Book Review: If I Stay

Howdy!

If you read my last post here, you probably saw the note I left to my future self concerning the book review. So this is my future self giving a shout out to my past self for the much needed reminder. I can only hope that my shout out has successfully traveled back in time.

Now, the book review.

 I cannot begin to tell you how obsessed I was with this one, except I can so I will and that was kind of the point for the review so, I have to. The number of times I postponed reading this amazing piece of work has me questioning my sanity. But when I did pick it up, let's just say, I read the book in a day, okay a matter of hours, watched the movie the next day and the day after that, soundtrack to the movie was on my playlist. If loving this book is wrong, then cuff me up and throw me in the cell, heck, throw away the key while you're at it, because I do not want to be right.


See, this book could not have come at a bettter time. I was such a sight after finishing The Hunger Games, moping around, going through all the stages of grief. Then *drum roll* If I Stay.

The low down: Meet Mia a cellist and a possible Julliard student member of a really cool family; Dad current middle school teacher, former rock band drummer, Mom still a rocker and travel agent and her little brother an aspiring drummer and Sponge Bob enthusiast. Of course it would not be young adult without the love interest. In this case it is Adam, Mia's boyfriend and total opposite. A freak accident leaves her orphaned and comatose. While in her coma, she has a prolonged out of body experience, that has her being more than aware of what she'd be waking up to, that is, if she chooses to stay.

Mia's life was lust worthy of course minus the freak accident.

How awesome this book is cannot be described with my mere words. But I guess I have to be the little engine that could, and just i-think-i-can all the way to the finish line. Can you believe Mia felt like she did not belong? I mean who can blame her, with her mom, dad AND boyfriend being rockers, and then there's her, smack in the middle Rock Central,  a classical music lover. But her best friend Kim does not leave her be at the pity party, instead she gives her some rather humorous tough love.

Now be warned, I am going in to total girl mode here. One word, or should I say, name: Adam. Ladies, we had Augustus Waters(TFIOS), Park(Eleanor and Park), Four(Divergent Trilogy) so I think it is only safe to say that Adam has earned a spot among the top fictional guys.Don't believe me? He watches her play the cello nearly every day as she practices, small talk over a series of their music room meet ups and two weeks of pizza delivery tip money and a rushed explanation later, he takes her out to see her favorite classical musician Yo Yo Ma. Are you a guy having trouble in the ladies department? Borrow a leaf from Adam here. Maybe you shouldn't tell a soul your reading this book if you are going for the macho demeanour, but this guy right here has all the right moves.

Of course Gayle Forman does not save us Adam and Mia's relationship hurdles, case in point, their insane awkwardness. But what were we expecting? A cellist and a rock band lead guitarist to get on just great? Spare me. Bring on all the relationship drama you've got.

It's not all about mushy lovey dovey stuff that I will be the first to admit does get annoying there's an aspect of growth, change, gradual difference. Take Mia's Dad who goes from rocker dad to pipe-smoking, vintage suit wearing, middle school teacher. A personal choice, not sacrifice, choice to provide for his family, his kids with everything. Yet he still manages to keep that cool vibe going.

Mad props go to Gayle Forman for effortlessly reeling me in and keeping me hooked, separating each part of the book with the time.

So you know how the likes of New York Times have reviews like "Could not put it down" which always has me rolling my eyes with a snazzy comment like, "Please it can't be that good," guess what? If I Stay is that good. I literally could not put it down. Roll your eyes all you want, mhmm, I see you.

Happy reading y'all!

P.S On the TBR(To Be Read), of course, Where She Went the sequel. Homegirl Gayle Forman got me.