If I Stay by Gayle Forman

"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 heartbreakingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make. (Taken from inside flap)

Wow, I haven't reviewed a book or anything in a long time! But now I'm back (now that swimming's over) and should have a lot more time for reading. Anyway, I loved If I Stay. I was so amazed that so much is going on in such a short period of time in this book. Mia is in car accident, and the story follows her as she is in this sort of limbo where she can see everything that's going on, but no one can see her. The author did a wonderful job of intertwining the present plot with past events and it's done so gracefully that you don't even realize the change. It just flows so naturally, it's like you know Mia's life story by the end of the book. Mia was an interesting character, and mostly because she's a cello player! For some reason I think t hat's so cool. I used to play clarinet, so I like all the music stuff. And the cello is something that not that many people play, so good choice Mia. But the cello is an important part of the story and serves as a source of conflict between Mia and her parents and Mia and her boyfriend. I also enjoyed reading about Mia's struggle to decide whether to stay or leave. Some good insights by Mia in her decision and I think that it's something we all think about - what would we do in this situation? Food for thought.

9 out of 10.