A review by missrosymaplemoth
Slammed by Colleen Hoover

1.5

I wish this book was 200 pages shorter and ended with Layken transferring out of Will’s class. The “heavy themes” in this book were largely about navigating the taboo (read: illegal) relationship. So gross. It’s illegal for a reason; I don’t care that the age difference is “only” 3 years.

Some points that stood out to me:
  • The slam poetry was confusing and cringeworthy.
  • The narration was juvenile (even for YA) and long-winded at times (do we really need a play-by-play of Layken’s morning routine?).
  • I didn’t enjoy how the only person of color’s storyline was
    assaulting Layken,
    which in itself was just a plot device to get Will and Layken back together.
  • My jaw dropped when I read about the younger boys’ Halloween costumes.
    Not to be uptight like that principal, but my mom had cancer twice and I was surprised at Julia’s reaction. What nine-year-old says they want to be their mother’s cancerous lung(s)? The whole thing was just very odd and inorganic to me.
  • I’ll give the book one thing: the note from
    Layken’s now-deceased mom
    at the very end was nice.

I don’t understand why I read this, or how the author has the following she does. I will not be reading the sequels (which I’m disappointed to say do exist). This book served as a lesson and a reminder to never read a book by this author again.
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