Point of Retreat

Colleen Hoover began her career as a self-published author whose debut novel, Slammed (2012), became a word-of-mouth success, propelled by the enthusiasm of book bloggers. This grassroots support created a fervent readership that clamored for a continuation of the story. Hoover directly acknowledges this influence in Point of Retreat’s dedication: “This book is dedicated to everyone who read Slammed and encouraged me to continue telling the story of Layken and Will” (vii). Published just months after the first book was acquired by Atria Books, the sequel stands as a direct product of this modern author-reader relationship, where audience feedback can significantly shape a narrative’s trajectory. This dynamic mirrors the interactive storytelling found on platforms like Wattpad, where authors often write serially in response to reader comments, demonstrating a shift in publishing power.

Both Slammed and Point of Retreat provide quintessential examples of new adult fiction, a literary category that gained prominence in the early 2010s to bridge the gap between young adult and adult genres. First formally conceptualized in a 2009 contest by publisher St. Martin’s Press, new adult fiction typically features protagonists aged 18 to 25 who are navigating the transitional phase of early adulthood.