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Description
From 1 New York Times bestselling author of Reminders of Him and It Ends with Us, 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. Read more
Publisher : Atria
Publication date : September 18, 2012
Edition : Original
Language : English
Print length : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1476715904
ISBN-13 : 02
Item Weight : 10.4 ounces
Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.88 x 8.25 inches
Book 1 of 3 : Slammed
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Top Amazon Reviews
Format: Kindle
Several months ago I read another book by this author called "Hopeless." It was a book I deeply enjoyed and wasn't at all what I was expecting. Since then, I've noticed several other titles by this same author and have been trying to decide whether to try another by her…not because I didn't completely enjoy the first, but because the first was so "perfect" that i wasn't sure I was ready for the letdown that often happens when an author doesn't meet your expectations. After noticing the nearly perfect 4.5 ratings by almost 2000 Amazon readers, I had to give this one a try. I'm glad I did. First let me start with the genre. Though I'm not 100% certain, I think this book would be classified as a YA novel since the main characters are 18 (a high schooler) and 21 (an almost college grad). As a reader, I "like" YA novels, but I don't usually love them. My biggest pet peeve is that (though I'm 43), I hate when author talk down to young readers and assume all of their life problems are frivolous. This is where Colleen Hoover greatly succeeds where other authors often leave me irritated. The young adult characters in this book are truly inspiring. They're young, but their problems are "real." Neither is whiny or wishy-washy, but tackle their problems with the maturity of full adults. And to be honest, I think that any "kid" in these types of situations would grow up quickly in the same way that Hoover has portrayed them. So…what's this book about? I can't give you a lot of detail without ruining it for you, but I'll try to break it down. Layken has recently turned 18. Her father has suddenly passed away and her mother moves her and her 9-year old brother, Kel, to Michigan from their home in Texas. They move next door to a young man, Will, who is 21 and raising his 9-year old brother after the sudden death two years previous of both of their parents. He's grown up quickly to be both mother and father to his younger brother, and he's taken on more responsibilities than a "kid" his age should ever have to take on. But he's done it admirably well. Within only a couple of days of becoming neighbors, the two younger brothers quickly become best friends and Layken and Will acknowledge their chemistry and begin a relationship. The chemistry takes them both off guard, but the reader immediately realizes that this is going to be a very special couple. They only have one date, and then they're suddenly hit with a brick wall that will keep them apart in spite of how much they want to be together. I can't tell you what that brick wall is, but I can tell you that it seems completely insurmountable even for the reader. There is simply no good solution that will allow the two to continue a relationship. Slammed is a beautiful story of two young people - far older and wiser than their years - who understand the importance of commitment and responsibility. It's sweet and heartbreaking (for a variety of reasons), and there are moments when you are so proud of one or both of the characters for taking a stand in moments that should be intimidating. The bottom line is that this is an excellent read. I'd recommend this book for YA readers (15+, probably) as well as for adults. There is not gratuitous sex, so the subject matter - while sometimes difficult - is completely appropriate for younger readers as well as interesting enough to keep the interest of older readers. Very nicely done!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2014 by 2Gr8KidsMom
Format: Kindle
Originally reviewed at[...] It's hard for me to narrow down all the reasons I fell for Slammed. It's the characters. It's the romance. It's the strong family themes. It's the poetry featured. It's the authentic dialogue. It's the writing itself. It's all of those things rolled into one that make Slammed such a perfect read. It felt like Lake, Will, Kel and Caulder, Eddie and Lake's mom are people I know, or could know. It just felt very real. So as you can gather from the above synopsis, we meet Layken (Lake) and her family (brother, Kel and mom, Julia) as they are leaving Texas to move to Michigan. Lake's dad recently passed away after suffering a heart attack and the family is still recovering from the unexpected loss. Within a few pages we meet Will, and his younger brother Caulder (love that name!) who live in the house across the street from the rental Lake's family is moving into. There is instant chemistry for sure between Lake and Will, and the next day, Will asks Lake on a date. Things are suddenly looking up for Lake and she's starting to believe that maybe this move won't be such a terrible thing after all. The first date turns out to be amazing. Why? Because Will takes Lake to this club that hosts performance poetry (or Slams) one night a week. Ok. I've heard of slam poetry. The first thing I think of is Mike Meyers performing slam poetry in 'So I Married an Axe Murderer.' Remember that? Anyway, that's about the extent of my knowledge on the subject. But you guys, it turns out to be so COOL. It's not getting up in front of an audience and reciting poetry. It's not 'Dead Poets Society' (that one I stole from the book itself,) it's much more personal. It's soul bearing. And the best part? This is Will's passion. When he gets up on stage and performs a piece, essentially letting Lake into his own life and story, she has