5 out of 5 stars
Summary via goodreads.What if you had only one day to live?
What would you do?
Who would you kiss?
And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.
Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.
REVIEW:
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Seriously. Love it! When I got to the last page I wanted to flip the book over and start all over again. It's that good!
Beautifully written, with a great, unique concept, this book haunted me for days after I finished it. I would think about what happened and I would just tear up. I was that attached to the characters and the world. BEFORE I FALL is an emotional read that never goes over the top to the sappy, or melodramatic place. Sam and her friends are beautifully rendered and I love that they are all flawed (as in realistic, three-dimensional people), and that Sam grows to see those flaws but doesn't love them any less. There's no moralizing here. No judgement, just real people trying their best to figure out how to live their lives.
BEFORE I FALL is by far one of my most favorite books that I've read this year. I could go on and on about this book, but that would just take time away from you that you should be using to read this book. Go, now! Get this book!
Cover: LOVE this cover! I was drooling over this book from the moment I saw it sometime last fall. I'm not sure what it is about the image really, that's so sort of captivating but it is. Even when after reading the book, you realize it doesn't really have much to do with the story at all. The book takes place in the winter and Sam isn't blonde - which I realize you can't really tell what color hair the girl has on the cover, it gives the impression that she's blonde. Anyway, it doesn't matter, the cover does it's job by totally evoking the emotion and feel of the book.
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
9 comments:
I loved this book too! The main character felt absolutely real to me and the writing was amazing. I can't wait to read Oliver's next book!
Ahh!! It's so funny how different tastes can be. I didn't care for this book at all!
P.S. Giiiirrrllll I need you for this insane contest I'm having. Go check it out and let me know if you want in.
Wasn't Before I Fall insanely good? It's one of my fave reads this year, too.
Such a great book! I hated Sam for the first hundred pages or so, but she grew on me, and the writing was gorgeous. Great review!
I love how Oliver breaks so many "rules" of YA--that you can't write a book over 200 pages, that you can't have more than a half dozen characters, that you can't have a complex plot. She presses against all these things beautifully and really opens up new possibilites for the genre. And dang, can she write amazing kissing scenes!
Ooh, the other things I loved:
-she avoided the sagging middle by putting the rip-roaring funniest part in there (the day Sam goes as bad as she can).
-she sees both the nerds and "It girls" as flawed and needing help and redeption of a sort.
-her nuanced understanding of suicidal depression.
See, I could gush for ages too! :-D
Oh, I so love, love, love this book, too. Lauren's writing is incredibly beautiful and I cannot wait to read DELIRIUM. :)
Before I Fall is the best book I've read so far this year. Okay, I'll admit, I'm a bit fail when it comes to reading and I haven't read that many so far but this one is tops.
I gather you liked this book :) I really enjoyed it too, it was one of the books that really stood out for me this year (I've got a review of it on my book blog if you're interested.) Looking forward to Ms Oliver's next book.
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