Review: Slammed (Slammed #1) – Colleen Hoover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #1
Published by Simon & Schuster on 18 September 2012
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Pages: 352
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon

Slammed hit me straight in the heart! It is both tender and strong, happy and sad, and Lake learns to deal with a lot of disappointment. It starts when Lake has to move across the US with her mom and her little brother after the sudden death of her father. Starting a new school in her senior year was not on her list of things Lake wanted to do - but there she is anyway. When they arrive at their new house, Lake meets Will, their neighbour across the street, and there is something strong passing between them even at that very first meeting. There is so much more to Slammed than romance, though, and it is so beautifully written it is a book I will certainly read again!

*I received a free ARC of Slammed from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Slammed blew me away, I laughed, I cried and my heart was broken, then fixed again! Lake has to be one of the best and strongest female MC’s I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know ever. And Will is exceptional as well. The hand life handed those two was not the easiest hand to be dealt, but they did deal with it, and they did it in an amazing way! They both have to face responsibilities most people their age have the luck not to meet yet, and they made some choices where they put others’ needs in front of their own wants and needs. A lot of the story was so bittersweet it brought tears to my eyes, other moments had me crying really hard, and yet others had me nod and think this is really what life is all about. I loved the inclusions of both poems and song lyrics – it made the world seem even more real. And Lake’s new friends were extremely important to her; she had to build a new life in a new place just as she was starting her senior year of high-school, so the fact that she found good people to surround herself with was really nice to read about as well. Some of the words about grief reminded me a little bit of If I Stay and Where She Went. And even in YA books, I think dealing with grief is extremely important; although it does not make for a light, quick read.

 

I read this whole story in one setting, and I just couldn’t click ‘next page’ quick enough! I still tried to not read it too quickly, though, I didn’t want to miss any of the points, or the beautiful poems, or the way the characters’ feelings were portrayed. Both Lake and Will tried to get over their initial feelings of love – that just wouldn’t do once they realized Will was to be Lake’s teacher – but they struggled hard without actually making it. Their situations being more similar than they knew when they first met, it seemed like they really were meant to be.

The fact that the story was written in 1st person present tense didn’t bother me at all – although it sometimes does. This just made me feel closer to Lake and grow with her through her different stages of grief – for different people. Even with such a sad story, I have to say it was still almost refreshing! No love triangles, no superficial problems, but lots of growth, love and of course, hope.

I can’t wait to start the second book in this series, it’s right here waiting for me on my kindle – can you hear it call my name?

I love Julia’s advice to her daughter Lake :

There are three questions every woman should be able to answer yes to before they commit to a man:
1. Does he treat you with respect at all times?
2. If he is the exact same person twenty years from now that
he is today, would you still want to marry him?
3. Does he inspire you to want to be a better person?

Here are some other quotes I absolutely adored :

The way these poets were able to lure you into a whole new world, viewing things from a vantage point you’ve never seen before. Making you feel like you are the mother who lost her baby, or the boy who killed his father, or even the man who got high for the first time and ate five plates of bacon. I feel a connection with these poets and their stories.<- THIS is exactly how I felt reading, too! I felt a connection with these characters and their stories, even viewing things from a vantage point I’ve never seen before.

I can’t possibly comprehend at this moment what it must be like to actually have a broken heart. If it Hurst even one percent more than the pain I’m feeling now, I’ll forgo love. It’s not worth it.

I wipe the makeup off and brush my out my hair before I go back to the kitchen and listen to her tell me how she’s going to die.

This is more than likely my mother’s last time to carve pumpkins. Next month will be the last time she sees Thanksgiving. After that, she’ll have her last Christmas. But she’s just sitting here, talking to Will about Halloween plans, laughing. I wish I could freeze this moment. I wish we could just carve pumpkins forever.

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