officially fallen. Hard. There is an undeniable connection made between the two and it would appear that Lake and Will are on the cusp of a major romance. And just when you think it can't get any better, BAM! The bottom drops out. So I can't reveal why this happens because that would be MAJOR spolilery. But something is revealed that completely changes things and Lake and Will can't be together. The entire mood and tone of the book shifts and what remains is how Lake and Will deal with the aftermath. Character wise, I loved both Lake and Will. They are both such good people who truly want to be responsible and do the right thing. The problem is their hearts keep getting in the way of their heads. It's frustrating and heartbreaking to witness and I found it impossible to not root for them and wish they could find a way to work it all out. In addition, both Will, and especially Lake, undergo some great character growth, which is SO important, isn't it? There are some moments where it seems like Lake is obsessing over the break up, and some moments where it seems like she's not taking steps to move forward, but those moments are brief and actually pretty realistic in my opinion. There is one scene where Lake says all she feels like doing is sleeping, because it doesn't hurt as bad when you're asleep. When I read that I was like "Yep. Been there." But Lake does pick herself up, dust herself off, and try to move on. Ok, I can't elaborate any further without giving too much away. Moving on. The secondary characters in Slammed are superb. Each is individual and fully developed and play important roles in the story. There really aren't any people written in that act as filler, each character is important in their own right. Of all them I can't help but gravitate towards Lake's new best friend Eddie (who is a girl) and who has her own set of problems and challenges. But Eddie is also intensely loyal and just a great person. She's quirky and outspoken and I adored her. I want a spin off with Eddie as the MC! The other character that I loved was Julia, Lake's mom. Thank you Colleen Hoover for having a parental figure who is front and center in the MC's life! I for one am sick of reading YA that either sidelines the parents relegating them to the distant background or worse, ignores them altogether. Some of the best YA books I have read lately have parents and guardians playing active roles in the story, and I LOVE that. The importance of family is a strong theme that reverberates throughout the book and it is one of my favorite aspects. The romance is written beautifully. It's the perfect mix of sweet (there are plenty of "a[...]" moments) and steamy (plenty of "Whoa, that's hot..." moments.) The physical attraction is there but the emotional attraction (I don't even know if that's a real term) is just as important, and in the end, that's the MOST important connection between Will and Lake. And there are some issues in this book. But it didn't feel like an "issue" book to me. It didn't feel melodramatic or over the top. It felt authentic and real. Grief, loss and denial, as well as the role of responsibility and priorities are all represented in Slammed. Will and Lake encounter these challenges head on and watching them work to resolve their problems ultimately resulted in a book with a very uplifting message. I LOVE books that do that. I would be remiss if I didn't talk a little about the poetry and the song lyrics mentioned at the start of each chapter of Slammed. Author Colleen Hoover dedicated this book to the indie band the Avett Brothers who inspire her writing. These lyrics tie in beautifully to the book and for a music (especially indie and alternative music) lover like me it is always such a treat to read how music motivates writers. If you want to check out Hoover's Avett Brothers play list for Slammed you can find that here:[...] And I have to leave you with a taste of the poetry found in Slammed. Here is my favorite of Will's poems: I used to love the ocean. Everything about her. Her coral reefs, her white caps, her roaring waves, the rocks they lap, her pirate legends and mermaid tails, Treasures lost and treasures held... And ALL of her fish in the sea. Yes, I used to love the ocean, Everything about her, The way she would sing me to sleep as I lay in my bed then wake me with a force that I soon came to dread. Her fables, her lies, her misleading eyes, I'd drain her dry If I cared enough to. I used to love the ocean, Everything about her. Her coral reefs, her whitecaps, her roaring waves, the rocks they lap, her pirate legends and mermaid tails, Treasures lost and treasures held. And ALL of her fish in the sea. Well if you've ever tried navigating your sailboat through she stormy seas, you would realize that her whitecaps are your enemies. If you've ever tried swimming a shore when your leg gets a cramp and you just had a huge meal of In-N-Out burgers that's weighing you down, and her roaring waves are knocking the wind out of you, filling your lungs with water as you flail your arms, trying to get someone's attention, but your friends just wave back at you? And if you've ever grown up with dreams in your head about life, and how one of these days you would pirate your own ship and have your own crew and that all of the mermaids would love only you? Well, you would realize...as I eventually realized... That all the good things about her? All the beautiful? It's not real. It's fake. So you keep your ocean, I'll take the Lake. Freaking shivers every time I read that, people. Read the book, you'll understand why:) If you love quiet stories that grab hold of you and don't let go, and if you love big romance and characters that you can get behind and support with your heart and soul, I think you'll love Slammed. I hope you give it a try:)
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Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2012 by Heather R.
