Review~Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Photo by Lindsay Wiegand

I really enjoyed Where She Went. A lot more than If I Stay, the prequel to Where She Went. I didn't really connect with the main character, Mia, in the first book. I don't think the author really portrayed a teenage girl very well. But in Where She Went, she wrote Adam very realistic.

Adam became very troubled and carried around so much guilt after the accident, and yes of course Mia did not deal very well with her and Adam's relationship. I understand that you would have hateful feelings for someone when they asked you to stay, but it was YOU that stayed. And Mia had a lot of anger which is completely understandable. But she was completely selfish and I can't understand how you could just cut out the person out who meant so much to you and got you through a horrific accident like that out of your life?! Above all, Mia did not handle how she ended the relationship well at all. Adam shouldn't of felt so much guilt but honestly I think a lot of people can relate to guilt when someone in their life dies very suddenly.


SPOILER ALERT

However, I am glad they got back together. I don't think they had a chance in hell of working out their relationship or coming out of this situation half sane if they had not separated for some time. And they also might not of gotten as far in life if they had been a crutch for each other. Adam and Mia needed the time apart. They came back together, and I really hope they work it out. I like books with happy endings and all loose ends tied up. And very few books leave me with no questions. Where She Went left me, the reader, all warm and fuzzy with no questions! Gayle Forman did a great job writing this book and I can't wait to check out some of her other books.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

So I have read so many amazing books this summer! And I want to share them all with you guys!!

Since the beginning of June, I have indulged in reading 12 books, which is actually amazing because my kiddos are home with me during the summer. Or I should say I am home with the kiddos. They rule the house during the summer. But one of our favorite activities to go to our local library. My oldest daughter and I started volunteering there this summer and it has been a dream come true. I already loved spending my time there and now I get to give my time to the the library and to the community. I just love it!

I am going to start with the last book I read because I have yet to read the sequel and really want to share with all of you. So I course watched the movie first (I enjoy doing that instead of vice versa, less heartache) and was very glad I did it that way. I would of found If I Stay by Gayle Forman a little overwhelming if I hadn't already seen the flashbacks. Gayle Forman did a wonderful job of writing this young adult fiction. It is a bold concept that she put under a microscope and I loved comparing what I would do and facing my fears

as Mia had to face on her own. Death is not always an easy subject to write about, and while Gayle Forman did a good job of portraying this tragic incident in Mia's life, the book lacked passion. Gayle should of made Mia come off more how a teenage girl would act. Seeing yourself exposed in a ditch, while anyone would of gone into a mental breakdown. And all Mia did was look away. Huh?

Good note, it was a very fast and easy read. Took all of maybe 4 hours to read. I enjoy YA because I don't have to really use my brain to make sense of the story. Which is a good thing. I like falling into the book and not coming up until I have finished it or I need essentials, like food. 

I will be starting the sequel tonight. Really want to find out what happens to Mia and the boyfriend. I have no idea how I would cope without my family, and I feel for Mia. I know how painful it is to live life without a parent. 

I will let you all know how the sequel is when I finish it. It should be a fast read like the first one, and I really want to start reading a few others that I picked up this week. 

Live long to read on. 

~Lindsay

Welcome!

Welcome, my friends!

I just want to first thank you for checking out my blog. This is something I have wanted to do for a long time and now that all my kiddos are in elementary school (Yippee!), I can finally find the time to dedicate to one of my favorite hobbies.  

A little about me:

My name is Lindsay. I have been reading since the first grade like most people. I can recall early memories of my first trips to the library and the books that I loved to check out. To this day, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is still  my favorite children's book. Simply put, I love books. I love to hug them, read them late into the night, and visit my local library at least twice a week, on top of volunteering there also. I can't wait to connect and swap book titles and favorite authors with all of you! 

So on this blog, you will find posts about anything book related. Posts about new book finds, reviews on any books I can get my hands on, children's, fiction, non-fiction, romance-sometimes, all genres and everything in between. I have a very long list of books to read, and even more books shelves at home filled with books I haven't read yet. I have a personal goal of reading 15,000 pages in 2015 and hope you will join me on my journey in accomplishing that! Feel free to leave comments, questions, and don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss out all any posts!