Book Review: If I Stay (If I Stay #1) by Gayle Forman

Summary:  

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 heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

Review: 

A warning to fellow readers---if you have not read If I Stay, make sure you: one: are not home alone as I was,  two: have an adequate supply of tissues at the ready when you sit down with this book, and three:  have at least an hour and a half to read this book in one sitting because you're going to want to finish it once you start. 

I have heard so many great things about this book but I had no idea how powerful it would be.  It looks so unassuming, with the peaceful cover and small size (less than 200 pages) that I completely underestimated it. 

I sat down to read If I Stay after work one evening after my husband left for a business trip.  My cat immediately got in my lap---her favorite spot while I'm reading---and I did not move again until I finished the book an hour and a half later.  This would not usually be a problem except for the fact that I had one small napkin next to me (to hold my Hershey's Kisses when I first sat down) and was in desperate need of tissues throughout the whole book.  The story was just too gripping for me to stop long enough to get up and get tissues, so I confess that my tears fell unabated onto the blanket my cat was lying on.  She didn't like it, but I was too enmeshed in the story to get up.

I don't want to go into specifics about the story, because I think you need to read it for yourself.  There's really not much I can say without giving anything away.  Forman's writing style is clean and spare, something I really like.  I think it's hard to get spare writing right, but she hits the nail on the head, writing emotional scenes so cleanly that you feel what the characters are feeling---not what the author wants you to feel.  The book alternates seamlessly between the present day and flashbacks, something I also think can get choppy if done incorrectly.  Instead, the flashbacks keep the book moving at a pace where you don't want to stop reading. 

I think the most powerful thing about If I Stay is the fact that the writing makes it easy for you to put yourself in Mia's place.  I know that's what had me feeling so emotional through the whole book.  I was upset when I finished and found out that the sequel is not due out for another six months!  Somehow I thought it was already out.  I would recommend this book to anyone----it's that good.

Just One Gripe: 

My only gripe is that now I have to wait for the sequel.

The Best Thing About This Book: 

The writing and the emotions Forman elicits in her readers.

Appropriate for a younger audience: 

Yes

Score: 

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Setting/Imagery: 5/5

Originality: 5/5

Ending: 4/5

Total Score:  24/25