Format: Kindle
I think I'm going to end up writing a mostly critical review of a book that I really liked. Odd, I know. 1. I'm afraid my judgement might be clouded by the excerpt from the second book in the series that I read immediately following this book. I thought the excerpt, which is in Will's voice, seemed kind of really cheesy. But I will still obviously read the second book. 2. I fail to understand why this has been cited as being one of the leaders (for lack of a better word) in this new "new adult" genre. To me this read like pretty traditional YA, besides the ages of the main character (18) and her love interest (21). Otherwise there was no sex, no drugs, no drinking, no cursing (that I remember, correct me if I'm wrong), and no violence. And death is a pretty common theme in traditional YA. 3. The cover is so bad, I can't believe S&S didn't change that. (I am highly critical of covers though.) Ok, that's all the bad. Now the good (I'm in a list mood). 1. Th entire story was so relatable and felt so real. Both the story lines and the characters seemed like people I could know and things that could happen to me or people I know. 2. It's a really interesting premise that I honestly can't believe no one has thought of before. I won't spoil it, but the thing that shakes up Layken and Will's relationship is so simple yet so devastating. 3. I even enjoyed the poetry and I never thought I would say that. I hate, hate, hate poetry and I find people who are so into poetry completely pretentious (just telling the truth) which is one of the reasons I put off reading this for a while. But I actually loved the poetry in this book. I thought the poems were really creative and the perfect outlet for teenagers. That's my bad and good. I really did like the book, I read it in a couple of hours and I just couldn't put it down. There were times I laughed out loud and times where my eyes filled with tears so it definitely affected me. I will also say I thought it was extremely well-written, I've found certain books in this genre to be lacking in writing finesse, but Slammed was great. In fact I got to the part about "basagna" and I couldn't believe there was a typo! I got so annoyed before I realized that's how it was supposed to be written :) I should also say I'm excited that the film rights were optioned. Hopefully it does end up getting made into a movie and that Hollywood doesn't totally teen-movie cheese it up.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012 by Maggie
It is always an amazing book that immediately drives me to get up and DO. I don't just finish the book and reflect on the things I have read. I have an overwhelming desire to change something in my life or do something that I have never done before. I find myself wanting to truly experience something, to go out and LIVE life to its fullest. That is what Slammed did to me. No, nothing really life changing occurred with me after reading this book, but I couldn't move on until I immediately loaded the Avett Brothers onto my Pandora playlist so I could hear their amazing music. Then I searched for the beautiful lyrics of their songs so that I could soak them in and interpret them for myself. I have a need to find somewhere, anywhere within driving distance for me to see Slam poetry in action. I found myself sitting in my spare moments and thinking about the Slam poetry that I could perform about the moments in my life that have impacted me the most. I don't just want to sit around and think about the things that I read about in this novel. I want to DO. In short, this is a book about grieving, but ultimately this is a book about living. Lake (a strange name for a main character, but soon it becomes natural and right to me as a name once I got to know her) finds herself transplanted from Texas to Michigan when her mom and she, along with a younger brother, move after the sudden death of her father. Although it has been a few months since her father's death, Lake is still experiencing residual sadness because of the loss of her happy family. Things are different now, and it is even more different when she finds herself in Michigan. She isn't happy to be there, but things begin to look up immediately when she meets the lovely man living next door to her. Will is a few years older than Lake, and they immediately hit it off. I mean they REALLY hit it off. I wouldn't go so far as to call it love at first sight, but they definitely find that there is a solid connection between each other. Within a few days they have gone on the best date ever in Lake's experience, and they are definitely way into each other. SPOILER AHEAD. READ ON AT YOUR OWN RISK. Then their happily ever after world tilts a bit on its axis. Lake shows up for her first day of school on the Monday following her amazing weekend of Will, only to see him in the hall at school as she starts searching for her third hour class. She goes to him, throws her arms around him, and he freaks out. Why? Well, young and lovely Will is actually a very young high school teacher at Lake's high school. He thought she was in college. She thought he was definitely not a teacher. And to add insult to injury . . . he's