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If I Stay (If I Stay, #1)

Gayle Forman

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Jan 08, 2016 Mary Paul rated it it was ok

This is the kind of book I usually avoid like those people who say Seth Rogan is actually a really underrated actor or those that insist Tidal is really the "only way to listen to music". I see them coming. I see the sad, Nicolas Sparksian posters of people sobbing together in the rain, or worse, under an Instagram filter. I do not judge the girlfriends dragging their boys in (at least not aloud.) I simply turn the other way. But sometimes well-meaning friends I respect tell me a book is really This is the kind of book I usually avoid like those people who say Seth Rogan is actually a really underrated actor or those that insist Tidal is really the "only way to listen to music". I see them coming. I see the sad, Nicolas Sparksian posters of people sobbing together in the rain, or worse, under an Instagram filter. I do not judge the girlfriends dragging their boys in (at least not aloud.) I simply turn the other way. But sometimes well-meaning friends I respect tell me a book is really great and I have to see for myself. After all, a short book like this can be ripped through in a few hours. It’s no big commitment like trying to watch 'Lawrence of Arabia' or cracking open the 'Silmarillion'. (Now THAT’S real love.) Besides, I’ve ripped through all the other big 'tween books lately ('Hunger games', 'Twilight', '50 Shades of Grey') so I might as well be fair. So here it is:

If I stay, like so many of its genre, is incredibly, impressively bland. The story is a colorless first person of a girl caught between life and death, trying to decide if she should live and be with her boyfriend, or end it all because her entire family is dead in a car accident. I knew this coming in. It sounded like an interesting concept and a potentially heart-rending choice. This is, however, where the story completely failed to deliver. Mia, you see, is a Julliard-level cellist. Her sexy boyfriend just happens to be making it big on the Seattle Rock scene. Happens all the time right? Mia’s parents are more on the rocky punk side of things (I may be showing my age when I found myself excited to see my husband and my future self in print.) Though reformed into parenthood, they leave Mia feeling left out in her classical interests (though of course they are written with Mary Poppin levels of perfect filial affection.)

It was just so boring. Mia’s family is flawless. Her friends are endlessly perfect. Naturally she is loved unconditionally by the boyfriend, though she of course doesn’t realize his advances because “how could a cool guy like that" like her? The only bit of “colorful riot” in the book, a completely unneccesary attempted hospital break-in by the rocker boyfriend, comes out of nowhere and fizzles. An attempt at humor? A mislead demonstration of his character and endless love for Mia? No idea.

'If I stay' takes an interesting idea about the nature of life and death and saps all the humanity out of it with her blasé characterizations. More life has been gotten out of a playhouse full of Barbie dolls then you’ll find here. The Nicolas Sparks crowd can keep it.
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Aug 11, 2014 Farhana Faruq rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

A friend gave this to me to read. Not something I'd usually pick up, but overall it's a good read.

I didn't realize it was SO highly rated until reading comments. It was good but not that good! (was I supposed to cry?). Interesting enough to keep me reading until the end, nothing brilliant - so borrow this one from the library :D
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Feb 13, 2014 Erica rated it it was amazing

One of the best contemporaries I've read! I cried a lot, this beautiful book made me feel so much. I had an easy time relating to the characters. It was so well written and I adored all of the characters. So good! ...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Meghan rated it really liked it

Apr 14, 2021 David rated it liked it · review of another edition

Feb 17, 2015 Keeley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: enriching-the-inner-teenager

May 28, 2012 Amanda marked it as to-read

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