Layla was one of my favorite books by Colleen Hoover. I absolutely love how versatile of an author she is. The whole story had me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what else this amazing author as to offer!

Okay, let's get the basics down for this story.
There are 3 main characters in this story:
Layla, Leeds, and Willow.
Layla and Leeds meet at Layla's sister's wedding. The attraction between them was instant. From that moment on they became a couple.

Through social media, Leeds ex-girlfriend finds out about this new budding relationship happening between him and Layla. His ex turns into a stalker and comes for the happy couple.

This is where Willow enters the story. She is trying to help Leeds and Layla except Layla isn't aware Willow is trying to help them.

Does the story sound like it's getting messy, yet? That's the thing with CoHo books you have to trust the process. There have been books that I wasn't sure how the loose ends were going to tie up but every time CoHo pulls it off. This was another example of that - I kept telling myself let's see how this all comes together.

I can't go too much more into the storyline because the reader will want the experience of wondering what the heck is happening and how it's going to all workout.

LAYLA is a standalone. One thing I've learned from reading this book and CoHo's other book, Verity, IF the title is a woman's name the reader is in for some craziness. *lol*

This wasn't a thriller nor was it a mystery, but somewhere in the middle. It was romantic, sad, creepy, and strange but in really wonderful ways. I know at the beginning of this post I said that Leeds & Willow annoyed me, but that doesn't mean I didn't adore the book!

Layla is a book that everyone needs to read and I think most people would really enjoy it!

Colleen Hoover is a go-to author for me. I pick up her books with a mix of excitement and apprehension. I know I am in for something original and she will take me on an emotional ride, ready or not. Layla fits this expectation on both counts and I'm already looking forwarding to seeing what Colleen Hoover will come up with next.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Woza! Do you like mystery? Do you like paranormal elements? Do you like romance? Do you like to start a book and immediately get sucked in and end up ignoring everything you were supposed to do that day and read the entire thing in one sitting because you simply HAD to know what was going to happen next? Then LAYLA is the book for you!

I loved everything about this book from the characters, to the setting, to the mystery surrounding out hero and heroine. It’s hard to describe this book because it really has so many elements to it but they all add up to one heluva story I KNOW you will love.

Thank you, Colleen, for a FAB read!

I think most people would be scared or worried if they realized a spirit was in the house with them. I don’t think the typical reaction would be to befriend said spirit, but that’s exactly what Leeds Gabriel does in Colleen Hoover’s latest release, Layla. ASpooky, slightly sinister, and foreboding, Layla is part ghost story, part romance, with a narrative full of gasp-worthy revelations. I thought I knew what would transpire, but then Colleen Hoover swooped in to add her own mind-boggling twist. From the book’s jaw-dropping opening sentence to the fast-paced, action-packed final chapter, Layla is a shocking, fascinating, and engaging page-turner. Yes, I was purposely vague, but to say anything more would be to spoil what happens, and it’s best to go into this book knowing as little as possible.⠀

Man, I wanted to love this one so much more than I did.

I really enjoy paranormal romances and I was super excited that this author dove into the sub-genre. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and didn't even read the blurb before starting.

Parts of the plot were a little too slow moving for me and I ended up absolutely hating Leeds, the male protagonist. The plot changed directions and I understood why I hated him but, unfortunately, by that time it was too late. My feelings of hatred didn't turn to sympathetic and I just wanted more. I saw the ending coming way to early on in the story and it left the reveal feeling very lack luster.

While this story wasn't my favorite, it was not a bad read. I just expected more and was left feeling very underwhelmed. I do hope this author writes another paranormal romance.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

From the very first line, Layla is a mesmerizing and twisty tale that will captivate, mesmerize, and terrify you.  Colleen Hoover never ceases to amaze me with her creativity and uniqueness when it comes to her storylines, and Layla is no exception.  Her foray into paranormal romance has been, in my opinion, a success.

Layla and Leeds’ connection is one of insta-love, but once a tragic incident occurs, their relationship is irrevocably changed.  Layla never seems to recover, and Leeds doesn’t seem to know what to do to make it better for her. 

As the story progresses, you start to realize that things aren’t what they seem, and more is happening beneath the surface.

What I like about Layla (the book) is that Hoover didn’t take the easy route and gives us a nuanced storyline that is intriguing, emotional, immersive, and will likely make you feel uncomfortable. 

Of course, there’s also the signature twist, and I can honestly say that I never expected what happens—which makes it a winner in my book.

Colleen Hoover continues to push boundaries and take chances with her writing. I enjoyed the twists and turns she takes the reader on in Layla. The Paranormal aspect was woven in well and didn’t seem too unbelievable or forced to me. The characters were well developed and really enjoyed this story. Parts of the plot left me with questions but overall a great, solid 4 star read that I will recommend!

I will forever be a fan (a Cohort) because Hoover writes some pretty intense, pretty emotional, pretty dramatic and even sometimes, pretty out there stories and Layla, is so one of the stories.

A story that take you new places that Hoover has never written in before but she takes you there and like all her stories, it is quite the wild ride.

