If I Stay by Gayle Forman

If I Stay #1

'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 heart-achingly beautiful book about the power of love, the true meaning of family, and the choices we all make.

So, this book was something entirely different from what I was expecting.

It was such a touching and thought-provoking story. Reading this book is something I think everybody should do. It was beautifully written, and I am so glad that I read it.

Mia is a really well-written character. She's a teen on her way to graduation, struggling with deciding if she wants to go to Julliard for cello and leave her family and her boyfriend who part of a popular local punk rock band.

Then one random day in the winter all her plans seem meaningless after her family gets into a tragic car wreck. The choices of where she wants to go to school seem meaningless when your life is on the line.

I don't want to give too much away since I think it's best to read this without knowing anything about it.

This story is so great. It deals with choices over family or school. Future over-past. Hearing Mia tell stories about her family while growing up, how different she feels from her outgoing parents, how they still inspire and encourage her to follow her heart even if it means going to school across the country.

This book was just wonderful and just read it. The movie is out or coming out... but read the book first.