Scan barcode
sheisinquisitive's review against another edition
3.0
"I have a feeling that once you live through something like this, you become a little bit invincible."
[2.5]
I'm unsure why I put off reading this book for so long. It's been collecting dust on my shelf for many years. Part of me believes I would've liked this book a lot more as a teenager, and yet, part of me thinks I appreciate it more as a young adult, especially following the pandemic.
Our protagonist, Mia, doesn't scream (but whispers) the "I'm not like other girls" trope, which makes her tolerable, but I find her to be likeable. Mia has quite a personality: a cellist, an average student, loves her family and other relationships, not anti-social but not popular, a black sheep but not a complete outcast. I loved seeing how she interacted with people in her life. Her relationship with her parents and brother was healthy, which I found refreshing. She has a strong friendship with Kim, a good thing going with Adam, and has a positive opinion of the people in her life. My favourite interactions were between Mia and her grandparents, especially when Mia was in her coma, and her "spirit" (?) was observing and listening in on how they spoke with "her." Two moments, in particular, stood out to me:
(1) When Mia's grandmother speaks with Mia (while in a coma) and shares how she used to believe Mia would no longer be an easy child once she hits puberty.
"Even then you were such a breeze. Never gave us any trouble. Never the kind of girl to make my heart race in fear. You made up for a lifetime of that today."
It was a joke, of course. I like that she knows Mia enough to make light of the situation. But, more importantly, it takes a lot of love to keep a brave face and a positive, calm mindset after losing your family the way Mia's grandmother does: Losing her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson must've been a lot, but she focuses all her energy on Mia, giving her light and hope through conversations that carry meaning and normalcy.
(2) When Mia's grandfather is alone with her and "Mia" sees him crying silently. Here, he tells her he will understand if she decides to go. Even though he doesn't want her to go, he tells her it's okay.
"It's okay if you have to leave us. It's okay if you want to stop fighting."
I loved this moment more than the first one I mentioned because of how intimate it is and how much strength and maturity there is in what her grandfather does for Mia here. Like Mia, I recognized that "...this is the first time today that anyone has acknowledged what [Mia has] lost."
It takes a lot of strength to let someone go. To acknowledge their autonomy, to go if they wish. Like Mia's grandmother, her grandfather suffered the same losses, but he acknowledges that they are Mia's losses. And he doesn't shy away from how painful Mia's new reality would be if she woke up. I really admire her grandfather for doing that.
I like how Mia observed these interactions as a third party. It made those moments more valuable and emotional and real.
A few admirable moments that prove Mia is a compassionate, opinionated (but kind), and appreciative person:
1. She wanted to tell the driver, who was also harmed in the collision, that he was not at fault
2. She consistently recognizes how supportive and resilient Kim is
3. She acknowledges all of the nurses and social workers who were taking care of her, creating fair opinions of each based on how they treated her and her loved ones
Possibly the most mature and balanced teen protagonist I've come across in teen fiction in a very long time.
Now, despite all this: It wasn't that...good? As much as I loved reading about her relationships with family and friends (quite honestly, the romance was whatever? Like I didn't care for it. I don't like the idea of her wanting to stay for Adam (which is how I perceived the ending) when there are other people I can see her living for... not sure what made him so special. It's an interesting topic to debate for another time, but why do stories like this value romantic relationships over platonic/familial ones? Especially when she's like... seventeen), it was a very bland read. The memories she shares are nice, and they show (well, show AND tell) character development for the other people in her life, but there wasn't much... plot? Movement (in the present)? Justification for her decision to leave? I didn't expect there to be an answer for the supernatural part of it (I can let that go). It just seemed kind of... pointless? Also, Mia was WAY too calm with this whole "unconscious but not dead" thing with herself. The author had a lot of room with such a broad topic and individual, unique experience that I expected more.
I have to say - the writing is kind of outdated. Kim uses the "r" word at one point, which was never acceptable to me then and, as the kids say, "gives me the ick" now. The story also got a little weird... the whole distraction scene was stupid and a waste of time. Forman could've been a lot more creative here (or just left it out and let Adam visit Mia without being all extra about it).
