Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) – Colleen Hoover

Posted 26 September, 2012 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 7 Comments

Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) – Colleen HooverPoint of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #2
Published by Simon & Schuster on 18 September 2012
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Pages: 320
Buy on Amazon
5 Stars

Point of Retreat picks up a little while after the ending of Slammed, and Layken is having trouble adjusting to her new situation. Will tries his best to be there for her in every way, but it is hard to try to be just a young couple in love when they have so many responsibilities, and with all the heartache they have both been through.

The poems continue to be important in Point of Retreat as well, and they are just as beautiful as the poems in Slammed. Will and Lake have grown a lot, especially Lake, since she has to take care of a lot of things by herself now.

*I received a free ARC of Point of Retreat from Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my, what an emotional roller coaster this was! Even more so than Slammed, if that is even possible. Will is still just as amazing, he’s the best male character in YA ever. And Lake is awesome as well. I just can’t get enough of these two and their little brothers as well as their merry band of friends. My heart was broken this time, too, and I was crying so hard for a while my head was hurting! I felt like I was one of the characters in the book – I was really there the whole time with Lake and Will – and that’s why I am still feeling so connected to them. Life, again, threw so many curve balls at the main characters it just made my head spin at times.

I have to admit that at one point, I was wondering if Ms. Hoover had it in for her characters, but I really don’t think that is the case – I think that what she was trying to convey is that even in the worst kind of situations, when we feel completely and utterly lost, we are often able to have hope. And to draw on the strength of the people who are close to us. That is what I am left with after this novel – that even in dire situations, human beings are strong enough to be able to see that others need us, and at the same time able to lean on those who can take a little weight off our shoulder.

The friendships between Lake and Will on one side, and Eddie and Gavin on the other really grew in this book, and it was a delight to see things come together for all of them. Even through all the turmoil, they helped each other up, and they were there for each other, when things were really hard as well as when things were great.

A new addition to the cast in this book delighted me to no end! Kiersten is a bad-ass eleven-year old, and I love her. She’s my butterflying new best friend as well! The boys and Kiersten formed important ties of friendship themselves, and the way Kiersten was being picked on by kids in the school while Kel and Caulder stood up for her in the way only kids their age could was well written as well. But what I found even better was when Kiersten found the strength to stand up for herself! Her slam poem was awesome, I got goosebumps reading it. And I was crying when Caulder read his that was directed to Will.

I also loved the story Sherry shared with Will about true love and how to hold on to the good things when times are bad. In all the tumults Lake and Will have been going through, they are at least lucky enough to have the best friends ever, and also other adults who can’t help but care about them enough to help them out when they need it.

What touched my heart the most, though, was the vase Julia had left as a final gift to Will and Lake before she died. The vase filled with paper-stars containing quotes about life, love and just general wisdom was bemazing! I had tears in my eyes each time Will or Lake (or both of them together) fished out a star to help them get a pick-me-up. It was like Julia had really known they would still need her later, and she spent both time and energy on making sure they would continue to feel her love even after her death.

I stare at them and don’t speak, putting on my best display of anger. I wonder if this is how parenting is with real parents. A bunch of pretending to be responsible grown-ups.


If his heart isn’t loved by a woman

This isn’t a very good start to the day. I reach into the cabinet and grab a star out of the vase and unfold it. I want to have friends that I can trust, who love me for the man I’ve become… not the man that I was. – The Avett Brothers. As soon as I read it, I look over my shoulder, half expecting Julia to be there, smiling. It’s eerie sometimes how fitting these quotes have been to the situation. Almost like she’s writing them as life is happening.

 

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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7 responses to “Point of Retreat (Slammed #2) – Colleen Hoover

    • Both of the books in this series are just amazing in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by, Pam ๐Ÿ™‚
      PS : I have even written my own slam-poem after reading these books ๐Ÿ˜€

    • Both of the books in this series are just amazing in my opinion. Thanks for stopping by, Pam ๐Ÿ™‚
      PS : I have even written my own slam-poem after reading these books ๐Ÿ˜€

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