Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay (If I Stay #1)
Author:  Gayle Forman
Pages:  272
Publisher:  Speak/Penguin
Genre:  Contemporary
Release:  April 6th 2010 (First published January 1st 2009)
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book at: Book Depository / Amazon

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. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time..

Devastatingly Beautiful

I waited too long to read this book and I have no idea why. Finally, I got myself a copy of this so well acclaimed book and turned I to the first page hoping to read something that I will always remember. If I Stay by Gayle Forman was exactly that! This book is an unforgettable and heart wrenching story that took my breath away from the very first to the last page.

It is so sad to read such tragic story filled with so much love and that it was actually inspired from real life. This is one of the things I really appreciate from contemporary books, they expose reality even when it can be so cruel to the point that they seem impossible to bear. Real life is a roller coaster, If I Stay is one as well. Gayle Forman touches a very delicate theme in this book. What if we could choose to live or to die? If I Stay is a book that can leaves you staring into space and thinking for hours about this topic over and over again. I loved the fact that Forman narrates the story from Mia's first person point of view. The voice is so real, strong and powerful that I found myself empathizing and sympathizing with Mia from beginning to end. Also, I really, really love the importance of music in this book. Mia and Adam are both very passionate musicians and it is music that brings them together in the first place.

Adam and Kim are certainly among my favorite characters in the story. They intensify Mia's struggle even more and I felt so thankful to have them there in Mia's life. Forman uses a lot of flashbacks to narrates this story which is told in a very different way from most books I read. I think Forman flawlessly succeed to tell this story in the best way it could possible have ever been written. If I Stay is book that I would certainly recommend to everyone looking for a meaningful and powerful read. This book is absolutely a must-read!

*This section may contain spoilers*
Beautiful in its own devastating and tragic kind of way, Gayle Forman puts readers through heart wrenching read filled of despair and hope. I think If I Stay is one of those books that besides teaching and reinforcing values, it makes you re-evaluate life. When you think there is nothing left for you to live, or when you think that some things are too hard for you to bear, pick up this book and you may find that there is at least one reason good enough for you to Stay.

Watch the trailer!

Visit Gayle Forman's website at http://www.gayleforman.com/

Visit the books' website at http://www.ifistay.com/