Thursday, June 21, 2012

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Where She Went
(If I Stay #2)

Author: Gayle Forman

Publication Date: November 4th, 2010

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Genre: Realistic Fiction / Contemporary

GoodReads

Synopsis:

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.


My Thoughts: Where She Went takes place three years after Mia's accident and answers the question everyone has been wondering, "what happened next?". Well I know I was wondering at least. Once again Gayle Forman wrote a wonderful and heartfelt story. This time though we aren't following Mia around, but Adam. Poor, poor Adam whose life has never been the same since that devastating day. Although not as much of a tear jerker, there were still some tears streaming down my face (maybe I'm just super emotional, eh?) and it was another that was difficult to put down.

So in the three years, Adam's band has become super famous and you would think that he would be super happy. Nope, he is totally miserable. Why? When Mia went to Julliard, she just dropped him. She stopped calling and never went back to Oregon, not even to visit her grandparents. So Adam begins to fall into this depression and his life is pretty bad for awhile, until Shooting Star makes it big. But then, he can't handle the pressure of being famous and is constantly having anxiety attacks. He's not happy because something is missing. That thing is Mia. He never got to say goodbye, never got a reason why. She just left. So on his last night in New York, he goes to Carnegie Hall to listen to Mia play. She learns he's there and asks someone to bring him back to her dressing room. Can he face her after all these years? Will she tell him why? Will one night change everything for them both?

I really enjoyed how this book followed around Adam this time. Considering he is the one who was left  in terrible shape after everything happened, even three years later.  Gayle Forman does well with writing from a male's PoV, sometimes it doesn't seem as good when female authors write a male PoV and vice versa, but she does it really well. Once again she has written beautifully and makes you really connect with  the characters. I will definitely be looking out for more by her. 

Overall I really enjoyed Where She Went. Not as much as If I Stay, but still really enjoyed it. I'm so glad that I had both books so that I could pick up this one immediately after finishing the first because I really needed to find out what happened after Mia woke up. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, as it is an amazing story and so heartfelt. It's a great short read for a rainy day and will most likely be one I read again. Have you read this series? What did you think? Did you like the ending? (without giving any spoilers please :) ) I sure did!!

16 comments:

  1. I have been meaning to read If I Stay for a LONG time. I actually almost bought it while shopping yesterday. I will get to it eventually. I've only heard good things about it and I want to read the sequel, too! I love tear jerkers and stories about musicians!

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    1. You should read them!! They are such good books and are actually pretty short and fast reads. Complete tearjerkers, although this one wasn't anywhere as bad for crying as the first!

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  2. I loved both of them sooo much. I liked Where She Went better, personally. I <3 Adam!

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    1. I liked both but just loooved If I Stay a bit more..lol It was so sad and beautiful!

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  3. So is it safe for me to read it? or am I on the path to heartbreak? :(

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    1. I thought it was a bit less sad. I didn't spend the whole book crying, only a couple of times. So you should be ok to read it ;)

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  4. I loved it! Where She Went is one of my favorites contemp novels.

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  5. Agreed ... it's not as good as the first one, but it's still pretty awesome. I can't wait for more books from Gayle Forman! Great review. :)

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    1. Thanks, I can't wait for more from her. She has so much talent!

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  6. I read the first one an loved it, can't wait to read this one. Glad to see someone else likes them.

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    1. The first one was absolutely amazing!! Thisone is pretty high up there as well. Gayle Forman hasa new fan in me :)

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  7. I really enjoyed If I Stay and was hoping to make some time for this one at some point. Great review.

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  8. Oh I love this book so much! If I Stay was amazing (and made me cry sooooo much) and this was the perfect sequel

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    1. It really is! I also cried a lot for If I Stay..lol Gayle Forman has an amazing writing style

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