Review: Point of Retreat

Title: Point of Retreat
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: Slammed #2
Publisher: Colleen Hoover
Date Published: February 25th 2012
Get Your Copy: Amazon
Rating:

Hardships and heartache brought them together…now it will tear them apart.

Layken and Will have proved their love can get them through anything; until someone from Will’s past re-emerges, leaving Layken questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. Will is forced to face the ultimate challenge…how to prove his love for a girl who refuses to stop ‘carving pumpkins.’

This book is "butterflying" awesome! This time the story is told in Will's voice. I love reading books with male point of views, I'm actually intrigued with what they think about. If they perceive things the way we, females, do.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book especially when Will found it so difficult convincing Layken how much he loves her. This came after the tidbit where Layken caught Vaughn and Will (I'm not going to elaborate any further). The point where "I love you's" weren't enough. I love reading about his heartbreak. I'm not a sadist, but I just find something romantic with a boy pining over the love of his life to the point of not able to function properly because of fear of losing her. I'd have to give Will a pat on the back for being totally resilient. In the end it did pay off!

The story starts with Will promising himself to take note all of the events in his life, having considered that slam was just not enough. He begins with a new sense of hope for a better year after the passing of Layken's mom and having to live with student loans. Both Will and Layken have been together since the last slam incident where Layken professed her true feelings for Will.

The book is exemplary in so many ways because it encompassed the upsides and downsides of an unorthodox family --- considering that both Will and Layken are given the responsibility of bringing up their respective brothers. The story dealt with love --- romantic, platonic, friendship and family loves. It also does not fail to mention that changes occur everyday and that persons of yesterday can be somebody else tomorrow. Despite thereof, one has to accept a person for who he/she is now rather than of who he/she has been.

New characters are also introduced in the book. My absolute favorite would be their parallel neighbor, Kiersten. She just cracks me up. =)

Despite Layken's mom's passing, she was still able to give advice and guidance to both Will and Layken's relationship. Somehow, her sense of humor and wisdom influenced the couple a great deal. If it weren't for her quick thinking and her devotion as a mom, who knows what have happened to Will and Layken.

I suppose it's just proper that I leave you with an Avett Brothers video titled Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise for Layken's doubt on Will's love! *swoon*