I absolutely love that she expanded into this genre, which also happens to be one of my favorites. This was so fantastical it was in a strange way, believable.

I love those stories that raise the whatifs of the world. The ones that take you out of your comfort zone and really make you think about the endless possibilities that might very well exist in this world and bound it all up with one heck of a crazy love story.


Where almost anything is possible and almost everything happens. A story unlike any other that she has ever written and one that will (like all her stories) stay with you long after it is over.

The first CoHo book I read was It Ends with Us and I was blown away. She just has a way with writing that is almost flawless. I then read Verity and was obsessed. It was such a genre jump and so well done. I loved it! Now Layla is another genre for this queen. It is a paranormal romance. Of course, it is impeccably written with some great twists and characters. I feel like it is best going into this one blind so I don’t want to give too much away but I thoroughly enjoyed it but not quite as much as Verity.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Colleen Hoover, and Montlake for this arc.

I'm not going to go into the plot of Layla, as plenty of other reviewers have done it better than I would. All I'm going to say is that the lack of consent in this book was appalling. What was even more disturbing to me was the fact that the main character acknowledges this, but the situations keep happening anyway. I feel like his 'self-awareness; was the author's half-assed attempt at making it 'okay' or 'acceptable,' and as a reader, I found that to be so insulting. The twist at the end, while it took me by surprise, did not excuse this for me. Nothing could.

Will I continue to read Colleen Hoover? Yes. Even as pissed off as I was, I found this story intriguing. But I won't dismiss the lack of consent in this book with a higher rating.

*So as not to cause confusion, lack of consent does not refer to sexual situations.

I can gladly say that I read a fair amount of Colleen Hoover's book. However, this one didn't do it for me.
The premise seemed so interesting and to my liking. I was very exciting to read it. The writing always is so fluid, and it reads effortlessly. But I feel like a lot of readers will enjoy so give it a shot and don't mind me !

What the heck did I just read?! I am a huge fan of Hoover’s books so I knew I needed to pick up her first paranormal book. I was confused, I was mad, I felt romance, I was confused again, I had anxiety... I mean AHHH. COLLEEN. Did you really need to make me feel every. Single. Emotion? Well, you did. This book was amazing! Thank you Netgalley and amazon for my copy.

I loved this book so much. I loved all the elements that make up this story. The paranormal aspect. The romance aspect. The suspense. It all leads up to one beautifully written story that I am still wrapping my head around. I loved every minute of reading this and I am floored by the imagination, and storyline. It is so different. I could not put this book down. Colleen Hoover always writes some amazing stories and this one was no different. I can't wait for more from her and to see what she has in store for us next!

I am a big fan of Colleen Hoover, and so I was excited to get my hands on Layla. This, however, isn't CoHo's typical fare. I'll be honest that paranormal romance is not my typical genre, but I'll try anything that Hoover writes.

This book starts off fairly normal, but then it is full of the twists and turns that Hoover is know for. It's a wild ride.

Many thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I am obsessed with this book. I couldn’t put it down!!!

I honestly think the best way to go into this book is knowing nothing about it. Just know that it’ll have you on the edge of your seat and will keep you turning the pages until it’s over. There’s so many twists and improbable things and I could definitely not see the end coming. I loved every second of it.

With Layla, CoHo dipped her toes into unchartered waters - paranormal romance. I wasn't sure what I was going to get other than I knew I'd enjoy it. And I wasn't wrong. CoHo delivered on what I knew to expect from her - a well written story with fully realized characters - and on what I could only have imagined. Layla was suspenseful, mysterious, twisty, romantic, and AMAZING.

I absolutely loved this romantic ghost story! It is framed around a present interview and then Leeds backtracks to tell what led up to this point with him having his girlfriend bound and gagged while the interview commences.

Leeds met the titular Layla while playing the bass guitar at her sister's wedding. With an immediate connection, their romance blooms - but things haven't been the same for the past six months. Hoping to rekindle their love, Leeds takes them back to where they first met - but that's not exactly the same either, as the two of them are not exactly alone in the house they rented.

It's an absolutely riveting read - I really didn't want to put it down at all! In fact, my to-do list for the day remained decidedly unprogressed upon directly because of this book! The characters are vibrant - and it's pretty a steamy read in parts, so I am glad that I didn't listen to this one as I have for some of Hoover's other books (I am just not grown up enough to listen to bedroom scenes, apparently!). And though this is definitely a ghost story, it's not a scary one at all. It feels pretty original - I certainly haven't read anything like it! And it absolutely had me on the edge of my seat! I just loved it!

Hoover is an author that I have been following for a few years now and this makes me want to just read even more from her! Leeds makes for a great narrator, too - Hoover really nails what a woman wants a man to think of her! It makes this such a great love story!

Also, I am wondering if Hoover just likes the name Victoria or if she knows one - there's a Victoria mentioned in passing here, and one of her other book's had a Tori!

Unfortunately, this one didn’t do it for me. CoHo is still one of my auto-read authors, but for some reason I never felt connected to these characters. I am certain that a lot of people will love this book and I do applaud the author for branching out and trying something new!