Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Layla

Reviews tagging Gaslighting

Layla, by Colleen Hoover

45 reviews

monewt0's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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meeklovestoread's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I literally just finished this book about half an hour ago and I'm still contemplating on what I just read. This book was soooooo odd. And not in a good way. Don't get wrong it was very addictive and easy to read just like all of Colleen Hoover's books. I blinked and I was on page 200. But it being a page-turner doesn't negate just how underwhelmingly strange this book was. I'd like to say that I did like the format from which it was told.

This story is told through alternating time perspectives in which Colleen shifts from Leeds (the main character) telling the events that lead them here then shifts to the regular chapters where he explains to the "detective" what has transpired. So basically we're in his thoughts the whole book.

Okay so first Leeds starts to explain how he and Layla (the love interest) met. And honestly to me I wasn't really feeling their relationship. It just consumed of them making lovey-dovey comments and having sex. It felt very one-dimensional/surface level. I felt pretty indifferent towards their initial encounter too. It was pretty insta-lovey as most of her books are. My only problem with insta-love is that we don't really don't get the lore of why a character is attracted to that specific person. Like I'm feeling their connection.

Anyways afterwards we started getting the plot of the story and the crazy things that were happening. And then about 85% we just get twist after twist after twist.

Spoiler

We find out that Willow is actually Sable, and that she took over Layla's body in the moments in which the two souls were in a state of limbo I guess. Because not only did Layla get shot by Sable, but Leeds also shot Sable when defending Layla . But oh wait, nope turns out Willow isn't Sable. And apparently Willow is Layla and Sable is occupying Layla's body which is actually Willow's body because Willow is Layla.

Confusing right. That's how I felt while reading this Especially because to me I don't think the author did a good job in making us believe her "twist" was true. Honestly it felt like the author was picking at things from her arsenal because a lot of the twist seemed too far fetched to me (maybe that was her intention). I just didn't like her execution.

Also, the "big twist" of the book was NOT GOOD! It felt like she was trying to justify Leeds actions. Like finding out

Spoiler

that Willow is in fact Layla and not Sable. That Sable took over Layla's body and Layla's just been walking in a state of limbo for the past several months. And because of that it just explains why Leeds felt such a strong connection towards Willow, the ghost, because Willow is actually Layla. And their love is so strong that he was able to "find her". And because we now know this that just justifies him almost drugging "Layla", cheating on her, depriving her of her sleep, tying her up and holding her captive, GASLIGHTING her, and most infamously him letting "Willow" take over her body without her consent.

Especially considering he didn't know what he knew now when he was committing those actions. He just knew that he was in love with a ghost and was willing to do whatever he could to keep this "ghost" in his life.

She does know how to romanticize abuse. Honestly I just felt like those "big twists" towards the end fell flat because Leeds and Layla's relationship wasn't this soulmate type relationship that the author was leading us to believe. Overall this book was okay, but I'm not saying I'd recommend it though.

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layla_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

layla is too good for leeds. #ihateleeds

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sarah2438's review against another edition

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1.0

This was so bad lol I thought it couldn't get any worse and then the twist with Sable and the attempts at explaining the paranormal just became too much. Leeds is a straight up psycho and this book is a case in point of why the ends DON'T always justify the means.

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tannerlauren's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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tanvi45's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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mariahcervelli's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

to anyone reading this review, yes i’ve seen the bad reviews it’s gotten, yes i’ve read this book completely unaware that this wasn’t just another verity with a medical problem, instead it’s more of a paranormal ghost romance story. colleen hoover’s writing is addicting, so easy to consume, i was over 100 pages 3 hours into the book. the opening chapter was very unique and the plot twist about the book was insane, absolutely insane. a lot of people say it was predicable but it was an insane plot twist no one could see coming. colleen hoover makes you confused but in a good way with her thrillers and finding out the answer to the big conflict. the writing seems weird but it’s written in him recalling the events so you won’t understand until you dive deeper and deeper into the book and the most satisfying thing is getting towards the end because you realized you’ve read an amazing plot line and you can compare details you’ve missed. Moving on, i agree with the statement of the mistreatment of layla was terrible and is so crazy, no one should’ve been treated that way and gaslighted feeling as if their realities are warped and what abuse she had to endure. The ending cleared parts up but Layla should’ve never felt that pain at all and Leeds is terrible for doing it. i disliked his character but i’m happy with the ending because it was apart of the interesting plot line. I do not condone this behavior though and if anything like this happens in real life, run for the hills! coho can write a lot of toxic men! but, i’m so glad i read this book, yes i recommend!

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