Review of If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay
Gayle Forman
Series: If I Stay, #1
Released: April 2nd, 2009
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Rating: 4 stars
Word Rating: Not that heartbreaking...
Reviewed by: Mel

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.

“I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard.”

Minor spoilers for second paragraph and quotes.

If I Stay has it all. A flourishing friendship, bittersweet romance and enduring family. While this story was set in an insanely short spanse of time, Gayle Forman still manages to create a beautiful novel so effortlessly that I grew to love.

Gayle Forman puts readers in a position that other authors never have before. And I see why many authors may not a have tried. Because it's hard. It's a difficult endeavour, and Forman did a darn good job at making this story, a moving and powerful story. Life was good for Mia before the car accident. She had both parents, a little brother, boyfriend and best-friend. But after the accident, she's only got a boyfriend and a best-friend. When Mia finds herself looking down at her own butchered body, she is torn between the decision of staying or leaving. A short novel expanded by momentous flashbacks, we watch Mia's past seventeen years like a film, and us readers, get torn between the decision as well. Stay or leave?

It wasn't hard to not like Mia. Given her tragic conditions- on the death bed, her passion for music was a rather huge bonus. Music has always been part of my life, and I am a fan of classical music and playing it- it soothes me when I go crazy (a.k.a all the freaking time). I listened to this as an audiobook- I thought the narrator was very good with each voice, though I couldn't help but feel Mia's voice was a little too posh- if that makes any sense. Mia's best-friend, Kim also happened to be one of my favourite characters. She was so fiery and full of love for Mia, I honestly wish I could have a Kim as my bestie.

However, no one beats Adam. Yes, he got irritated easily but being flawless is rather unattractive, right? There are so many quotable sentences by him I simply must share a one of my favourites:

“If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.”

*flail and sniffles at the same time*

Gayle Forman's writing is like a drug. I don't think I will ever get enough of it. The flashbacks were fantastically vivid and tangible, while I did not cry at all in this book, I was dangerously close to it. All in all, If I Stay is not one to miss as it is wholly sweet and strong all at once. It deals with death, choices, friendship and love. All necessities of life. Definitely one worth a try.