Coming of Age

Coming of age is a major and dominant theme in the novel Slammed by Colleen Hoover. The theme of coming of age involves the spiritual, emotional, ethical, and character growth of an individual when faced with real life issues and events. Coming of age primarily affects the character of Layken Cohen in the novel, and her coming of age comes about by way of her mother and Will.

When the novel begins, Layken is emotionally unstable, and reeling from the death of her father and the move to Michigan. Things are only further complicated by her instantaneous love for Will, the cooling of their relationship, and the revelation that Julia has cancer. She is unsure how to handle much of anything at all, though she pretends to know what she is doing. Ultimately, through her time with Will and her mother, she grows into a stronger...