IF I STAY by Gayle Forman

Initially, I wasn't going to do a review of this book.  It's been about two weeks since I read If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and I still can't think of a way to review it without having some kind of spoiler L.  So, knowing that, if you don't read on I'll totally understand (but I don't think I'm really giving away much). 

ONTO REVIEW WITH SEMI-SPOILERS

Near the beginning of the book, there's a tragic car accident.  Mia loses her entire family as a result, but she survives, somewhere between life and death.  What I didn't realize was that Mia would be caught in this state throughout the book.  *smacks self in head* If I'd read more carefully, it clearly states that in the summary--but sometimes ninjas are known to skim J.  I have to say I'm glad I didn't know b/c it would've most likely stopped from getting the book.  Tragedy, melodrama, angst.  That's just not my thing.

But this book had something I can't resist.  The characters.  Oh, the characters were wonderful.  I loved Mia's parents; though they weren't physically in the story very long, we get a great sense of them through Mia's memories.  I loved how the mom wasn't afraid to get pissed and stand up for the ones she loved.  I loved how the dad called his daughter "Mia-Oh-Mya."  Forman managed to make them real/fully fleshed out, a near impossible feat considering they were in about a fourth of the book.

Mia's friend Kim was another favorite.  She wasn't just a stock character thrown in for kicks.  With her sarcasm, strength, loyalty and frizzy hair, she was a true friend to Mia.  No backstabbing gossipers in this book.  Kim stayed strong for Mia, two girls who really were friends.  I loved that.

Adam, Mia's boyfriend, was what actually made me want to read If I Stay.  I read a blog post with a few quotes of his and knew I had to know more about this character.  The rising-star rocker was more perfect than a teenage boy has any right to be.  Again, the loyalty and love he had toward Mia didn't waver.  Their affection/relationship rang true, more so than many of the love-at-first-sight YAs.  Adam's devotion to Mia made my heart melt.

And the best thing about all these characters?  They give us a sense of who Mia must be.  In addition to being told from her POV, Mia is surrounded by good people that love her.  Therefore, I had to love her, too.  Her feelings ran deep; she deserved a great friend like Kim b/c she was a great friend herself.  She deserved a guy like Adam b/c she had a heart as pure and open as his.  Mia was a decent person with an insurmountable inner strength--and I believed her.

That's one of the best things about Forman's writing.  All her characters were believable and likable.  I'm glad I got to meet them (even if this really isn't my kind of book).  Like others have said, the book is beautiful.  But I'll take it a step farther and add, that the book is beautiful because the characters in it are beautiful.

Happy reading everyone!

Ninja Girl