Review: Slammed

By Rachel
Slammed Book Cover

Slammed by Colleen Hoover, published February 2013 by Simon & Schuster.

Read: April 2015
Genre: New Adult/Romance/Contemporary
Source: Purchased
#Pages: 352
Get It Now: Wordery

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Goodreads Synopsis: Layken’s father died suddenly, leaving her to gather every ounce of strength to be a pillar for her family, in order to prevent their world from falling apart. Now her life is taking another unexpected turn…Layken’s mother gets a job which leads to an unwanted move across the country. However, a new home means new neighbours… and Layken’s new neighbour is the very attractive Will Cooper.

Will has an intriguing passion for slam poetry, and a matching passion for life. The two feel an irresistible attraction but are rocked to the core when a shocking revelation brings their romance to a screeching halt. Layken and Will must find a way to fight the forces that threaten to tear them apart… or learn to live without each other.

The Review

Everyone who reads this blog will surely know I’m a CoHo addict. I’m not in denial, but I sure as hell ain’t seeking help either. This woman! I generally love all of her books, but some of them are absolute favourites, and this is one of them. I can’t delve too much into what I adore about the storyline, without giving away details that I think would ruin the element of surprise in this novel. CoHo is the Queen of Surprise. What I will say, is that I made some status updates on Goodreads while reading this book (which I should really do more often, they are incredibly helpful when it comes to writing reviews), and by 70 pages into this read, I was on-line ordering the next two in the series. Hoover’s books are never “cheap”, you may get them for a little less than RRP sometimes, but for a bargain hunter like me, they’re basically full price, and I didn’t want to commit to this series until I’d dipped my toe in the water. I know, silly me.

First of all, this was my thought process while reading this book:

“Oh Colleen, how I adore you. I didn’t see that coming, and I love it already!!! I HAVE to order the rest of these NOW!”

“Aw no. Why, Colleen? Why must you make my heart your plaything???”

“I think I kinda love Eddie.”

“Will! *swoon* I need Kleenex, stat!”

“*sobs* I’ll never look at a pink balloon the same way again. Ever!”

“*wails* my chest aches. I think Will might be my favourite CoHo man ever. I’ve ordered book 2 and 3, and I SHOULD have requested next day delivery. I can’t COPE until they get here! *bows to CoHo* once again, my Queen, you were spectacular.”

Do you see what I’m getting at here?

This is Hoover’s debut novel, and I won’t lie, I can see development in her writing from this to her more recent releases. However, this book is very well written, and it really struck a chord with me. Her characters are wonderfully developed (even her sub-characters), her storyline unique and gripping, and her ability to make you feel really is second to none. All of that, and oh yea, Will Cooper.

swoony in love gif

Credit where it is due though, this story is about so much more than the romance. Yes, that is a central theme, but we’re also dealing with grief, and responsibility, and growing up. And slammed poetry. I haven’t seen a lot of slammed (or spoken word) poetry, but what I have seen I’ve loved (I’ve included some of my favourites at the end of this review). I was so glad I’d already seen some of this for myself before reading the book, as it helped bring the written slams to life. It’s going to be very interesting to see how Hoover turns this into a trilogy, Contemporary trilogies are few and far between, right?

The Rating

5/5

Have you read Slammed? Do you love Colleen Hoover? Talk to me in the comments! 

About Rachel

Avid reader & #bookblogger. Lover of all things business. A fan of drinks & dancing. Ever optimistic. Feminist.

24 Responses

    1. Rachel

      You should get on to it! I’ve already read the next two (reviews to follow soon), and I really loved the whole series. Books 1 and 3 are my favourites. R x

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  2. Brandie

    I love your review!!!!!! I remember how it felt to read this book and fall in love with Colleen’s writing for the first time. I’ve read all of her books in the order of release and they just keep getting better, but this one holds a special place in my heart. I just came across it on Amazon one day and decided to give it a try (I RARELY do that – not without reading tons of reviews and seeing if it’s worth reading). And it introduced me to a whole new genre and world of writing. Such an amazing book – I’m SO glad you liked it!

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    1. Rachel

      Thank you! Did you watch the videos at the end??

      Ohh – watch this one – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trmHJLJAgB8&feature=player_embedded *Note – anyone else reading this comment, don’t watch this unless you’ve read the book. Minor spoiler*

      I have you to thank for all of my CoHo love, if it wasn’t for you I doubt I would have found her. THAT would be AWFUL. I loved it! I’ve read the next two already, need to get the reviews up. Book 2 was my least favourite, but I still enjoyed it, and book 3 picked back up for me again. Really enjoyed this series. So much more depth than I was expecting (origami stars!!). Le sigh. I got a review up!! Today, I am content lol R x

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Trish @ Between My Lines

    I still think this is one of my fav CoHo books too. It’s the slam poetry, it hits me right in the feels. I didn’t love the next two books as much but they are still pretty good.
    Thanks for the slam poetry videos, loved them!

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  4. joyousreads

    Yes. Yes.
    This book got me writing poetry again
    After a long bout of cramped hand
    and of dried pen
    when words wouldn’t come
    no matter how loud I scream
    and the paper remained lined
    sparse and empty

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    1. Rachel

      He’s definitely got my top spot, though there are a few snapping at his heels to take it! Seriously, I had this thought the other day – you know how Katie McGarry’s books are all set in the same “world”? I like to imagine Colleen Hoover’s characters are all in the same world too, and HOW MUCH WOULD YOU WANT TO GO THERE?! Urgh. I love that woman. I really enjoyed the whole series too, book 1 was my favourite, but book 3 was very strong too I thought, I basically grinned the entire time I was reading it. I can’t wait for more from her, November is too far away! R x

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  7. Becky @ A Fool's Ingenuity

    I really want to read this book. It’s the only CoHo book I’ve not read and I think it’s because it is a series. I have seen it reviewed on a few blogs and I am so interested, it will definitely be a book I pick up soon. But it is how soon that is the question. Great review, and I loved the videos at the end. Spoken word poetry is the best.

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  8. Danielle

    I need to get over myself and just read this! I read Hopeless and Losing Hope and they destroyed me, legit destroyed me! So there’s a fear of how overwhelming the emotions will be with this book but I need to put my big girl panties on and get to it because it sounds so good. I was spoiled for the reason their relationship is “taboo” but I don’t care, I think I’ll enjoy it nonetheless! Lovely review!

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    1. Rachel

      You definitely should! Hopeless and Losing Hope were definitely heart-string-pullers, but I think I actually prefer the Slammed series… yep, yep I do. I was so lucky that I wasn’t spoiled for that, though I did occidentally see the blurb on the back of book 2 and was spoiled for something else, so don’t look at the backs of any of them! Lol You should definitely check them out. Now. Go do it! R x

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  11. Mean Girls Book Tag! |

    […] many. I get new book boyfriends weekly. Off the top of my head I’d say: Will Cooper from the Slammed series, Lucas from How (Not) To Fall In Love, Chaol from Throne of Glass, Ethan from Between The […]

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    […] are so many options for this, but my most recent one that has stayed with me, is Will Cooper from Slammed. I absolutely loved the Slammed series by Colleen Hoover, and I think Will had a part to play in […]

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  14. Review: This Girl |

    […] makes them all feel like confidantes and friends, as opposed to just people on the page. I rated Slammed 5*, and Point of Retreat 4.5*, This Girl will be getting 4*, because it is my least favourite out […]

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