It was amazing. While If I Stay sucked me in to Adam and Mia's story, Where She Went held me there. Told from Adam's perspective and dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy that took Mia's family - and, in another way, Mia herself - away, it was a fascinating take on grief, depression, music, celebrity, loneliness, loss and love. At first I was frustrated with the angst-riddled Adam, thinking, "Really? I know she's the love of your life, but SUCK IT UP. Just a little." But then as the story unfolded, and we're told in flashbacks exactly what happened for Adam to get this way, I understood more, and thought, "OK, you're entitled to your pain."
Then there was Mia - like Adam, oh, I was so angry with Mia. Well, not so much angry, more frustrated and confused. The person who cut Adam off without so much as a goodbye definitely didn't sound like the same girl who desperately yearned for him in If I Stay. But she had her reasons, too, and again, once they're explained, it all makes sense. I wasn't such a fan of the more supernatural elements of the book - which is strange, I know, considering the first one is pretty much told from the perspective of a ghost - but this one just had a differnt tone (rightly so) that those parts just didn't seem to gel with. For me, at least. But I loved all the answers and explanations we got, and the sense of closure at the end. Plus, I'm a sucker for all-nighter type stories and secret tours of beautiful cities. So romantic!
Rating: 4.5/5
(Spoilery) Talking Points
- My favourite scene in the whole book had to be when Mia gave Adam his guitar, and he looks around the room and sees that he IS still there, still important in her life. Then Mia describes Adam as her parents' gift to her, like the cello was at her first recital. Such a powerful moment. It definitely made me tear up.
- Another thing that made me tear up - Teddy, of course. I liked how Adam described his reaction to Teddy's loss - how he felt "gutted". Sums it up perfectly, I think.
- Ahhh, the ending - it made me so happy. I wanted MORE. More happiness! More love! More of the old Mia and Adam, please!
As I mentioned in my review of If I Stay, I pictured Emma Stone as Mia and Darren Criss as Adam. Here's
Fine Print
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 2011Get It: Book Depository
While googling Darren Criss, I came across this piece of adorableness. My heart just about burst (in a good way). So. Darn. Cute.
Lovely Darren Criss pics!! :) I love to imagine someone in a character too, sometimes someone just pops into my head who seems just right for the character.
ReplyDeleteLove these 2 books....have pimped them out to everyone I know lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I teared up with the guitar thing as well! It was a well written scene!
ReplyDeleteI teared up just reading your review because it made me go back and remember this book! Oh, what a wonderful book...
ReplyDeleteDARREN CRISS AS ADAM, YES!!!
ReplyDeleteYou love him too, that's enough for me to follow you. I hadn't thought of him as Adam, but now that you mention it, I definitely see it.
And I'm thinking I'll like this book even more than IIS. But for WSW, I'm gonna have to wait until next year, cause IIS was just released a couple of months ago in Arg.
xo,
Ella
I was so confused and angry with Mia too. But then when she explained that while it was happening, while she was separating from Adam, that even she couldn't believe it was happening, I totally got that. I've had that happen to me too, like when you lose touch with friends but you don't mean to.
ReplyDeleteI loved that scene, too. When Mia gives Adam his guitar back and says someone had to save it from the Hard Rock cafe. It was awesome.
P.S. That video is toooo cute! But I was afraid that little boy was going to trip over his tie. LOL
Ok, the world is telling me I must get to the bookstore this weekend! I didn't even realize this book existed, but this is the second review I've read in the last 24 hours. I MUST read it, since I just read "If I Stay" a couple months ago. Great review!
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