If I Stay (If I Stay, #1) by Gayle Forman - Starting February 12th, 2021

[Katrina G]

Just listen, Adam says with a voice that sounds like shrapnel.

I open my eyes wide now.
I sit up as much as I can.
And I listen.

Stay, he says.

Choices. Seventeen-year-old Mia is faced with some tough ones: Stay true to her first love—music—even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning Mia goes for a drive with her family, and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all the choices are gone, except one. And it's the only one that matters.

If I Stay is a heartachingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

[Katrina G]

Starting this one now!

[Katrina G]

7% (I think. My version is kinda wonky)

(view spoiler)[ Her remind me of my parents. They're so fun and silly. Which means I'm gonna feel extra sad in a minute here (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

11%
(view spoiler)[ I've never really taken the time to think about what its like to really work in a hospital. How awful would it be to just be minding your business at work, only to turn around and see someone you deeply care about close to death? How scary (hide spoiler)]

[Stormy]

Sorry I'm a day late but starting this now

[Katrina G]

No worries! :)

[Katrina G]

28%
(view spoiler)[ Gran didn't need to be so snippy. Everybody's feeling the effects of the accident right now (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

31%
(view spoiler)[ Ack. Adam and Mia are so cute. I wish Mia wasn't so self conscious about the relationship though (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

48%
(view spoiler)[ Poor Mia. I don't think I'd want to wake up either if I was in her shoes. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

53%
(view spoiler)[ Wow that got me teary eyed. It's a special kind of strength to tell someone it's alright to let go. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

68%
(view spoiler)[ Ughh Adam making all these promises makes me sadder than any other person who has come to visit Mia did (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

So my percentage progress probably won't match up with what you're reading because it doesn't even match up with what I'm reading lol. I was on one page on my computer, but when I went ot read it on my phone, the same part is 8 pages further than what it says on my computer. So I don't know what's happening with that lol

[Misha]

I'm starting this one today!

[Misha]

13%
(view spoiler)[This book started off really nice. It reminded me of the good old days when I was younger and how snow days were the best thing ever. My mom would take me to Barnes & Noble and we would spend a couple hours in there. First we'd get her coffee and my tea or hot chocolate. Then I'd go to the younger section and get some books to sit in a corner and read and she'd do the same but over at the adult section. Anyways so I was waiting for a similar story to happen in the book with the whole family but nooo. The story took a sharp turn (literally) and shattered my hopes and dreams of their perfect family 'snow day' because things won't be the same :( (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

10%
(view spoiler)[ She is being so reasonable. I wouldn't be able to form a thought. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

20%
(view spoiler)[ I love the little flashback about her grandparents. They're sweet. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

33%
(view spoiler)[Mia's parents sound so cool. I would rather hang out with them than other teenagers (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

48% (view spoiler)[ Kim and Adam are breaking my heart. What's happening with Teddy?? (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

@Katrina 31%
(view spoiler)[ Right. It feels like she is trying too hard. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Ashley wrote: "33%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Right. You honestly don't usually see cool parents in books, so I'm sad that the one time we do, it goes like this (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Ashley wrote: "@Katrina 31%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I think she's just so in her head, that she doesn't know how not to try too hard (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

63%
(view spoiler)[ Oh no Teddy. As soon as I'm sad there's so much humor in Teddy's birth. That makes it sadder. (hide spoiler)]

[Misha]

Katrina wrote: "Ashley wrote: "@Katrina 31%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree too - They both are make a cute couple but she's worrying too much. I wonder what his reaction will be when realizes she's in the hospital. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

73%
(view spoiler)[ I can't imagine how Gran feels. She's lost so much in one day. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Ashley wrote: "63%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Right. They all deserved better than what happened (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ This was one of the saddest books I have read in so long. I had a feeling she wouldn't give up, but I wouldn't have blamed her if she did. They were such a happy family. All those memories, especially at the end, made it even sadder. When Adam got her music and starting making promises, it broke my heart. So glad she's waking up. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah all those promises made me sadder than anything else I think. He was basically giving his life away if it meant still having Mia. It really made me teary eyed (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Would you be interested in reading the sequel?

[Misha]

42%

(view spoiler)[She finally stopped questioning everything about Adam and lived in the moment and enjoyed herself at the Halloween show! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashley W]

Misha wrote: "42%

[spoilers removed]"
That was one of my favorite parts. And it included her mother helping her get ready, which was sweet.

[Misha]

80%

(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed the talk Mia had with her dad about how you don't stop having a strong interest with something important in your life and that it's normal to want to try something new or start a new chapter. Mia had such a conflicting time before she went to that musical camp and it was nice for her to see how it would have felt like from the other side. (hide spoiler)]

[Misha]

Katrina wrote: "53%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I see what you meant about your percentages being a bit off now. I'm guessing this is the part with Gramps. I also felt a similar reaction since he doesn't talk much and had been mostly quiet when Grans was telling stories so saying this made it really moving. Especially when it finally dawned on her about Teddy. (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Misha wrote: "Katrina wrote: "53%
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah it was about Gramps. He really brought Mia a certain kind of peace, knowing at least someone would understand if she decided to go (hide spoiler)]

[Misha]

Ashley wrote: "Misha wrote: "42%

[spoilers removed]"
That was one of my favorite parts. And it included her mother helping her get ready, which was sweet. "

(view spoiler)[Agreed - It was nice to see the mom jump at the opportunity to help dress up since this is her area of expertise and she even shared her vintage tee! (hide spoiler)]

[Misha]

Ashley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"


100%
(view spoiler)[If I had to type my reaction it would be exactly your thoughts. I thought she was going to give up too because the memories were starting to feel whole and that she was saying goodbye. Then when Adam came back and said all those things, it was really emotional. He's great for saying that if she needs him to go, he'll go but I really hope she doesn't do that. He could be the one solid rock she needs to have to feel at home instead of a constant reminder that she had lost everything. It's like a double-sided sword and I don't know which side is pointing at her but I'm also happy she stayed too. Kim is right about they all being her family. (hide spoiler)]

[Misha]

Katrina wrote: "Would you be interested in reading the sequel?"

I'd be interested in reading the sequel with you.

[Misha]

Misha wrote: "Katrina wrote: "Would you be interested in reading the sequel?"

I'd be interested in reading the sequel with you"

[Katrina G]

Awesome! When would work for you?

[Misha]

Katrina wrote: "Awesome! When would work for you?"

I can start this Friday the 19th or any day after that! I'll pick up the book Thursday.

[Katrina G]

The 19th works for me! I'll get the thread set up :)

[Stormy]

Hey sorry everyone I've just finished this book just not felt like reading this month
This book was ok right not my favourite TN and I might read the sequel with you guys but I don't like how it doesn't have proper chapters

[Stormy]

(view spoiler)[ I loved it what her boyfriend and his Friends did just so he could see her (hide spoiler)]

[Stormy]

(view spoiler)[ also love how we get to find out about teddy's birth and about their Close Bond (hide spoiler)]

[Katrina G]

Natalie wrote: "Hey sorry everyone I've just finished this book just not felt like reading this month
This book was ok right not my favourite TN and I might read the sequel with you guys but I don't like how it do..."

The sequel has proper chapter headings

[Katrina G]

Natalie wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah learning about teddy was really sweet (hide spoiler)]

[Stormy]

Katrina wrote: "Natalie wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I found this such a hard book to read I don't know about yourself

[Katrina G]

I actually really enjoyed it