If I Stay

I love Mia's family. I am devastated. The author does an excellent job of making the characters come to life and the music stream off the pages. Beautiful book, despite the handful of typos in it. ( )

Just catching up on my reviews during this time of social distancing. 'If I Stay' is still to this day my favorite duology. I cried and cried and just went through the whole story as if I was a character — a part of this book. It was nearly impossible to put the book down, and when I've finished the last chapter, I just felt lost! Gayle Forman is definitely one of my favorite author ( )

4.25* I thought parts of this did not sound like the perspective of a high school student (some of the language/dialogue didn't feel realistic). I liked the concept and storyline even though not a whole lot happened. I wanted just a little more at the end though... I wanted a little more definitive ending since the books title leads you to question. I don't think a decision like that should have stayed quite so open ended. It felt a little too like the ending of Inception for me. ( )

Favorite Quote: I am seventeen years old. This is not how it's supposed to be. This is not how my life is supposed to turn out.

Oh.My.God.
My heart hurts so much, I can't believe how it can bear it. I never felt such emotions reading a book. Ever.
It was such a sad, gut-wrenching, tear-your-heart-and-leaving-it-open book. When I thought the tears would stop, another line, another word would keep 'em coming and coming, until my family started worrying about me.
Mia's story and her journey out of her body, witnissing her loved ones going through the tragedy was at times unbearable to read, even worse were the memories she relieved by each step she took and every second that ticked by.

She keeps wondering: What would it be like if I stay?

She had a life before, a pretty amzing one: a wonderful family with an ex-rockstar Dad, a feminist who doesn't chew her words Mom and a sweet little brother, her passion for classical music and pursuing her dream of becoming a famour cello player graduated from Julliard school.

But then everything has perished. Her entire family is gone, nothing is left for her in this life, everyone she cherished had been taken away that very morning, there's nothing worth staying for.

And there's Adam.

Adam.Adam.Adam.Adam.

The music-obsessed, guitar-player, sweet and swoony rock star boyfriend. Though things weren't always great with the different paths their lives were taking, they were still crazy in love and trying as hard as possible to make it work and not think about the imminent future. However, he was both her weakness and her stregnth and his disarray made me cry even harder. Him wishing for her to stay, oh God what a mess I've been when I read that passage:
"If you stay, I'll do whatever you want..."

The ending is what frustered me the most. How could Mrs. Forman leave me with such an ending? that was very wicked of her, now I can't wait untill I read the next book, and from what I heard, it will be from Adam POV and I'd better prepare a box of Kleenex...

N.B: Through the whole book, and possibly because he's a music obsessed guy, I couldn't stop picturing Adam as:

Since his role in Gimore Girls as Jesse, the troublesome, oh-so-dangerously-hot bad boy who loved music AND reading books, I had a soft spot for him. I mean, who would resist such a hottie and this lopsided mouth that would crack into such a very sexy grin... *sigh*



As for his voice, the PenguinYoungReader trailer for "Where She Went" is feautring one of the sexiest voice I've ever heard for Adam. So now, I'm fully intending on reading the next book AND listening to the audiobook.

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Wow! How powerful is this story?? I don’t even know where to begin. To imagine having to make the choice between life and death myself with all the extenuating circumstances that were in this book would be excruciating. I think most feel they are pretty sure of what they want when their time comes, but can you imagine if that time comes and you literally have to make that choice - to stay or go... all the while watching your friends and family cry and pretty much mourn you already. I’m not sure that my current wishes would be so easy to stick with if I was in such a situation.
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