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

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

Publication Date: April 5, 2011

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 

Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s been three years since the devastating accident…three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future- and each other.

There were so many things that I liked about this book...but also a few that I disliked. Lets start with the likes...

I have to admit that I had really high hopes for this book. So naturally I feel a little let down by it. I mean, after If I Stay was such a beautifully heartbreaking story within the first chapter. I kind of expected this one to be just as emotional and beautiful. That's where the let down is for me.

My biggest thing is that Adam turned into such a douche! Actually a selfish and kind of heartless douche! I mean I get that he was broken hearted by what Mia did and by the whole situation but I really feel like his character should've handled it a lot better. I mean even when he finally sees Mia again and spends all that time with her that night it just all seems so forced and fake and that's because it's just not him. That's not who he is. Now don't get me wrong. I get WHY he would turn into the person he did but I just don't get how he could turn that way. That's not the Adam we knew from If I Stay. That's not the Adam we saw fight to see Mia in the hospital. Not the Adam we saw beg her stay in the first place. It's just not OUR Adam. But I guess you can never know how certain situations can change people and maybe this has always been the route Adam would take. I just thought he was stronger than all of that. Really, I think I'm just kind of fed up with all of my favorite characters changing their whole personality so suddenly. It just doesn't seem right to me and that seems to be a recurring theme lately that doesn't sit well with me. But im rambling...lets move on.

On a bright note, I am happy at the outcome of the relationship. Though not so happy on the road that took them there, it's still what I had hopes for the entire time and the author just wouldn't have done the book or the characters justice if she had chosen any other outcome. The ending was a little disappointing because it's just not what I saw happening in my head.

Overall, it was still a great book and I highly recommend reading this story!

  

FEATURE: Top 10 Tuesday- The Top 10 Books on my Fall 2013 TBR List

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week the girls come up with a subject and we have to answer them.

This week's Top 10 is about the books on your Fall 2013 TBR list. It can be either books you're planning to read or Fall releases you're excited about! As for me, this is my list of books that i'm hoping make it into my shopping cart before the year is over :o)

1. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan-- Because who doesn't want to be a Demi-God?! 

2. United We Spy by Ally Carter-- Because who doesn't want to be a SPY?!?!?! 

3. Where She Went by Gayle Forman-- Can't wait to see what happens

4. Rise by Anna Carey-- Ummm  hello?!?! CALEB!!!!

5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard-- LOVEEEEE this show!!! I know it's completely different from the series at this point...but I don't even care!! (hehe)

6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald-- I've been dying to read this classic for years, now that the movie is out is just a motivational push for me

7. Divergent by Veronica Roth-- Meeting this author at Yallfest this year AND it's becoming a movie!! CANT WAIT!!!!!!

8. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia-- I absolutely LOVED the movie (though I know many didn't) 

9. Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren-- Recommendation from my friend Jenn over at Books and Swoons- MUST READ!

10. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins-- Anything "magical" is a must read...DUH!!

So that's it for me swooners. Hopefully i'll be able to scratch these off my list and clear some space on my TBR list for the new year. What's on your  Top 10 fall TBR list?

REVIEW: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman
Publication Date: April 2, 2009
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary (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.

If I stay definitely threw me off a bit when I started reading it. I didn't really know anything about the book and kind of had a different idea of what it would be about. What I got from that situation was a happy surprise to say the least. The story is so beautifully written by the author and pile that on top of the fact that the idea is such a beautiful one and BAM you have a great book!

The book begins with a snowstorm in Oregon. School gets canceled for a teenager Mia and her younger brother, Teddy. The family makes plans to visit some friends during this “day off” and within the first chapter of the book, Mia’s family suffers a terrible car accident leaving Mia as the only survivor.

Mia lies unconscious in a hospital bed but is also present outside of her body. She can see everything that is going on, but no one can see her. She finally realizes that she has to make the difficult decision to stay on Earth with her grandparents and love of her life, Adam, while feeling the constant heartache of losing her entire immediate family or she has to choose to continue on to the afterlife with her parents and her brother and leave her remaining family and boyfriend back on Earth.

Now I have to admit, even though Mia’s entire family passes away, I wasn’t completely overcome with emotion, like I felt I should be. I think that because we JUST started reading the book, the author takes such an extreme turn too soon and doesn’t give the reader enough time to really get to know the characters. I will say though, that I did feel sadness when reading that Teddy, Mia’s younger brother, doesn’t make it through. Reading those passages truly hurt me for Mia and her brother. Maybe because I know that I love my brothers more than anything and could never imagine losing one of them. at that moment I feel her pain like it was my own.

I also had another moment of true heartache while reading this book-- when Mia’s grandpa comes into her hospital room and tells her that’s it’s okay to let go. That yes, she has family left that love her and want her to stay, but she doesn’t need to suffer just for them. He tells her that it’s okay if she wants to die, it’s okay if she wants to join her parents and brother. That moment truly broke my heart. I could feel all the love and sorrow that the grandfather was feeling for his only surviving grandchild. I could see that, at that very moment, though he loved her dearly, he put her needs above his. Such a powerful scene in the book, check it out below -- and prepare for the water works

“It's okay,' he tells me. 'If you want to go. Everyone wants you to stay. I want you to stay more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.' His voice cracks with emotion. He stops, clears his throat, takes a breath, and continues. 'But that's what I want and I could see why it might not be what you want. So I just wanted to tell you that I understand if you go. It's okay if you have to leave us. It's okay if you want to stop fighting.'

For the first time since I realized that Teddy was gone, too, I feel something unclench. I feel myself breathe. I know that Gramps can't be that late-inning pinch hitter I'd hoped for. He won't unplug my breathing tube or overdoes me with morphine or anything like that. But this is the first time today that anyone has acknowledged what I have lost. I know that the social worker warned Gran and Gramps not to upset me, but Gramps's recognition, and the permission he just offered me--it feels like a gift.

Gramps doesn't leave me. He slumps back into the chair. It's quiet now. So quiet you can almost hear other people's dreams. So quiet that you can almost hear me tell Gramps, 'Thank you.”

Overall, it was a great book and I highly recommend it to all. Now to get started on round two, Where I Went