her third hour teacher. Noooooooo! Now that's trouble. Obviously they can't keep seeing each other. That's all kinds of wrong in almost any playbook in existence. High school teachers do not date their students. Even if the teacher is twenty-one and the student is eighteen. It just can't be done. So what to do now? They try to avoid each other. They try to be "just friends." They occasionally get into snippy fits with each other. But they keep coming back to each other again and again. This becomes increasingly more frustrating as the novel continues. As a reader I am rooting for them to find a way to be together as a couple. No matter what Will may say, it is obvious that he wants to be with Lake. But even as my reading heart is wishing for this couple to make it work, my real life brain is saying that this wouldn't be a happy thing in a real life high school. Google any number of recent news stories on this sort of topic, and it becomes clear that situations like this do not generally have happy endings. And yet I continued to root for these two people who seem to be so meant for each other. In Slammed, Lake's mother gives her some great advise about finding a good man. She says: "Does he treat you with respect at all times? That's the first question. The second question is, if he is the exact same person twenty years from now that he is today, would you still want to marry him? And finally, does he inspire you to want to be a better person? You find someone you can answer yes to all three, then you've found a good man." That is why I can't stop rooting for this couple. Will is a good man. He inspires Lake to be a better person. He treats her with respect. A good man. Somehow this relationship has to succeed. Even with a crazy situation like this dominating her life, the difficulties are only beginning for Lake. She finds out that there is more to this move to Michigan than she originally believed, and this revelation is a doozy of a revelation. It will change Lake's life in a significant way, and it is in the midst of this struggle that I believe that Will truly shows his worth to her. Unfortunately it is mixed up in all the confusion of his being her teacher, so a lot of his awesome behavior is lost to her. But it was further proof of his goodness. I won't say more about the eventual ending or resolution of the various issues of the story. I will just say a few thoughts I had while I read. Most of all . . . I absolutely loved the character of Will. He was amazing in so many ways. The things he does for his younger brother and the consideration he gives to Lake's mother and to Lake as well were wonderful. He behaves in a way that seems very hurtful to Lake at one point in the novel (well, actually it is at several points), but once we discover his motivations for his actions, it makes him even more amazing in my opinion. The ending scene of the book was nice, but for me the most wonderful, incredible, amazing, swoon worthy, awwwwww moment of the book was when Will performed his Slam poetry, reading the "Lake" poem. My heart is still fluttering from that scene. I LOVED that poem and how he used words to so beautifully portray his love for Lake. I can't get them out of my head. That is writing genius in my mind. That is what makes a brilliant poem. Loved it! The poetry of the lyrics of the Avett Brothers played a good part in this novel. They aren't just words to read and then quickly move on to the main plot. They are words that have to simmer in your conscience, percolating until the meaning seeps into your heart, finding residence that resonates with you on a deeper level. I just really loved the inclusion of these lyrics in the novel. It is a richer novel for having them in it. Hoover does an amazing job of really portraying the struggle that Lake goes through as she realizes that she has fallen in love with Will. As a reader I could feel her desire warring with her head as she tried to find a way to make this situation work. I could feel her frustration. I could feel her moving through the stages of grief. The writing was very well done, keeping me turning pages until I could find a resolution that satisfied me. So am I satisfied? Yes! And no. I love the ending of this novel. It was what I wanted to find, even though it occurred in a way I didn't expect. But I was not satisfied to be done with Will and Lake's story. I wanted more. I want to re-enter the world of Slam poetry that displays the emotions of the writers in such a raw and real way. Hurray that there is a second novel in this series! I downloaded it right away so that I can continue their story. This was a wonderful discovery for me as a reader. Five stars!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2012 by Melissa
