Point of Retreat (edition 2012)

After reading Slammed I knew I had to read the next book. The way that Slammed ended, there was no way I was through with the story or the characters. I needed more. And it’s funny. The minute I got Point Of Retreat, I could not bring myself to read it. Why? Because I wasn’t ready for the story to end. So I let it sit on my shelf, mocking me until I finally had the courage to let go. And folks, it was beautiful.

1. Emotion. One thing I adore about Ms. Hoover is the way she is able to manipulate the reader into feeling everything the characters are. I felt loved, happy, worried, scared, angry and old. I could relate to the characters because when I was little, I too had to grow up fast. My parents got divorced little a single mom and three kids to raise. And me being the oldest, I had to step up and help raise my brothers. So I get it. It felt so easy, stepping right back into the story where it left off.

2. Plot. It’s easy to say that this plot is built like a roller coaster. Lots of up and downs, leaving you feeling high and depressed all at the same time. The mix of emotions with questions being raised left me feeling like I was in the book. I understood what was happening yet I couldn’t do anything about it. So when things got tough, I put the book down. But not for long, just long enough for me to take a deep breathe and dive back in.

3. Minor characters. The minor characters that help shaped the main ones bring more to the story than what I thought. They are in turn, part of the main characters, Layken and Will. They were brothers, best friends, and friendly neighbors who brought good wisdom and insight to whatever problems Will and Layken had.

4. Facing the past. Having a short childhood makes you question everything. Why me? Why now? How could this be true? I loved how well the author raised questions that allowed the reader to think outside the book. I loved that I could put down the book and think about Layken and her situation.

5. Love. GAH! The love in this book is ever-flowing with such great innocence that it blossoms wonderfully before the readers eyes. I cried during some points in the book especially the parts where they declare their love. It’s so amazing to watch two characters over come and love each other deeply.

Beautiful and inspiring, Point Of Retreat is an amazing story. Combining realistic situations with an awe inspiring hope, Point Of Retreat makes an impact. A fantastic sequel that triumphs the first book, Point Of Retreat is epic. ( )

I started ‘The Point of No Retreat’ with high expectations…and this book fulfilled every single one of them. From ‘Slammed’ I had expected poems, a frank, honest first person point of view with no overtly complicated words designed to impress the reader, and, needless to say, a brilliant plot. ‘Point of Retreat’ fit all that and more, not to mention the fact that everything is seen from an altogether different angle when coming from Will’s point of view instead of Lake’s.



That was me when I started the book. At first, I had my doubts about it – after all, everything seemed to be going well at the end of the last book, so what could possibly go wrong now? And besides, I didn’t really want to see Will and Lake break up again – the last time nearly broke my heart – so, yeah, I was a bit apprehensive when I started it.

I have to admit, I was surprised when Colleen Hoover pulled the girlfriend card. It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book – I’ve read about nice ex-girlfriends, mean ex-girlfriends, pretty ex-girlfriends, ugly ex-girlfriends and everything else in between, so, barring a Sex Reassignment Surgery, what else could be new? Well, Colleen Hoover didn’t make Will’s ex come back as a guy and make a play for Lake or anything, but a sweet and nice ex-girlfriend like Vaughn pulling the guilt card was still a surprise – for me, anyway.



I honestly wanted to face palm then face wall and then face ground when I read Will’s decision not to tell Lake about the overtures Vaughn was making. And what was the self-justification he gave himself? That Vaughn wasn’t important enough, that to tell Lake was to acknowledge that he thought it was important? What? It’s so obviously something he should have shared – especially with the person who he plans to spend the rest of his life with – I mean, how could he have expected it to be kept a secret forever?

Although I didn’t like the misery the break-up caused both of them (who would?) I was right there beside her when she was listing why it couldn’t work. Especially the part about trust – after all, if you can justify to yourself all the reasons why you shouldn’t tell your current girlfriend your last girlfriend wanted to go out with you, then you deserve to be dumped.



The car crash came as a total surprise to me. Not that it didn’t work perfectly – it was just so out of the blue. To be honest, I had expected a full-blown argument or something of the like for the climax, not a car crash. But maybe that’s just me.

However – I’ve got to give this to Colleen Hoover – the suspense was built up really well after the car crash, when Lake could have lost her memory permanently – I actually thought that the ending would be Lake starting over with a blank slate and recreating all their memories, so I was really glad that she went the clichéd path and brought Lake back out with all her memories intact.



I believe I can speak for everyone who has read this book to its end when I say the ending was like sunshine breaking through an infinite layer of clouds. It was glorious. I especially loved that they got married – it just seems so final, so fitting, so perfect for the end of the book and the series (not, of course, that I would any objection if there was a third instalment in the series).

The ‘Slammed’ series are one of the best books ever written that I have read, and right now, right here, I can promise you that you won’t regret it if you gave the series a try. ( )

I cant resist, it was Butterflying Bemazing :)
This second book was absolutely hilarious, I laughed so hard trough out the entire book. Even when they where mad at each other, I mean when Lake was mad and Will started getting frustrated, even then I was laughing.
It was a lighter story, with more emphasis on both of them as a couple. The point of retreat was a great idea, the author maid it a lot more fun for us to see their love story unfold.
I was really surprised with this book, I liked the first but taught there where a few glitches that needed to be fix. This one is a lot better, the grown of the characters (if that´s even possible) was delightful to see. Lake surprised me, I understand her insecurities and even do I think she is still a bit immature I was happy to see her grown in to a more mature character.
And Will what can I say, he roused to the occasion :)
The written is a bit light for me, I like to deal with more mature stories ( I know we have the dead of their parents and the accidents, but it´s not that perspective I am talking about), I like to see the authors deal with different issues, and go back and forward with there characters. Even so I really enjoyed this book, it was a breath of fresh air :) ( )

Best romance ever for crying and laughing your head off. ( )

********4.3 Stars******** ( )