I Was Here - Gayle Forman

I Was Here by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


From the bestselling author of If I Stay - this summer's YA blockbuster film. 

This characteristically powerful novel follows eighteen-year-old Cody Reynolds in the months following her best friend's shocking suicide.
As Cody numbly searches for answers as to why Meg took her own life, she begins a journey of self-discovery which takes her to a terrifying precipice, and forces her to question not only her relationship with the Meg she thought she knew, but her own understanding of life, love, death and forgiveness.

A phenomenally moving story, I Was Here explores the sadly all-too-familar issue of suicide and self-harm, addressing it with it sensitivity, genuity and honesty.


When I discovered 'I was here' on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. After devouring If I stay in a day and having 'Where she went' to follow up with I knew this would be a firm favourite too.

I found 'I was here' a very quick and easy read, just as I had done with 'If I stay'. I am beginning to realise that Gayle Forman's books are emotionally charged and really pull at your heart strings.

From reading the blurb this book really got me, I have never read any books like this before so didn't know what to expect. I knew I was in for an emotional roller coaster and that is what I got.

The plot is great, really realistic that follows the life of Cody, Meg's best friend but one who didn't go to university with her. Anyone who has been to university before and left someone behind will connect well to this story line, you can see from what was a best friend, turns out knows little about her now she is not living at home any more. I love that this book covers these emotions as you do feel like distance comes between you, if you and your friend don't both go away. Your life takes you in different directions, even if you don't want it too.

Cody begins to realise exactly how much Meg had changed and actually didn't feel as close to her as she once did. People Meg has lived with for only a few months seem closer to her. Cody feels as if she has let Meg down and by discovering things along the way feels like she needs to put things right.

Although this is a tragedy, it also has romance and Gayle Forman is able to like the two together in a tasteful way.

I really liked the characters in the story and could feel their emotion too. They were developed well and the story had good pace. I read this in just two sittings. I really was into the book and wanted to know what was going to happen.

I felt a little let down by the ending of the story, I felt it was a bit of an anti climax, this was a bit disappointing. I felt that it had huge potential and I was just left feeling 'meh'. This is a shame as I whizzed through the book and was expecting something brilliant. I think maybe I had built my expectations up slightly too high from reading the book.

I would recommend this to others and I would be interested on your take of the ending. Maybe it was just me that was disappointed!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last thing Mia remembers is the music.

After the accident, she can still hear it. And she can see her damaged body being taken from the wreck of her parents' car - even though she can't feel a thing.

All she can do is watch as doctors rush to save her life, as her friends and relatives gather outside her room, as the boy she loves struggles to be near her.

As the next twenty-four hours unfold, Mia must come to terms with what came before the crash - and what could come after. And she knows she must make the most difficult choice of all.



When I got sent this from the publishers to read and review I couldn’t wait; I heard that it was going to be made into a film and I was keen to read this before its release. Being just over 200 pages I knew it wasn’t going to take me long.

At the beginning we are introduced to Mia, a seventeen year old who has a typical teenager’s life. We can identify with her, her family relationship and the relationship she has with her boyfriend Adam. Although this story is a Young Adult’s novel, I feel there are adult themes in the book and adults can relate to aspects of Mia’s life. Looking back and reminiscing.

The opening chapter of this book we discover the close relationship Mia has with the rest of her family, I particularly loved Teddy, her younger brother. I have a younger brother myself so some of the feelings Mia have towards her brother I could relate too as I have felt myself. It doesn’t take long though for the tension and suspense in the book to shift and by page 11 or 12 we are thrown into a family tragedy.

Mia is awake and can see what is happening in front of her, she can hear, speak and see. She is unable to feel anything though and soon realises that something is wrong, she is not the same as she was, when she woke up this morning and where are her family. Mia has to make one of the most difficult decisions anyone would ever have to make over the next 24 hours or so and that is should she stay?

The book alternates from the past and to the present, along the way we discover more about Mia and her family. This is truly a touching story and one that has evoked many emotions. I rarely feel sad during books; this one however has really got to me. I have found myself sitting thinking about what I have read and questioning myself. This is a deeply touching story that will have a lasting effect on anyone who reads it.

Although the book is just over 200 pages I found that I thought it was a lot longer and this is because of how it has been written and how it makes you feel. It is truly moving and touching. I didn’t read this in one sitting; however it is completely possible to do so. I am so glad that I have been able to read this before the release of the film. This is a book that I urge everyone to read, it also makes you realise how short life is and that you should embrace it. You never know what is round the corner and should live life to the full.

I cannot wait to read Where She Went the sequel of If I Stay.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

Below is the trailer for the film...