It’s time for another official book review! Check out the discussion on BlogHer at
http://http://www.blogher.com/bookclub/now-reading-where-she-went
The book in review is Where She Went by Gayle Forman. When I signed up to review it, I did not know it was a sequel to a book called, If I Stay. I was kind of bummed at first thinking I should have read the first book but it really didn’t matter. I could follow the story even without reading the first book. However, I did end up buying the first book because I liked this one so much! The first book is from the woman’s point of view and this book is from the man’s point of view which I think is brilliant!
Imagine my surprise when I received the If I Stay and it has a review on it from USA Today that says it “will appeal to fans of Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT”. Whaddya know??
I have yet to meet a tween/teen book or movie that I don’t enjoy…especially a love story. This one hooked me from the first line. “Every morning I wake up and tell myself this: It’s just one day, one twenty-four-hour period to get yourself through.”
This book is written from the perspective of the man, Adam, and it is honest and gut wrenching at times. We see his insecurities and his fears and feel his longing. He had made a promise to his girlfriend after she was in an accident. He told her that if she lived, he would do anything for her. He begged her not to die. She lived and then she left him.
This is the story of how Adam feels about all of it – the accident, the promise, the fact that she left him. Forman does a great job of writing from his point of view. I was swept up in his emotions and I really liked him even though (because?) he was flawed and not always so “nice”.
Adam and Mia were high school sweethearts and both musicians so music and lyrics play a big role in this book which I love! Since the accident, he has become a famous rock star which makes reading his thoughts very interesting. It’s as if we are getting a glimpse into the interior life of a celebrity and realizing he is just like us…flawed, lonely, angry, needy.
Where She Went is romantic and suspenseful and hopeful. Parts of the book are sad but to me, the book is filled with real emotions that ring true. You feel like you know Adam and you root for him. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. I read it in a day. This would be a great read for mom and for her teenage daughters!
Just in time for summer!
This is a paid book review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own. image of book cover from bornbookish.blogspot.com ©2012 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved