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maybanks2011's review against another edition
1.0
I don't often rate books lower than three stars, but this book might take the award for worst book I've ever read. I'm sorry to say that I thoroughly hated every bit of this book.
stargirllxo's review against another edition
4.0
I like this book a lot. It was quite confusing at first and I was like "huh?" but after that it was easy to understand. Each stage when she tries to make everything better or change the way things went was cool because it happened differently each time.
If you read The Fault In Our Stars, on of my personal favourites, than you will know the book mentioned in TFIOS which is An Imperial Affliction. In TFIOS, An Imperial Affliction has an ending where you don't know what happens to the main character, her parents, etc...
That is what I thought about after reading this book, the ending is kind of like that!
I don't really care about what happened to her parents but what happens to her friends after she dies and her boyfriend and stuff. I really hoped that she was in a coma and wakes up at the end but that's not how the author wanted it. If Lauren Oliver were to ever read my review, I would want her to know that I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I got tired of reading the same thing over and over again but then the way it changes was really nice to read.
If you read The Fault In Our Stars, on of my personal favourites, than you will know the book mentioned in TFIOS which is An Imperial Affliction. In TFIOS, An Imperial Affliction has an ending where you don't know what happens to the main character, her parents, etc...
That is what I thought about after reading this book, the ending is kind of like that!
I don't really care about what happened to her parents but what happens to her friends after she dies and her boyfriend and stuff. I really hoped that she was in a coma and wakes up at the end but that's not how the author wanted it. If Lauren Oliver were to ever read my review, I would want her to know that I enjoyed reading this book a lot and I got tired of reading the same thing over and over again but then the way it changes was really nice to read.
ellialexandra's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Pretty good Y/A, ending was open-ended, over all a good although sad read
dadandmom12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
snakeboba's review against another edition
3.0
Really, I give this a 3.5 as it isn't terrible. It is actually well written and you build a close bond with Sam; however, I find that it drags on to long. Yes, there is a lesson buried under it all that is one that many teenagers should learn before it is too late. I say pick this book up if you do enjoy reading and need something while you are waiting for your next novel to come out. You may enjoy it more than I did and then you may not.
susannembryhni's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book, I especially loving seeing things from other's perspective. Yes, Sam is a bitch, but isn't it nice to have books about everyone, even mean people?
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
Before I Fall is a compelling redemption story that is a very well crafted and honest look at a person experiencing a complete attitude makeover. Sam and her friends start out as the Queen Bees in the school who have it all and like to rub everyone's noses in it. Sam isn't the nastiest of her friends, but she definitely has her moments.
Over the course of several repeats of the day we do get to see the softer side of her and her friends, and see that they don't have everything and they aren't always the monsters the rest of the world sees. I think my favorite iteration of the day is the second to last one where she tries to do the right thing all day, but things just don't work out the way she wants. This is real life.
The ending is painful and beautiful and heartbreaking. You want this new Sam to live to experience life with her new perspective and to get to explore her relationship with Kent and work on her new friendships and maybe have her new attitude rub off a little on her old ones.
Over the course of several repeats of the day we do get to see the softer side of her and her friends, and see that they don't have everything and they aren't always the monsters the rest of the world sees. I think my favorite iteration of the day is the second to last one where she tries to do the right thing all day, but things just don't work out the way she wants. This is real life.
The ending is painful and beautiful and heartbreaking. You want this new Sam to live to experience life with her new perspective and to get to explore her relationship with Kent and work on her new friendships and maybe have her new attitude rub off a little on her old ones.
votesforwomen's review against another edition
2.0
One of the most popular girls in school is a jerk to everyone, gets in a car wreck one night on the way home from a party, and dies. She then wakes up in bed the next morning--except it's not the next morning. It's the day she "died." And over and over this pattern repeats--our heroine, Sam, wakes up on the same morning seven times, and seeks to find a way to escape the loop. On the way she'll try to save a classmate who hates her and who she and her friends hate from committing suicide.
The premise of this book was really cool, and honestly, I was a major fan of the way it was executed. Sam was a horrible person at the beginning of the book, and her character arc was also kind of cool as she became less selfish and realized what she was actually supposed to do. One of the days she skipped school and spent the whole day with her parents and little sister, which was really sweet. Despite the fact that she was really mean, I still felt for her and wanted her to be able to escape the loop.
However. The content level of this book made it so that I really could not enjoy it.
Tons and tons of underage drinking without a thought. Getting drunk as a teen is portrayed as a good thing. Lots of detailed makeout scenes, most of which I skimmed because EWW. At one point Sam kisses one of her teachers, which....just no. Sorry. Lots of talking about sex. The whole point of Sam going to the party is that she wants to "lose her v-card", if you know what I'm saying. Language to beat the band. Smoking as a teen also portrayed as a good thing. The kids have no respect at all for the adults in their lives, from teachers to parents to random people at Starbucks. A large part of the plot revolves around a character who is suicidal, which thankfully is NOT portrayed as a good, but it is in there.
I thought about DNFing this book a couple of times, but the plot was compelling. So I finished it, skimming a lot of scenes. I cannot recommend this book, even though it had an interesting character arc and a worthy message that living life with meaning and helping those who can't help themselves are what really matters. Probably won't be reading anything else by this author :P
The premise of this book was really cool, and honestly, I was a major fan of the way it was executed. Sam was a horrible person at the beginning of the book, and her character arc was also kind of cool as she became less selfish and realized what she was actually supposed to do. One of the days she skipped school and spent the whole day with her parents and little sister, which was really sweet. Despite the fact that she was really mean, I still felt for her and wanted her to be able to escape the loop.
However. The content level of this book made it so that I really could not enjoy it.
Tons and tons of underage drinking without a thought. Getting drunk as a teen is portrayed as a good thing. Lots of detailed makeout scenes, most of which I skimmed because EWW. At one point Sam kisses one of her teachers, which....just no. Sorry. Lots of talking about sex. The whole point of Sam going to the party is that she wants to "lose her v-card", if you know what I'm saying. Language to beat the band. Smoking as a teen also portrayed as a good thing. The kids have no respect at all for the adults in their lives, from teachers to parents to random people at Starbucks. A large part of the plot revolves around a character who is suicidal, which thankfully is NOT portrayed as a good, but it is in there.
I thought about DNFing this book a couple of times, but the plot was compelling. So I finished it, skimming a lot of scenes. I cannot recommend this book, even though it had an interesting character arc and a worthy message that living life with meaning and helping those who can't help themselves are what really matters. Probably won't be reading anything else by this author :P
pineconebiscuit's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting book. I was never expecting it to pull at my heartstrings (considering the character) but it bloody did! The end kind of confused me but still a good book overall.
gatoraly's review against another edition
5.0
Words can't really explain this book, so I'm not really sure what to put for a review. I can say I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It's uplifting. Lauren Oliver is such a fabulous author she blows me away with every book I read.