Okay, I didn’t expect to read and devour this book -- but I was in a weird mood this morning, at 5 a.m. when I couldn’t get to sleep. . .only for this book to call to me from my to-read shelf. For once, I obliged a book’s call easily. . .and I am left stunned. The final pages had me gaping.

If I Stay, quite honestly, was mesmerizing.

The review blurbs for this book tout it as being “[appealing] to fans of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight“ and “reminiscent of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones” -- and I am left to ask, “How?” If I Stay has much more realism (than Twilight) and heart (than The Lovely Bones). This is the story of one girl’s life and her choice “to stay or go,” and it’s an injustice to the book -- and what it hopes to accomplish with its message -- to compare it to any book that may bear similarities to it in theme or prose. If I Stay just has so much to offer -- among the list being the realistic and relatable characters, the descriptions and influences of music in the plot, the realistic teenage romance, the themes varying from life and death to change and complacency, and the struggle between doing what is easy and surviving through what is difficult.

First, the characters -- I loved and/or liked every single one, I think, and that is a rare thing indeed. (Even more rarely do I ever like parents in YA novels, but I loved Mia’s parents.) It is the mark of a great writer to create even supporting characters that readers will adore.

The music was also a big grabbing point for me because I myself love music. While I am not quite the music connoisseur that any of the characters in this novel seem to be, I appreciated the emphasis that music had in all of these characters’ lives. Music is perhaps one thing that all of us share. (Also, I loved how music empowered and strengthened in this book. That was a wonderful thing to read -- as well as the descriptions of music in this book.)

The romance was refreshing. Most YA romances just don’t. . .feel young adult -- awkward yet passionate all at once -- but this one did. Also, I rather liked cool-band-boy Adam. Though I think he likely had more flaws than we saw in the book, I look at it this way: we usually see only the good in the people we love. . .especially when we’re young.

Life and death are big themes in this book, of course -- but the paths -- and changes thereof -- that life offers are also pretty hefty messages. Many characters in this book have their lives spin out much differently than they intended. (I’m sure many of you can glean that from the synopsis alone, assuming what you know about the heroine’s story before you dive into reading this.) Mia’s dad’s quote rather sums up the idea behind this theme: “Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.”

Lastly, the struggle in this book is all Mia’s, lest I try to make anyone think otherwise. This story is hers, and we accompany her on the journey -- however ridden with pain and uncertainty it is. The title itself is far more telling than one would assume.

If I Stay.

What happens if she stays? What happens if she goes? What happens if she can’t decide?

Read for yourself to find out which path Mia takes. ;) Really, it’s a book that you won’t regret reading.