Colleen Hoover's debut novel Slammed gained popularity and recognition on BookTok, a social media platform dedicated to discussing books.
The appeal of slam poetry plays a significant role in the story, connecting the characters and driving the narrative forward.
The absence of fathers in the novel is a recurrent theme that adds complexity to the characters' relationships and influences their decisions.
The ethical implications and power dynamics of a teacher-student romantic relationship are explored, highlighting the challenges and judgments the characters face.
Deep dives
Lake moves to Michigan and meets Will
Lake moves from Florida to Michigan after her father's death. She meets Will, a 21-year-old who seems older, and they quickly form a connection. They discover a shared love for slam poetry and spend time together, although they hold back on talking about personal details.
Will is revealed to be Lake's teacher
Lake discovers that Will is her teacher at her new high school. The school offers poetry and Russian literature classes simultaneously, and the age gap between Lake and Will becomes a concern. Will worries about the optics of their relationship and urges Lake to drop his class.
Lake's relationship with her mom and Will's past
Lake's mom reveals that she has lung cancer and moved to Michigan for treatment. Meanwhile, Will's parents died in a car accident, and he became the sole caretaker of his younger brother. Will's burden of responsibility and his age create conflict in their relationship.
Awkward power dynamics and unconventional love
Lake and Will grapple with the power dynamics and ethical questions surrounding their relationship. Despite their feelings for each other, they face judgment from others and navigate the challenges of an unconventional love story.
Eddie and Lake face the consequences of their relationship
Eddie and Lake are confronted by Will, who reveals his fear of the school system finding out about their relationship. He gives them both detention and emphasizes the importance of not jeopardizing his brother's future.
The unrealistic timeline of the relationship and external conflicts
The relationship between Eddie and Lake moves at an incredibly fast pace, with Will quitting his job after just a few months to be with her. The plot is filled with coincidences and external conflicts, such as assaults and investigations, that strain the credibility of the story.
The emotional imbalance and misplaced priorities
The emotional weight in the book feels imbalanced, with the romantic pain of the characters given more significance than significant events like the death of Lake's mom and her father's passing. The characters' priorities seem misplaced, and their reactions often lack justification or depth.
Our friends Renata and Kait are back to talk with us about Colleen Hoover and her debut novel Slammed. We dive into her recent reign as Queen of BookTok, the appeal of slam poetry, the lack of dads, and whether or not this work of New Adult Fiction worked for us.
