond. Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and her younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.
One young man brings change to all of this. After moving across the country, Layken meets her attractive twenty-one-year-old neighbor, who has an intriguing passion for slams. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.
Not long after a 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 forces that tear them apart. –(summary from Goodreads)
My Thoughts: Three truths: 1) I waited too long to read this book. 2) I finally read this book because I love The Avett Brothers. 3) I waited too long to read this book.
It’s true. I am one of the biggest Avett Brothers fans you know.
The truth is, I was afraid to read this one. I was scared to pieces to read it and not like it. There is a sacredness to this music for me that you guys may not understand, and that is okay. I won’t even go into it here. But I was afraid to read this book because I was scared that this author didn’t get this band and I didn’t want any of it tarnished and I really didn’t want to dislike this book that everyone else liked so much.
Eventually, I caved and decided to read it after the gentle pushing nudging of some blogging friends (love you guys!). And it was a very good decision.
Sidenote: Colleen Hoover does actually ‘get’ The Avett Brothers. I feel like we could be friends.
Sidenote: There are song lyrics at the beginnings of each chapter. I was told before I read it that there is a playlist for this book that includes the songs at the beginning of the chapters. Because the Avetts are such great songwriters, and their songs are great stories – AND because I know the songs like I know the back of my hand – I chose not to look at the playlist for the book. I felt like it would spoil the story for me. I was right. It would have. Good decision, Asheley!
I didn’t know anything about Poetry Slams before I read the book.
Now I do.
I’ve never been much of a poetry person. I don’t really enjoy reading it as much as I probably should or as much as I want to. I want to be a more well-rounded reader, and I’m working on that (HELLO, contemporary genre!). I just haven’t made my way around to poetry yet. The BIG exception to this is that I love love love verse novels.
In Slammed, Will writes and reads his poetry on Thursday nights at Poetry Slams. He takes Lake on their first official date, and she realizes at that time that she pretty much likes this guy. Now, the rules in this book for the Slams are actually the rules for ‘real’ Slams, as much as I can tell – so YAY, author, for staying true to the theme. Is Slam Poetry something I will seek out and love now that I’ve read this book? Probably not. But it worked perfectly in this story, so I was glad to read about it.
WILL IS NOT ONE OF ‘THOSE’ TYPICAL GUYS.
Also this story is amazing.
Lake and her brother, Kel, have just lost their father after a sudden heart attack. Their mother packs them up and moves them all the way from Texas to Michigan without very much explanation. Lake tries to be a good sport about it, but not only is she still grieving the loss of her father – she doesn’t want to move. A few minutes after they pull into the driveway of their new home, they meet neighbors Will and his younger brother, Caulder, and friendships form all over the place.
While it is nice to have a familiar face in an unfamiliar place, the death of her father isn’t the only hard thing that Lake will have to deal with. In fact, things get even harder. It is Will – good, awesome, respectful Will – that helps Lake and the rest of her family deal with what life keeps throwing at them. I am being vague on purpose because I went into reading Slammed without knowing much about it and it made the story really great…so while I normally give a ton of details – I’m not with this one!
Colleen Hoover has written a book that is addicting and incredible. Her story is real life and these things happen. It’s both happy and heartbreaking. It’s emotional. It is a perfect example of New Adult contemporary. There are themes of love, loss, heartbreak, hope, family, music, and friendship. Other than that, I don’t know what else to say except I loved it and I’m PUSHING it on you.
The slam poetry is an interesting touch to the story and there is a reason for it, but it is a reason that I’m not sharing! One of THE THINGS life slams in Lake’s face is the reason she cannot be with Will. Will expresses his feelings and thoughts and emotions with these slams.
Speaking of THE THING – I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED IT. NEVER. Will and Lake never saw it coming, and neither did I. They were coasting along, moving from friends to probably-something-more, and then BAM! When their hearts broke, mine did too. I’m not kidding. I think I actually sat my Kindle down for a second and had to take a minute to refocus my thoughts. I felt these were real people – my friends, even – and when THE THING was revealed, I was affected by it too. THAT makes this book great, you guys. All of the things in this book that Will experienced and Lake experienced – I felt like I was going through them too. That might sounds like the cheesiest thing EVER, but I do not lie to you, dear bloggy friends.
Ultimately, this book is a winner. A WINNER. I can’t do anything but gush about it. My favorite thing about it? The character WILL, because he stands out among all of the other NA/YA guys that are broody and mysterious. You all MUST take a chance on this book, even if you aren’t a fan of poetry and even if you don’t know or care who The Avett Brothers are. Slammed, the story, is way bigger and better than the poetry and the inclusion of an amazing band. I recommend it to EVERYONE, particularly fans of New Adult contemporary, with a special interest to those who do, in fact, love The Avett Brothers.
New Adult Contemporary Romance with Issues
(romance-contemp + issues-contemp)
*Great, great male characters that break the mold
for what NA/YA normally throws out there.*
Great characterization, main and secondary cast
Slammed
by Colleen Hoover
If you have, what did you think?
If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
About Asheley
Asheley is a Southern girl. She loves Carolina blue skies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and NC craft beer. She loves all things history but prefers books over everything.
You can find her somewhere in North Carolina, daydreaming about the ocean.
Find Asheley on Litsy @intothehallofbooks!
