Friday, April 3, 2015

Book Review: If I Stay

Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Some books are easy reads. Perfect for beach days, relaxing and not doing too much heavy thinking. This is NOT one of those books!
If I Stay is an amazing and eloquently written book about a girl whose life is turned upside down by a car accident. She is essentially stuck in an out-of-body state watching everything happen around her over the course of the next day. From the time immediately following the accident, to her stay in the ICU, to the visitors who come to be with her, you follow her torturous inner battle with the decision to stay or leave this earth and the loved ones she has left.
This book rocked my world for a number of reasons. For starters, Forman wrote a completely riveting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the start. It is so hard to put down, I just wanted to read it in one sitting so I could find out what happened next and what decision she would ultimately make. The end definitely left a few questions, so it is sure to make readers ready to run out and buy the second book immediately. All signs of an amazing read!
When I was 19, my boyfriend was in a car accident and passed away from his injuries 6 days later. During this time I was with him or at least at the hospital almost the entire time. I was even at the scene of the accident when it happened. If you have lost a loved one, especially in such a traumatic way, you know what a life altering experience that is. It has been almost 5 years now, and sometimes when I’m really thinking about him a lot and missing him even more than usual, I just long to feel something significant. This book took me back with such intense emotion. It was so hard to read. I didn’t want to, but sometimes I had to make myself take a break. Gayle Forman did an incredible job capturing the entire ICU experience from the perspective of someone who does not frequent hospitals.
Even though it was an extremely emotional book to read, I think if you have experienced this kind of loss it’s therapeutic in a way. Having a chance to think through and process emotions, rather than bury them and let them build up, is important in any stage of grieving.
I highly suggest this book to anyone. It is a brilliant book even if you have never experienced anything like this in your life. You will be captivated from the very beginning with a perfect mix of suspense and substance. If you have been through this kind of tragic loss, I firmly believe If I Stay has something to offer you too.

 

Let me know what you think of If I Stay in the comments!
xoxo,
Katie

PS. This post contains an affiliate link and I will receive a small compensation if you purchase through it, but this has no influence over my decision to share this book or my opinion of it. :)