For seventeen-year-old Mia, surrounded by a wonderful family, friends and a gorgeous boyfriend decisions might seem tough, but they’re all about a future full of music and love, a future that’s brimming with hope.
But life can change in an instant.
A cold February morning . . . a snowy road . . . and suddenly all of Mia’s choices are gone. Except one.
As alone as she’ll ever be, Mia must make the most difficult choice of all.
Haunting, heartrending and ultimately life-affirming, If I Stay will make you appreciate all that you have, all that you’ve lost – and all that might be.
If I Stay… MORE LIKE CAN YOU LEAVE. If I Stay wasn’t as amazing as I was hoping, at all. This is the story of Mia a 17 year old girl that has had a traumatic accident and basically gets to reflect on her life and future and decide what will be best for her.
While Mia struggles with her life we see flash backs of her relationship with Adam and her Parents, we see her struggle with leaving for college and how she learnt to play the cello and her stage fright.
The next part contains spoilers for the first few chapters if you don’t want to be spoiled for them than do not read on please
Okay so Mia dies within the first few pages and we see her see her parents splattered on the asphalt of the road and I wasn’t expecting this so soon but I went into the story blind so there’s that. I didn’t realise this book would be told by Mia being in a weird ghost form.
I loved reading about Mia and her family I thought her Mum and Dad were such great characters as well as her Nan and Pop, they are the main reason I didn’t dnf this book after the awkward first few chapters.
I didn’t like Adam and Mia’s relationship, Mia was constantly doubting herself and him which annoyed me because why can’t there be a solid trust, I get that she’s self-conscious but I would have been annoyed if I was Adam and my GF constantly doubted my commitment without any reason to, he was literally sweet and supportive she was just over insecure for no real reason or at least no reason that was shown. Like she didn’t have a previous bad relationship she just had zero confidence in him.
Another thing I didn’t like was the sex scene, no, I’m not a prude give me all the detailed smut there is but give me a weird ass sex scene where they describe each other as instruments and he cradles her like a guitar and plucks at her like a Spanish guitar? Also she rubs her bow across him and all I could think of is major friction rash and that’s not sensual*vomits*
Another thing I hated was Mia’s bestie uses the word Retarded casually and that word will never sit well with me it wasn’t pulled up and it didn’t need to be written in unless you were just wanting me to dislike her automatically, she’s not 13 she’s 17-18 and should know better than to throw around harmful words for no reason.
Mia’s voice wasn’t my fave, I did like her reflections on her family and friends and what they would want her to do but asides from family relationships I just wasn’t into it.
A lot of people love this book so I was expecting a lot more from it, the whole thing just fell flat and awkward for me and the message was pure cheese. We didn’t even get to see the aftermath of Mia’s decision and I am not reading the second book to find out more.
adoptabookaus.com 
I read this book and the second book last year and I loved them both!!
LikeLike
Your first line cracked me up. XD I probably won’t read this. Before if it was handed to me, I’d consider it, but now I definitely wouldn’t bother. Great review hehe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bahahaha seriously though I was just so underwhelmed by the whole thing, like maybe I would have enjoyed it as a teen but even thats a big maybe XD It was just so annoying and teeny bopper-ish. It was a quick read tho so thats a plus I guess lmao
def wouldn’t be recommending and it’s getting unhauled to the op shop asap
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh well – at least you made more space on your shelves ahahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Casey, I’ve read this book a long time ago and I’m among this book lovers. I loved reading your review and I do get you (very valid) points. They just did not bother me at that time. Honestly, I enjoyed the second book better though. Following your blog now as you’ve the added bonus of being a book lover, a dog lover (proud dog owner here) and love the outdoors (me too). Well done! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think if I was younger I may have liked it more but it was def not to my current tastes 😦 Ah well they cant all be winners! Thank you for the follow! Puppies and out door adventures are the best ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really surprised 😮 The book was amazing I loved it and bought the second part ” where she went? ” but it was boring, so I stopped reading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
See I think I felt that way with the first book so I’m deff not going to continue with the second (although it would be funny if I ended up the opposite and liked that one XD )
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read this and personally I didn’t mind it but the movie was way better! It could have been wayyyy better though and for me, I just didn’t connect with the characters as much as I hoped to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didnt like the main character so that really ruined it all for me XD I was thinking about dnfing it but I did like the family flash backs and it was a really short book. I might give the movie a go now! I’m pretty sure its on netflix so may as well the next time I’m bored 🙂
LikeLike
Ah, I’ve been meaning to read this one for a while but now I’m a bit hesitant 😂 The sex scene sounds so bad. One a more serious not the ableism is definitely not funny. I don’t get how people throw that word around so casually. I think I will still get to this one eventually because it’s on my shelf, but I’m definitely lowering my expectations. Great review, Casey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
omg the sex scene is so bad but also hilarious so it could be fun to read in all its cringeyness XD People suck thats how, I feel like that would have been edited out these days and publishing is getting better but yeah it always makes me flinch when I hear it being said casually or as a descriptor.
Thanks Lauren!
LikeLike
We wanted to read this book for a long time now, and neither of us picked up the book, now we are definitely not going to read the book. You review is quick and to-the-point, and most of all made us laugh (you know where😉).
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahah I’m glad it made you laugh XD XD This book probably would have been great if I had read it when it was released but my tastes have changed so much the hype surrounding just had my expectations up so high I was severely disappointed 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sass though… I love it. The opening line was perfect 😉 I read If I Stay when I was in year 7 and had read very few contemporaries other than Sarah Dessen, so I really enjoyed it. I read it in one sitting an I cried. That said, for the past few years I’ve been very meh toward it (especially the hospital break in with the inner? What even was that? So unnecessary). The sequel, however, was WAY worse and I was certainly not a fan of Adam’s voice in that – I think it has also biased me against male narrators (if that wording makes any sense). Great review
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard the second is so bad! If I didnt like this I’m def not putting myself through another xD
I think I would have been like you if I had read it when I was younger but now I’ve read so many contemporaries it just didn’t really do anything wow for me. RIGHT? What and why did they use a singer to break into the hospital and come up with some huge weird plan XD
UGH! That sucks that his voice made you think that towards male narrators although I have to say i don’t read many books with male first pov either asides from some fantasy so…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was! Yeah, I definitely agree, I hadn’t read that many contemporaries so for me that was awesome – but even then, I really wasn’t a fan of the second one. I feel kind of bad though because I’ve met her? 🤔 So unnecessary, smh forever. Yeah, that and a few other Books! That said, a lot of my favs are male POV but my initial reaction is always hesitant.
LikeLiked by 1 person