Anyways... would I still recommend it? Sure, depending on the reader. It's an easy and light read to pass the time (despite the tragic accident and how real such experiences may be to some people), but if you're looking for something serious, this isn't a book worthy of your time. Maybe go watch the movie (which I haven't seen... yet).
[2.5]
I'm unsure why I put off reading this book for so long. It's been collecting dust on my shelf for many years. Part of me believes I would've liked this book a lot more as a teenager, and yet, part of me thinks I appreciate it more as a young adult, especially following the pandemic.
Our protagonist, Mia, doesn't scream (but whispers) the "I'm not like other girls" trope, which makes her tolerable, but I find her to be likeable. Mia has quite a personality: a cellist, an average student, loves her family and other relationships, not anti-social but not popular, a black sheep but not a complete outcast. I loved seeing how she interacted with people in her life. Her relationship with her parents and brother was healthy, which I found refreshing. She has a strong friendship with Kim, a good thing going with Adam, and has a positive opinion of the people in her life. My favourite interactions were between Mia and her grandparents, especially when Mia was in her coma, and her "spirit" (?) was observing and listening in on how they spoke with "her." Two moments, in particular, stood out to me:
(1) When Mia's grandmother speaks with Mia (while in a coma) and shares how she used to believe Mia would no longer be an easy child once she hits puberty.
"Even then you were such a breeze. Never gave us any trouble. Never the kind of girl to make my heart race in fear. You made up for a lifetime of that today."
It was a joke, of course. I like that she knows Mia enough to make light of the situation. But, more importantly, it takes a lot of love to keep a brave face and a positive, calm mindset after losing your family the way Mia's grandmother does: Losing her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson must've been a lot, but she focuses all her energy on Mia, giving her light and hope through conversations that carry meaning and normalcy.
(2) When Mia's grandfather is alone with her and "Mia" sees him crying silently. Here, he tells her he will understand if she decides to go. Even though he doesn't want her to go, he tells her it's okay.
"It's okay if you have to leave us. It's okay if you want to stop fighting."
I loved this moment more than the first one I mentioned because of how intimate it is and how much strength and maturity there is in what her grandfather does for Mia here. Like Mia, I recognized that "...this is the first time today that anyone has acknowledged what [Mia has] lost."
It takes a lot of strength to let someone go. To acknowledge their autonomy, to go if they wish. Like Mia's grandmother, her grandfather suffered the same losses, but he acknowledges that they are Mia's losses. And he doesn't shy away from how painful Mia's new reality would be if she woke up. I really admire her grandfather for doing that.
I like how Mia observed these interactions as a third party. It made those moments more valuable and emotional and real.
A few admirable moments that prove Mia is a compassionate, opinionated (but kind), and appreciative person:
1. She wanted to tell the driver, who was also harmed in the collision, that he was not at fault
2. She consistently recognizes how supportive and resilient Kim is
3. She acknowledges all of the nurses and social workers who were taking care of her, creating fair opinions of each based on how they treated her and her loved ones
Possibly the most mature and balanced teen protagonist I've come across in teen fiction in a very long time.
Now, despite all this: It wasn't that...good? As much as I loved reading about her relationships with family and friends (quite honestly, the romance was whatever? Like I didn't care for it. I don't like the idea of her wanting to stay for Adam (which is how I perceived the ending) when there are other people I can see her living for... not sure what made him so special. It's an interesting topic to debate for another time, but why do stories like this value romantic relationships over platonic/familial ones? Especially when she's like... seventeen), it was a very bland read. The memories she shares are nice, and they show (well, show AND tell) character development for the other people in her life, but there wasn't much... plot? Movement (in the present)? Justification for her decision to leave? I didn't expect there to be an answer for the supernatural part of it (I can let that go). It just seemed kind of... pointless? Also, Mia was WAY too calm with this whole "unconscious but not dead" thing with herself. The author had a lot of room with such a broad topic and individual, unique experience that I expected more.