Colleen Hoover, you officially have yourself one very happy new fan!! OMG this book was freaking AWESOME!!! All I can say is, if you have this in your TBR list, BUMP IT TO THE TOP!! Slammed is such a heartbreaking but beautiful, sweet story, and I just loved every single moment. Lake and Will meet as Lake's family is moving into their new home in Michigan, and they have that instant chemistry that just takes your breath away. Will and his brother Caulder live across the street, and Lake can't believe her luck that she's met her dream guy the first day in her new city. When the bomb is dropped and Will and Lake are forced to stop any relationship they might have had, my heart just shattered!!! I was so upset for both of them, because somehow even in the short time they'd known each other, it was so clearly a fated, destined, meant-to-be love between them. I had butterflies in my stomach every time Will was near Lake, he was just so unbelievably sexy and sweet!!! OH *swoon* I am officially in love with this man, he's just the perfect romance lover in the making!! *sighs* Will and Lake struggle so hard to fight their feelings for each other, and it was just torture that they couldn't be together. To be constantly near the one you're falling for, seeing every day how amazing he is, and know that it can never be...damn!! Will handled himself so well despite the wall he had to put up so he could take care of his brother, and Lake...well, she was your typical teenage highschool student bitter over a love that was shot down before it could even take off!! I wanted to slap her on more than one occasion, but honestly it was the perfect reaction for a teenage girl. She's trying to be adult about it, but her teen angst sometimes just wins out! My heart was racing as they did their little dance around their predicament, I was so anxious for the obstacles to just go away so they could finally be together. The secondary characters in Slammed were phenomenal, too. Eddie, Lake's quirky new best friend with no boundaries when it comes to her behavior, was my personal favorite. She was so supportive of Lake no matter what, and she was an awesome comedic distraction that I loved. Lake's mom earned a place in my heart as the story went along, too, she was so strong and amazing for her kids through it all. And of course, I absolutely adored Kel and Caulder as Lake and Will's little brothers! They were so adorable and sweet with their 'long lost brother' relationship. And they were pretty damned funny, too...backwards day had me LOL!! I have to say, though, what really sold me about Will was the fact that he was raising his little brother. I was already falling pretty hard for this guy, but when I found out he took responsibility of his brother I was a total goner!! I mean, OMG could he be any more perfect??!! This story put me through so many emotions. My heart broke numerous times for Lake and Will, it raced every time their romance ignited, I laughed, I cussed from frustration, and I cried my eyes out at that inevitable moment at the end of the book. It was beautiful, but it was so very sad that these characters have to go through so much. I like the way it was tied up neatly for the sequel, I don't think I could have handled a cliffhanger on this one!! Granted, I'm going straight to book 2 now, but still... =)
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2012 by Patriotmom
Format: Kindle
This book was not what I expected at all. It was a very deep book, with many intense moments and not your typical new adult book. The main charcters we encounter in SLAMMED is Layken and Will. Their whole relationship is the focus of the book, and they meet in the first chapter. Layken and her family is moving to Michigan from Texas, and end up across the street from Will and his brother. Layken and Will are connected right away, until a twist of events (that I did NOT see coming) happen in the high school hallway. From there their love is more of a forbidden love, and Layken struggle to move on from Will. As for the secondary characters in this book, there are a few, but the one we get to know the most is Eddie. Ah, Eddie! She's such an amazing person and I wish I could read more about her. From Layken's first day at her new high school she taked her under her wings and deem them best friends. Other than Eddie we meet her boyfriend and other friends, but none of them are a big part of SLAMMED. SLAMMED was very well-written and I couldn't find any faults in that department, but one thing that left me confused throughout the whole book was how fast things jumped from one location to another. I can't even count how many times throughout SLAMMED that I though "Oh, so she left that place and now she's here" or "Oh, it's the next day". If it only happened once or twice it wouldn't bother me, but this was something I kept noticing. Even though I did appreciate and like SLAMMED, it didn't get to me. I couldn't really connect to any of the characters, and I didn't really feel like I got to know Layken and I didn't connect with the chemistry between her and Will. SLAMMED have gotten so many great reviews, and I didn't hate the book - I just didn't connect with it or love it as much as others did. Maybe I'll eventualy read the sequel to it, but I'm in no rush to do it. SLAMMED didn't leave me wanting more.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2014 by Elise Johnsen
Format: Kindle
