4.2
-
107,613 ratings
A Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love.
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.
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ISBN-10
1542000173
ISBN-13
978-1542000178
Print length
303 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Montlake
Publication date
December 07, 2020
Dimensions
5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Item weight
6.4 ounces
ASIN :
B085ZZFKBV
File size :
3349 KB
Text-to-speech :
Enabled
Screen reader :
Supported
Enhanced typesetting :
Enabled
X-Ray :
Enabled
Word wise :
Enabled
An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Romance
“Surprising and emotionally tense, this paranormal romance is sure to entertain.” —Publishers Weekly
“[Hoover’s] first foray into paranormal romance does not disappoint. Peppered with elements of mystery, psychological thriller, and contemporary romance, the novel explores questions about how quickly true love can develop, as well as the conflicts that can imperil even the strongest connections…fast-paced and engaging…A unique story of transcendent love.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The love between Leeds and Willow has a very appealing, slow build, while the many plot turns will keep readers guessing through to the shocking resolution.” —Booklist
“Hoover blends thrills, fantasy, and romance into one captivating story.” —Bookish
“Feel free to send Hoover your increased electric bill because you’re going to be keeping the lights on late to stay up and read this one.” —E! Online
“[A] beautiful spine-chilling novel.” —Her Campus
“[A] thrilling paranormal romance.” —Buzzfeed
“You should read this book if you like: Romance with paranormal echoes, gentle thriller-type elements, mysteries, dubious B&B vacations, plot twists, big reveals, true love…” —Goodreads
“Hoover brings her trademark poignancy and addictive prose to the novel, and the bulk of the plot is based in real tragedies and emotions enough that even the more fantastical elements feel real.” —BookReporter
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The supernatural is the natural not yet understood. —Elbert Hubbard
THE INTERVIEW
I placed two layers of duct tape over Layla’s mouth before I came downstairs, but I can still hear her muffled screams as the detective takes a seat at the table.
He has the kind of old recorder you’d see in a movie from the eighties. It’s about ten inches long and six inches wide with a big red circle on the left button. He presses it down with the play button and slides the recorder to the center of the table. The wheels on the cassette begin to rotate.
“Please state your name,” he says.
I clear my throat. “Leeds Gabriel.”
The battery compartment is held together with old duct tape running up the sides of the machine. I find it kind of humorous. This severely outdated machine is going to record every word I’m about to say, and that’s somehow going to help?
At this point, I’ve all but given up. There’s no light at the end of this tunnel. I’m not even sure there’s an end to this tunnel.
How can I have hope for a way out of this when things have gotten so out of control? I’m speaking to a detective I met online while my girlfriend is upstairs, losing her damn mind.
As if she knows I’m thinking about her, the noise picks up again. The wooden headboard pounds against the wall upstairs, creating an eerie echo in this huge empty house.
“So,” the man says. “Where do you want to start?” He seems like he’ll be able to work through the noise, but I’m not sure I can. Knowing Layla is suffering because of my actions is not something I can easily ignore. Every sound coming from upstairs makes me flinch. “Why don’t we start with how the two of you met,” the man suggests.
I’m hesitant to respond to questions that I know won’t lead to answers, but at this point, I’d rather hear my own voice than Layla’s muffled screams. “We met here last summer. This used to be a bed and breakfast. I was the bass player in the band that played her sister’s wedding.”
The man doesn’t respond. He leans back in his chair, staring at me quietly. I don’t know what else to say. Am I supposed to elaborate on that? “How does meeting Layla relate to what’s happening inside this house?”
He shakes his head as he leans forward, folding his arms across the table. “Maybe it doesn’t. But that’s why I’m here, Leeds. Anything could be a clue. I need you to go back to the first day you were here. What was Layla wearing? Why were you both here? What was the first thing she said to you? Did either of you notice anything out of the ordinary about the house that night? The more information you can give me, the better. No detail is too small.”
