If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Publisher: Speak
Source: Bought
Summary (Goodreads.com)

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces - to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.

My thoughts:             
               There are a few times that I can actually relate to a book personally. When I read fiction books, I do not have supernatural powers, wings, or any other fictional qualities that I can relate to. Even the titles I read that are contemporary don't always have events that I can relate to.

                    But just like Mia, I have a little brother, a mom who is my best friend, a funny dad, a family who is always there for me. So I could not help but put myself in every single horrible event that Mia had to go through.

                  Worse still, Gayle Forman let us see the amazing family Mia had before the accident, and while everything was going on, flashes of her previous life did not seem to leave her thoughts. Each story carefully told, and every single on of them brought be to tears.

             Another thing about this book is that nothing was sugarcoated. From the gory accident scene to the sad ending, Gayle Forman's raw and beautiful writing shaped a contemporary masterpiece. The character development was amazing, I felt for every single character in the book, dead or alive. I could not think of a single character in the book that I disliked. Her best friend was not without flaws, just like real life friends are, but she was everything a best friend should be. Her relationship with her boyfriend was not perfect, but it is the kind of relationship you will love to have.

              If I Stay is a truly beautiful story, so real and full of sorrow you will probably be reading it through blurry tear-filled eyes.

The only thing that left me kind of puzzled was the USA Today's quote, "Will appeal to fans of Stephanie Meyer's TWILIGHT." Yes, I was a fan of Twilight once upon a time, but If I Stay was nothing like Twilight. They were both great in their own way, but they are by no means similar. Where did they get that from?

In my opinion if you liked Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, then you will love If I Stay! If you had read If I Stay, and loved it and want more, the same goes to you, read Before I Fall.


My Rating:

What's Next?

Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

Publish Date: April 5, 2011