From Amazon.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. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time."
Book Trailer:
"If I Stay" was a novel that not only hit the blogosphere like wild fire but a book that my mom recommended to me. My mom and have very similar tastes when it comes to YA so when I found my copy at my favorite used bookstore, I picked it up without question. Unfortunately, like many of my own books, "If I Stay" was a victim of shelfism. I brought it home excited, put it on the shelf, and forgot about it. When D left a few weeks ago, I decided to listen to this novel while cooking, cleaning, showering, etc via audiobook.
"If I Stay" was a fantastic audiobook to occupy my time alone. I found myself drawn into the plot first by the apparent normalcy of the family, a family similar to my own and a family like the one I hope to have someday (you know, without the car accident), and then with the life story of Mia and the rest of her friends and family. But most importantly, it was the message of this heart-wrenching novel that had me completely entranced.
Yes, the characters were likable and believable and the plot was fantastic, but the heart of this story lies with the message. Imagine a freak accident on a normal day and having to watch the repercussions of that accident as an outsider, a witness, a bystander. The brilliant protagonist, Mia, is faced with this remarkable curse/opportunity and thus must decide to stay or to go. The power of this novel for me lies in the fact that while listening to this novel, yes I was paying attention to Mia's story, but I was also imagining my own.
I imagined a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of my parents, brother, and my fiance; even just thinking about it as I type almost brings tears to my eyes and breaks my heart. If it were my parents and brother — I think I could stay. But when I add D into the picture the whole concept becomes cloudy. I mean, the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with, who I share everything with and tell everything to... could I stay without him?
Now, I've never been one of "those types" of girls with the whole "he completes me" bit; I am my own woman and I complete myself. And I know that reflex, religion, intuition tell me to say: "You must go on. You must move forward." But, really, when I think about it... if I had the option... would I stay? I don't know. I know I have things to stay for, but without my family I don't know if I'd be strong enough to stay. I don't know if I could make the socially acceptable "right" decision.
Alright, enough with my own melodrama and back to the review. This is me giving you fair warning: you will cry. Your heart will break. "If I Stay" will cause you pause and contemplation. I don't know if I could stay... could you?
Originality: 9/10 Ending: 10/10 Characters: 8/10 Plot: 9/10 My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10 Cover: 9/10
Overall: 53/60 A
-Visit Gayle around the web here: Website | Goodreads -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Nook | Kindle
To the FTC, with love: Library Loan Audio / Bought Paperback
"Where She Went" will be released April 5th!