I rest my elbows on the table and slide my palms over my ears to drown out the sounds Layla is making upstairs. I can’t take hearing her upset like this. I love her so much, but I don’t know that I can go back and talk about why I love her so much when I’m putting her through this.
I try not to think about how perfect things were in the beginning. When I do that, it solidifies the fact that I’m more than likely at fault for how it has all come to an end.
I close my eyes and think back to the first night I met her. Back when life was easier. When ignorance really was bliss.
“She was a terrible dancer,” I say to the man. “It’s the first thing I noticed about her . . .”
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Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
For more information and for a schedule of events, please visit colleenhoover.com.
To contact Colleen and her team (Her team's name is Stephanie), please email hooverink@outlook.com
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Customer reviews
4.2 out of 5
107,613 global ratings
Emily Flory
5
I’m not a ghost book fan… but this book.
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
When I started reading this book, I honestly had no clue it was about ghosts. I just love Colleen Hoover so simply clicked on a book to start reading. Once I got into the book and started to figure out what it was about, I was a little skeptical. But I pushed forward and I’m so happy I did. The whole book is set up with so much love and excitement and unknown. The ending had me reading faster than I ever have to know what happened. Absolutely 5 stars.
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3 people found this helpful
lily hanks 🪩
5
Emotional Roller Coaster in the Best Way
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Colleen Hoover has once again left me in awe with her latest novel, "Layla." From the first page to the last, I was completely immersed in this captivating tale of love, loss, and second chances.
The story follows Leeds and Layla, a couple deeply in love whose lives are turned upside down by a tragic accident. As they struggle to come to terms with their new reality, they find themselves facing unexpected challenges that put their relationship to the test in ways they never could have imagined.
What I love most about "Layla" is Hoover's ability to evoke such raw and powerful emotions in her readers. The characters feel incredibly real, their pain and heartache palpable with every word. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering for Leeds and Layla as they navigated the complexities of their relationship and searched for a way to heal their broken hearts.
The supernatural element added an intriguing twist to the story, adding depth and mystery that kept me eagerly turning the pages. Hoover seamlessly weaves together elements of romance, suspense, and the supernatural, creating a story that is as unpredictable as it is unforgettable.
But what truly sets "Layla" apart is its message of hope and resilience. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a glimmer of light waiting to guide us through the darkness. It's a story of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love.
In conclusion, "Layla" is a must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and paranormal fiction alike. Colleen Hoover has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, delivering a novel that will stay with me long after I've turned the final page. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy - you won't be disappointed!
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10 people found this helpful
JReynolds
5
Really should have read this during Halloween
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
I saw lots of posts saying this was a good creepy read for Halloween last year and I wish I had listened, cause they were right.
Colleen Hoover has done it for me again. Paranormal Romance, spooky vibes, psycho stalker, soul mates, unexpected twist. Leeds and Layla ❤️ There was spice but not a lot. I liked the suspense and mystery of it all. If you need a spooky read for spooky season pick this one up. I don't feel like I can say too much about the actual story without giving things away. But if you liked the suspense and creepy vibes from "Verity" then I think you will like this book too. 🙌🏻
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Danielle Long
5
The emotions this book brought, happy, sad, MAD
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. The emotions it brought out. At one point I was so angry- I won’t ruin any surprises. It ended up coming together and ending way better than I was expecting!! You know a book is well written when it brings out emotions you weren’t expecting and has twist that weren’t expected. Colleen Hoover seems to bring out all the emotions, twist and turns with all her books. I can usually predict what’s about to happen expect with Colleen Hoover!!! I hope she’s writing more because I’m almost done reading all of her books
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2 people found this helpful
Kim S
4
Differently good
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Having read the majority of CoHo books, this was one of my faves! It was different from her usual genre, but a good different that was suspenseful and kept you wondering the whole way through up until the very end. It’s a quick easy read, one you won’t want to put down, and one that will stick with you. I recommend this not just to CoHo fans, but anybody with an interest in suspense/the supernatural/things that can’t be explained. Thumbs up!
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7 people found this helpful
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