Intro to Colleen Hoover’s Layla

Colleen Hoover does it again with another bestselling romantic/suspense novel. Layla is full of all the soulmate romance we love in a CoHo book, but takes it one step further with a dive into the supernatural realm, and uncovers the hidden depths of the characters with these unique plot events. Love is magical, and ghosts are spiritual. Readers beware.

Amazon Book Description of Layla

When Leeds meets Layla, he’s convinced he’ll spend the rest of his life with her―until an unexpected attack leaves Layla fighting for her life. After weeks in the hospital, Layla recovers physically, but the emotional and mental scarring has altered the woman Leeds fell in love with. In order to put their relationship back on track, Leeds whisks Layla away to the bed-and-breakfast where they first met. Once they arrive, Layla’s behavior takes a bizarre turn. And that’s just one of many inexplicable occurrences.

Feeling distant from Layla, Leeds soon finds solace in Willow―another guest of the B&B with whom he forms a connection through their shared concerns. As his curiosity for Willow grows, his decision to help her find answers puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well-being. Leeds soon realizes he has to make a choice because he can’t help both of them. But if he makes the wrong choice, it could be detrimental for all of them.

Themes Explored 

At its core, Layla examines the strength and endurance of love. Leeds and Layla’s relationship begins with a whirlwind romance, but after a violent attack leaves Layla physically and emotionally scarred, their bond is tested. The novel delves into how love can survive trauma and change, as the couple struggles to reconnect amidst growing tension and mysterious occurrences. Hoover shows that love requires commitment, understanding, and adaptability, especially when faced with extraordinary challenges.

Trauma plays a central role in the story, both physically and emotionally. Layla’s recovery process highlights the long-lasting effects of violence and how it reshapes a person’s psyche and relationships. Leeds also faces his own emotional struggles as he grapples with guilt and the responsibility of caring for Layla in her vulnerable state. The novel portrays trauma not just as a personal experience but as a force that reverberates through relationships and alters dynamics.

Layla ventures into paranormal territory, exploring themes of the unknown and the afterlife. The bed-and-breakfast setting becomes a focal point for eerie, inexplicable events, introducing questions about the boundaries between life and death. This theme prompts readers to reflect on the nature of existence, the possibility of lingering spirits, and how the supernatural can intersect with human emotions and desires.

Readers’ Reactions and Reviews

The reception of Layla by Colleen Hoover has been polarized, with readers either lauding the novel for its bold departure from her usual contemporary romance style or expressing reservations about its genre-blending approach. Layla has further solidified Colleen Hoover’s reputation as one of today’s most versatile authors. By branching out into paranormal romance, Hoover has demonstrated her ability to craft compelling stories across genres, attracting new readers who might not typically gravitate toward her work.

Layla achieved strong sales upon its release in December 2020. It quickly became a bestseller, reflecting Hoover’s established reputation and loyal fanbase. The book secured a spot on the New York Times Best Sellers list, further affirming its popularity. As with most of Hoover’s novels, Layla has been widely distributed and translated into several languages, broadening its appeal to an international audience. While Layla may not have received as many awards as Hoover’s more traditional romance novels, it has been recognized in the romance and paranormal fiction categories. It has been featured in reader-voted accolades, such as Goodreads Choice Awards nominations, highlighting its impact on fans of the genre.

My Impression of Layla

This was the 5th Colleen Hoover book I have read. Verity is going to be a hard novel to beat for me, and this novel didn't come close. That says more about Verity than it does this book, really, but there were parts of this book I didn't love. However, overall, this story is worth the read.

I have read and watched many supernatural stories, but not one ever quite like Layla. I always find it interesting how an author chooses to write in a ghost. Some have very strict boundaries on what a ghost is capable of, and others run wild with it. As an avid reader, I of course prefer the run wild take with any author and any story. Hoover is always very good at this. I will never be able to hang with the basic stories- I need to question the author's sanity to enjoy the book. By the end of Layla, I was stuck wondering how she can think of something so twisty. Her imagination often bewilders me, and that is my favorite thing about reading a Colleen Hoover novel.

This story caught me off guard with a lot of surprising plot effects. I was shocked over and over again, and the twist ending really did me in. The love between Layla and Leeds is magical and shattering all at once. The tragedy that hits this young couple is crippling, and it's a wonder how people really get through situations like these. 

When it came to the writing, a lot of it seemed amateurish. I see many comments from people who don't think Colleen Hoover is a good writer, and I could see their point with this book. At times I felt like I was reading one of the YA books I used to teach to my middle schoolers, being very vague and simple in language. Everything Leeds said was so basic, and that was disappointing since the story was told only from his point of view. I didn't feel like he was a very strong character, and him falling in love was not very believable to me. I think in parts of this book, readers needed a little more passion from the characters and the author.

There were also points made in the book that I knew when I saw them what was going to happen next, until the very end which was a bigger twist than I was expecting. This, perhaps, is why Hoover was very vague with Leeds emotions and his ability to tell the story, but I'm not sure. Either way, this was still an enjoyable read. I think what Hoover sometimes lacks in writing style is almost always made up for in plot events.

Conclusion

While Layla is not my favorite book, I found the plot points to override some bad writing, and really had enjoyed the novel by the end. A supernatural love story will always peak my interest, and Layla did not disappoint. Layla has received a lot of attention as one of the top Colleen Hoover books, and I know fans will continue to storm the shelves with every new book she writes. This will not be the last Colleen Hoover novel I read, and I look forward to reading new romantic thriller novels from her soon. 

Grab your copy of Layla by Colleen Hoover here!

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