There Comes a Time There comes a time in life when you read, feel, or hear something and words Cannot not describe the emotions, thoughts or actions it brings out of you. There comes a time in life when you feel inspired to do something that it is you've never done before, Experience things you never thought you could do. There comes a time in your life when against all odds you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, And that you will make it out okay. Breathing, living, crying, screaming, yelling, smiling. There comes a time in life when you know that no matter what happens, you can still look back, And say you gave it your all. In today's world, it seems like nothing will turn around for the better as we sit and wait and become bitter. In life you find things that are astounding. In every way imaginable and every way you can see. Things that are life changing in the best way possible. Things that you can only describe with the most vivid of words and actions. There comes a time in life when you say no matter what, at the end of the day I gave it my all. Knowing that there is peace within you and with all that surrounds you. There comes a time in life when you smile because you know, at that time life is everything you wanted it to be but never thought that it could. Shouting from the rooftops the joy that you have inside and wanting to share it with the world. There comes a time in life when all is at it should be and you turn around, look at yourself and know that this is what you were meant for.....MLD ...And that time came for me throughout the entirety of this book. I cannot remember the last time I was so touched, so inspired, so intrigued, so consumed with a book as I was with Slammed. The slam poetry was utterly brilliant and the story to go along with it was damn near perfection. Layken (aka Lake) is an eighteen year old who has just moved away from everything she's ever known as "home" after her fathers sudden death. She needs and tries so hard to be the rock that her little brother, Kel, and mother can lean on. On moving day, she meets her neighbors from across the street, Will and his little brother, Caulder. It was pretty much love at first sight...for the little brothers as well. I loved the dynamics of the kids' relationship. How easy it is to just accept and be happy at that age... Will asks Lake on a date and it's unlike any typical date she's been on before. None of the boring questions about how many siblings, dogs, cats, etc.. Then he brings her to a Slam session. She is thoroughly enjoying herself and begs him to do a slam for her, he volunteers, does his slam and the rest is history... Three days ago, I was devastated, bitter, and hopeless. Today I woke up feeling happy for the first time in months. Will did that for Lake, in all the months that had passed and while her unhappiness began to consume her, he helped her to see life in a different way... ...Then a devastating revelation happens....and then another, and you think to yourself, WHY??? Why can't everything just be okay?!... Throughout the course of the book, Lake and Will had to face some of the toughest obstacles any two people could ever or should ever have to face. I would like to think that Lake's best friend Eddie helped to keep her grounded, she was one of my favorite characters in the book; her joy leaped off of the pages to me and I found myself smiling every time she would give off her words of wisdom... This book had me going through so many emotions. I had a lot of ups and downs, tears of sorrow and tears of contentment, grins and frowns. My heart beat rapidly at times for the hope of a solution and beat rapidly at times for the nervousness of what was to come... So many adversities to overcome, so many issues to work through, so many questions of priority. Through poetry so much is revealed of how one copes with things, deals with feelings; pouring their soul out to a captive audience. Why? Because it speaks volumes: The ways these poets are 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... This was so much more than a book to me, it put so many things into perspective, it touched me on a deeper level. At the first slam, I knew this would be one of my favorite books of all time, now that I'm done? I'm glad to see that I was right! I would give this book WAY more than 5 stars if GR would let me, but for now, know that I absolutely LOVED this book and am excited to read more of Layken and Will's story in the sequel! In closing, I will leave you with this... Be accepting of everything. People's differences, their similarities, their choices, their personalities. Sometimes it takes a variety to make a good collection.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012 by Melissa Delgado
Format: Paperback
The chemistry between Lake and Will is there. And the love for their siblings is there And Eddie is an amazing friend. Honestly, i bought this book and then Put off reading it, I really expected this to be a flop. That being said I liked it better than I expected, but didn’t love it the way so many others who reviewed the book did. It was realistic in many ways and brought tears to my eyes. However, I’ve read series where I just can’t wait to move on to the next book and I don’t have that feeling with this series.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2026 by Kindle Customer