Where She Went

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I Stay # 2

Genres: Realistic, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Released: 5 April 2011

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

For Fans Of: If I Stay, The Piper’s Son, and The Sky is Everywhere

My Review:  Okay, I’ll admit, when I saw Where She Went at the bookstore, I kind of freaked out.  I had no idea that Gayle Forman was planning a sequel, and because of that I was really hesitant to pick this one up.  If I Stay was such a good read for me, and I felt like it ended in a really good place without having to continue onwards.  So, it was with this attitude that I picked up Where She Went.  Purely to see what Forman had done.

And I’ll admit, I was a little bit surprised.   And, I’ll admit, kind of bummed that Adam and Mia weren’t together.  That Adam had, in fact, turned into kind of a dick.  Maybe I needed a refresher of If I Stay before I headed into this one, but really?  I don’t remember Adam acting this despondent.  Of course, If I Stay was told from the perspective of a loving girlfriend, and not from Adam’s point of view, but still.  A little confused at the character turn.

However, by the time Adam ends up in New York with Mia on their last night, I felt like he had begun to redeem himself a little bit.  Where If I Stay was all about Mia and her healing, or at least acceptance process, Where She Went is all about Adam’s acceptance and healing process.  I’ll admit, I spent a lot of time in this novel kind of wanting to rip my hair out, but in the end I was glad I read it.  If only to see what happened after If I Stay.  It was a quick read that definitely made you think, and if you’ve read If I Stay, I definitely recommend that you also read Where She Went.

If I Stay

Author: Gayle Forman

Series: If I Stay # 1

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Released: 2 April 2009

Summary: courtesy of goodreads.com In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-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 heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

For Fans Of: The Sky is Everywhere, Saving June, and Before I Fall

My Review:  If I Stay, to me, seems like the book that every other book wants to be.  And I get it, really I do.  But if every book is trying to be If I Stay than what happens to other books?  Like, really original books that are just as good, or better than If I Stay?  Just wondering…

Anyways, I really enjoyed it (like many) it was both heart wrenching and hopeful and seeing Mia’s memories from the perspective that they’re shown is something really different and incredibly enjoyable when it comes to ya lit.  I felt like everything flowed together really nicely, especially considering the fact that not all of her memories are going in chronological order.

I really enjoyed that Forman gave us all a playlist at the end, music plays as much of a role as most of the characters, so I was grateful for that added help (and some of the songs became my favorites!) and thought that was put into this novel.  I liked that at the end the choice is still Mia’s.

This book definitely makes you think about what happens after death, do the dead linger with us?  Forman explores a lot of these concepts and really makes you think about what it’s like to die, and yet she still has a way of making you not think about death.  This novel wasn’t morbid, nor was it incredible hopeful.  It was about a life, and a choice.  Sometimes I think that the simplest of plots turn out the best of novels, and that’s how If I Stay was for me.