If I Stay was undoubtedly one of the best books I read last year, and I have been eagerly awaiting this companion novel. And wow...this book is just as beautiful, if not even more so, than the first.

Sixty-seven days. That's how long Shooting Star's tour will be this time, and it terrifies Adam. Estranged from the band, popping anxiety pills like they're mints, and not even sure he wants to be a musician anymore, Adam doesn't know how he will make it through this tour...he just knows that he needs to go back to his hotel, get some sleep, and be on a plane the next day. But fate has other ideas...and by chance decisions Mia and Adam are brought together again. Adam finally has a chance to ask Mia all of his questions, but will he like her answers? And Mia has had to choose once already...what will she choose this time?

Where do I even begin? Anyone who's gone through a breakup knows how important closure is and what a toll lack of closure can take on you mentally. This book plays on all of those emotions - but from a guy's perspective. And Adam's voice is so genuine that you can't help but suffer, remember, question along with him. I absolutely loved the flashbacks that allowed us to see how Adam's life had changed over three years as well as keeping Mia's family and friends in the story. And the lyrics from Collateral Damage that opened each of the chapters were so evocative and just perfect.

I continue to be amazed by Gayle's writing style and how such simple, direct prose can have such an emotional impact. I found myself crying along with the characters more than once. Once again, I loved the musical aspects of this book, both Adam's struggle with remembering why he loved music in the first place and Mia using music as therapy. This book brought back a lot of memories for me and definitely left me thinking about it for days afterward.

Where She Went is the perfect companion novel to If I Stay. The story is compelling, poignant, and a must-read. I cannot wait to read what Gayle writes next!