I have to say - the writing is kind of outdated. Kim uses the "r" word at one point, which was never acceptable to me then and, as the kids say, "gives me the ick" now. The story also got a little weird... the whole distraction scene was stupid and a waste of time. Forman could've been a lot more creative here (or just left it out and let Adam visit Mia without being all extra about it).
Anyways... would I still recommend it? Sure, depending on the reader. It's an easy and light read to pass the time (despite the tragic accident and how real such experiences may be to some people), but if you're looking for something serious, this isn't a book worthy of your time. Maybe go watch the movie (which I haven't seen... yet).
lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book. It wasn't greattttt, but it made me feel the feels. Cool idea for sure. 3 1/2 stars even though this doesn't let me give halves. I do what I want.
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
2.0
Great premise, but obvious what she would choose as soon as the decision is mentioned. The story behind the story is far more haunting.
It was quite weird to read about someone so happy, and with no real hang ups. Then the thing happened, and that explained it all. Until that happened I kept thinking, "What's going on? These characters are all happy. There's no conflict. I don't understand the point of this book."
The sequel looks better.
It was quite weird to read about someone so happy, and with no real hang ups. Then the thing happened, and that explained it all. Until that happened I kept thinking, "What's going on? These characters are all happy. There's no conflict. I don't understand the point of this book."
The sequel looks better.
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
2.0
This is a mini review for both If I stay and the sequel [b:Where She Went|8492825|Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)|Gayle Forman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347810457s/8492825.jpg|10706553].
It's midnight, and I'm writing this review for no reason at all. I'm tired, and should probably read something, but the fact that I never wrote down my thoughts on Gayle Forman's first two books bugs me. So here we go.
_____________________________________
I do not understand the hype surrounding this duology. It's fine, but not more. The writing isn't anything out of the ordinary, nor the concept.
From now on I'm going to refer to books like If I stay as gum .
Straight out of the dictionary of Sarah: Gum (noun); books that are only okay, meh, nothing special.
When you chew gum, it's just nice. There's no explosion of flavor in your mouth, no striking realization, like ''Wow, this is revolutionary! Tell your parents, tell your friends; chewing gum is spectacular!''
But no. Gum is nice, predictable and . Still, at the end of the day, you can't deny that it's just a chewy thing that looks like a pillow.
These books about Adam and Mia are just that. A blank piece. But unlike gum, there is no fun filling inside. It's a love story with a twist. Unfortunately, the twist doesn't make up for the fact that the main characters are bland and unrelatable.
Had I loved them, I probably would've adored the books as well. I never got a good grip of their personalities, their little quirks and habits.
Pros.
The concept was good, I'll give it that. Plus I didn't hate it, I did finish the first book and read the sequel, because I was convinced that I'd failed to understand the beauty of the story. Turns out I hadn't, because the second book wasn't any different. That's pretty much it for the section of positive criticism.
More cons.
The plot dragged and those 200 pages felt like 500. It's a short book, and I still had to struggle to get through it.
I didn't care about them, which ruined the story for me.
The trailer for the movie adaptation made me way more emotional than the books. Maybe it was the music, since I'm a sucker for good soundtracks, but the story felt more real on screen than on the page.
If you don't want gum, I suggest you go read [b:The Catastrophic History of You and Me|11387392|The Catastrophic History of You and Me|Jess Rothenberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327879884s/11387392.jpg|10965894] instead. Slightly similar plot, but a lot funnier and more entertaining. It's more like candy. Not necessarily chocolate, because nothing can beat that, but similar to a lollipop. Cute, colorful and more than just nice. It's good .
It's midnight, and I'm writing this review for no reason at all. I'm tired, and should probably read something, but the fact that I never wrote down my thoughts on Gayle Forman's first two books bugs me. So here we go.
_____________________________________
I do not understand the hype surrounding this duology. It's fine, but not more. The writing isn't anything out of the ordinary, nor the concept.