Oh! I think I may be one of the first commenters, YAY! Because there is no other review of yours would rather comment on more) So, so, so glad you loved this one Asheley and took the chance on it! Fave statement in your review:
Slammed, the story, is way bigger and better than the poetry and the inclusion of an amazing band.
That you think that even though you are such a huge music fan and Avett Brothers music in particular, is the highest of praises:)
I also never would have guessed THE THING. It actually seems to be a very well kept secret, and hopefully it will remain so because I think that is absolutely the best way to go into this book.
And YAY! for strong male leads that break out of the mold! I could not agree more. Will is just amazing. And his poetry, holy cow. I was just blown away, loved it, all of it:)
I still can't believe you read both Slammed and it's sequel in ONE day. Wow. You're sort of amazing:) I can't wait to get started on Point of Retreat. LOVE this review, Asheley. LOVE it!
Thanks Heather! I read them both in one day, but I didn't do much else. Meaning, the dishes, the dirty clothes – everything else – stayed dirty. I HAD to keep going with the second book. That NEVER EVER EVER happens with me. You know that!
I got so excited when I read this that I had to calm myself down before I could write anything. It makes my heart incredibly happy when people really DO like the books I recommend to them, so the fact that both you and Heather loved Slammed makes me want to shout for joy.
What a great review too! I definitely felt the same way about poetry slams before reading this, but I agree that it works really well in this story – and made me fall for Will harder. You're right, he is a GREAT guy. I actually didn't guess that his parents were gone until he did his first slam and because of that I almost started crying for him. It was an incredibly moving way for him to share that information with Lake.
And speaking of things I didn't figure out, I didn't guess the Thing either. And I encourage other readers not to research this book too much, because it's so much better when it's a surprise. And I FELT everything too. I love that the author could make me feel both sides. I think I'm going to need to get the paperback of this when it comes out and keep pimping it out to all my friends.
So glad you turned both of us on to this one, Lauren:)
I would have loved this without TAB in it, but it was a bonus, certainly. But THE THING. My heart! I just couldn't. And all of the little trinkets inside of the story like the garden gnome and the things like that, the details, I just loved them all. The way when Will backed his car out of his driveway, he backed straight into Lake's…such fun imagery and details! I could visualize this book so well.
I seriously never would have known about it or picked it up if you wouldn't have told me about it. So THANK YOU. I don't know what else to say!
Wow! Thank you sooo much for this review! Not only could we be friends, we SHOULD be friends. I don't know what else to say besides thank you for "getting it."
You had me at the dedication. I'm not even kidding.
I want to read this! I will definitely have to get this one. Great review, Ash.
Thanks Ash! The second book, Point of Retreat, was awesome too and that'll be up on the blog in a few days. I HIGHLY recommend these books.
OMG I love, love, LOVE your review! I read these books back to back too, and they moved me to a level I never thought it was possible for 'just a book', but I never managed to write a review. I felt like I couldn't make it justice and express my feelings properly. But you did it, and did it SO WELL!<3 Will is so awesome and so REAL, that I think he ruined all the real life guys for me forever.LOL
Anyways, great review!;)
Thank you! I can't believe how much I loved these books and I already want to read them again. I think Colleen Hoover went to my instant-read status with these two…
Great review for a WONDERFUL book! This one went straight into my 'favorites' collection.
Thank you! I love this book so much, and I loved Point of Retreat as well! I'm so glad I took the time to read them.
I haven't ever heard of this book before now, but your review makes it sound like a MUST read! It's now on my list! Thanks 🙂
Elizabeth this book is so good. It's just so good. I'm so glad you put it on your list. AAAHHHHHHH…..
I'll admit it. I was scared with the whole poetry slam thing…but this sounds incredible.
Agreed. Poetry slamming doesn't sound like the funnest.
But it totally works in this book.
AND the story – GAH.
So, so good. I highly recommend. It really is incredible. (So is book two.)
One of my book club buddies recommended this to me as well. The only NA book I've read so far is Flat-Out Love which I loved, so I really ought to read more! Great review. I have no clue who the Avett Brothers are (going to Spotify them..), and I don't read as much poetry as I should for someone who studied literature and plans to teach language arts. 🙂 But this book sounds like something I could definitely love! Thanks for the lovely review, Asheley!
Randi this book was wonderful! I loved the follow-up book as well, and those thoughts will be going up this week on the blog. I've really taken a liking to the New Adult titles lately. And I LOVED Flat-Out Love too. I think it may have been the first New Adult book that I read after I realized what "New Adult" meant.
And The Avett Brothers are just amazing. They really will change your life if you'll take a listen!
I have read Slammed,and it's one of my Favorite books!I love the story,it's so beautiful,this one really made me cry!I tell all my friends about this book.They should really think about making the movie Slammed, And make Kristen Stewart be Lake.
A Slammed movie? That would be really neat!
I can see how this is one of your favorite books. It is a really great story and I loved it so much. I really read it fast and immediately read the next one fast too!
Your review has literally just sold me on reading this book. I've heard a little bit about it, and it did sound pretty interesting – but your review and the enthusiasm you so clearly expressed for it have convinced me that it's now a MUST READ and not just an option.
Seriously, slam poetry sounds really cool! And I love that guy is a genuinely nice, regular guy.
Alexa, I'd love for you to read it and share your thoughts. The guy is sincerely just a regular, generally nice guy. He totally breaks the mold of YA stereotypes and it is SO UTTERLY REFRESHING.
Yes, read it as soon as you can!! I'm pushing it on you. 🙂