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

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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!!

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay
(If I Stay #1)

Author: Gayle Forman

Publication Date: January 1st, 2009

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Genre: Realistic Fiction / Contemporary

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Synopsis:

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: If I Stay is probably one of the most heart-wrenching, beautifully written, amazing books that I have ever read. Every one kept telling me to make sure I had a box of Kleenex when I read it. Yes, you definitely need it. I have this thing where I never remember to read the synopsis of a book before I read it. Like, I've read it before  when adding the book to my TBR, but generally forget what it's supposed to be about, just that I wanted to read it.  Well, I forgot again with this and therefore didn't realize there was going to be an accident. All I can say is Gayle Forman has written something amazing. This book it definitely going to be one of my favorites for this year I think, it was just so good. 

If I Stay revolves around Mia, the protagonist, as she experiences an out of body experience after a tragic accident while driving with her family to visit friends. It takes her awhile to realize that she's not ok, about until she finds her own broken body laying on the ground, and then she thinks she died. She didn't die and follows her body to the hospital where she watches as the doctors try to save her and as her family and friends wait patiently for her to awake from her coma. The story takes place over a 24 hour period and constantly alternates between the present and past. After the accident, every time there was a scene from the present I literally had tears streaming down my face. Mia faces a choice. Stay and live, or move on. She doesn't know which she should pick. 

Gayle Forman is an extremely talented writer. Her writing style makes you fall in love with Mia and suffer with her. I was so emotionally attached to the story and just couldn't put it down. I'm extremely glad that I have the second book, Where She Went to read because I just need to know what happens next. If I Stay left off at a point that leaves a lot of questions going through my mind, but since it was so amazing, I have high hopes for the next one. 

So if you haven't figured it out yet. Yes, I completely LOVED this book. I will probably read it again. Sometimes I just need a really good cry and this book definitely helps get that out. Maybe too much. I had to keep wiping off my tears since there were so many. My shirt was getting soaked. I think this is a great book to buy and I'm so glad I own a copy because I will definitely be recommending and lending and rereading. So should you read this? Yes, yes you should.