Review: If I Stay

Title: If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I Stay #1

Publisher:Random House Group (UK) | Speak (US)

Publication date: 13th May 2010 (UK) | 06 Apr 2010 (US)

Format: Paperback - 234 pages

 Genre: Contemporary | Young Adult

 

 

A cold February morning...

A snowy road...

And suddenly all of Mia's choices are gone.

Except one.

As alone as she'll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.

My thoughts:

I never thought such a short read could be so captivating, moving and memorable.

 

If I Stay follows Mia and her tough journey trying to decide whether or not she lives or dies. Mia is in a coma after a devastating car crash with a horrendous outcome. She alone has to make the decision to stay and deal with a horrific tragedy or to leave it all behind.

 

What I love about this read is how much of it involves Mia's memories. The car crash happens more or less immediately in the book so most of the read is Mia's thoughts while she's in the hospital and her memories of her family and dearest friends. It made me think about how we don't really focus on those good memories and also making them when we can. Mia didn't really focus on what she would wake up to but more on all the amazing times she had with her family and friends. I really think we don't do that enough. This book has made me want to appreciate the good times I have even more because it can all be taken away in a split second.

 

I also loved the characters. I adored Mia most of all. She was so strong and wilful without being unrealistic. She was also relatable because she didn't take anything that happened lightly - she was as devastated as she should be and didn't have this 'I'll be okay' attitude, she knew that what happened was going to turn her life upside down and that it would be incredibly hard from here on out. I loved that about her.

 

All of the other characters. friends and family, were incredible. Each had their own part to play in the story and each were loveable in their own unique way. The Grandparents were really sweet and endearing and Kim - Mia's best friend - was an amazing character. She was similar to Mia in that she was really strong willed and at the same time she was down to earth. 

 

Of course I have to mention Mia's boyfriend Adam. He was so sweet. His little speech close to the end just broke my heart. It's funny though because this book wasn't incredibly cheesy in any way which is what I was expecting. Adam was really blunt and just told it straight which was incredible. If I Stay definitely puts it all into perspective. 

 

I can't really do this one justice in any sort of review. It's most definitely a must-read that you won't forget.

 

My rating: 10/10

 

 

Gayle Forman:

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Books in the series:

1. If I Stay
2. Where She Went