Review: If I stay by Gayle Forman – She’s running the show

Title: If I stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I stay #1

Genres: young adult, romance, contemporary

Format: audiobook

Length: 5 hrs 4 min

Narrator: Kirsten Potter

My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck…

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

REVIEW:

If I stay is one of those books I’ve been putting off forever for no good reason and with the movie version coming out this year it was way past time to read it. It’s one of those generally beloved YA books everyone keeps raving about, so my expectations were pretty high, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Mia is a great character, one I couldn’t help but feel for. What happens to her and her family is truly heartbreaking, and an unwelcome reminder that everyone and everything you care about can be ripped away in a matter of seconds. Her journey from her initial confusion after the accident to the moment she realizes she has the power to decide her own future had me ‘glued to the page’ and rooting for her all the way to the end.

“And it’s while contemplating this that I think about what the nurse said. She’s running the show. And suddenly I understand what Gramps was really asking Gran. He had listened to that nurse, too. He got it before I did.
If I stay. If I live. It’s up to me.”

Her previous life, her relationship with her family and her boyfriend, Adam are described through flashbacks. I felt like the author did a good job of presenting both sides of Mia’s dilemma: all the reasons that made her want to give up on life (her parents and little brother gone) and all the reasons worth staying for (her grandparents, Adam, a possible future at Juilliard). I especially loved these flashbacks, to be honest it was kind of nice to see a functional family dynamic for once. Also, major bonus points for music as an underlying theme. Mia’s passion for playing the cello, and classical music in general shines through, and I could relate.
The ending is fairly predictable of course, but it doesn’t take away anything from the overall reading experience. This book is a great emotional read, and I honestly recommend it to everyone. There’s also a sequel, Where she went which takes place a few years later and it’s told from Adam’s POV, I will be reading hopefully soon.

Narration:

The audio version of this book is pretty great, complete with cello music (Mia plays the cello), I listened to it in one sitting.

What’s next? #6

Hosted by: IceyBooks
Description: Can’t decide what to read next? Make a post with 3-5 books you want to (or have to!) read soon and link up every Thursday at IceyBooks, so your readers can help you decide by casting votes!

1. Where the stars still shine by Trish Doller

Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

 2. The beginning of everything by Robyn Schneider

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.

3. If I stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck…

A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.