Slammed - Review

Slammed

By: Colleen Hoover

Published: January 5, 2012 by Colleen Hoover

314 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:
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.

W-O-W!  I was not expecting such an emotional story!!  I'm not really sure what I was expecting, other than a great story, since so many others have highly recommended it.  I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster that these characters go on.  To say I was hooked by the second chapter is an understatement.  These are the type of characters you can't go to sleep without thinking about.  Their story is one that I was daydreaming about till the end, wondering "what will happen next".  

The connection between Layken and Will is incredibly intense!  The poetry side of this book was very enjoyable - and very new to me in terms of books I read.  It definitely added an element of deepness and heaviness which I found to be refreshing and real.

Favorite quotes (of which there are many):

"I've regressed to the damsel in distress."

"...regret is counterproductive.  It's looking back on a past that you can't change.  Questioning things as they occur can prevent regret in the future."

"There's so much more to relationships than just love."

"There are three questions every woman should be able to answer yes to before they commit to a man.  If you answer no to any of the three questions, run..."

"Does he treat you with respect at all times?" ..."if he is the exact same person twenty years from now that he is today, would you still want to marry him?" ..."does he inspire you to be a better person?" "If you find someone you can answer yes to all three, then you've found a good man."

Spoilerish favorite quotes:

"So you keep your ocean, I'll take the Lake."

"Does he love me enough that he would be willing to let me go?"

"There's room for her in first. I'm putting her first."

Be prepared to cry, to have butterflies, to get goosebumps, to laugh and to fall in love.  GREAT job Colleen Hoover!!  An overwhelming 5 stars!