If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

by Gayle Forman

[Stephanie]

This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



If I Stay was my first Gayle Forman book and I can see why she's got such a following. If I Stay has been sitting in my TBR pile for quite some time. I'm doing this new thing where I read the books that I want to read when I want to read them. I thought I'd pick this one up because everyone loves Gayle Forman and because the movie trailer really made me want to pick this one up.

Folks this one got real fast. I think about page 16 and we were right in the thick of it. I think one of the most surprising things for me is that If I Stay is such a slim novel. I didn't expect such an emotional impact. In 200 pages, there was quite a bit of history for Mia. It was sort of fascinating because Mia has an uncertain future. What Forman does is throws you into the story at the middle point and then alternately show you glimpses of the past and then bits of the present. This form of storytelling made it all the more gut wrenchingly awful and yet so bittersweet.

I really enjoyed Mia's character. I felt that she knew what she wanted and for the most part followed through to get it. Mia is a down to earth girl who was realistic and is the type of girl I'd want for a role model if I had a daughter. I have to admit that I really didn't care for Adam. Until that one part when I fell in love with him a little bit because he was swoony. If you've read the book you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't I'm not telling!

Personally the best way to describe If I Stay is you're wrapped in a cozy cocoon of shock until the band aid is ripped off viciously and the tears and snot run freely. In a sick and twisted way I loved it. I'll definitely be catching up with Forman's back list!