OMG my heart was in my throat so many times, and then I thought to myself… I AM SO CLEVER ‘CAUSE I JUST FIGURED OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING!!! And I was wrong. And then it went even crazier. I love when that happens!! And here’s the thing… Colleen mostly gives us sweet romance with plenty of angst, plenty of growth and a real deal HEA.
Butttttt……
But sometimes, Colleen pulls the rug from underneath her readers (just a time or two, either in the middle of the story, or even a twisty jaw dropping ending that leaves me gasping… and she left us that way!!!) But you KNOW I love a book going either way so I’m always game to let the author take me on a ride even if it might hurt or leave me freaking out because those are simply unforgettable.
Michele G: I read Colleen Hoover’s Layla over the weekend! I LOVED it…and I wasn’t sure for awhile…truly…where she was going with this book. But in true CoHo fashion, she pulls in all together and wraps it up with a super twisty bow. Yep, if you liked Verity…I think you’ll enjoy Layla. If you’re looking for old school CoHo…you won’t get it here. This one has a paranormal theme blended in with the romance. It may not work for everyone, but I was a fan!
…It’s twisty and fun…although there were times I was angry with the characters and wanted to throw my ereader (I resisted of course). I read it in a day…it was addictive!
And I know she has the ability to “go there”. Yep. I was on the edge of my seat having NO clue what she was about to reveal and how this was going to end. But I can assure you that the process along the way is SO FREAKING INTRIGUING and riveting and seriously thought provoking and exciting.
It’s interesting how much a person’s belief system can be changed by things in this world that can’t be explained. Hell, not just my belief system, but my morals. My values. My focus. My heart.
Oh how exciting it was!!!!
Because she had me thinking “OHHHHH NOOOOOO. Nope…. NO NO NO NO. TROUBLE!!!!” so many times for so many reasons,
I try not to think about how perfect things were in the beginning. When I do that, it solidifies the fact that I’m more than likely at fault for how it has all come to an end.
and thinking how is this possibly going to… oooooops! *my lips are sealed* 🤫 🤐 😉
So what’s it about?
Okay so… how to explain without giving the reader any ideas?
Okay so, super-carefree and fun “Layla” and somewhat-too-serious “Leeds” fell hard in insta-love (though… this story is WAYYYY more than an insta-love romance) at her sister’s wedding one night (he was in the band), shocking family and friends. They instantly connected and couldn’t get enough of each other, and never left each other’s side for months.
I much prefer the idea of going all in. I’ve always wanted someone I could instantly click with and then just f*cking drown in.
It was true, intense love. No shame for pretty much up and running away with each other.
Every single second with her felt like an awakening. Like I’d never really opened my eyes until she came along.
I was blind but now I see.
That’s how Layla made me feel. It was like someone let all the air back into my life when I had no idea I was even suffocating.
And then… one night, as happy as they can be, tragedy strikes. Layla slowly recovers though not to her old self. She’s struggling with PTSD and her memory, and all sorts of emotional upheavals.
A lot was taken from her because of me. Months of her life. Her confidence. Her security. She was left with anxiety, dependency issues, night terrors, panic attacks, memory loss. The carefree and confident girl I fell in love with no longer sits next to me. Instead, I sit next to a girl who seems like she’s fighting not to crawl out of the skin she’s in.
It’s like all her resilience is buried beneath layers of scar tissue now.
So Leeds decides to rent an empty bed-and-breakfast that’s for sale (where they once stayed together during happier times), for a quiet getaway between the two.
I booked this trip because the last six months have been horrendous. It has taken a toll on us, emotionally and physically. I’m hoping going back to the place where Layla and I met will feel like a reset on our lives. I have this notion that if I take us back to the starting line, we’ll never cross the finish line.
Though Leeds soon realizes that the bed-and-breakfast is not as empty as he thought. There is one other guest there…
And then it all goes HAYWIRE and HOLY MOLY FOR REAL??? from there!!!!!
It’s just five words, but it’s enough to make my blood run cold.
Eeeeeeeeeeep!!!! Seriously… you have know clue what you’re about to get into and it’s SO worth the ride. Nothing predictable here.
*claps with glee* 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏
And you know I’m not telling you anymore. This is a must read and so different than anything I’ve ever read before, and just so fulfilling for me. But I won’t tell you why. 😉
At this point, I’ve all but given up. There’s no light at the end of this tunnel. I’m not even sure there’s an end to this tunnel.
5 STARS!!!! It is now in my top 3 (or maybe 4) Colleen Hoover favorites (and pretty much, they are all at my #1 spot from her). I love her versatility!!!!
What are my top 4 from her?
- Book Review – Slammed by Colleen Hoover (5 stars)
- Book Review – Verity by Colleen Hoover – 5 stars (psych-thriller!!)
- Book Review – It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – 5 stars
- and now this one!
P.S. By the time I finally understood what was going on… I had TWO possible endings in mind that I was hypothesizing (and with Colleen Hoover… ya never really know. 😉 ) If you’ve read this book and want to know what my “alternate” ending guess was… email me. 😉
➔➔➔ Looking for more of my must-read recommendations? Browse my 5 star and 4.5 star and 4 starreviews. 😀
➔➔➔ Love this author? Check out more of my Colleen Hoover features and reviews on my blog!
Loved this review!!
Thank you Shaleen!!! 😀