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If I Stay by Gayle Forman

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Brief synopsis (no spoilers)
Mia is surrounded by music, loved ones, and opportunities of a lifetime. And in one moment, all of that changes. She'll have to choose how she wants the rest of her life to proceed.

 Category
YA Fiction

 Why I chose this book
Recommended on the library website, based on my reading history

 My personal opinion (the review)
The story is gripping. I had a hard time putting it down. Frankly, the language and the "teen love" situations contributed nothing to the story. They should have been left out. But back to the story- it was fine. The connection between the main characters was compelling, the relationship between Mia and her parents was positive, and Mia's future was bright. The tragedy was heart-wrenching, but not purposeless.

 Warnings:
Language - Several instances of the F-word spread throughout. Others as well, but not as strong
Violence - Car wreck
Adult situations - A handful, but described pretty vaguely
Death - Yes! And of major characters

 Movie rating equivalent
R

 Protagonist description
Mia is mature and introspective

 Point of view of story
First person

 Book length
Short - about 3 days for me

 Story flow
Jumped around a great deal between present and past

 Grammar and spelling issues
Few, all minor

 Character connection (no spoilers)
None

 For series:
Independent or integral (stand-alone or back story dependent)
Unknown, yet

 Series review as a whole
Seems okay so far, although I've only read one. It's pretty engaging. Tragic, but engaging.

 If you only have time for one, read: (which one)
This one, so far

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