Review: Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

Publishers: Atria Books
Published Date: September 18th 2012
From: Bought
My rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:
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.

Review:
The First 20%
We go straight into the story, now told from Will's point of view. After the sad death of Julia, Layken's mum in the last book Slammed, we are a few months into a normalish routine sort of life. Will and Layken have resumed their romance. Eddie and Gavin are still best buds with them. Kel and Caulder are still best friends and we have some newcomers into the street, namely Kiersten and mother Sherry. The antics and regular in-house jokes begin with an interesting way to swear without swearing, thanks to Kiersten.

But Will, who has now started his degree, has to be careful. The previous girlfriend, Vaughn (who dumped him after his parents died) is now in one of his classes and is desperately keen to start up a friendship/relationship again. Will closes her down, he's in love with Layken but Vaughn keeps pushing. Sadly, Will doesn't do the right thing and tell Layken about her. Instead he thinks that no harm will come of it if Layken doesn't find out, after all, it isn't as if he's interested in Vaughn.

Lake and Will still haven't slept together and it's a big thing for them. They've held off in respect for Julia but now is the right time and they're both eager to forge into the next stage of their relationship. They plan it, down to the very hours until they're together.

But plans such as these really go ahead without complications. 

The Main Characters
We see a slightly different side to Layken in this book. She's still vulnerable from Julia's death. She does come over as slightly immature. That is until you get to the awful part where she walks into Will's bedroom and he's with Vaughn. Ultimately she shows courage, and what she asks from him is not an unreasonable request. I did expect her to kick up screaming, which she did, but once the anger had subsided she became quite wise.

Will continues to be sound and solid, albeit making a very unsmart decision and driving Lake away. After the accident he does show the reader what he is capable of and while he is still a young twenty-something, his family life means everything to him.

The Story
I enjoyed how much these characters had progressed since Slammed. They've interwoven their lives around one another and when something terrible happens to one, it happens to them all. They prove that family isn't bound by blood, it's bound by those around you. Will and Lake learn valuable lessons in Point of Retreat. Mostly about their relationship but also about coping with young boys, Eddie's surprise confession, and also friendship with childhood friends doesn't necessarily last into adulthood.

The End?
Great final happy ending.

Overall
I knew this book would be great and I was so glad to finally hear from Will's POV. His poetry is amazing so I knew the book would carry his narrative well. This book is still sad, and has some really annoying moments when you want to knock their heads together. But individually you feel the character's pain just as we did in Slammed. But all of the character's kicked their doom and gloom into touch and came out on top. I'm so glad I read this book!


-CBx

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