Where She Went - Gayle Forman (#2)

When I found out, not long after reading the first book in this mini-series If I Stay, that there was going to be a sequel, I knew it was one of the books of 2011 that I WOULD be buying.
If I Stay is such a sad yet slightly uplifting and hopeful book. I ended it thinking that there are a world of possiblities out there and with the scary thought that truly, we never know what will happen in the future. It's a weird thought really.

This review contains SPOILERS for those who have not read IF I STAY

Synopsis: It's been three years since Mia's accident. And three years since she walked out of Adam's life. 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. (Goodreads.com)

Review: This review is going to be hard to write, hence my lack of reviews in the last week (Sorry!). So I'm just kind of going to write all my thoughts about it in the hope that it makes sense.
This book is now set around Manhattan, New York where Adam is visiting and Mia lives after following her dream at Julliard. Mia is now a professional cellist player, about to embark on a world tour. And Adam, now in one of the most successful rock bands in history and living in Hollywood with his famous actress girlfriend.
So a little bit different from when we last met this couple in If I Stay.

If I Stay was beautiful, it really is and reading that kind of literature can make people feel emotions that they wouldn't necessarily have in reality. So, of course, Where She Went is going to have to live up to the last book. And, well, for me, it did not succeed the greatness that is If I Stay.

Differently from its predecessor, Where She Went is all from Adam's point of view and is mainly set around his feelings, thoughts and emotions. Adam was a nice guy in the last book, cute, good looking - the perfect boyfriend. The one that MANY women have loved and wanted to be real, so much.
I knew before reading, that Adam was going to take a bit getting used to. And I was right.
He starts off narrating so whiny. So much. Everything is wrong. This didn't start off on a great note, because he started to frickin' annoy me. Look, Adam, I know she was the love of your life, the one you loved for the first time and she walked out in a very horrible way, BUT SERIOUSLY? THAT MUCH WHINING AND IT'S 3 YEARS LATER?! urgh.

On that note, don't think that this book is awful compared to If I Stay. I liked the thought of finding out the aftermath of such a horrific accident, the straits on their relationship and how Mia felt after waking up, the only family member left. All of this you get from this novel. It is like a bridge telling readers that yeah, they're not together but their lives are doing alright. UNTIL.
The moment they meet each other is probably the most awkward situation you will ever think of. I know I'm glad I'm not Mia or Adam, a lot. I liked the way that after they met, it was like their relationship was kind of starting over with new people, I think it would be like that a lot for people in a situation like this.

Learning about the past three years is done through Gayle Forman's technique of flashbacks which we heavily featured in If I Stay. Where She Went seems like a completely different book and feel to the previous, but ultimately, it is exactly the same with something putting a strain on their relationship, the flashbacks, the characters and the writing.
AH. The writing. Gayle Forman is up there in the chart of best writer writers. Like you have writers that are good because of the plot and characters but Forman is a true writer. She makes you feel everything that Mia and Adam are feeling. I felt awkward, sad, annoyed, heart broken all within 200-odd pages! This book is  heart wrenching, and Forman is the only writer to make me have tears while reading a book. This one included. It is just such lyrical, contemporary, beautiful writing.

This book is not perfect. It has flaws and I like not all fans of If I Stay will enjoy it as much as others. I know it is very different from what I expected.When you first start to read, you think the lovely characters of Adam and Mia have done, but really, deeply, they are still there and blossom out again throughout.
The writing again makes this book and makes you feel these impossible things.
The ending is just...I could not have put the ending better myself. It is a perfect ending to a delightful series and although, it may be obvious now, it is still beautiful and surprising. It does just suddenly happen. Although, there is sadness of the events that have happened, the book is full of optimism and anticipation which might leave readers shouting at the book for a certain thing to happen, you can sense the atmosphere and thoughts without it even being narrated to you.
   The book has flaws but it also has some of the most delightful characters, plot, emotions and writing you will ever experience and Adam's whiny tone (urgh) is kind of overshadowed. For some reason, I do feel disappointed but overall, it is a worthwhile read. Go on - read it!
Verdict: Read If I Stay first, otherwise you will have be ultra confused.

I give it a 4 out of 5

My Review for If I Stay
Note: There have been rumours for the past year about an adaptation of this series but it is classes as 'in development' by IMDb

Author's Website: http://www.gayleforman.com/
Pages: 260
Publisher: Doubleday
Challenges: None

A-Z Authors - D, E, F, G, H

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

SORRY FOR MY LACK OF DOING THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. I have been so busy with revision, exams, being out, getting food etc but here it is now!

D

Sarah Dessen

She is amazing. I am not kidding. She is the best or at least one of the best writers I have ever read and has remained a favourite for about 3/4 years. I am yet to see/meet someone who doesn't like her novels. There are ones less good than others but they are all better than some other novels that are out there. She is always consistent and although critised for having the same plot every time, they all seem different. You know what to expect from Sarah Dessen in the plot but they are always so original in characters, settings, other events. The characters are such unique people that you kinda wish were real and that you learn to love a lot.

Her Books: The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Along for the Ride, What Happened to Goodbye, This Summer, Someone Like You, Last Chance (or Keeping the Moon), Dreamland, Lock and Key, This Lullaby.

Paul Dowswell

I have only read one book by this guy but Auslander was amazing. It has a boy as the voice and normally, I find they aren't as good with a guy voice but this was fantastic and really helped me with my History GCSE - it put it all into perspective for me and helped me understand it all while doing my favourite thing of reading. He is such a good author that not many people give credit or know about at all. 

