Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Book: If I Stay
By: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (Audio by Listening Library)
Publication Date: April 2, 2009

Description: 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.

My Thoughts: As we all know, I have taken a liking to the whole audiobook thing. I can listen to them as I go to lunch or as I'm driving in the car and It's easy for me to pass the time and focus on something other than the 2 hour traffic or the hot summer day. If I stay, however, is not a book you want to listen to while sitting in traffic or walking down the road on a hot summer day. It's beautifully written and follows the thoughts and feelings of Mia after her family dies in a car accident and she is suspended between life and death. She has the option of returning to her body and continuing to fight, or letting go, and the entire book follows that option.

I say this to say that this is not a book you want to read while driving or walking around other people. Not unless you want to be seen as that lady in the other car crying her freaking eyes out as her vision blurrs and the lines in the road get squiggly or the psycho on the street with tears falling out her eyes and snotting on her sleeves. Not unless you're okay with people giving you a wide berth of space and whispering at each other to stay away because they dont know what the psycho's malfunction is. That's what happened to me, and I must say, it sucks.

If I stay is heartbreakingly beautiful and amazing. I loved every second of it, and at the same time, I hated it. I didnt like feeling so sad, but I had to know what happened. It reminded me of when my cousin was in ICU. Was he sitting there watching me while I held his hand? When I prayed for him? Did he fight because I came there and asked him to come back to me? What happens as we die, and what makes us stay?

I hear a lot of people say they dont like the ending, but I think it makes sense. It's romantic and sweet and made me blubber like a fool. I loved this book. It broke my heart, and made me want to live unlike any other book I've ever read.

Read it. Please. Dont do as I did and pass it by. I dont normally like books like these, but I'm happy I read this one. 5 Stars