REVIEW: Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover

Title/Series: Slammed | Slammed #1
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: September 18th 2012
Format: Paperback | Pages: 317
Genre: YA/NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Purchased B&N
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!

Colleen Hoover | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Falling in love can feel like poetry. Or it can feel like a slam to the heart.

Colleen Hoover’s romantic, emotion-packed debut novel unforgettably captures all the magic and confusion of first love, as two young people forge an unlikely bond before discovering that fate has other plans for them.

Following the unexpected death of her father, eighteen-year-old Layken becomes the rock for both her mother and younger brother. She appears resilient and tenacious, but inside, she's losing hope. Then she meets her new neighbor Will, a handsome twenty-one-year-old whose mere presence leaves her flustered and whose passion for poetry slams thrills her.

Not long after a heart-stopping first date during which each recognizes something profound and familiar in the other, they are slammed to the core when a shocking discovery brings 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. Only through the poetry they share are they able to speak the truth that is in their hearts and imagine a future where love is cause for celebration, not regret.

I know, I know. Guess who's late jumping on the Slammed bandwagon? This Girl....Oh that was terrible. I mean I knew once I typed it but once I got to the Point of (no) Retreat it was a bit late to stop...Okay. Yeah. I hate myself for that too. I think we should all just walk away now.

No more stupid jokey puns. *Serious face*

I made a small error before starting this book. Things I thought: There was going to be a cute, swoon worthy boy. There was going to be a great girl. There was going to be an amazing love story. There was going to be poetry. Yeah I was sure there were other elements too but my error was assuming that this was going to be an easy read. No heart stomping. But see I forgot one very important element. Two words. Well, really, more so a name than two words. Colleen Hoover.

Things I know now: By page 27 I was already in love with Will. By page 59 I was on a cliff so high off the ground, thinking there was no where to go but to keep going up after their adorable first date. By page 65 rocks started to give way beneath my feet. I didn't even see that one coming. More rocks crumble. I'm slipping and there's no way to stop it. I keep turning and turning, page after page. And for every inch I get of hope and happiness I get knocked back down about five feet within a matter of minutes. But I kept going. Eventually the path evened out. And I made it to the top. And you know what? The view from up here is amazing. This book was amazing.

I mean honestly I picked it up this afternoon to start it and, except for stopping for a few life/mom things, I couldn't put it down until I was done hours later, sitting here at 2:30am writing this. (Hence the weirdness of all this. It's sleep deprivation). I laughed, I cried, I cheered on the inside when Layken stood up in class and read "Mean" (read the book you will too), basically if you can feel it, this book pulls it out of you. No scratch that Colleen Hoover pulls it out of you. She's 2 for 2 with me. *Pats Point of Retreat* And I'm about to go for round three. After I sleep.

Before I go, I've always been a big slam poetry fan and so I'll leave you with a little inspiration. Found this a few weeks back and I love it. :)