Other Books: True Stories of WWII, Adventures of a Young Sailor, The First World War, Escape.

E

Eve Edwards

Wow. I love this woman. Sometimes books are just Historical or just Romance and sometimes having both of those together is hard to pull off without being too much of the other. However, The Other Countess series have been amazing. So interesting with this perfect fascinating mixture of genres with the most funny, enjoyable characters. I just love her books and make me love History so much more. She is a writer a lot of people should pick up. 

Her Books: The Other Countess series - The Other Countess, The Queen's Lady, The Rouge Princess

F

Gayle Forman

I have only so far read her first book in the If I Stay duo. I have the other but not yet read it. I thought the book was going to be boring. But I found it wasn't. It wasn't perfect for me but I really liked it and the way it was written and how different it was to other novels out there that are similar to this one. I really liked her overall and I REALLY NEED TO READ THE NEXT ONE.

Her Books: If I Stay, Where She Went, Sisters in Sanity

G

Anna Godbersen

She is again in my category of best Historical Romance authors. I love the fun, happy side to her books and then also, the serious side to them that changes suddenly and makes you think. They are a real type of YA book but not too heavy, yet not too silly and ridiculous. These are good books and I love the different characters that after The Luxe series with 4 books, you start to think as of family a little and really get to know them inside and out. All of hers are set in New York at different periods of time which is so interesting to compare from the historical side. She successfully has fun/serious books with a nice balance. 

Her Books: The Luxe Series - The Luxe, Rumours, Envy, Splendour, Bright Young Things

H

Mary Hooper

Not many people have heard of Mary Hooper and that may be because she's an English writer and more known over here but I love her writing. She also writes historical and you can tell from reading that there is so much detail put into it. She covers many periods of history with some characters that reflect what people were like then and now. There are bits of romance but I like them with and without. I don't know what it is about this one but I just love her writing - but I can't say why. She is also the one that got me into Historical fiction and when I met her at a book signing last year, she was so friendly and it was like I known her years!

Her books: The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose, Fallen Grace, Newes from the Dead, At the Sign of the Sugar Plum, At the House of the Magician, Megan, Amy, Holly

Cora Harrison

I fell in love with her writing when I read the first chapter. It wasn't the typical Regency language but I liked that. Made it easier and more enjoyable to read. I loved all her characters, the cover, the romance, the playful look on life and the way she can make a unique character seem like someone you know or a simple situation, one you can relate to. I love how she made Jane Austen a real and lively person, someone my age that I could learn more about and make her feel like a friend. 

I really do love her books. I think it's her first bit for YA looking on Goodreads but she should keep it up!

Her Books: I was Jane Austen's Best Friend, Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend, My Lady Judge, The Montgomery Murder

SEQUEL TO 'IF I STAY' BY GAYLE FOREMAN

I found out on La Femme Readers that Gayle Foreman is writing a sequel to If I Stay and going to be called....*drumroll* Where She Went !
Supposedly the book coming out on the 5th April 2011 but let's be honest, nothing in books or films gets to the UK that quickly if it's an American writer so it's going to be a couple more months for us English folk.
Anyway, it got me excited at least.
The book, for those who have read it and will understand, is from Adam's, Mia's boyfriend, point of view three years later. This is definitely one that I'm looking forward to reading :)

To see my own review of the first one, If I Stay, click here

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

I had never seen or heard about this book before. I just literally fancied reading it when I was in the library the other day. But now, I swear I keep seeing it everywhere! On people's book blogs, in Oxfam today, in Selfridges, in Waterstones. It's following me! It's so weird hah :)

First Sentence: Everyone thinks it was because of the snow. And in a way, I supposed that's true

This story is all about the choices we make, before and after. Seventeen year-old, Mia has (possible) the perfect family, an amazing best friend, Kim and a gorgeous supporting boyfriend, Adam. She would rather, unlike most teens, go out with her family on a drive or play her cello.  She has lots of choices about her life and even though decisions are tough, they are mostly about her music (she's a cello player), school life or love.
    But then, one snowy February morning, something tragic happens and all her choices are gone. Except two (in the book it says one, but I think it's more two): to stay or to die.

This book had me on the verge of tears. Which is hard for someone like me where it takes a lot to cry. Even though the book is only 210 pages, so relatively short, it is so powerful and makes you think. We follow Mia as basically her conscience, she's in a coma but her conscience can walk around, see people but people can't see them. It's through this that we read her, trying to decide and for practically the whole book, I really didn't know which she would choose. The tense, sad moments are broken up by mostly funny moments and for me, I found some of Kim's comments, hilarious. Through her decision making, she is reminded of her past and we find out what happened leading up to this moment. Even though the flashbacks aren't in chronological order, we can still understand them easily and get things from them. Adam. You just have to love him. He is from a completely different 'group' but he falls in love with Mia and makes an effort and supports her. I want a boyfriend like that, basically. I mean who wouldn't, girls?
This is a really deep, gripping, heart breaking but somehow uplifting that makes you appreciate your life at the moment.
Will you cry? Probably
Will you laugh out loud at Kim's comments? Yep.
Should you read it? Definitely. Just go out there and get this book.

Author's Website: www.gayleforman.com
There's also a really good If I Stay Book Trailer to watch!

Related Posts: 
Book #2: Where She Went