From now on I'm going to refer to books like If I stay as gum .
Straight out of the dictionary of Sarah: Gum (noun); books that are only okay, meh, nothing special.
When you chew gum, it's just nice. There's no explosion of flavor in your mouth, no striking realization, like ''Wow, this is revolutionary! Tell your parents, tell your friends; chewing gum is spectacular!''
But no. Gum is nice, predictable and . Still, at the end of the day, you can't deny that it's just a chewy thing that looks like a pillow.
These books about Adam and Mia are just that. A blank piece. But unlike gum, there is no fun filling inside. It's a love story with a twist. Unfortunately, the twist doesn't make up for the fact that the main characters are bland and unrelatable.
Had I loved them, I probably would've adored the books as well. I never got a good grip of their personalities, their little quirks and habits.
Pros.
The concept was good, I'll give it that. Plus I didn't hate it, I did finish the first book and read the sequel, because I was convinced that I'd failed to understand the beauty of the story. Turns out I hadn't, because the second book wasn't any different. That's pretty much it for the section of positive criticism.
More cons.
The plot dragged and those 200 pages felt like 500. It's a short book, and I still had to struggle to get through it.
I didn't care about them, which ruined the story for me.
The trailer for the movie adaptation made me way more emotional than the books. Maybe it was the music, since I'm a sucker for good soundtracks, but the story felt more real on screen than on the page.
If you don't want gum, I suggest you go read [b:The Catastrophic History of You and Me|11387392|The Catastrophic History of You and Me|Jess Rothenberg|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327879884s/11387392.jpg|10965894] instead. Slightly similar plot, but a lot funnier and more entertaining. It's more like candy. Not necessarily chocolate, because nothing can beat that, but similar to a lollipop. Cute, colorful and more than just nice. It's good .
nikrodee's review against another edition
4.0
If you've never experienced heartbreak before, you will while reading this book.
I love Mia's character; her personality, her ex-rocker parents, her current rocker boyfriend, her strong family ties, and the fact that she is who she is. She's a seventeen year old girl facing typical teenage dilemmas. Falling in love, what college she wants to attend, finding herself. What happens when one day all those things seem trivial. When an accident forces you to stare heartache and pain head on and face being alone in the world, would you choose to stay?
It didn't take me long to get in to this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. It's a short read but most definitely worth it. You switch between memories and modern time and I love that it breaks it up to tell the whole story so quickly. My heart however was torn from my chest in the end when our character finally faces what has happened and what that means for her future; the strong sense of family, that is not only blood, was almost enough to make up for the intense heartache, almost.
Two thumbs up. If you enjoy a very well written book that has the ability to make you tear up, this is definitely a book you should pick up.
I love Mia's character; her personality, her ex-rocker parents, her current rocker boyfriend, her strong family ties, and the fact that she is who she is. She's a seventeen year old girl facing typical teenage dilemmas. Falling in love, what college she wants to attend, finding herself. What happens when one day all those things seem trivial. When an accident forces you to stare heartache and pain head on and face being alone in the world, would you choose to stay?
It didn't take me long to get in to this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. It's a short read but most definitely worth it. You switch between memories and modern time and I love that it breaks it up to tell the whole story so quickly. My heart however was torn from my chest in the end when our character finally faces what has happened and what that means for her future; the strong sense of family, that is not only blood, was almost enough to make up for the intense heartache, almost.
Two thumbs up. If you enjoy a very well written book that has the ability to make you tear up, this is definitely a book you should pick up.
whtnrc's review against another edition
3.0
I fell like it was a good read but the movie changed it for the better.
okjaaaaa's review against another edition
2.0
This one had me sobbing in a car on it’s way though France.
harleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5Stars
This book was ok, while I enjoyed it, I wasn't the biggest fan. I didn't like the back and forth of the present and pass chapters.
This book was ok, while I enjoyed it, I wasn't the biggest fan. I didn't like the back and forth of the present and pass chapters.