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Sharing Sam (Love Stories #2)

by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author)

4.03 · rating details · 343 ratings · 67 reviews

How can you take the guy your best friend loves . . . when your best friend’s going to die?

Alison Chapman has always believed she’d fall in love hard. And she does—with Sam Cody, a new guy with a gorgeous face and brooding eyes, a guy who’s impossible to resist. When Sam asks her to the Valentine’s Day dance, Alison is elated . . . until she finds out that her best friend,...more

Paperback, 160 pages

Published March 9th 2004 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (first published January 1st 1995)

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Dec 29, 2011

Kelley Smith rated it

Really a 3.5: Predictable but Cute

Title: Sharing Sam
Author: Katherine Applegate
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publishing Date: 1995 (but reads like a current YA)
Source: Library

Cover: Very fitting for the story. It seems typical for the contemporary YA genre, but this time it makes sense.

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance: The bittersweet edition. Sharing your new love interest with your friend because you’ve just found out she’s dying can lend itself to ...more

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Mar 27, 2011

Osanna rated it

Sharing Sam was one of those stories of truly loving your bestfriend, and will possibly give up anything just to see her smile, even if that means giving up the love of your life, your boyfriend, Sam.

See, this story is not normal. What girl do you know, will willingly give up her boyfriend and give him to her bestfriend who is just as in love with him as you are. But, it's kind of got a twist. Alison's bestfriend, Izzy has been diagnosed with brain cancer, and after her brain surger...more

like 2 likes

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Sep 20, 2010

Sheila rated it

Shelves: young-adult, romance, relationships, current_issues

Sharing Sam is a pleasantly short and fascinatingly deep young adult novel about love and loss. Alison rides horses, is joined at the hip to friend Isabella, and struggles to relate at all to her younger sister. Sam rides motorbikes and bleeds on Alison’s T-shirt. Their friendship seems unlikely, but there’s something about Sam, quiet, keeping himself to himself, rather like Ali and Izzy on the fringes of teen society. But Izzy, who is also falling for Sam, just happens to be sick.

Iz...more

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Jun 18, 2010

LynnMarie rated it

LynnMarie’s Review

Sharing Sam was a short book packed with emotion. If you enjoy Young Adult books, you should really give this one a read, but prepared for a bit of heartache along the way.

Alison finally finds the boy of her dreams in Sam Cody. He’s the bad boy, but ends up being perfect for her. They fall hard in love for each other, but keep their relationship a secret. The problem…Alison’s best friend has a crush on Sam.

Alison is torn between a deep frien...more

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Feb 04, 2010

Sara Shalash rated it

I just finished reading Sharing Sam a few minutes ago, I can literally say I devoured it in one sitting. I feel a bunch of different things all at one, emotional/touched, and even sad that the book ended so quickly. I almost wished a read it slower, so it would last longer. Sharing Sam is a unique story that covers just about everything from love, loss, humor, and the sacrifices made for true friendship. Risk-taking high school student Alison Chapman hears rumors about the "hot" new ki...moreI just finished reading Sharing Sam a few minutes ago, I can literally say I devoured it in one sitting. I feel a bunch of different things all at one, emotional/touched, and even sad that the book ended so quickly. I almost wished a read it slower, so it would last longer. Sharing Sam is a unique story that covers just about everything from love, loss, humor, and the sacrifices made for true friendship. Risk-taking high school student Alison Chapman hears rumors about the "hot" new kid Sam Cody. Alison gets to make her own judgments about Sam while practically saving his life. From then on, Alison knew she had deep feelings for Sam, that butterfly sickening stomach feelings. On the other hand, her best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, finds out out that she is diagnosed with cancer, dying, but also falling in love with Sam. Alison doesn't know what to do, she doesn't have the heart to tell her about her feelings/relationship with Sam. She becomes torn between telling the truth or lying to protect someone you care about. Allison comes up with a plan, to share Sam.

I really couldn't decide whether Allison was doing the right thing or not. I loved her character, she was honestly a good person, who wants to help others. This might just be me, but I really liked how the main characters acted their age, in other books I feel like the characters act way older than they actually are. Along with liking Allison and Izzy, I loved Sam. He was mysterious at first, but once you find out the truth to the "rumors", you can't help but fall in love with Sam. He's sweet and just different than other boys. The book was written a couple of years ago, so it was a bit outdated, but it wasn't a problem. The story had a bit of a twist at the end, which was a surprise.

