Plot Summary: In a single moment, everything changes. S
eventeen-year- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck… A sophisticated, layered, and heartachingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make—and the ultimate choice Mia commands.
Trailer:
Review:
There are parts of If I Stay that are truly exceptional. Seriously. Exceptional in a way where you forget you are sitting in the blazing sun, read the entire book in one sitting, and have a crazy sunburn as a result. The author’s writing style is beautiful. Her description of the tragedy that changes Mia’s life is both artfully subtle and extremely chilling.
This lady infuses the opening chapters of her book with almost choking tension.
But the novel’s greatest achievement also happens to be its greatest letdown.
Creating Characters
Some of If I Stay’s characters are so well-written, so carefully constructed that you truly get to know them in a way many YA books fail to accomplish. Mia’s parents come alive, and perhaps are the most interesting characters in the books (this might also be the reason the novel is so focused on looking at their lives). They are certainly two of the best, most fun parents I have seen in YA in quite a long time. And learning about them through Mia’s memories makes her loss painful to watch unfold.
There is a love story portrayed in the novel as well, but it didn’t quite work for me. Maybe because we didn’t get enough flashbacks/ interactions between Mia and Adam for me to fully invest in the couple. Which is a shame because some of the earliest scenes together are quite well done, and completely intriguing. Also, it is this love as well as her love of music, which compels Mia to make the decision that she does, and I can’t quite see why she chooses what she does.
Mia must decide to stay or go.
Mia spends a lot of time expounding on one side of the argument, but her decision to go the other way is too quick for my taste. Though the last couple pages are beautiful to read, I felt the novel was 20-30 pages too short. We needed a little more. More about Mia herself, and not just about who and what she lost.
Don’t get me wrong. This book is really good, and I highly suggest it to fellow YA fans. It’s just missing a little something…a little something that could make it great. Something to be read in classrooms.
Either way I look forward to reading more from this obviously talented writer.
Novel Novice 
I’m a little more than half-way through this book and I echo most of what you wrote so far.
I agree with your applause and your hesitance. There was a bit of a disconnect for me between Mia and Adam. And, I also thought that it was short. I liked the original hardcover cover because it was simple and spare, just like the novel. Thanks for the review!
Its such a good book!!
it is the best book i have ever read! ❤ loved it 🙂