Title: Before I Fall
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: Drama/Suspense/YA
Publisher: Hodder & Staughton
Release Date: Out Now
Summery:
What if you only had 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:
This is the first Young Adult book I have read for a while. It was a recommendation from a friend, and I am so glad she brought it to my attention but also so sad! It was so heartbreaking, but very clever and different. I would suggest it to any age.
Before I Fall tells the story of our protagonist Sam Kingston, one of four most popular girls in school, and her last day on earth. A last day that she gets to live over and over and over. I was worried at first this was going to bore me and be too repetitive but it really wasn’t. I found myself soaking in every detail as Sam told her story. Oliver’s writing is amazing, everything is described beautifully, vividly. I could almost smell the school halls and hear the chatter.
I thought I knew how it was going to end, but as Sam’s days go on and on you begin hoping she can fix it and there will be some way she won’t die. As I said Sam is on the popular girls at school along with Lindsay, Elody and Ally (who after a few lines I felt like I knew these girl’s personally. Such fabulous details!) As you can imagine you don’t get to the top in high school by being nice and Sam really wasn’t. After the first few days I am sad to say I did not feel sorry for her at all, I kind of thought she deserved this purgatory but then again so does she. By the time I was half way through she had won me over and I was rooting for her all the way!!
As always I don’t want to give too much away, you’ll just have to find out for yourself if Sam can in any way fix what she’s done, if she can end her purgatory and find out who she really needs to save…
Be warned, you will need Kleenex!