Overall, I glad I picked this book up last second. I did have some tears, not all sad ones, near the end, so make sure to be prepared with a box of tissues nearby. My only wish was that the book was longer, but other than that if your looking for a deeper romantic, emotional, read that will leave you thinking at the end, pick this one up!

Taken from my book review blog at http://sarasbookjourney.blogspot.com/.(less)

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Aug 30, 2011

Kristy rated it

Shelves: advisory-2011-2012

This book was short, but it was enjoyable. I liked the main character's decision and I thought that it was rather nice of her to let her best friend be with the guy she likes, it really showed how much the best friend meant to her. Alison, the protagonist was able to wait, she was patient. It also introduced me a whole new way to bond with my own sister. Alison's character actually have a lot in common with me even though we do not live in the same time period. Alison's determination to make her...more

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Feb 04, 2012

Vicky rated it

I read this awhile ago and had to review it on Goodreads because I totally forgot who the author of this book was until I searched around. Then I had that moment where I thought, "Yes, I finally found it!"

I read this book with the mindset of it being really girl and whatnot, but what I read was actually really unexpected. I loved the main character's tone throughout the novel. It was a fast read and I really enjoyed it. The main character selflessly gave up a relationship t...more

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Aug 14, 2011

Trendhater73 rated it

I want to give this five stars, but can't bring myself to do it. The book was great, but I wanted so much more. It ended too abruptly and I felt it could have been developed a little deeper. Give me more! I loved the characters enough to want more time with them.

Kathrine Applegate writes beautifully and I am adding this book to my required reading list when I finally start teaching. Slowly, but surely, I am finding great young adult books that I want my students to read. This is one...more

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Jul 22, 2009

Abraham Lateiner rated it

Despite the lame cover and title of this book, I really enjoyed it. I'll admit, I picked it up just because I need to make sure I read a diverse selection of YA (not just what I want to read), but it surprised me. It deals with impending death, friendship, and the gray moral area of lying to protect someone you care about.

I even laughed out loud a few times! If you enjoy teenage romance books that are not light and fluffy, this is a good book for you. It's not ditzy or superficial,...more

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Oct 24, 2011

Joanne rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: ya-contemporary

Sharing Sam is a very sweet, very short novel which explores the brilliant bond of friendship in arguably the worst scenario friends can find themselves in. Alison seriously fancies new boy Sam, and Sam returns her feelings. However, Alison's best friend, Izzy, likes him too - and she's dying from a brain tumour. With the desire that her best friend's last few months are happy, Alison asks Sam to go out with Izzy instead, even though he's not interested and it will hurt her.

At 183 pa...moreSharing Sam is a very sweet, very short novel which explores the brilliant bond of friendship in arguably the worst scenario friends can find themselves in. Alison seriously fancies new boy Sam, and Sam returns her feelings. However, Alison's best friend, Izzy, likes him too - and she's dying from a brain tumour. With the desire that her best friend's last few months are happy, Alison asks Sam to go out with Izzy instead, even though he's not interested and it will hurt her.

At 183 pages (my edition - which has a different cover from the one shown above. I couldn't find a quality image of my cover, which is the one you see below), Sharing Sam is really short. Because of this, it's a little difficult to get emotionally involved; before you know it, the book is over. Although there is a complete story, it feels like you only scratch the surface of who these people are. In an ideal world, the book would have been a lot longer, with more chances to see how difficult it is for all the characters; Izzy being ill, Izzy and Sam together, Alison seeing them together. It's these instances that would really draw the reader into how sad the story is, if only there was a bit more meat to the book.

Saying all this, it's not a bad story. It's actually really quite sweet. Seeing Alison and Sam together at the beginning, you can't help but smile, they really are just adorable. But what's wonderful is that Alison "happily" hands Sam over to Izzy to make her happy, even though it hurts her. Sometimes it does seem like Alison is only cares about Izzy, and seems to forget Sam has issues - quite big issues - of his own to deal with. And on top of thos issues making his life hard, Alison wants Sam to stay away from the girl he wants and go out with another - a girl who is going to die he inevitably starts having feelings for. Yes, her best friend is going to die, and it's really sad, but she just seems to push Sam into it, not caring much about how he feels, because they can be together once Izzy's gone... it just seems a bit much. Though I guess you can take the view point that because of her encouragement, Sam ends up getting to know and care for such a wonderful person, and gets to have her in his life.

