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A review by suspensethrill
Layla by Colleen Hoover
4.0
SSBC pick for December 2020!
"For Beckham. When I die, you'll be the first person I haunt. You are so much fun to scare."
Am I the only person who lives for finding out the dedication in each Colleen Hoover book? No? Just me? Ok, let me start again.
"The supernatural is the natural not yet understood." -Elbert Hubbard
Finally! A PNR from CoHo, something I've been desperately hoping for and eagerly anticipating since she announced it forever ago, and if you're the type of person who isn't really into paranormal romance, you may still enjoy [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124]. The story has a very mainstream feel and is surprisingly grounded for something containing a supernatural plot, while maintaining the author's approachable writing style. Two things before you glaze over and skim the rest of this review: 1) This book is not a thriller. It is a slow burning love story, and it does have a nice addition of some suspenseful build-up, but again, this is not a thriller. Please do not go into this book assuming it is a thriller and then complain about it not being a thriller after you finish. 2) This book is not [b:Verity|41957126|Verity|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537519686l/41957126._SY75_.jpg|64581304], although I could definitely see fans of that book enjoying this one. But again, [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124] is not the next [b:Verity|41957126|Verity|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537519686l/41957126._SY75_.jpg|64581304].
"I think about the idiots in scary movies that never run when they should, but I empathize with them now. The need to disprove the thing that's scary is greater than the need to run from the potential harm it might bring."
When I finally picked up my arc of this book, I decided to go in as blind as possible. I didn't even re-read the synopsis, because I wanted to experience the story with as open a mind as possible and without any possible clues along the way. This was a smart move, because the story begins with "The Interview", and proceeds by alternating with these snippets of the present and flashbacks leading up to said interview. Once we catch up, everything is in the present tense and that's when the story really takes off in regards to action and conflict.
I don't want to say a lot about the plot, because spoilers galore, but what I will say is this read like a supernatural locked room mystery in some ways. Dare I say that Colleen was twirling her imaginary mustache while devising her schemes? There is one clue dropped early on that allowed me to guess the "what and who" was going on, but I didn't know the exact why or how it would all play out in the end, so I was left with a satisfactory blend of feeling smart but also kind of dumb. The thing that sets this story apart from your average paranormal romantic mystery was the emotion behind it all; the sense of loss at the beginning of what was panning out to be an exceptional relationship, the burden of caring for those with not only physical injuries, but mental ones as well, and the conflict behind what we feel is right and the guilt that sets in for wanting something different, or more.
If you're curious about [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124], please give it a try. It stands well on it's own merits, it's a fast read, and this is the perfect time of year to cozy up with a creepy, but not scary, book by the fireplace.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
"For Beckham. When I die, you'll be the first person I haunt. You are so much fun to scare."
Am I the only person who lives for finding out the dedication in each Colleen Hoover book? No? Just me? Ok, let me start again.
"The supernatural is the natural not yet understood." -Elbert Hubbard
Finally! A PNR from CoHo, something I've been desperately hoping for and eagerly anticipating since she announced it forever ago, and if you're the type of person who isn't really into paranormal romance, you may still enjoy [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124]. The story has a very mainstream feel and is surprisingly grounded for something containing a supernatural plot, while maintaining the author's approachable writing style. Two things before you glaze over and skim the rest of this review: 1) This book is not a thriller. It is a slow burning love story, and it does have a nice addition of some suspenseful build-up, but again, this is not a thriller. Please do not go into this book assuming it is a thriller and then complain about it not being a thriller after you finish. 2) This book is not [b:Verity|41957126|Verity|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537519686l/41957126._SY75_.jpg|64581304], although I could definitely see fans of that book enjoying this one. But again, [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124] is not the next [b:Verity|41957126|Verity|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537519686l/41957126._SY75_.jpg|64581304].
"I think about the idiots in scary movies that never run when they should, but I empathize with them now. The need to disprove the thing that's scary is greater than the need to run from the potential harm it might bring."
When I finally picked up my arc of this book, I decided to go in as blind as possible. I didn't even re-read the synopsis, because I wanted to experience the story with as open a mind as possible and without any possible clues along the way. This was a smart move, because the story begins with "The Interview", and proceeds by alternating with these snippets of the present and flashbacks leading up to said interview. Once we catch up, everything is in the present tense and that's when the story really takes off in regards to action and conflict.
I don't want to say a lot about the plot, because spoilers galore, but what I will say is this read like a supernatural locked room mystery in some ways. Dare I say that Colleen was twirling her imaginary mustache while devising her schemes? There is one clue dropped early on that allowed me to guess the "what and who" was going on, but I didn't know the exact why or how it would all play out in the end, so I was left with a satisfactory blend of feeling smart but also kind of dumb. The thing that sets this story apart from your average paranormal romantic mystery was the emotion behind it all; the sense of loss at the beginning of what was panning out to be an exceptional relationship, the burden of caring for those with not only physical injuries, but mental ones as well, and the conflict behind what we feel is right and the guilt that sets in for wanting something different, or more.
If you're curious about [b:Layla|52089753|Layla|Colleen Hoover|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593095775l/52089753._SY75_.jpg|76893124], please give it a try. It stands well on it's own merits, it's a fast read, and this is the perfect time of year to cozy up with a creepy, but not scary, book by the fireplace.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.