Slammed by Colleen Hoover

 

I was so excited to read another book by Colleen Hoover after my great experience with the Maybe series of hers. Perhaps this is what happens when you set your expectations too high. Slammed is the first book written by Colleen Hoover, and it kind of shows. The writing is still super smooth and easy to follow, which I like, but it wasn't as well written, and I was a bit annoyed by the similar ways she's pulling at our heartstrings - terminal illness, forbidden love, using some kind of artsy thing to connect the lovers (poetry in this book vs. lyrical writing in the Maybe series, which is SO similar). 

Slammed tells the story of Layken "Lake" Cohen, who unexpectedly lost her father to a heart attack. Her mother Julia moved the family to Michigan, citing financial issues, but Lake later learns it's because of Julia's cancer treatments. Lake befriends a neighbor, Will Cooper, who shares a love of poetry. Will lost his parents in a tragic car accident and is the sole guardian of his little brother. Will is 21 and Lake is 18. Will's younger brother Caulder befriends Lake's younger brother Kel as well.

It's the summer. Lake and Will fall in love and visit slam poetry together at a local bar called Club N9NE in Detroit. Then school starts. Lake is a senior in high school. Imagine her shock when she sees Will coming in her poetry class as her teacher. Turns out, Will is a college student doing teaching internship at the local high school. Will assumed Lake was in college. Will tells her they can't date any more. 

Lake and Will continue running into each other often outside of school because each has a younger brother who are best friends. Will sends Lake mixed signals more than once, which doesn't make it easier for Lake. Eventually, Lake finds out that her mother is dying of cancer and cries to Will.

Lake goes to club N9NE to grieve and finds Will on stage reciting a poem, about his preference for lakes over oceans. Lake understands this is Will's confession of his love for her. While at the club, she runs into a classmate, Javi, who forces to kiss her. Will appears and starts a fight with Javi. 

Next day at school, Lake is called into the principal's office to give a statement of what happened at the club. That day, her poetry teacher was a sub. When she gets home, she sees Will's car at home and asks him what happened. He tells her he resigned and the school agrees that's for the best. (It's not great to have a teacher that had a fight with a student...) Will tells Lake he will finish his teaching internship in Detroit. Lake asks if this means they can be together. They kiss again but Will still says no. (He's so annoying...)

The two families remain close and help each other, as well as another student, Eddie (a female) who is really close friends with Lake. Julia continues her cancer treatments, and Lake has signed the paperwork to be Kel's guardian in case of Julia's death. Julia supports Will and Lake being together, and tells her they need to prioritize their own happiness. She thinks Will is only keeping himself distant because he doesn't want to steal Lake's final time with her mother. 

Another night at Club N9NE, Lake goes on stage and confesses her love for her teacher. She is disappointed to not see Will in the crowd. Feeling dejected, she's about to walk off the stage when Will walks to her - he's one of the judges for the poetry slam tonight. Will recites a poem about his love for her and they kiss. 

In the Epilogue, the two families spend Christmas together. This is the second Christmas they are spending together. Julia passed away in September of that year. Will, Lake, Kel and Caulder are all happy together, opening presents. Will gives envelopes to Lake and Kel, from Julia. Julia tells Lake to not live with regret.

Overall, not bad, not great. Like most romance novels, you pretty much know which direction it was going to go, but we don't read romance to be surprised at the end. I like Colleen Hoover's smooth writing, even though her writing clearly improved later on, which is to be expected, right? 

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