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A review by martianman
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
One thing I enjoyed about this book was how natural the dialogue felt. It really helped me get invested into the relationships in the story, particularly the familial ones. At times, the “punk rock” aspect felt a bit too tropey for me, and I think they reiterated the classical vs rock musician thing an unnecessary amount. Overall, it was an exciting read, and I loved the way the book was sectioned by alternating between Mia’s current experiences in the hospital and her flashbacks of what life was like before the accident. The lack of traditional chapters really tied in the idea that these events are happening within the course of one day.
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Ableism
There is one mention of the r slur, which is why I mentioned minor ableism.