That is the main focus of the story, their relationships and Izzy's happiness. We don't find out too much about Izzy's tumour or her treatment. All we really know is she's going to die, and Alison wants her happy while she's alive. And although it's a short story that only scratches the surface, that's what stays with you, their love and friendship. Hours after finishing the book I was still thinking about it, but how could I not be? It really makes you think, could I do that? Give up the one thing you want more than anything, sacrifice your own happiness, so your best friend can spend her last temaining days smiling in bliss? It's a question I must admit I struggle with, as bad as that sounds, but it makes me admire Alison's strength and bravery and love. I think it's just brilliant.

Despite it's length and not giving me as much as I would have liked to see, Sharing Sa, is still a really good book, and I loved reading it. I really recommend you give this book a go, it's brilliant.

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog(less)

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Jul 20, 2010

Justine rated it

Sharing Sam can easily be devoured in one sitting having gone through spiking, powerful emotions. Happy and sad -- I think I felt both at the same time. It was hard to tell the difference.

All the while, I wasn’t sure that Alison’s plan to share Sam to make her best friend happy was such a good idea. I was always on the fence. At one point my foot would go to the other side, and the next thing you know, I would be switching sides again. But I really admire Alison’s genuine loyalty towar...more

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Jun 01, 2011

Jessica rated it

Shelves: young-adult, romance, coming-of-age, adult-fiction, books-i-own, favorites, review

A tearjerker, yes. But well worth it. The book was originally published in 1995, re-released in 2002. It’s one of those books that is everlasting and any generation can relate to, like Judy Blume’s Forever…

The book opens with Alison and Sam meeting on a trail after he wrecks his motorcycle. She helps him. Then she finds out her best friend Isabella has brain cancer and only 6 months left to live. Then she find out that Sam likes her. And that she likes Sam. And that Izzy likes Sam too....more

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Jan 29, 2008

Tammy rated it

Recommends it for: Teenagers

Risk-taking and caring high school student Alison Chapman is hearing rumors about the "gorgeous" new kid Sam Cody but also starts to like him once becoming friends with him. On the other hand, her outgoing best friend, Isabella Cates-Lopez, finds out out that she is diagnosed with cancer, dying, but also falling in love with Sam.

With a great sense of humor of friendship in the beginning, the book always keeps its main characters exciting and full of potential. I really love...more

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May 17, 2011

Megan M rated it

Shelves: love, friendship, trust

I don't have to think about rating this book.... its a most certainly five stars!!! it was about to girls, Ally and her friend liz. When Ally finds out that Liz has cancer, Ally is shocked and scared. Liz only has a month to live, so Ally is determined to make it the best month of her life! in order to do that Ally might have to give up her secret boyfriend Sam who Liz is crushing on. Hope to see this book on your going to read list!!

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Jan 25, 2010

Odette rated it

I can't tell if I gave this a four simply because of who wrote it, or if I actually enjoyed it as much as other four books. I did enjoy it, and I thought that KA did a good job of exploring the conflicting emotions that would have gone on had this occurred, especially on the part of Sam. I also liked Izzy's character a lot. It could have been longer, but I think KA goes for the brevity.

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Sep 01, 2010

Nathalie rated it

Well i can honestly say it's a sad romance. But non the less a beauty in its on. Love in youth, is very much Amazing :D You won't regret reading it. It made me cry so hard and it made me feel that it was okay to cry. It made me realize that tomorrow isn't garunteed for anyone. It made me appreciate my loved ones. It's a great story!

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Oct 15, 2008

Leslie rated it

Shelves: read-in-2008, ya, fiction, for-tearjerker-study, providence-public-library, nonmonogamy

I really dislike books/movies/etc where, in order to be noble, the protagonist tells (and keeps telling) an outlandish lie. I don’t care how hot, young and dying I am!

