Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Yeah! Finally! Another review! 

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Pages: 317

Type: #1 in Slammed Trilogy

Goodreads Rating: 4.33

Published: 4 Jan 2012

My Rating: 4/5 Stars 

Synopsis: Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she's losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces 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 secret that keeps them apart.

Review: 

  The book was honestly wonderful! I thought it was a great read. Not too emotional and I needed something exactly like it. I did have some problems with the book though. For starters, the book is NA, or rather, supposed to be. But you didn't really see anything NA in the book except for the ages. 18 and 21. Obviously, from that synopsis. So I had an issue with that. Though that was not my main issue. 

  What stood out to me was how fast their barely there relationship escalated. Too fast paced for a romantic read and I honestly didn't like that about it. It was almost like love at first sight. Almost. I mean, who misses a person within three days? Who? I think I'd call it a bit too fast escalating. So that led to unrealisticness. Is that even a word? (Educate me, please) Which I'm having a big issue over these days. But seriously, as time passes and you get into the story, the whole problem doesn't really irk you. It almost feels right. Almost, again. 

  This is actually the main reason I cut off a star.

   Let's be a little positive and talk about the things that were great about the book! For one thing, I really liked that the minor characters had places in the book and it wasn't completely focused on the main two characters. And I guess, it's because of the fact that there was this huge problem thing and that the story was told in Layken's POV. I liked that. 

  The book also focuses on a lot of slam poetry--which is what the book is named after, duh--and again, I really liked that. It didn't seem like it was only one person writing all the poems. So I think Colleen did a great job there. Plus, I loved all the Avett Brothers references. I didn't know they even existed before the I read the book, but I love it when authors give references to people they love. It's so sweet. Someone ought to tell the Avett Brothers about Colleen. 

  And there were a couple wise words thrown in here and there and I loved that. I also loved how some clauses and phrases stuck throughout the book. Like, 'carving pumpkins', 'just like that, she was gone.', 'that's not a good idea'. My personal favorite the last one. 

All in all, the book is a wonderful one and I'm really interested in reading the sequel. And oh, I love how this trilogy is actually a trilogy and not a companion trilogy like a lot of NAs are out there. 

  If you love romance dealing with adults without explicitness and all that, and some good sexual tension, I think this book is definitely for you. 

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Soooo... No excuse... I'm sorry I haven't posted reviews on the last three books I read. I'm terrible... But sorry!

Genre: YA Dystopian 

Pages: 488

Type: #1 in The Darkest Minds Trilogy 

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Review: 

  This book was totally over-hyped. To me. I got into the book thinking way too high of it and ended up not being completely satisfied. The book was great, but it would have been much better had people not been raving SO much about it. 

  The writing, in my opinion, wasn't too unique. Generally dystopians have very unique writing styles; this one, not so much. It was just average to me. Also, atmospheres would suddenly change. From super-sad to super-happy. No buliding up to it, nothing. Just, abruptly. It didn't feel real. 

 Another thing, I didn't feel emotionally connected to the characters. I didn't feel connected to them at all. It was as if I was watching a badly directed film. People cried in the end apparently. I didn't shed a drop of tear. I didn't even get teary-eyed. Doesn't mean I'm hard-hearted though. Like I said, there was no emotional connection. 

  I wasn't blown away by the book in the first 200 pages, nor the rest, like my friend had told me I would. Apart from all that, I think the book did a good job. I just wish I'd gone into it without so much expectation. Maybe then, I would have devoured it. 

  Although, I am interested in knowing what happens since I did enjoy the plot. The book was definitely on the fast-paced side and I loved that about it. If you like dystopian, with a romantic twist to it, definitely check the book out. Just don't go into it expecting too much, and you'll love it!