What do you do when your best friend develops brain cancer before you can reveal your secret teen dream romance? Convince your teen dream boyfriend to date your best friend! Who cares if he doesn’t want her? Who cares if you have to take your budding romance to the grave? Because it’s a real shame to die without that f...more

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May 25, 2010

Miriam rated it

This book was about a girl named Alision who feel as if she is falling in love,but the only problem is that her best friend Isabella aslo thinks that she is in love with Sam. The only difference is that Isabell is dieing because of brain cancer, also known as a tumor.In the book Alison feels like it is best to let Izzy enjoy the last few months of her life so Alison decides she want to share Sam. At first Sam disagrees, but when her goes with it he finds out that he has feeling for both Aliso...more

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Apr 19, 2010

Venessa (PebbleCafe) rated it

Shelves: 2010, young_adult, own

The first two chapters had me skeptical and I almost stopped. I keep reading. Before I knew it I was halfway done and attached to the characters, which is rare (for me) with super short books (150 pages). Parts of the book I'm still on the fence about, but overall a good, sweet, sad story.

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Jun 01, 2010

Jessica rated it

I love this book this book is about to best friends named alison and Iabella and they both fall in love with a boy named Sam. The part I hate was when Alison found out that Isabella has brain cancer. She want Isabella's last days to be the best ones even if it means she has to share sam. The best part was when Sam and Alison told each other that they love each other,but Isabella has fallen for sam to this book is so sad and happy at the same time I totally recommend it!

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Apr 15, 2010

Susette rated it

this was a cute book. very short, very sweet. i wanted to kick the protagonist sometimes because i thought she was being stupid, but she was depicting a teenage girl and sometimes they are stupid. lol. not my fav book by any means, but it was still short and enjoyable.

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Jun 09, 2011

Kelly Gordon added it

Sharing Sam is heart-warming story about a complicated freindship between Alison and Isabella. Both happen to like the same boy Sam, but when Alison finds out bad news about her freind she tells Sam to be with her so that she will be able to enjoy her last days.

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Apr 07, 2011

kirpa rated it

Amazing. Heart wrenching. Beautiful. That's what this book was.
Teary-eyed. Sniffling. Smiling. That's what I looked like after I read it. Sharing Sam explores the sacrifices that some of us would never dream of making. I kept waiting for a screaming match or a argument between the friends but it never came. The conflict was there. It was just never exposed raw. I felt for all the characters. Every single one. The mom, the best friend, the boyfriend. I didn't think that a resolution would ev...more

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Jul 13, 2010

Dedria rated it

This was a book about friendship and about love. How both can bring such happiness and sadness. If your in the mood for a moving story about first love and saying goodbye this is a great story to curl up with.

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Aug 11, 2009

Stacey Espino rated it

Shelves: young-adult-contemporary

Touching book that pulls on the heart strings. The MC decides to share her boyfriend with her dying friend, but it doesn't turn out as expected. Suspencful, romantic and emotional.

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Feb 18, 2009

Tasia rated it

Shelves: favorites

One book i really loved. Very cute, romantic, but sad near the ending. Its about love, and friendship. How 2 best friends want the same guy and have to end up sharing him.

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Mar 15, 2011

Mary Who Loves Da Rain rated it

Wow...what a book. Fanatastic, no flaws at all. You pick it up and think, "Ugh, just another crappy mushy-mushy romance novel. Noooo thanks." But it's so much more than that. It's real and true and it's got soul (but it's not a soilder) and heart(ache). What a great read. A real breath of fresh air from Exodus.

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Apr 21, 2009

Bodea rated it

I remember reading this in 9th grade and absolutely lovign it. I don't know if I could do what she did, but this was a great story about love and friendship.

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Sep 30, 2010

Jaime rated it

Shelves: coming-of-age, contemporary

I really hate the title but I love the story. It's beautiful. Its simplicity of style illuminates the sincerity of the characters.

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Sep 26, 2009

KayLee rated it

Didn't really like. I felt like i didn't really know the characters well. Kind of dry. Pointless?
Well, sorry i didn't like it. :)

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About Katherine Applegate

Applegate was born in Michigan in 1956. Since then she has lived in Texas, Florida, California, Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, and after living in Pelago, Italy for a year, she has moved back to Southern California. She has an eleven year old son named Jake Mates, although she says the Animorph leader is not named after him. In 2003 she and her husband, Michael Grant, her co-author on many p...more

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Sharing Sam (Love Stories #2)

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